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.

M.A. / This research was conducted to establish greater clarity regarding God's sovereignty and His predetermined will. Many different views are held on this subject. Views on predestination have been much debated over the centuries with many believers being undecided or unsure on this subject. What adds to the confusion is that man cannot comprehend life outside of time and therefore finds it difficult to grasp the concept of God having knowledge of all things occurring within time. In order to gain a greater perspective and insight on the subject it was decided to trace the development of the concept of God's establishing His predetermined will through the Scriptures. Approaches to this subject in the past were clouded by the fact that many Christian groups held to the view that the Scriptures are the infallible Word of God. Many scholars in recent years have come to the realisation that the Bible, though containing the Word of God, displays the fallibility of man. This is the approach taken in interpreting Scripture for this thesis. The view was also taken that the revelation of Christ is seen as the key to interpreting Scripture (Heb. 1:1-3). The various factors influencing the writers of Scripture were also taken into account.

The essay consists of five main chapters with an introduction and conclusion. This defines the limits of the essay and explains the methodology employed. These chapters are examined particularly with reference to the Spirit as the agent of fulfillment of the old, and the inaugurator of the new. 'The main text examined is Lk. 1.35. The Spirit is shown to be also used in a skillful linking and differentiation of John the Baptist and Jesus. Through a fairly detailed synoptic comparison, the peculiarly Lukan emphasis is brought to light. The Baptism is linked with 1.35 and the Transfiguration. Again both the Baptism and Temptation are shown to be seen in the light of the fulfillment of the Old Covenant. All the lines of fulfilment join together in the Spirit's descent on Jesus. The immediate result of this is the testing of his Messiahship, and Proclamation in the synagogue of Nazareth. This proclamation is coupled with the Luken rejection motif. The Spirit is seen to be especially involved in Jesus' ministries of exorcism and healing, but also in his preaching and teaching. The position of Lk 4.18-19 is seen to be of great importance. The main problem is the lack of specific reference to the Spirit. This is resolved in similar fashion to the question of the Messianic Secret. The relation of the apostles to the spirit is also discussed, since this is relevant to the ministry of the Church. Firstly the relation between the Transfiguration and Ascension is examined. This points to the fundamental centrality of the Ascension in Luke's theology. Pentecost is then seen as the fulfilling of the Ascension in the Church. Secondly, as a minor theme, the resurrection appearances are looked into and the similarities with Johannine thought are noted. This raises the question of the historicity of the Lukan schematization. In the examination of Pentecost itself the problem of the quotation from Joel and also the relation of Pentecost to the founding of the Church and the Gentile mission are raised. The Spirit is revealed to be active in two main areas : (1) the mission of the Church in evangelization - this is especialy seen in the areas of preaching, miracles and the life of the Church ; (2) the establishing and justification of the Gentile mission - this overriding concern is shown to obscure the other functions of the Spirit especially in the realm of Baptism and the Christian life of the individual. Thus Luke's historical sense is seen to be coupled with a theological desire to justify and bolster the Gentile mission. This draws out the various conclusions within the essay. The question of 'salvation-history' is raised and a solution found in terms of Luke's use of the Spirit. In broad outline the schema of Conzelmann is accepted. The Lukan eschatology is mentioned in an attempt to find a solution to questions raised by the comparison of Luke with Paul and John. This comparison is only meant to place the main conclusions of the essay within the context of the wider New Testament.

From Introduction: The fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, from the dead is the central fact of Christian faith and teaching. This centrality is certainly accorded it in the Bible, but has often been forgotten in the thinking, practice and worship of the Christian Church. (The paucity of available contemporary literature on the subject is one fact which may serve to illustrate this.) The subject of the first Christian sermon preached on the Day of Pentecost was on the Resurrection. The Jesus whom they had crucified, God had made both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2. 37.) The Gospels would belie their name if they had left us with an account of the life and tragic death of a man who claimed to know and reveal God in a special way. The news is good news precisely because of the Resurrection of our Lord from the dead.

M.Litt. et Phil. / From this study it comes to light that although Saint Chrysostom was a strict ascetic, he was a great theologian on love and marriage, and he confronted the different themes pertaining to marriage with great love and philanthropy.

Various religious ideas are expressed in both the Old and the New Testament. Although these ideas do not express a single theology within the Biblical literature, some basic ideas do reoccur. Among these are notions about man, his relationship to God and to society. These concepts of man and his relationships may be brought together to form a composite "man" which might be referred to as Biblical Man. There are contemporary views of Biblical Man which may not in fact be Biblical. Such a view is the notion that man is formed of two or three {listinct parts: body and soul, or body, soul and spirit. It is the purpose of this thesis to discover whether or not the popular concept of body, soul, and spirit representing three distinct parts of man is Biblical. In order to develop this thesis, both the Old and the New Testaments have been researched for ideas pertaining to Biblical Man. Of importance to the background of New Testament thought are the "extraneous" compositions comprising the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha. Therefore, this literature has also been reviewed. The first topic covered in this investigation is "Man in Community. This has been examined in order to understand Biblical Man's relationship to society. Other topics covered are the three terms which are popularly conceived as forming man's trichotomy: "body," "soul," and "spirit." Each of these topics have been reviewed in the Old Testament, the inter-testamental literature, and finally, the New Testament, for ideas pertaining to man. This investigation has included a variety of scholarly works in addition to the English translations of the Biblical and non- Biblical literature. For the purpose of uniformity, English translations of terms researched have been used with the exception of direct quotations. Also, where necessary for clarification, the Hebrew and Greek transliterations have been used.

AFRIKAANS: Gemeentelike aanbidding beleef huidiglik twee uiterste strome. Aan die een kant is daar 'n ou ortodoksie wat vir baie geen betekenis meer inhou nie. Aan die ander kant is daar die charismatiese beweging met die sogenaamde tekens-en-wonders-beweging aan die spits, wat weer die fokus weg van God af neem en dit op die individu se behoeftes plaas. Die probleem is aangewakker deur die feit dat daar 'n kloof tussen die sistematiese en praktiese teologie gekom het, waarin die sistematiese teologie nie meer vir die praktiese teologie dikteer nie. Nou is dit so dat wat 'n mens in verband met God glo, 'n uitwerking op die praktyk van sy aanbidding sal hê. Daarom moet 'n teologie van aanbidding by God begin sodat aanbidding 'n reaksie op God is. Aanbidding as reaksie op God word geï1lustreer deur die feit dat beide die Ou en Nuwe Testament aanbidding uitdruk as 'n aksie waarin die aanbidder laag voor God buig. Dit druk 'n gesindheid van se1fvemedering uit, waarin die aanbidder sy nietigheid voor God verklaar. Sonder hierdie gesindheid is geen ware aanbidding moontlik nie. AIle ander liggaamshoudings en liturgiese aksies is onderhewig aan 'n gesindheid, waarin die aanbidder laag voor God moet buig. Wanneer 'n mens in 'n teologie van aanbidding by God begin, moet aanbidding 'n reaksie op beide sy transendensie en immanensie wees. Onder hierdie twee wesenskenmerke van God, kan al sy attribute geplaas word. In sy transendensie is God heilig. In sy heiligheid is Hy beide verhewe en sondeloos. Sy heilige transendensie bevat dus beide verhoudings- en morele betrippe. Die gepaste reaksie van die gemeente op God se transendente heiligheid is dié van vrees en ontsag, wat uitloop op sondebelydenis. In sy immanente liefde is God naby aan sy skepping en staan Hy in sy immanensie in verskeie verbonde met sy skepping, in die Ou Testament met Israel en in die Nuwe Testament met sy kerk in Christus. In Christus het God nader as ooit gekom en in sy Seun het Hy onder sy mense kom woning maak en Hom oor die mens kom ontferm. Sy immanensie word nog duideliker in die immanente Heilige Gees. Beide die Vader en die Seun is immanent deur die Gees. Hierdie immanensie word in die erediens gevier en beleef. Die gemeente reageer deur God te loof, omdat Hy sy immanente liefde aan hulle in Christus bewys het, asook in die alledaagse lewe by hulle betrokke is. Met beide God se transendensie en immanensie stewig gevestig in die erediens, beleef die gemeente ‘n ontmoeting met God op sy terme, en nie volgens menslike smaak nie. Die balans wat daar in die erediens bestaan, sal ‘n opvoedkundige uitwerking op lidmate hê sodat hulle God ook in terme van sy immanensie en transendensie in die alledaagse lewe kan dien. Sodoende sal hulle leer om Hom beide life te hê en te vrees. ENGLISH: Church worship is currently experiencing two radical forms: On the one hand there is the old orthodox liturgies that for many hold no meaning anymore. On the other hand there is the charismatic movement with the so-called signs-and-wonders-movement leading it, which takes the focus away from God and places it on the individual and his needs. The problem is made worse by the fact that systematic and practical theology have become separated and that the practical theology is not being dictated anymore by the systematic theology. It is a fact that what one believes about God, will have a definite effect on one's practice in worship. Therefore a theology of worship must begin with God, in order that worship may be a reaction to God. Worship as a reaction to God is being illustrated by the fact that both Old and New Testaments show worship as an action in which the worshiper prostrates himself before God. It shows an attitude of self-humiliation, through which the worshiper acknowledges his own insignificance before God. No worship is possible without this attitude. All other bodily positions and liturgical actions are subject to this attitude in which prostration is at least the heart's intention. Whenever one begins in a theology of worship with God, worship must become a reaction to both God's transcendence and immanence, under which all his attributes can be listed. In his transcendence God is holy. In his holiness He is both exalted and without sin. His holy transcendence is therefore being described both in relational and moral terms. The congregation's proper reaction to God's transcendence IS that of fear and reverence, which results in the confession of sins. In his immanent love God is near his creation. In his immanence he made covenants with creation, in the Old Testament with Israel and in the New Testament with his church in Christ. In Christ God came nearer than ever before and in his Son he came to live among his people and mercifully took pity on them. His immanence is being intensified by the immanent Holy Spirit. Both Father and Son are immanent through the Spirit. This immanence is being celebrated and experienced in church worship. In reaction, the congregation praises God because He has proved his immanent love to them in Christ and He is still involved in the lives of his children. When both God's transcendence and immanence are being acknowledged in the worship service, the congregation can meet with God on his terms, and not according to human taste. A proper balance will have an educational effect on members, so that they will also serve God in terms of his immanence and transcendence in their daily lives. Thus they will learn to both love and fear Him. / Dissertation (MA (Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2001. / Dogmatics and Christian Ethics / unrestricted

Submitted to the Faculty of Theology and Religion Studies in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Theology in the Department of Missiology, Religion Studies and Practical Theology at the University of Zululand, 2003. / This dissertation focusses on the biblical role of women in the contemporary church, taking into account God's original plan and purpose for women in Genesis 1 and 2, the changes which occurred as a result of the Fall in Genesis 3, and the influence of the various cultures and traditions, especially in the Old Testament period, on the attitudes toward and treatment of women. Jesus' apparently revolutionary attitude towards women challenged the Jewish status quo, directing the people back to His Father's original plan and purpose for the relationship between men and women. His attitude is reflected in the teachings of the apostles in the New Testament, women being spiritually equal before God, yet having different and complementary roles and functions to fulfil. The clear hierarchical structure of authority which was laid down by God in the beginning, is therefore reinforced through Scripture. The strong influence of feminism over the past century is investigated, where women are demanding equal rights in all spheres. As a result, the call for full ordination of women within the Church is now widely acceptable even in evangelical circles. It appears that women are "abandoning" the biblical role which God ordained for them. The aim of this study is to explore the validity of women in leadership roles within the church and whether this practice deviates from God's original plan revealed in His Word or not. The research seeks to trace this tendency in some mainline churches and to prove the hypothesis that this is due to a misinterpretation of the Scriptures and a lack of biblical teaching on this subject. The central finding is that there certainly is confusion among today's Christians on this issue, and that feminist thinking has drawn both pastors and laity alike away from the biblical principles of authority. The study concludes that women do have a very crucial role to play in the contemporary church, a vast number of ministries being open to them, allowing them to exercise all their spiritual gifts. The only biblical restraint and prohibition, however, is that they are not permitted to preach, teach, lead or rule over men in any way within the church, such positions of authority being reserved for men only. Women should therefore be discouraged from assuming leadership over men, and should spend more time encouraging men to lead in a godly manner, both in the home and in the church, so that they might fulfil their God-ordained purpose. My submission is that if men and women live and serve Him within the authority structure which He has set in place, God will surely be glorified and His kingdom extended.

Submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Theology in the field of Practical Theology at the University of Zululand, 2005. / The New Testament does contain sufficient information in order that we may arrive at a reasonably clear understanding of the principles upon which the churches of the New Testament were based. The Scriptures do not give us a model of how churches must look and thus provides sufficient leeway to apply those principles within the context of different socio¬economic groups, cultures and ages. One of these principles is that of the "Priesthood of Every Believer". This principle, should effect every aspect of the structure of the church and the relationship between ministries and the flock. Thus ministries are intended to truly be servants of the churches and not masters or lords over assemblies. This does not leave leaders without authority, but it is an authority based on relationships, and of the flock recognising the gifts of the leader, rather than a delegated and imposed authority. Since leaders are not "staff or in the "employ" of the church, the question as to how they are to meet their temporal needs arises. The Scriptures draw no distinction between "full-time" and "part-time" ministries and both those who make tents and those who receive money from the church need to look to their Master - Jesus Christ for the supply of their needs. At the same time the labourer is worthy of his hire and local churches must take care of the needs of those who devote themselves to the work of the ministry. Ministries, as listed in Ephesians 4:11, do continue beyond the first century. Unfortunately tradition and modern trends have resulted in many of these ministries being grossly misunderstood and many modern forms of particularly the pastor, apostle and prophet are grotesque aberrations of the Lord's original intent. These aberrations have, to a large extent, resulted in the rejection of the notion that they do continue. While the Lord Jesus clearly intended for local churches be autonomous and not part of a larger organisation (except the Church Universal), they are by no means intended to be so independent that they do not interrelate with other assemblies. Thus local churches are self-sufficient, self governing and self-propagating while, at the same time, being in loving and supportive relationship with churches and men outside the local church.

A dissertation submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Theology University of Zululand, 2004 / In this dissertation I explore the relevance of Christ's teachings on peace, and its effectiveness over the years, namely, through the lives of three individuals, Leo Tolstoy, Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. Special attention is paid to each one's philosophy of non-violence as well as their understanding and application of the concept resist not evil by force. Included also are current thoughts pertaining to non-violence. My conclusion is that the doctrine of non¬violence requires much more than just abstinence from violence to be effective. It involves a change in mindset, emotional responses, spiritual accountability, social transformation, self-worth, discipline and most importantly restraint. This study is based on qualitative research conducted by myself. It will show that the ultimate source of peace is God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.