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Microreproduction of original thesis. / Thesis (DTh)--Stellenbosch University, 1986. / Some digitised pages may appear illegible due to the condition of the original microfiche copy. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: no abstract available / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: geen opsomming

The primary Intention of this study is to investigate the problem of the relationship between Jesus and Paul. However, it was necessary to retrace our steps to the beginnings of the discussion and to set forth the problem in all its complexity and in all its ramification for the task of biblical study and interpretation. It is therefore hoped that this study will shed some light upon the present situation and task of biblical research. In the discussion of the problem of Jesus and Paul, two more or less independent lines of the nineteenth century historical research converged: the study of the life of Jesus and Pauline research. The lines of research initiated by Strauss and Baur were made possible by the development of methodology, and this methodology was in turn rooted in the new philosophies of history which emerged at the end of the eighteenth and the beginning of the nineteenth centuries. The history of the problem of Jesus and Paul is closely tied to the development of methodology and philosophy of history. The problem of Jesus and Paul is also a theological problem. Every answer to the problem of the historical relationship of Jesus and Paul has direct implications for the content and nature of the Christian faith. Here basic theological issues and historical problems are inextricably intertwined. What is Christianity? Is it religion of Jesus or the gospel of Paul? What is the proper object of faith? Is it the person of the historical Jesus or the Christ of Pauline theology? These issues involve particularly the whole problem of Christology, the relationship of faith and history, of theology and historical research. Wrede's work is here treated as the focal point of the development of the discussion of the problem of Jesus and Paul. The various attempts to deal with Wrede's solution to the problem continue until World War I, after which a decreasing interest in the problem becomes apparent. More recently there has been a favorable shift from Jesus to Paul and an endorsement of Paul through contemporary mysticism and existentialism. In the final part it is necessary to account for the dwindling interest and to discuss the present state of the problem of Jesus and Paul. A reopening of the problem might prove salutary and assist in the clarification of the problem of the relationship of revelation and history.

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M.A. (Biblical Studies) / In recent decades the church member's life style and involvement in the congregation and the church, increasingly became a point of interest in the church. Enterprises to build up the congregation concentrate on leading, motivating and activating church members to become involved in numerous activities launched by the congregation. In spite of this it looks as if only a minority of church members really do get involved in serving the Lord The contention of this study is that church members' defective realisation of their Christian identity is the reason that the quality of their spiritual life and their involvement in church activities leaves much to be desired. Scientific Biblical research specifically from the New Testament concerning the Christian identity of the church member is therefore necessary. This Biblical information will help church members to realise their identity as believers. This in tum will enable them to fulfill their task as believers by becoming closely involved in the church. According to Erikson (1971 :90) a defective comprehension of identity leads to a misunderstanding of one's role. Such persons will try to be everything to everyone and will be never be themselves. The measure in which individuals find their identity is the measure in which they grow in stability and self-confidence. This may also be true for the member of the church. An intensive study of the abundant material in Scripture would be impossible within the confines of this treatise. For this reason the research will be confined to the Pauline material which in tum can't be used in full. Thus the theme : Relevant Pauline perspectives on the Christian identity of the church member. The object of this research is to ascertain if, and if so, which perspectives the Corpus Paulinum (C P) gives on the identity of the church member.

Pauline scholarship often overlooks the fact that from the Levitical sacrificial perspective “sacrifice” and “curse” are diametrically opposed concepts. A sacrifice must be “holy and acceptable to God” (Rom 12:1). Arguably, Paul describes Jesus or his blood as a sacrifice to God (1Cor 5:7; Rom 3:25). In this light, how might we understand his assertion that Christ became a “curse” on the cross (Gal 3:13)? The “accursed” person who hangs on a tree is impure and defiled and thus totally unacceptable as a sacrifice to God (Deut 21:23; John 19:31). This research argues that the key concept that resolves such potential tensions in Paul's statements is the “covenant”. Both “sacrifice” and “curse” are covenantal concepts. Sacrificial activities are essential for maintaining the covenant between God and his people. When God's people sin, sacrifice provides the means to attain forgiveness and to remain in the covenant. However, the covenant can be broken by grievous sins such as idolatry, which result in the loss of the sanctuary and the sacrificial means. Consequently, they would fall under the “curse” of the covenant. This covenantal perspective underlies Paul's soteriology. This thesis demonstrates that in Paul's understanding Christ's death serves both ends: the termination of the Mosaic curse by becoming a curse, and the dedication of his life-blood for the maintenance of the renewed covenant. These two things are related yet not identical. As test cases for this covenantal model, this research examines three Pauline texts. Galatians 3:13 describes the redemption of God's people from the Mosaic covenantal curse. Deutero-Isaiah envisaged this event as a new “Exodus”, about which Paul talks in 1 Corinthians 5:7. Romans 3:25 illustrates the eschatological Yom Kippur for this new Exodus people consisting now of Jews and Gentiles, which sustains and sanctifies God's renewed covenant people to the end.

Chapter 1 introduces the need for an updated study on the inheritance in the Pauline epistles, examines the history of research on this topic, and states the thesis of this dissertation. Then it explains the method that will be employed to examine the relevant inheritance texts and provides an overview of the dissertation. Chapter 2 argues that typology and intertextuality are significant for interpreting the inheritance in Paul. Thus it explains these hermeneutical concepts before moving on to an analysis of the pertinent texts. Chapter 3 contends that in Genesis to Chronicles the central understanding of the inheritance is the land of Canaan promised to Abraham and his descendants (e.g.Gen 15:3-5, 17:8; 21:10), the territory to which Israel sojourned and established a kingdom. Subsequently, chapter 4 displays that the Psalms and Prophets expand the inheritance to include the eschatological world (e.g., Ps 2; Isa 54, 65-66). When God's people enter their inheritance, David's royal descendent will reign over them forever (Ezek 36-37; cf. Dan 7). Chapter 5 demonstrates that the Second Temple literature, in line with the Psalms and Prophets, expands the inheritance to include the whole world (e.g., Sir 44:21; Jub. 22:14, 32:19). This is the place to which God's people will be resurrected to dwell (e.g., 4 Ezra 7) and over which Messiah will reign (e.g., 1 En. 51:1-5; 1QHª 14:29-31). Chapter 6 argues that Paul's interpretation of the inheritance in Galatians follows that of the Old Testament and Second Temple literature, for he views this theme to be the renewed world (3:15-29; 4:21-31) where God will establish his lasting monarchy (4:1-7). Paul also suggests that the Spirit will see to it that believers receive their future inheritance (4:1-7). Chapter 7 then examines the pertinent passages in Romans and other Pauline texts, confirming the observations about the inheritance in Galatians. Chapter 8 summarizes the findings of each chapter and affirms the thesis of this dissertation.