CHAPTER ONE. In the Old Testament we meet with the problem of suffering and reward, and the attempts made to resolve it. It becomes the one great problem after the time of the Exile. Most commentators are agreed that it grew to hold that place in relation to the increase of importance of the individual in Hebrew thinking. While certain aspects of the problem are presented in Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Psalm 73, the most important contributions are made by the Deuteronomist and the poet who wrote the Book of Job. The Deuteronomist theory presents the belief that there is a rigid correspondence between the sins of the individual and his suffering. The reply in Job makes it clear that this is not so. Job himself passes through the desperate situation of feeling deserted by God to a certain faith that whatever happens to him, God is faithful. CHAPTER TWO. Jesus' teaching on "discipleship". Basically Jesus's teaching centres around Mark 8 : 34, "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me". The cost of discipleship from this point of view means, then, that even as Jesus Himself bears the cross for the salvation of the world, so the disciple is called upon to bear that cross in association with his Lord. Jesus offers the reward of both a present foretaste and a future consummation of eternal life, as the disciple shares in His resurrection. St. Paul's teaching of "Life in Christ". The central teaching of Paul is found in Romans 6 : 11, "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." The cost of discipleship is death, the death of self- will. It means being crucified with Christ. The reward of the righteous man is both a present and future participation in the risen life of Christ. CHAPTER THREE The need of man. Because man is a sinner, being estranged from God in whose image he was created, he stands in need of being reconciled to God. This he cannot do himself because, to his sin, he is not able to make the full sacrifice of his self-will. "Man requires to be put right with God because as a matter of fact he is not right." The Christ. Only in the person of the God-man is God able to effect man's resolution. Jesus, the Christ, who alone of all men did not participate in the sinfulness of man, is this God-man, realising in Himself the fact that salvation can only be wrought by one who is both God and man. The necessity of the Cross. The death of the Christ is seen to be necessary both from the side of man and from that of God. It was essential that the Christ should give His life for man; everything for His purpose of salvation turns on the will to die. He must give himself to reconcile man to God. The sacrifice of the Cross. Seen in the context of the Old Testament sacrificial system, what is important about the sacrifice of the Christ is that on the cross He offered up His life for man. The sacrifice of the Christ is both in the category of divine revelation and that of human response. It is the love of God in its utter self-offering making a way whereby the sinner might be reconciled to Him. The use of the Ransom Theory of the atonement is regarded as inadequate for expressing this cost. Basically it is a costly sacrifice because it is the self-offering of the Son of God upon the cross. CHAPTER FOUR The New Testament picture. A closer analysis is made of the New Testament teaching of discipleship, where it is seen that it is required of men that he should make, like the Christ, the costly sacrifice of himself. Soren Kierkegaard. This existential thinker felt the need of awakening men to a full recognition of the costliness of life. Despair. Man, due to his state of sinfulness is in despair, for "sin can be defined as despair at not willing to be oneself or not willing to be oneself before God." It is necessary to make the leap of faith to pass from this despair. The Three Stages. These are the aesthetical, ethical and religious stages. The individual must enter the last by making the leap of faith out of his despair; and this leap means the costly commitment of the self to the Christ. "Purify your hearts." In this book, Kierkegaard analyses man's double-mindedness. He comes to two conclusions. "If anybody would will the Good truly, then he must with knowledge of himself be ready to renounce all double-mindedness. If anybody would will the Good truly, then he must be ready to do all for the Good, and suffer for for the Good." His teaching on the cost of discipleship could be summed up thus : "The negating of one's finite self, or the negating of one's finitude means for him nothing less than the conscious sacrifice of all that is finite." Paul Tillich. Tillich deals with the ultimate problem of being and non-being, and in the "Courage to be" he develops the reactions of the individual when he is faced with the possibility of his non-being. The individual can either lose himself in his world by the courage to be as a part, or lose his world in himself by the courage to be as himself. These two forms of courage are transcended by the courage to accept acceptance, which is the ultimate courage to be, in which the individual accepts the fact that though he is sinful, yet God accepts him. This courage is the outcome of faith, which is found in an encounter with the New Being, in which the self is lost in the Christ, being found also in the Christ. The disciple surrenders himself that he may be made more truly himself. CHAPTER FIVE In this chapter an attempt is made to analyse the reward of righteousness. This reward is firstly seen to be the outcome of the life of discipleship and not its motive. Basically it is found in the new quality of life which is called eternal life. It is a reward both in the future and in the present. In the future it is the fullness of life in communion, peace and joy in the presence of God. In the present it is a foretaste of that life which is to come, a present possession in the midst of finitude of communion, peace and joy with God. Ultimately this means participation in the resurrection of the Christ. CHAPTER SIX We can conclude from this thesis, then, that Jesus the Christ is the prototype of the Christian. Discipleship is costly because it means participation in His utter self-offering of Himself; and the righteous man, who is the one who by faith commits himself to and in the Christ, is rewarded with the new quality of eternal life. The death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ are the criteria of the cost of discipleship and the reward of the righteous man.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1996.

Afrikaans: Die doel van hierdie studie is om deur die gebruikmaking van die insigte van Q¬navorsing die tradisioneel aanvaarde uitgangspunt dat Jesus se etiese uitsprake in terme van 'n apokalipties-eskatologiese raamwerk verstaan moet word, te bevraagteken en daarteenoor te stel dat ons eerder 'n eties-eskatologiese vertrekpunt behoort te veronderstel. Die studie bespreek eerstens die standpunte van etici wat by Jesus 'n apokalipties-eskatologiese perspektief identifiseer en sy etiese uitsprake in terme van so 'n perspektief verstaan. In die navorsing word die temas wat verband hou met tempel, Seun van die Mens, Johannes die Doper en Koninkryk van God (aspekte wat sentraal in die prediking van Jesus staan) gebruik om die standpunte van hierdie tradisionele etici te beskryf en te verduidelik. Die standpunte van Nuwe-Testamentici wat meen dat Jesus se etiek geen eskatologiese konnotasies het nie, word in hoofstuk 3 bespreek. Dieselfde temas wat hierbo gemeld is, word gebruik om die standpunte van die nie¬eskatologiese denkers te verwoord. Hoofstuk 4 fokus op die Spreuke-Evangelie Q. Die ondersoek in hierdie verband bou voort op die navorsing van J S Kloppenborg oor die stratifikasie van Jesus¬tradisies in Q. Die studie toon dat daar in die eerste laag van Q (die stratum die naaste aan die historiese Jesus), nie apokaliptiese trekke aanwesig is nie. Hierdie bevinding bevestig die grond vir die twyfel rakende die tradisionele etici se oortuiging dat 'n apokaliptiese eskatologie die perspektief vorm van waaruit Jesus sy etiese onderwysings uitgespreek het . Vervolgens word 'n alternatiewe perspektief in die plek van die apokalipties¬eskatologiese voorgestel. Jesus se verwysing na die "Koninkryk van God" word verstaan as verwysende na 'n alternatiewe lewenstyl in die teenswoordige lewe van Jesus se volgelinge. In hoofstuk 6 word geargumenteer dat daar wel by Jesus van 'n eskatologie sprake is, maar dan gedefinieer as 'n etiese eskatologie. Die inhoud van so 'n etiese perspektief word verduidelik met behulp van die resultate van die navorsing van J S Kloppenborg, J D Crossan en R A Horsley. In hoofstuk 7 word twee gedeeltes, te wete Q 13:18-19 ) die gelykenis van die mosterdsaad) en Q 17:18-20, 31-35 (die metaforiese uitspraak oor die kinders op die markplein an aanleiding van ‘n navraag deur Johanes die Doper), eksegeties bespreek. Die doel van hierdie bespreking is om aan te toon hoe hierdie uitsprake van Jesus vanuit ‘n eties-eskatologiese perspektief gelees kan word en hoe so ‘n interpretasie verskil van ‘n etiek wat Jesus se uitsprake in terme van ‘n apokalipties-eskatologiese raamwerk verstaan. In die laaste hoofstuk word die insigte van hierdie studie eietyds toegepas deur Jesus se etiek te beskryf as ‘n subversiewe wysheid wat heelwat hedendaagse kerklike konvensies en gebruike krities bevraagteken. English: Drawing on the insights of Q research, the purpose of this study is to question the traditionally accepted position that Jesus' ethical sayings are to be understand in terms of an apocalyptic framework. It is argued that an ethical-eschatological point of departure is rather to be discerned in Jesus' teachings. The study first sketches the positions of those ethicists whose readings discern in Jesus' teachings an apocalyptic-eschatological point of departure and who understand his ethical sayings in terms of the latter. The themes temple, Son of Man, John the Baptist and Kingdom of God (aspects central to the preaching of Jesus) are used to spell out the positions of these traditional ethicists. Then, in chapter 3, the study outlines positions - opposed to the above¬mentioned ones - of New Testament scholars who view Jesus' sayings as not being eschatological at all. The study, again, makes use of the themes mentioned above in order to spell out the positions of non-eschatological thinkers. In chapter 4, which deals with the Sayings Gospel 0, J S Kloppenborg's research on the stratification of the Jesus tradition in 0 is considered. The findings indicate that no apocalyptic traits are apparent in the first layer of 0, the layer closest to the historical Jesus. The research shows that these findings form the basis for doubting the traditional ethicists' position that Jesus' ethics is apocalyptically-eschatologically grounded. An altemative perspective in place of the apocalyptical-eschatological one is suggested. Jesus' reference to the Kingdom of God is understood as referring to an altemative lifestyle in the here and now of the life of Jesus' followers. In chapter 6, it is argued that there may indeed be an eschatological perspective in Jesus' teachings, but that this would be an ethical-eschatological perspective. What this might entail is articulated with reference to the insights of J S Kloppenborg, J D Crossan and R A Horsley. In chapter 7, the study concludes with an exegetical discussion of two passages from 0, viz. 0 13:18-19 (the parable of the mustard seed) and 0 7:18-20,31-35 (the metaphorical discourse about the children on the market square, ensuing from an enquiry by John the Baptist) in order to indicate how these sayings of Jesus may be read ethically-eschatologically. In the last chapter the insights derived from this study are applied to the present-day situation of the church by describing Jesus' ethics as subversive wisdom which challenges many conventional practices. / Thesis (DD (New Testament Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / New Testament Studies / unrestricted

The stream of Christianity has never run its course through a generation of believers in which has not been found someone who urged the application of Jesus teachings to the social perplexities of the day. The persistence of this attitude has not, however, been a guarantee of consistency either in the interpretation of the gospel they sought to apply or in the method of application. The approaches to the understanding of the ethic of Jesus have been as many and varied as the problems, the thought, and the radical characteristics of the people who have quenched their thirst with the living water of the stream. And now this ethical emphasis has come to occupy the central place in the Christianity of our time. The objective is not to determine the content of the ethic except where it is necessary to the progress of the central problem. No one “system” of Christian ethics will be used. Nor is the aim to criticize the present social order on the basis of the Christian Ethic. That is another task outside the scope of this work. The objective herein accepted is to consider critically the problem of the permanent validity of the Christian Ethic.

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2017-09-01T13:12:16Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Maurino Marques Nascimento Junior.pdf: 1599278 bytes, checksum: cea775b45a5fefccc276ed5d8d27437b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-01T13:12:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Maurino Marques Nascimento Junior.pdf: 1599278 bytes, checksum: cea775b45a5fefccc276ed5d8d27437b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-22 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The gospel according to Luke, in the extended section of Jesus' ascent to Jerusalem (Lk 9:51–19:28), presents the conditions cited by Jesus for one to become his disciple. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine each of these conditions by focusing specifically on the text of Luke 14:25-33. To do so, an exegetical analysis of the text will be developed, which will serve as a basis for a subsequent theological analysis and consequent hermeneutic actualization. The theme is relevant, since discipleship has been and remains the essence of the Christian life in the sense of a godly life in community. The methodology applied in this work will be guided by a bibliographical research, which will be based on several authors, who have developed studies and research on the subject. The conditions put forward by Jesus, presented in the Lucan text, express the radicality and the necessity of a conscious decision on the position that will be adopted before them. From these factors will depend a genuine position as a disciple of Jesus Christ, who obeys and follows / O evangelho segundo Lucas, na extensa seção da subida de Jesus a Jerusalém (Lc 9,51–19,28), apresenta as condições citadas por Jesus para que alguém se torne seu discípulo. O objetivo da presente dissertação é examinar cada uma dessas condições, focalizando especificamente o texto de Lc 14,25-33. Para tanto será desenvolvida uma análise exegética do texto que servirá de base para uma posterior análise teológica e uma consequente atualização hermenêutica. O tema é relevante, uma vez que o discipulado foi e continua sendo a essência da vida cristã, no sentido de uma vida piedosa em comunidade. A metodologia aplicada neste trabalho se orientará por uma pesquisa bibliográfica, que tomará por base diversos autores que desenvolveram estudos e pesquisas sobre o tema. As condições apresentadas por Jesus e narradas no texto lucano expressam a radicalidade e a necessidade de uma decisão consciente quanto ao posicionamento que, diante delas, se adotará. Delas dependerá o seguimento genuíno do discípulo de Jesus Cristo

Through his personal spiritual growth process and Jesus’ teachings and life, Paul became acutely aware of the vast differences between Prophetic Judaism and the Mystical Traditions in relation to the Temple Cult and Temple-ism in general. Paul’s own “history of religion” centred on Abraham’s Covenant as the first and preferred, unmediated, spiritual and universal model, against Moses’ priestly mediated cultic system designed basically for Jews. Therefore, Paul follows Jesus teachings and mission to “rip the dividing curtain” of the Jerusalem Temple (Heb 6:19, 20); so that all nations can be reconciled to God (Eph 2:11-18). Jesus re-negotiated “a new and better covenant” of God’s mercy through repentance to all. Cultic “regulations” and Jewishness as being a special “religious”, covenantal “qualification” is now outdated and rather were now dangerous myths in Paul’s new religion. Paul knew that bridging concepts and new interpretations of metaphors will have to be part of the transition. God did not need a final special blood cultic sacrifice; to the contrary, only some people needed one so that they can make the mental transition from a cultic religion to a spiritual and personal religion.To Paul, God was the unknown Father and the Essence of all creation and Jesus-Christ was their leader and master or lord. In the mystical sense however, “Christ” represented the real Spiritual essence of mankind; the image of God in mankind. The core of Paul’s soteriology is his growth and participational aspects which constitutes the salvation process and are closely linked. The salvific process starts in the first phase with conversion from cultic Temple-ism and weaning from cultic and ethnic “laws” through the teaching of, and participation in, the spiritual growth process of the “physical” Jesus while the Spirit within us is awakening. The latter heralds the start of the “second” mature spiritual phase of the resurrected and vindicated Christ; sensitising our conscience as our moral identity and source of internal motivation from the real Self; one lives intuitively from loving-kindness; you honour this Gift in your earthly vessel with a fitting response to life. The behavioural element is central and an absolute necessity in the salvific process and he never views it as being secondary. Christianity will have to revise simplistic “faith” to salvation dogmas and broaden its functional scope by again honouring the second personal and authentic spiritual growth phase to be able to manifest a better Kingdom with the aid of Human Beings. / Systematic Theology and Theological Ethics / D.Th. (Systematic Theology)

Through his personal spiritual growth process and Jesus’ teachings and life, Paul became acutely aware of the vast differences between Prophetic Judaism and the Mystical Traditions in relation to the Temple Cult and Temple-ism in general. Paul’s own “history of religion” centred on Abraham’s Covenant as the first and preferred, unmediated, spiritual and universal model, against Moses’ priestly mediated cultic system designed basically for Jews. Therefore, Paul follows Jesus teachings and mission to “rip the dividing curtain” of the Jerusalem Temple (Heb 6:19, 20); so that all nations can be reconciled to God (Eph 2:11-18). Jesus re-negotiated “a new and better covenant” of God’s mercy through repentance to all. Cultic “regulations” and Jewishness as being a special “religious”, covenantal “qualification” is now outdated and rather were now dangerous myths in Paul’s new religion. Paul knew that bridging concepts and new interpretations of metaphors will have to be part of the transition. God did not need a final special blood cultic sacrifice; to the contrary, only some people needed one so that they can make the mental transition from a cultic religion to a spiritual and personal religion.To Paul, God was the unknown Father and the Essence of all creation and Jesus-Christ was their leader and master or lord. In the mystical sense however, “Christ” represented the real Spiritual essence of mankind; the image of God in mankind. The core of Paul’s soteriology is his growth and participational aspects which constitutes the salvation process and are closely linked. The salvific process starts in the first phase with conversion from cultic Temple-ism and weaning from cultic and ethnic “laws” through the teaching of, and participation in, the spiritual growth process of the “physical” Jesus while the Spirit within us is awakening. The latter heralds the start of the “second” mature spiritual phase of the resurrected and vindicated Christ; sensitising our conscience as our moral identity and source of internal motivation from the real Self; one lives intuitively from loving-kindness; you honour this Gift in your earthly vessel with a fitting response to life. The behavioural element is central and an absolute necessity in the salvific process and he never views it as being secondary. Christianity will have to revise simplistic “faith” to salvation dogmas and broaden its functional scope by again honouring the second personal and authentic spiritual growth phase to be able to manifest a better Kingdom with the aid of Human Beings. / Systematic Theology and Theological Ethics / D.Th. (Systematic Theology)