The issue of ecclesiastical ministries, services and offices has always attracted attention of theological scholars and church ministers. The early Christian Church shows a great variability of its organizational models. The suitable starting point for their explanation is the charismatic phenomena in the earliest Church. In the Epistle to the Ephesians, prophets stand alongside the apostles as those who form the fundaments of Church teaching. According to Luke's Acts, the imposition of hands accompanies the mediation of the Spirit during the process of being entrusted with various services in the Church. There are numerous specifications of charismata in St Paul's letters; at the same time, some of these gifts can transform into permanent offices, like those of leadership or teaching. Early Christians especially revered martyrdom, particularly that of their pastors. Itinerant prophets also enjoyed high esteem. Their pronouncements in ecstatic moments were considered inspired by the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, itinerant missionaries potentially also presented a grave danger of heresies that could spread among the faithful. However, the constitutive role in the Church belonged undoubtedly to the apostles, the only ministry established by the Lord himself. According to Luke's writings, the concept of apostles is reduced only to the Twelve. Nevertheless, Paul in his letters appeals to his personal apostolate. Besides that, a clearer concept of apostolate in the early Church there can be found also, namely that of the missionaries. In the Jewish Christian milieu, the early Church followed in the exercise of the presbyter's ministry, known from the synagogue life. In the Pastoral Epistles, presbyters operate together with deacons and bishops as leaders of the various Churches. In the epistles of Ignatius of Antiochia, dated to the beginning of the second Christian century, the three grades of Church hierarchy, i.e. the deacons, the presbyters and the sole bishop, are mentioned as already existing. This type of monarchic episcopacy soon became the prevalent leadership model of Church organization, known throughout its history.

Orientadores: Andre Leonardo Chevitarese, Pedro Paulo Abreu Funari / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Filosofia e Ciencias Humanas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-05T17:24:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Silva_RobertaAlexandrinada_M.pdf: 709742 bytes, checksum: 07d17ed4da3eac86fef561532ed5888a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: Este texto analisa a participação da mulher na proposta de Reino de Deus apresentado pelo ministério de Jesus e, ao mesmo tempo, abordar os Movimentos de Jesus e, posteriormente, o cristão fixado nas estruturas de seu tempo e meio. Com a observação das várias expressões sobre o Reino de Deus contida nos textos dos evangelistas pode-se fazer um estudo de gênero entendendo a relação que estes trabalhavam a idéia de Reino de Deus com as mulheres, e como isso era perpassado nos diálogos de Jesus e das comunidades cristãs / Abstract: This text analyzes the participation of woman in the proposal Kingdom of God presented by the department of Jesus and, at the same time, approaches the Movements of Jesus and, subsequently, the Christian set in the structures of his time and half. With the observation of the several expressions about the Kingdom of God contained us texts of the evangelists is able to be done a study of kind understanding the relation that these worked Kingdom of God idea with the women, and as that to be passed us dialogues of Jesus and of the Christian communities / Mestrado / Historia Cultural / Mestre em História

O presente trabalho procura analisar a polêmica judaico-cristã em relatos de martírio durante a perseguição romana aos cristãos até o século IV. Abordaremos as principais temáticas que compunham essa polêmica em outras fontes cristãs e judaicas para indicar um cenário possível que pudesse alimentar conflitos entres os dois grupos religiosos. Defenderemos que essa rivalidade presente no discurso dos líderes servia para demarcar a alteridade religiosa e que não necessariamente era vivenciada pelo conjunto dos fiéis em conformidade com os textos, sobretudo, quando a identidade judaica e a identidade cristã estavam em construção. Mesmo em um momento crítico de perseguição religiosa, a multiplicidade de manifestações religiosas tanto no judaísmo quanto no cristianismo, contribuiu para a circulação de práticas, de crenças e para um contato mais estreito entre judeus e cristãos nesses primeiros séculos. Defenderemos que apesar da concepção de martírio judaico ser diferente da concepção cristã é possível estabelecer relações entre os dois martirológios. As Atas dos Mártires dão alguns indícios de que o conceito de martírio cristão desenvolvido pelo cristianismo gentio estabeleceu essa afirmação de alteridade diante de sua matriz judaica. / The aim of this work is to analyze the Judeo-Christian polemics in martyrdom reports produced during the Roman persecution of Christians until the fourth century. We will cover the main themes that made up this controversy in other Christian and Jewish sources to indicate a possible scenario that could fuel conflicts between both religious groups. We will defend that this rivalry in the discourse of leaders served to demarcate the religious otherness and that it was not necessarily experienced by all the faithful according to the texts, especially when Jewish identity and Christian identity were under construction. Even at a critical time of religious persecution, the multiplicity of religious manifestations in both Judaism and Christianity contributed to the circulation of practices, beliefs and to a closer contact between Jews and Christians in those early centuries. We will argue that despite the difference between the Jewish and the Christian conception of martyrdom, it is possible to establish relations between the two martyrologies. The Acts of the Martyrs give some evidence that the concept of Christian martyrdom developed by Gentile Christianity stated the otherness from its Jewish mother.

This thesis investigates the role of women in the early church as portrayed in 1 Timothy 2:9-15 using the recently-developed method of Rhetorical Analysis. It makes use of a rhetorical approach largely based on the method proposed by Kennedy, supplemented by insights from scholars who have emphasised the argumentative element in rhetoric. This method illustrates how the role of women in the church is decisively determined by the argument in the letter as a whole. A brief survey of classical rhetoric is given. The typical structure of a rhetorical discourse is listed with its component sections. The validity of using rhetorical analysis as a means for interpreting New Testament texts is justified. Textual units are identified from the structure of the text. Rhetorical insights are used to explain how the identified units cohere within the overall structure of the letter and how they relate to one another and interact. The thesis is developed that the section on women and teaching can only be meaningfully investigated in the light of the text as a whole and of the motifs in the letter. The thesis has a special focus on 2:9-15. This section is analysed in more detail than the rest of the text with the exception of 1 Timothy 1. As exordium, the latter provides the introduction to the situation dealt with in the letter, introduces the case, and sets the tone for the rest of the letter. The persuasive power of rhetoric in any situation depends to a large extent on its use of common tradition. The socio-cultural setting of the author is consequently analysed. Finally, the role of women in Graeco-Roman society is analysed in terms of motifs found in 1 Timothy 2:9-15.

This study examines the baptismal practices of the early Christian community using Tertullian’s ethical text on baptism in relation to his other writings to dialogue with the Roman Catholic understanding of baptism, original sin and grace. Tertullian referring to the sacramental form of baptism that is done with water, held that baptism is indispensable for salvation because it imparts the grace that washes away original sin and makes someone a Christian; and capable of attaining a matured Christian life. At the moment, the Roman Catholic Church does not confer baptism of water on polygamists, and subsequently fails to admit them to her sacramental life because of their polygamous relations. This raises a question regarding the salvation of these polygamous families. How do they receive baptismal grace and become part of the church? This study argues that church and baptism were inseparable right from the beginning of Christianity in the New Testament. People became members of the church by the fact of their baptism. This study does a hermeneutical retrieval of the early church’s teaching on baptism and original sin in the light of Tertullian as the pillar of western theology. The study concludes by invoking pastoral consideration to baptize polygamous families (husband and wives) who married before converting to the faith. They are not to enter into any new marriage after baptism since they have received Christ in their state. “Go and sin no more,” says Christ. / Dissertation (MA Theol)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / gm2014 / Church History and Church Policy / unrestricted

The thesis of this study is to argue that the term “office” and its meaning, as found in the New Testament, cannot be applied without reserve to the understanding of office in the present-day institutionalised church. The focus of this study is on the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa, officially named the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika. For the past few decades, the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika, gave much consideration to the view it holds of “office”. It is nonetheless still necessary to obtain more clarity on the matter insofar as it pertains to the meaning and practical execution of ministry. In this regard, almost every theological discipline can contribute towards obtaining such clarity. From a Biblical and Reformed perspective, the logical place to look for the answer would be in the documentation of both the New Testament and the early church of the second and third centuries CE. This study investigates the origin of “office”, as well as the intention of office as found in the New Testament and writings of the early church. The use of the term “office” and its meaning, as found in the New Testament, would not be appropriate for an understanding of office in the present-day church, as it would amount to an anachronistic use of what early Christians called “ministry”. When explained from a kerygmatic perspective, ministries in the New Testament can only serve as a guideline for the understanding and intention of office in the present-day church. The development of “office” is explained particularly in terms of the development of the concept of “elder” from early Judaism until the times of the church of the second and third century CE. This development is illustrated against the background of the group of Jesus followers surrounding the historical Jesus, the Pauline and deutero-Pauline epistles, including the Pastoral Epistles, as well as the early church. A basic assumption of this study is that the understanding of office and church cannot be separated from one another. Therefore, the development of office is explained against the background of the developing institutionalisation of the earliest church. As the church increasingly began to have a character of institutionalisation, the understanding of office developed within more fixed structures. This study illustrates that Paul’s view of the church, ministries, kerygma and charismata, is of central importance for the understanding of the New Testament’s intention of ministries. / Dissertation (MA(Teologie))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / New Testament Studies / unrestricted

The impetus of this study is that by understanding the way John Chrysostom (flor. 398 AD) interprets the gifts of the Spirit (Charismata) as an Antiochene exegete, insights may be yielded as to how the general tendency of Antiochene exegetes may aid in the interpretation of 1 Corinthians 12:1-13:3, which in turn also contributes to the current research on the New Testament. This study asks the question: How does John Chrysostom, as typical Antiochene exegete, interpret the charismata? In order to address this problem, an inductive-deductive method is followed, in which the general characteristics of the Antiochene exegetical school will be examined and then an analysis of the homilies of John Chrysostom, specifically his corpus Homilies on 1 Corinthians, homily 29 to 32, is given. Each homily is examined in the light of its contents, with specific reference to certain traits typical of Antiochene exegesis, such as sensitivity to history, social- and cultural customs, as well as to the grammar and rhetoric of, in this instance, Paul the Apostle. A translation of each homily is also provided. Finally, their value for current research is expounded. Each homily is translated and evaluated from the basis of the ancient Greek text, in which the homilies were originally composed. The homilies are also evaluated in the light of primary and secondary sources as inter-texts. Since the homilies are verbal commentaries, early Christian literature (of approximately 100-700 AD) on the same topic, the primary sources, are compared with the homilies of Chrysostom. Other ancient sources, not necessarily Christian, of the same period or earlier are also incorporated. But it is also necessary to view the homilies within the context of modern commentaries. Thus, a number of modern secondary sources are also evaluated in the light of the homilies and vice versa. In conclusion, the homilies depict an insightful image on how the Antiochene exegetical school viewed the charismata, which in turn, also provides valuable insights for modern interpreters. In this study of the Wirkungsgeschichte of 1 Corinthians 12:1-13:3, one is reminded that, although these primary sources are dated, they are still unexpendable resources for the current study of 1 Corinthians and of the New Testament in general. / Dissertation (MA (Ancient Languages and Cultures Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Ancient Languages / unrestricted

The thesis is dealing with the ideals of the primitive Church throughout the history of the Church up to the 13th century. It seeks to identify and reconstruct the ideals of the primitive Church, their development in the following centuries, and the partial forms of relevant ideals that became more generally established. Beyond the general ideal of 'following Christ', it identifies three specific forms of primitive Church ideals: the missionary ideal, the martyr ideal and the ideal of the Church servant. It also attempts to explain the causes and patterns of the development of these ideals. It confirms the understanding of the history of ancient and medieval Christianity as a process in which developments are determined not only by the current spiritual, political, social or economic context, but also by the constant engagement with earlier concepts. In doing so, it seeks to determine to what extent and in what ways later ideals were shaped by the model of the early church and whether the early church period can indeed be considered formative for later Christian ideals. It assesses how faithful the proclaimed returns to this model were, and how the persons shaping later forms of these ideals 'dealt' with this model.

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Current pentecostal scholarship is attempting to articulate pentecostal theological distinctives. For hermeneutics, this involves both a descriptive and a prescriptive approach to the use of the Bible. The descriptive approach appraises the historical roots of pentecostalism, which include the Wesleyan I Holiness movement, the radical Reformation, Tertullian and Montanism, and earliest charismatic communities. These understood Christian Scripture as guidelines to a Way of behaviour and testimony, rather than a source-book of doctrine. This 'alternative history' experienced the Enlightenment on a different level to protestantism and fundamentalism. Many of the concerns of historical church theology and hermeneutics during the last centuries are thus not always shared by pentecostals. The choice is: articulate a distinctive pentecostal hermeneutic, or 'borrow' from non-pentecostal theology. The prescriptive approach first investigates some of the latter options: some identify closely with conservative evangelical hermeneutics. Others prefer the political hermeneutic of the socio-political contextual theologies. The burgeoning Faith Movement has influenced many pentecostals. Some pentecostal scholars show interest in 'post-modern' literary theory. A viable pentecostal hermeneutic might be prescribed as follows: It respects the demands of scientific method, not ignoring the concerns of contemporary hermeneutical philosophy and literary theory. It highlights specifically pentecostal concerns: the teleology of any encounter with the text; historical continuity with the early church groups; implementation, demonstration and realisation of the literal intent of the text; the role of biblical narrative in defining experience of God; and the authority granted ongoing revelation via the charismata in the light of the canon. Application of a pentecostal hermeneutic would emphasise an holistic understanding of Scripture, the crucial role of the charismatic community, awareness of issues in the ongoing hermeneutical debate, and the need for the interpreter's personal ongoing charismatic experience. In a distinctively pentecostal exegesis of 1 Corinthians 14 prophecy is discussed as normal liturgical activity, as a confrontation of outsiders and unbelievers, in terms of its regulation, and in the light of spiritual discernment / Biblical and Ancient Studies / Th. D. (New Testament)