Michael Servetus (1508 - 1553) and Emanuel Swedenborg (1688 - 1772) are both considered heretics. They share many concepts about the nature of God, especially their rejection orthodox Nicene and Chalcedonian theology. This thesis explores their respective theologies relating to the Trinity and Christology, with speculation of what sources they may have had in common. While attention is paid to Ignatius, Irenaeus and Tertullian, particular attention is paid to Tertullian, whose work Adversus Praxean lays the foundation of Servetus' ideas and has much in common with Swedenborg's theology. In light of their similarity to Tertullian, the question is asked if Servetus and Swedenborg would have been called heretics prior to Nicaea. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D.Th. (Church History)

The most popular paradigm for Jesus is 'Jesus as the Divine Saviour'. This image is inadequate for understanding the historical Jesus, because it is also inaccurate as an image for the Christian life. Marcus J Borg claims that the Christian life is about a relationship with God that involves us in a journey of transformation. In advocating the 'Third Quest', Borg develops an alternative image of 'Jesus as Jewish mystic ', contrary to the idea of 'Jesus as Jewish/Christian Messiah '. The image of Borg involves five universal religious personality types. The paradigm shift from 'Jesus as the Divine Saviour' to that of 'Jesus as Jewish mystic' is investigated as well as the relevance and consequences of this, for everyday religion and the conventional church. A plea for a positive assessment of the issue of the historical Jesus is presented. This could have existential implications for South African society as a whole. / Biblical and Ancient Studies / M.Th. (New Testament)

This thesis is a comparative study of the concept and role of the law in the theologies of Rosemary Radford Ruether and Gustaf Wingren. The analysis of their theologies shows that Wingren uses the law as a formal theological category and Ruether does not. The absence of the law in Ruether's theology has implication for theological ethics. For Wingren the law has two uses. The first use, the so called political use, is that which compels and coerces ethical behavior in the human. The first use of the law is used to insure that all humans receive the fullness of life that God intends for all of creation. The second use of the law, the so called spiritual use, accuses the human when he/she does not meet the demands of the law. When the conscience is accused the human is prepared to hear the gospel. For Wingren, the gospel is what gives the human a new will to live by freeing the human from the burden and condemnation of the law. The law and the gospel serve each other but have distinct functions. The law demands ethical behavior and the gospel gives salvation. According to Wingren, the source of ethical behavior is located in the doctrine of creation not in the doctrine of the revelation of God through Jesus Christ; thus preserving the notion that the gift of grace is not earned by good works but is given freely. For Ruether, appropriate ethical behavior is revealed to humans through paradigmatic individuals who denounce systems of oppression and announce God's intent for creation, namely, liberation. Jesus is one such paradigmatic individual who both denounces oppression and announces the kingdom of God. Jesus both demands justice in relationships and offers liberation. The gospel message of Jesus, in effect, collapses the law and the gospel into one entity. The follower of Jesus hears that salvation is dependent upon appropriate ethical behavior thereby nullifying the notion that grace is an unearned gift. The thesis concludes with a constructive statement which develops a feminist theology based on Wingren's concept of the law / Biblical and Ancient Studies / D. Th. (Systematic Theology)

This thesis is a missiological study of the francophone churches in the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria. Francophone churches may be classified as African Initiated Churches (AIC) that have been planted by migrants from the French speaking countries of central Africa. They are characterised by the use of French and English as languages of worship and communication. The planting and the presence of these churches have become a more visible and remarkable mission phenomenon drawing scientific attention and is worthy of studying. The main issue of this study is the missionality of the Francophone churches. The investigation concerns the ways in which Francophone churches understand the mission of God, known as missio Dei, and the ways in which they express it in the community. In practice the exploration of the missionality of the Francophone churches discloses their nature, raison d’être, and their purpose, as well as their ministries, and allows us to determine the relevancy of these churches in the community. For this reason, in the study I explore and describe also the concept of the missional church in order to apply it to the Francophone churches. To that end, “Patterns of missional church” are used to measure the extent to which Francophone churches are missional. The study suggests the parameters of the development of a missional culture in a Francophone congregation and highlights the importance of the missional leadership in this respect. Finally the study proposes some missional ministries or contextual ministries that may express practically the missionality and consequently the relevancy of Francophone churches in their context. / Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology / D. Th. (Missiology)

L'opera presenta una nuova edizione critica del testo greco degli "Estratti da Teodoto" di Clemente Alessandrino oltre alla prima traduzione italiana completa. Alcuni capitoli introduttivi e un esteso commento permettono di apprezzare la ricchezza di contenuti di questa fonte di inizio III sec. per lo studio dello gnosticismo, letteratura cristiana antica, patristica e storia del dogma. Gli "Estratti da Teodoto" non sono una raccolta di frammenti originali copiati da fonti gnostiche principalmente valentiniane, come si crede abitualmente. Ad un'analisi approfondita essi appaiono come una collezione di tredici frammenti tratti dalle "Ipotiposi", un'opera perduta di Clemente. La natura e il contenuto di questi frammenti mostrano che la tradizionale suddivisione degli ETh in quattro sezioni (Sagnard) non è ricevibile. Deve pure essere abbandonato il tentativo di individuare precisamente le parti 'valentiniane' e 'clementine'. Clemente riporta raramente citazioni letterali tratte dalle sue fonti, mentre molto spesso presenta le dottrine 'eterodosse' in modo indiretto, proponendo delle sintesi ('epitomes'). Nella prima parte degli ETh Clemente presenta e discute soprattutto dottrine valentiniane, probabilmente 'orientali'. Tuttavia, a partire principalmente dal frammento 11 illustra il pensiero di Teodoto. Costui sembra abbia sviluppato e modificato dottrine del valentinianesimo 'occidentale', come dimostra il confronto con la 'Grande Notizia' di Ireneo. / The work presents a new critical edition of the greek text of "Excerpta ex Theodoto" of Clement of Alexandria together with the first complete Italian translation. Some introductory chapters and an extensive commentary allow you to appreciate the richness of the contents of this early third century source for the study of Gnosticism, ancient Christian literature, patristic and history of dogma. The ETh are not a collection of original fragments copied from Gnostic sources mainly valentinian, as believed to routinely. For an in-depth analysis they appear to be a compilation of thirteen fragments from "Hypotyposeis", lost work of Clement. The nature and extent of these fragments show that the traditional division of the ETh in four sections is unacceptable. It must also be abandoned the attempt to accurately identify 'valentinian' and 'clementinian' parts. Clement shows a few quotes verbatim from his sources. Very often shows 'heterodox' doctrines indirectly proposing summaries ('epitomes'). In the first part of the collection Clement presents and discusses especially valentinian doctrines, probably 'eastern'. Instead, starting mainly from the fragment 11, he presents the Theodotus thought. He seems develope and modify doctrines of 'western' valentinianism, as demonstrated by the comparison with the 'Great Notice' of Irenaeus.

Polarisé par l’événement du jubilé de l’an 2000, Jean-Paul II, tout au long de son pontificat, achemine l’Église catholique dans un long pèlerinage vers le IIIe millénaire de l’humanité. À l’aube du XXIe siècle, avec le contenu théologique du concile Vatican II pour boussole fiable, le pape polonais arbore une vision pastorale originale marquée par l’expression « nouvelle évangélisation ». Reprise de l’épiscopat d’Amérique latine, cette expression devient ainsi son emblème et son fer de lance durant les quelque 27 années de son pontificat. Largement récupérée par maints milieux ecclésiaux, l’expression méritait qu’on en produise une étude systématique à la lumière de la théologie pastorale de celui qui en a été le divulgateur privilégié. Pour ce faire, nous avons choisi comme texte fondateur à notre étude sa lettre apostolique Tertio Millennio Adveniente publiée en 1994, en raison de la vision pastorale qui s’en dégage à l’aube de l’an 2000. Ce texte, qui couvre la période du concile Vatican II jusqu’à l’entrée de l’Église catholique dans le IIIe millénaire, définit le cadre temporel de notre recherche. Par ailleurs, il nous permet de retenir trois référents théologiques pour conduire notre étude. Nous les analysons et nous en conduisons une synthèse théologique à travers trois regards synoptiques qui acheminent progressivement la thèse vers sa conclusion. Le premier référent théologique retenu est l’exhortation apostolique Evangelii Nuntiandi du pape Paul VI ; le deuxième référent est l’ouvrage de Karol Wojtyla Aux sources du renouveau ; le troisième référent est l’exhortation postsynodale Ecclesia in America. Avec une démarche herméneutique justifiée, et par la synthèse de ces référents théologiques, trois aboutissants voient le jour. Le premier regarde l’application pastorale du concile Vatican II : dans un regard pastoral justifié par une anthropologie définie, le pasteur articule les constitutions Lumen Gentium et Gaudium et Spes pour proposer une praxis pastorale. Le second aboutissant parle alors de la notion de la créativité de la foi. Cette créativité de la foi se décline, elle, dans les médiations culturelles – troisième aboutissant – qui s’articulent elles-mêmes autour des concepts d’attitudes et de dialogue wojtylien. La critique proposée en conclusion de thèse porte directement sur l’anthropologie proposée par Jean-Paul II sous-jacente à chacun de ces trois aboutissants. / The entire pontificate of Pope John Paul II, polarized by the event of the Jubilee of the year 2000, can be summarized as a long pilgrimage of the Catholic Church towards the Third Millennium of humanity. At the dawn of the XXIst century, having as a sure guide the theological contents of Vatican Council II, the Polish Pope held up for all to see an original pastoral vision marked by the expression “new evangelization”. Borrowed from the Latin American Bishops this expression became his emblem and spearhead during nearly 27 years of pontificate. Since it has been largely appropriated by various ecclesial groups, a systematic study of the expression, in the light of the pastoral theology of its privileged discloser, had to be initiated. To do so we chose, as founding text of our study, the Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio Adveniente, published in 1994, due to its pastoral vision at the dawn of the year 2000. This text, covering the period of the Vatican Council II up to the entry of the Roman Catholic Church in the Third Millennium, defined the temporal framework of our research and permitted us to retain three theological tenets. We analyzed them and produced a theological synthesis through three synoptic views which gradually led the thesis to its conclusion. The Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi of Pope Paul VI was the starting point; the second theological tenet was the document of John Paul II entitled Sources of Renewal, and the final tenet was the Post Synodal Exhortation Ecclesia in America. By the analysis and the synthesis of these three tenets, with a justified hermeneutical initiative, three outcomes emerged. The first one looked at the pastoral application of the Vatican Council II: in a pastoral outlook justified by a defined anthropology, the minister articulated the Constitutions Lumen Gentium and Gaudium et Spes to suggest a pastoral praxis. The second outcome then developed the notion of the creativity of the faith. This creativity of the faith declined itself in the cultural mediations – third outcome – which articulate themselves around the concepts of attitudes and Wojtylien dialogue. The proposed critical conclusion of the thesis directly concerned the anthropology proposed by John Paul II underlying in each of these three outcomes.

In addition to his renowned musical output, Richard Wagner produced a logorrhoeic prose oeuvre, including a dramatic sketch of the last weeks of the life of Jesus Christ entitled Jesus von Nazareth. Though drafted in 1848-1849, it was published only posthumously, and has therefore been somewhat neglected in the otherwise voluminous Wagnerian literature. This thesis first examines the origins of Jesus von Nazareth amidst the climate of revolution wherein it was conceived, ascertaining its place within Wagner’s own internal development and amongst the radical thinkers who influenced it. While Ludwig Feuerbach has traditionally been seen as the most prominent of these, this thesis examines Wagner’s sources more broadly. The thesis then summarizes and analyzes Jesus von Nazareth itself, particularly in terms of Wagner’s use of biblical scripture. The thesis demonstrates how his not infrequent misuse thereof constitutes one way in which Wagner transmogrifies Jesus as mutable lens through which his own ideology of social revolution is reflected. It also attempts to provide a critical assessment of the relative dramatic merits of Jesus von Nazareth and looks into Wagner’s ultimate decision not to complete the work. The thesis then briefly summarizes the changes that occurred in Wagner’s mature Christological outlook subsequent to his drafting of Jesus von Nazareth, attempting to concisely demonstrate some developments beyond Wagner’s well-known encounter with the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer. The thesis concludes with an evaluation of how Jesus von Nazareth informed Wagner’s general religious outlook and the extent to which this worldview is a productive one.

Summaries in German and English / Ziel der Forschungsarbeitet ist es, zu zeigen, dass die johanneische Weinstockrede das alttestamentlich und frühjüdisch geprägte Weinstockmotiv aufgreift und weiter entfaltet. So finden sich in Joh 15:1-8 die Beziehungsebene zwischen Gott und seinen Nachfolgern, die ethische Konnotation, der Gerichtsgedanke, der messianisch-eschatologische Aspekt und der Gedanke von Fruchtbarkeit und Fülle wieder. Es wird deutlich, dass sich in Jesus erfüllt hat, worauf die alttestamentlichen und frühjüdischen Schriften durch die Verwendung des Weinstockmotivs abgezielt haben: Er ist der angekündigte Messias, dessen Kommen Fülle mit sich bringt. Dies hat sich bereits durch Jesu erstes Zeichen, die Verwandlung von Wasser zu Wein (Joh 2:1-11), angedeutet. Neu ist der Gedanke, dass Jesus seine Nachfolger in sein Wirken mit einbezieht. Sie partizipieren an seiner messianischen Fülle und produzieren den Überfluss in Abhängigkeit von Jesus auch selbst mit. Voraussetzung dafür ist, dass die Jünger ihre enge Beziehung zu Jesus durch Gebet und das Einhalten seines Wortes aufrechterhalten und sich an seinem Vorbild orientieren. / The purpose of this thesis is to show that the Johannine vine speech takes up and further develops the vine motif of the Old Testament and early Jewish history. In John 15:1-8 we find emphasis on the relationship between God and his disciples, the ethical connotation, the warning of judgement, the messianic-eschatological aspect and the concepts of fruitfulness and fullness. I will show in this thesis, that the the Old Testament and early Jewish writings that use the vine motif are fulfilled in Jesus Christ: He is the announced Messiah, whose coming will bring fullness. This is already implied in Jesus’s first miracle, turning water into wine (John 2:1-11). What is new is that Jesus includes his disciples in his ministry. They participate in his messianic abundance and in dependence on Jesus they themselves produce abundance. The prerequisite for this abundant fruitfulness is a close relationship with Jesus through prayer, abiding in his word, and following his example. / New Testament / M. Th.(New Testament)

This dissertation is presented in two parts. It first identifies the shape and content of an ancient system of Christian thought predicated on the theology of the cross of Jesus Christ, and proposes the marks typifying its theologians. Over against the ensuing hermeneutic it next finds the project of twentieth century Swiss theologian Karl Barth to exhibit many of the defining characteristics of this system, and Barth himself to be fairly deemed a modern theologian of the cross. He crucially recovers, reshapes and reasserts the classical theologia crucis as a modern theological instrument, one answering enlightened theology’s self-glorifying accommodation to modernity with the living Word of the cross. The crucicentric system itself is found to comprise two major theological dimensions, epistemological and soteriological. Each of these comprises dialectically corresponding aspects connected with false and true creaturely glory. The cruciform Word (or theology) speaking through this system likewise moves in two directions. It declares negatively that any attempt by the creature to circumvent the cross so as to know about God directly, or to condition God's electing decision, is necessarily the attempt to know and act as God alone may know and act - an attempt therefore on the glory of God. It declares positively that in the crucified Christ God formally discloses the knowledge of God, and determines the creature for God. This knowledge and election are appropriated to the creature as, drawn into the cruciform environment, its attempt to glorify itself is negated and Christ's exalted humanity received in exchange. Thence it is lifted to participate in Christ's mind and in his glory, a process guided by the Holy Spirit and completed eschatologically. The database for this research includes selected primary materials in the Apostle Paul, Athanasius, a group of medieval mystical theologians, the reformer Martin Luther - particularly here his Heidelberg Disputation, and Karl Barth. It also pays attention to the recent secondary literature peripherally or more concertedly connecting itself to the theology of the cross, of whatever period. In this literature numerous suggestions for the content of the theology of the cross exist, a major methodological task in the current research being to bring these together systematically. To the extent that the inner structure of the system carrying the cruciform Word has not previously been made explicit, and Barth's crucicentric status not finally determined, in moving towards these achievements this dissertation breaks fresh ground. In the process a new test by which to decide the crucicentric status of any theological project is developed, and a further and crucicentric way of reading Barth proposed. / This dissertation identifies the shape, content, and marks of the theology of the cross, an ancient and still extant epistemological and soteriological system of Christian thought. Applying the resulting hermeneutic it then shows this system to be present with renewed vitality and future significance in the modern project of seminal Swiss theologian Karl Barth (1886-1968).

This dissertation is presented in two parts. It first identifies the shape and content of an ancient system of Christian thought predicated on the theology of the cross of Jesus Christ, and proposes the marks typifying its theologians. Over against the ensuing hermeneutic it next finds the project of twentieth century Swiss theologian Karl Barth to exhibit many of the defining characteristics of this system, and Barth himself to be fairly deemed a modern theologian of the cross. He crucially recovers, reshapes and reasserts the classical theologia crucis as a modern theological instrument, one answering enlightened theology���s self-glorifying accommodation to modernity with the living Word of the cross. The crucicentric system itself is found to comprise two major theological dimensions, epistemological and soteriological. Each of these comprises dialectically corresponding aspects connected with false and true creaturely glory. The cruciform Word (or theology) speaking through this system likewise moves in two directions. It declares negatively that any attempt by the creature to circumvent the cross so as to know about God directly, or to condition God's electing decision, is necessarily the attempt to know and act as God alone may know and act - an attempt therefore on the glory of God. It declares positively that in the crucified Christ God formally discloses the knowledge of God, and determines the creature for God. This knowledge and election are appropriated to the creature as, drawn into the cruciform environment, its attempt to glorify itself is negated and Christ's exalted humanity received in exchange. Thence it is lifted to participate in Christ's mind and in his glory, a process guided by the Holy Spirit and completed eschatologically. The database for this research includes selected primary materials in the Apostle Paul, Athanasius, a group of medieval mystical theologians, the reformer Martin Luther - particularly here his Heidelberg Disputation, and Karl Barth. It also pays attention to the recent secondary literature peripherally or more concertedly connecting itself to the theology of the cross, of whatever period. In this literature numerous suggestions for the content of the theology of the cross exist, a major methodological task in the current research being to bring these together systematically. To the extent that the inner structure of the system carrying the cruciform Word has not previously been made explicit, and Barth's crucicentric status not finally determined, in moving towards these achievements this dissertation breaks fresh ground. In the process a new test by which to decide the crucicentric status of any theological project is developed, and a further and crucicentric way of reading Barth proposed.