Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this study we examine the role of spiritual identity awareness in communal reading from 1Timothy 5:1-16 with the marginalized women in the Zama-Zama informal settlement. A case study of the text was done amongst women from diverse contexts where they gather as a unique study group. The study focused on the meeting of different women to read, interpret and discuss the Biblical texts with one another. Communal reading creates a safe space for these women to take part in an intercultural conversation. Individuals from diverse contexts are given an opportunity to express themselves communally. This intercultural conversation space is theoretically based on the joint presuppositions of Feminism and African hermeneutics. The physical and sexual violence these women have experienced has a direct effect on their spiritual identity awareness and ordinary life. In chapter two the fundamental presuppositions of both Feminism and African hermeneutics are explored. These will serve as the hermeneutical framework of the study. The voices of the marginalized women will be heard. In Feminism we place the emphasis on the voice of the individual and a group within a certain context. African hermeneutics, on the other hand, highlights through the communal reading a save space in which these voices are heard. Within this safe space it was possible for the marginalized women of Zama-Zama to let their voices be heard both communally, but also as unique individuals. Chapter three discusses a multidimensional exegetical framework for the study. The focus is on communal reading and interpretation of the text. The intercultural conversation in this study is conducted in terms of communal reading and interpretation of 1 Timothy 5:1-16 with the marginalized women in Zama-Zama. The interpretation history of the text is also part of this chapter. The joint presuppositions of Feminism and African hermeneutics and their contexts are discussed here, with the position of women in the Mediterranean world and church. The dominant discourse in the texts is the role of the widows in the church and community with specific reference to the role of hospitality/caring, the interpretation of stories of hope and above all the incarnation in the body of Christ as identified by the women of Zama-Zama. With 1 Timothy 5:1-16 as conversation document and the dual hermeneutic framework as starting point, we discuss the empirical component and exegetical framework of the study in the next chapters. Chapter four focuses on the theoretical framework of the study. The hermeneutical model of intercultural Bible interpretation of Kessler (2004), Hofstede’s (2001) culture theory as well as MacDonald’s (2005) structural models on spiritual identity awareness and development, are investigated here. Some key terms are spotlighted and discussed in more detail, such as culture, identity, spirituality and spiritual identity awareness. In chapter five we focus on the methodology, in particular the research design and research approach. The participant selection for the diverse study group is also important. The research process and the data collection techniques are also discussed here. The data that are collected in the intercultural conversation are then analysed qualitatively. The analyses and research result are discussed in chapter six. The different appendices reflect the detailed information and data that were collected in the study. The summary and implications of the study are the focus of chapter seven. All the diverse voices, the literature study, the unique context of the marginalized women in the text as well as the women of Zama-Zama, are summarized here. The intercultural conversation space was theoretically based on the joint presuppositions of Feminism and an African hermeneutics. The physical and sexual violence against these women has a direct effect on their spiritual identity awareness and ordinary life, as shown by the study. In the conclusion to this study all the diverse discussions converge and an attempt is made to present a reflective interpretation of how spiritual identity awareness functions in the intercultural Bible reading process. We discover in the study that the women, usually the victims of physical and sexual abuse, engage in a positive way towards a new and creative lifestyle. They make a difference in their own lives as well as in the community as well-respected and passionate women. The intercultural conversation space is a valuable instrument for establishing social transformation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie word die rol van spirituele identiteitsbewuswording deur kommunale lees ondersoek. ’n Gevallestudie van 1 Timoteus 5:1-16 onder vroue in Zama-Zama informele nedersetting word gedoen, waar gemarginaliseerde vroue uit diverse kontekste byeenkom. Die studie fokus op die bymekaarkom van die vroue en hul saam-lees en interpretasie van die Bybelteks. Daar word gefokus op die konsep van interkulturele Bybel-lees (kommunale lees) wat geproblematiseer word soos dit uit die saamgestelde raamwerk van Afrika en Feministiese-hermeneutiek ontwikkel word. Die fisiese en seksuele geweld teen dié vroue het moontlik ’n direkte invloed op hulle spirituele identiteitsbewuswording en alledaagse lewe. In hoofstuk twee word die Feminisme en Afrika-hermeneutiek bespreek. Dit dien as die hermeneutiese raamwerk van die studie. Die stemme van die vroue word hoorbaar. In die Feminisme word die belang van die stem van die individu binne ’n bepaalde konteks beklemtoon. “Afrika-hermeneutiek” stel die kommunale ruimte voor, waarin dié stemme tot hulle reg kan kom. Binne die veilige ruimte wat geskep word, kan die gemarginaliseerde stemme van die vroue en unieke stem van die indiwidu tot haar reg kom. Hoofstuk drie handel oor die kommunale (leesproses) van 1 Timoteus 5:1-16 onder vroue in Zama-Zama. Die interkulturele gesprek fokus op die saam-lees en interpretasie van die Bybelteks as gespreksdokument. Daar word na die teks en inhoud gekyk. Die fokus in die teks val op die weduwees en hoe hulle hanteer is. Die rol wat gasvryheid/versorging, die interpretasie van stories van hoop en “die inkarnasie” in die geloofsgemeenskap speel, is ook deur die vroue verreken in die leesproses. Deur die kommunale lees van die teks het die vroue hul eie, asook gesamentlike inhoud en betekenis daarvan, weergee. “Feminisme” en Afrika-hermeneutiese konteks word ook hier verreken asook die posisie van vroue in die Mediterreense wêreld en vroeë kerk. Met 1 Timoteus 5:1-16 as gepreksdokument en die tweeledige hermeneutiese raamwerk as uitgangspunt, word die empiriese komponent en die teoretiese raamwerk van die studie in die volgende hoofstukke beskryf. In hoofstuk vier word daar aan die teoretiese raamwerk van die studie aandag gegee. Die hermeneutiese model van interkulturele Bybelinterpretasie van Kessler (2004), Hofstede (2001) se kultuurteorie, asook MacDonald (2000) se strukturele modelle oor spiritualiteitsbewuswording en ontwikkeling word hier verreken. Daar word ook aandag gegee aan die omskrywing van sleutelterme soos kultuur-, identiteit-, spiritualiteit- en identiteitsbewuswording. Hoofstuk vyf handel oor die metodologie. Hier word daar aandag gegee aan die navorsingsbenadering en ontwerp. Daar word ook gefokus op die seleksie van die deelnemers. Die navorsingsproses en data-insamelingstegnieke word ook hier verreken. Die analise en bespreking van die navorsingsresultate word in hoofstuk ses aangespreek. Die kwalitatiewe data wat ingewin is tydens die konkrete interkulturele gesprekke, word hier geanaliseer en bespreek. Verskillende Bylae bevat die detail inligting wat ingesamel en verwerk is tydens die studie. Die gevolgtrekking en implikasies van die studie word in hoofstuk sewe hanteer. Al die stemme wat gehoor is, die literatuurstudie, die unieke konteks van die gemarginaliseerde vroue, asook hulle saam-lees en interpretasie van die Bybelteks word hier gereflekteer en saamgevat. “Feminisme” en Afrika-hermeneutiese konteks is verreken, asook die posisie van die vroue van Zama-Zama wat deur die kommunale saam-lees en interpretasie van die Bybelteks, nuwe perspektiewe ontwikkel het. Daar is bevind in die studie dat die vroue wat gewoonlik slagoffers van fisiese en seksuele geweld was, ’n positiewe belewenis en groei ervaring beleef het ten opsigte van hul spirituele identiteitebewuswording en lewensuitkyk. Die veilige interkulturele gespreksruimte wat ontstaan het in die navorsinsproses was ‘n besondere instrument wat ingespan was ten einde sosiale transformasie te bewerkstellig.

ABSTRACT THE ECCLESIOLOGICAL GROUNDING OF PAULINE LANGUAGE OF LEADERSHIP IN 1 AND 2 TIMOTHY Robert Lee Stanford, Ph.D. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2015 Chair: Dr. Hal K. Pettegrew The purpose of this textually-based research was to establish the thesis that there is a discernible language of leadership utilized by the apostle Paul in 1 and 2 Timothy, born out of his ecclesiological purposes. This thesis investigated Paul’s leadership from the perspective of his leader-speak. A working premise was that leaders lead through communication of concepts and ideas, with the goal of influencing and persuading followers. To that end, leadership was defined as the effort to influence others to accomplish a collective goal through the development of relationships, actions, and words, which stimulate the attendant actions of those being led, in order to effect the desired response of a shared achievement. Similarly Paul’s leader-speak was defined, in part, as that which was communicated, to some degree, through the rhetorical teaching of his day and empowered and utilized by the holy spirit. The thesis measured against the discoveries offered a biblical base, 1 Timothy 3:15, for the theological context and purpose that informs Paul’s language of leadership. Paul’s ecclesiological purpose is that the church, the pillar and support of truth, must protect and promote the gospel. To that end, Paul’s leader-speak is concerned about orthodoxy as well as orthopraxy. Such leader-speak issues from Paul’s mouth to Timothy in a variety of voices including that of a father, teacher, and example. A parental perspective is apparent in the conversational framing and vocabulary Paul utilizes, as well as the tenor of his words. Paul speaks as a teacher in the employment of metaphorical illustrations, preformed materials and rhetorical strategies. Paul’s leader-speak is often the rhetoric of example: godly behavior in suffering. Such implicit language of example is often that of influence and persuasion, as well as contrast. At other times, Paul is explicitly direct in his leader-speak. The thesis of a Pauline language of leadership grounded in an ecclesiological purpose appears to be a valuable proposition. Thus, some implications and applications of these conclusions were discussed.

Throughout church history, traditional interpretations of I Timothy 2:8-3:1 (a) have excluded women from ordained ministry in the church universal. The aim of this dissertation was to propose an alternative hermeneutical framework to effect fresh understanding of this text. A social-scientific approach utilised . models from sociology and communication theory. The socio-religious climate of Asia Minor particularly Ephesus between 59 and 64 C E is described. An assessment is made of the status of women in Asia Minor as well as in Hellenism, Romanism and Judaism. A textual analysis provided pointers to the aspects under research. Research findings strongly suggest that neither the text or the world beyond can be used to exclude women from full participation at all levels in the church. / Biblical and Ancient Studies / M.A. (Biblical Studies)

Throughout church history, traditional interpretations of I Timothy 2:8-3:1 (a) have excluded women from ordained ministry in the church universal. The aim of this dissertation was to propose an alternative hermeneutical framework to effect fresh understanding of this text. A social-scientific approach utilised . models from sociology and communication theory. The socio-religious climate of Asia Minor particularly Ephesus between 59 and 64 C E is described. An assessment is made of the status of women in Asia Minor as well as in Hellenism, Romanism and Judaism. A textual analysis provided pointers to the aspects under research. Research findings strongly suggest that neither the text or the world beyond can be used to exclude women from full participation at all levels in the church. / Biblical and Ancient Studies / M.A. (Biblical Studies)

Text in German with German and English summaries / Starting point of the search for the purpose of 1 Timothy is the assumption of basic similarities between this letter and letter writing in Greco-Roman antiquity. This means that 1 Timothy is designed for an oral performance in front of an audience. The analysis concentrates on the so far neglected classical duties of the speaker: memoria and pronuntiatio. This means the memorized performance in front of an audience. 1 Timothy shows many mnemotechnical devices and puts certain terms in focus. This shows what expressions the audience has to memorize and what aspects show prominence. The result of this can be formulated as the purpose of 1 Timothy: Paul wants to confirm Timothy in his mandate to guard the gospel from being changed through a resolute dismissal of wrong teachings and an ethic that honours God and men. / Ausgangspunkt der Frage nach der Absicht des 1. Timotheus ist die Annahme, dass dieser Brief grundsätzliche Gemeinsamkeiten mit der kaiserzeitlichen Epistolographie aufweist. Demnach ist der 1. Timotheus für den mündlichen Vortrag (Performanz) vor einem Publikum konzipiert. Die Analyse konzentriert sich auf die bisher in der rhetorischen Forschung vernachlässigten klassischen Aufgaben des Redners: memoria (das Auswendiglernen) und pronuntiatio (der freie Vortrag). Dabei zeigt sich, dass im 1. Timotheus eine Vielzahl mnemotechnischer Mittel eingesetzt wird. Auch die für einen effektiven mündlichen Vortrag notwendige Hervorhebung einzelner Begriffe wird methodisch begründet und aufgezeigt. Dadurch wird deutlich, welche Punkte sich den Zuhörern einprägen sollen und welche Aspekte besonders hervorgehoben werden. Die Zusammenfassung dieser Ergebnisse wird als Absicht des 1. Timotheus formuliert: Paulus will Timotheus in seinem Auftrag bestätigen, nämlich das Evangelium vor Verfälschung zu bewahren durch ein entschiedenes Eintreten gegen falsche Lehren und eine Ethik, die Gott und den Menschen mit Ehre und Respekt begegnet. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (New Testament)

German text / Nach grundsätzlichen Überlegungen zur Allgemeingültigkeit, Kultur- und Zeitbezo-genheit neutestamentlicher Aussagen untersucht die vorliegende Studie das Lehrver-bot der Frauen im gesamtbiblischen Kontext. Dadurch resultiert 1. Timotheus 2:12-14 als Schlüsseltext in der Frage, ob Frauen für den leitenden und lehrenden Dienst in der Gemeinde zugelassen sind. Hinweise für das richtige Verständnis von 1. Ti-motheus 2:12-14 sind Vergleiche mit anderen paulinischen Verweisen auf erzählte Ereignisse des Alten Testaments und ihre Funktion im jeweiligen Diskurs, die Wir-kungsgeschichte der Schöpfungsreihenfolge und von Evas Fall im Frühjudentum sowie die Funktion dieser Verweise in der Argumentation im 1. Timotheusbrief. Ab-schliessend wird 1. Timotheus 2:12-14 im Bezug auf den unmittelbaren Kontext un-tersucht. Die vorliegende Arbeit schließt, dass 1. Timotheus 2:12-14 trotz der Ver-weise auf die Schöpfungsreihenfolge und den Fall Evas nicht als allgemeingültig zu verstehen ist. / After general reflections on universal validity, and on the cultural and temporal set-ting of New Testament propositions, this study examines the prohibition on women teaching in Christian congregations in the context of the whole Biblical canon. From this perspective, 1 Timothy 2:12-14 offers a key role for the validity of women as leaders and teachers. Clues towards a correct understanding of 1 Timothy 2:12-14 are to be found in comparisons with references to Old Testament events and their par-ticular function in Pauline discourse, in reception of the order of creation and fall of Eve in early Judaism, and in the function of these references in the argument of 1 Timothy. Finally, 1 Timothy 2:12-14 is examined in view of its immediate context. The thesis concludes that, despite its reference to the order of creation and the fall of Eve, 1 Timothy 2:12-14 should not be understood as an absolute prohibition. / New Testament / M. Th. (New Testament)

German text / Nach grundsätzlichen Überlegungen zur Allgemeingültigkeit, Kultur- und Zeitbezo-genheit neutestamentlicher Aussagen untersucht die vorliegende Studie das Lehrver-bot der Frauen im gesamtbiblischen Kontext. Dadurch resultiert 1. Timotheus 2:12-14 als Schlüsseltext in der Frage, ob Frauen für den leitenden und lehrenden Dienst in der Gemeinde zugelassen sind. Hinweise für das richtige Verständnis von 1. Ti-motheus 2:12-14 sind Vergleiche mit anderen paulinischen Verweisen auf erzählte Ereignisse des Alten Testaments und ihre Funktion im jeweiligen Diskurs, die Wir-kungsgeschichte der Schöpfungsreihenfolge und von Evas Fall im Frühjudentum sowie die Funktion dieser Verweise in der Argumentation im 1. Timotheusbrief. Ab-schliessend wird 1. Timotheus 2:12-14 im Bezug auf den unmittelbaren Kontext un-tersucht. Die vorliegende Arbeit schließt, dass 1. Timotheus 2:12-14 trotz der Ver-weise auf die Schöpfungsreihenfolge und den Fall Evas nicht als allgemeingültig zu verstehen ist. / After general reflections on universal validity, and on the cultural and temporal set-ting of New Testament propositions, this study examines the prohibition on women teaching in Christian congregations in the context of the whole Biblical canon. From this perspective, 1 Timothy 2:12-14 offers a key role for the validity of women as leaders and teachers. Clues towards a correct understanding of 1 Timothy 2:12-14 are to be found in comparisons with references to Old Testament events and their par-ticular function in Pauline discourse, in reception of the order of creation and fall of Eve in early Judaism, and in the function of these references in the argument of 1 Timothy. Finally, 1 Timothy 2:12-14 is examined in view of its immediate context. The thesis concludes that, despite its reference to the order of creation and the fall of Eve, 1 Timothy 2:12-14 should not be understood as an absolute prohibition. / New Testament / M. Th. (New Testament)