Please read the absract (Summary) in the section 00front of this document / Thesis (PhD (Church History))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Church History and Church Policy / PhD / unrestricted

Under the influence of the Christian ecumenical movement, there has been a tendancy to reread the Western theological tradition through the lens of the Eastern idea of deification. The studies of the theology of John Calvin, who is a leading figure in the Reformation tradition, cannot avoid such a tendency, either. Not a few scholars have affirmed Calvin's doctrine of deification, in a way, akin to the Eastern doctrine of deification, by rereading him from the perspective of the Eastern Orthodoxy. However, with the objection to this interpretation by those who deny the presence of the idea of deification in Calvin, the question of deification in Calvin's theology has been a grave issue of an ongoing debate among Calvin scholars. The current debate on the question of deification in Calvin shows that the following three issues form the frame of reference for reasoning the question: Calvin's understanding of the communication of properties between Christ's two natures in the hypostatic union, the nature of his notion of union with Christ, and his idea of the nature of the salvific gift. The observations of Calvin's ideas about the three issues render incapacitate any attempt to find the idea of deification as participation in the intrinsic divine life in his theology. Calvin's rejection of the direct communication of properties from Christ's divinity to His humanity renders impossible the deification of Christ's humanity, which is marked as the basis of our deification by the interpreters who endorse his doctrine of deification as in the Eastern Orthodox tradition. Calvin's idea of the spiritual and personal union with Christ, in which the ontological distinctiveness between Christ and us is guaranteed, disapproves the idea that the intrinsic divine life flows to us through the channel of Christ's humanity in our union with Him. Therefore it can be reasonably concluded that as far as deification is construed as the believers' participation in the intrinsic divine life, mediated by Christ's humanity in their union with Christ, it is hard to hold that Calvin teaches deification. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Dogmatics and Christian Ethics / PhD / Unrestricted

This work, inspired by the concept of the Pastor-Theologian, explores the correlation between academic theology and the local church in contemporary South Africa and the person of John Calvin. It is motivated by the assumption that academic theology and the local Church need each other but, within South Africa, these two institutes are struggling to correlate to each other. As such this research elicits an appreciation of the historical correlation between the local Church and academic theology. This appreciation aims to start to reawaken the need for a correlation between academic theology and the local Church within contemporary South Africa. This research works mainly from a method of critical correlation to establish how academic theology and the local church function in their own right but also correlate in a mutually beneficial way. In line with this methodology, a historical overview of the tradition is given providing the background to the debate. This history proves the longevity of the tradition, making it normative, while also outlining its demise. In the analysis of contemporary South Africa, the demise of the tradition is explored specifically in relation to the South African context. Here it is discovered that the correlation between academic theology and the Local church is in a state of disconnect which is detrimental to both. Academic theology is becoming isolated and commercialised. This had created a mix reaction among various churches. Some denominations have separated from theological education, while those still positive towards the academy experience its works to be irrelevant. In response to this Calvin is presented as a Pastor and a Theologian over two chapters, demonstrating the benefit of a correlation between academic theology and the Local Church. This in-depth historical analysis works to provide a vision for today. It shows the importance of the Pastor and the Theologian in its own right, as well as the essential need for the two vocations to correlate. In closing, this research brings all the lines of investigation together to prove how the vision of the Pastor-Theologian, as demonstrated through Calvin, is beneficial for today and in need of appreciation. / Dissertation (MTh)--University of Pretoria, 2018. / Church History and Church Policy / MTh / Unrestricted

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:48:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dario de Araujo Cardoso.pdf: 774201 bytes, checksum: 52c884acd51050284de2ff0ad01a3755 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-22 / Fundo Mackenzie de Pesquisa / This research has as its object the Calvin´s proposal to produce metrical psalms for liturgical singing of the Reformed Church, which culminated in making the Geneva Psalter. The goal is to show how the Geneva Psalter served as an instrument of expression and the spread of Reformed theology. Seeks to demonstrate how the singing of psalms was introduced into the devotional practice of the Christian Church and its state before the Reformation. Then comes the resumption of congregational singing by Luther and Calvin and the principles that led him to defend the singing of metrical psalms and other biblical texts. This proposal gave rise to the Geneva Psalter that became a hallmark of Reformed Protestantism and influenced in different ways to hymnody of the Reformed churches. / A presente pesquisa tem como seu objeto a proposta de Calvino de produzir salmos metrificados para o cântico litúrgico da igreja reformada e que culminou na confecção do Saltério de Genebra. O objetivo é demonstrar como o Saltério de Genebra serviu de instrumento de expressão e propagação da teologia reformada. Procura demonstrar como o cântico de salmos se inseriu na prática devocional da Igreja Cristã e seu estado antes da Reforma. Trata então da retomada do canto congregacional por Lutero e Calvino e os princípios que levaram-no a defender o cântico de salmos metrificados e outros textos bíblicos. Essa proposta deu origem ao Saltério de Genebra que se tornou uma marca do protestantismo reformado e influenciou de maneiras diversas a hinologia das igrejas reformadas.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:48:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Cesar Guimaraes do Carmo.pdf: 822372 bytes, checksum: 0d2d57466808c9c6da2871dfb786235c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-13 / Fundo Mackenzie de Pesquisa / This monograph reflects, from a Religious Studies perspective, on the reformed praxis and Brazilian educational development in the second half of 19th Century. It approaches as main theme the presuppositions of the Reformed praxis related to education, as well as it does secondarily about Roman Catholic Church praxis. It verifies the Catholic Church presence and action through the Jesuits: his methods and the results of their activities until the banishment during 1760, while the pombalinas reforms were taking place. It observes that the Reformation brought in itself a new perspective of human inclusion in society, where he/she should accomplish his/her divine mission. A faithful one was called to worship God and to serve him all over the world being faithful in every and each feature of his/her life, also to develop his/her skills given by God, not only in a religious affairs, but as well as in politics, science, art, education, in all spheres, where God is served by human activity. The thought above, primarily found in Calvin, grounded the first missionaries conduct and behavior on Brazilian soil, mainly, those Presbyterians, that is the focus of this research. They developed reformed praxis to build a relationship with the world that transforms it. They grounded it through an authentic spiritual experience, not in an obscure knowledge, but in the practice of good works and in the practical realities of life, keeping far from scholasticism and Aristotelianism. They understood, from a reformed perspective, the education as a necessary tool to the development of the faith and social transformation. Education aimed, therefore, to create human beings with moral values who could get involved in their duties to God, to themselves, to their neighbors and to their nation. The results obtained became evident through the establishments and histories of Mackenzie and Gammon Presbyterian Institutes. / Este texto reflete, a partir das Ciências da Religião, sobre a práxis reformada e o desenvolvimento educacional do Brasil na segunda metade do século XIX. Aborda como tema central, os pressupostos da práxis Reformada ligadas à educação, e examina secundariamente a práxis da Igreja Católica Apostólica Romana quanto ao mesmo tema. Verificou-se a presença e a atuação da Igreja Católica através dos jesuítas: seus métodos e resultados de sua atuação até a expulsão em 1760, no contexto das reformas pombalinas. Observou-se que a Reforma do Século XVI trouxe em seu bojo uma nova visão de inserção do indivíduo na sociedade, onde ele deveria cumprir sua missão divina. O fiel foi convocado a louvar a Deus e servi-lo no mundo e em cada aspecto da vida e desenvolver as habilidades concedidas por Deus, não somente na religião, mas na política, na ciência, na arte, na educação, enfim, em todas as esferas, nas quais Deus é servido, por meio da atividade humana. Este pensamento, verificado principalmente em Calvino, norteou a conduta dos primeiros missionários nas terras brasileiras, especialmente, dos presbiterianos, foco desta pesquisa. Eles desenvolveram a práxis reformada na construção de uma relação com o mundo, que o transforma. Fundamentaram-na através de uma experiência espiritual autêntica, não em um conhecimento obscuro, mas no desenvolvimento das obras e na vida prática, distanciando-se do escolasticismo e do aristotelismo. Entenderam, a partir do pensamento reformado, a educação como ferramenta necessária para o desenvolvimento da fé e transformação social. A educação, visava portanto, formar homens com valores morais que se envolveriam nos deveres para com Deus, para consigo mesmo, para com o seu próximo e para com a sua pátria. Os resultados obtidos foram evidenciados com a fundação e a história do Instituto Presbiteriano Mackenzie e do Instituto Presbiteriano Gammon.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-03T12:19:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Christian Brially.pdf: 3923359 bytes, checksum: 6f9e691387fd0d3e247bb9e9ecabdf91 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-10-19 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The inauguration of a human eye the tupinamba Indian, here's what we found in Jean de Léry (1534-1611), a Huguenot theologian and missionary who brings in Brazilian lands in the sixteenth century with the purpose of assisting in the establishment of a French colony and preach the gospel, so that the French were here, as the Indians. The traveler in his History of a Voyage made to the Land of Brazil, otherwise called America presents a human gaze of the Other that, moreover, it also presents itself as an opportunity to understand the same. The reasons that build this perspective is analyzed in this work, from concept heterology proposed by Michel de Certeau. Our thesis states that this hermeneutics of the Other in Jean de Léry is determined by the system of Calvinist theological thought. The circularity of hermeneutics French traveler is subject to Scripture, her part, she returns. The heterology proposed by Jean de Léry constitutes a science Other built from the Calvinist theological system of thought. / A inauguração de um olhar humano do índio tupinambá, eis o que encontramos em Jean de Léry (1534-1611), um teólogo e missionário huguenote que aporta em terras brasileiras no século XVI com o propósito de auxiliar na implantação de uma colônia francesa e de pregar o evangelho, tanto aos franceses que aqui estavam, quanto aos índios tupinambás. O viajante em sua obra História de uma Viagem feita à Terra do Brasil, também chamada América apresenta um olhar humano do Outro que, além disto, também se apresenta como uma possibilidade de compreensão do mesmo. Os motivos que constroem esta perspectiva é o que analisamos neste trabalho, a partir do conceito de heterologia proposto por Michel de Certeau. Nossa tese afirma que esta hermenêutica do Outro em Jean de Léry é determinada pelo sistema de pensamento teológico calvinista. A circularidade hermenêutica do viajante francês está condicionada a Escritura Sagrada, dela parte, a ela retorna. A heterologia proposta por Jean de Léry se constitui em uma ciência do Outro construída a partir do sistema de pensamento teológico calvinista.

The intention of this study is to investigate the role St. Augustine has contributed as a North African Church Historian. In order to archive the intention of this study one of the most significant works that Augustine wrote the City of God is going to be used as a literature review. The City of God is originally written to defend the church against charges of being responsible for the destruction of the city of Rome in 410 CE; the City of God has come to stand as a monument to theological reflection on the history of God’s creation. Though not primarily a historian, Augustine has made a significant contribution to the study of Christian history. He raises scripture to become the source of the meaning of history and defines the only true history as sacred history. This study considers Augustine’s critique of the Church catholic, the meaning of history, the origins of the City of God, Augustine’s views on the philosophy and theology history and the prophetic nature of biblical history. The first part of the study will trace the early life struggle of Augustine in his quest for knowledge and the truth. He learnt rhetoric studies; he examined the Holy Scriptures and found them unworthy. Then he was a follower of the Manicheans, but he was disillusioned when he met their sophistical leader Faustus. Finally, bishop Ambrose of Milan in his allegorical interpretation and explanation of scripture and the influence of Christian Neoplatonism helped Augustine to find an approach to the Bible and to overcome his difficulties with his childhood religion. Ambrose led him to the verge of conversion. Augustine’s impact on Reformation is considered. He is a father of the Church who has exerted an unparalleled influence on more than the thousand years that separated him from the birth of Protestant churches, but that long period is not an empty space because his historical work was influential throughout this period. In a movement to renew and reform the Church the various Reformers of the sixteenth century like Martin Luther and John Calvin studied Augustine in order to challenge abuses within the Catholic Church. The influence and the legacy that Augustine had on other people is discussed as the final conclusion of the study. The ideas, which he phrased with great skill, were to be accepted by almost all the leading thinkers of Europe until after the Enlightenment in the eighteenth century. Augustine had made much of being the Catholic bishop of Hippo. / Dissertation (MTh (Church History))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Church History and Church Policy / unrestricted

The intention of this study is to investigate the role St. Augustine has contributed as a North African Church Historian. In order to archive the intention of this study one of the most significant works that Augustine wrote the City of God is going to be used as a literature review. The City of God is originally written to defend the church against charges of being responsible for the destruction of the city of Rome in 410 CE; the City of God has come to stand as a monument to theological reflection on the history of God’s creation. Though not primarily a historian, Augustine has made a significant contribution to the study of Christian history. He raises scripture to become the source of the meaning of history and defines the only true history as sacred history. This study considers Augustine’s critique of the Church catholic, the meaning of history, the origins of the City of God, Augustine’s views on the philosophy and theology history and the prophetic nature of biblical history. The first part of the study will trace the early life struggle of Augustine in his quest for knowledge and the truth. He learnt rhetoric studies; he examined the Holy Scriptures and found them unworthy. Then he was a follower of the Manicheans, but he was disillusioned when he met their sophistical leader Faustus. Finally, bishop Ambrose of Milan in his allegorical interpretation and explanation of scripture and the influence of Christian Neoplatonism helped Augustine to find an approach to the Bible and to overcome his difficulties with his childhood religion. Ambrose led him to the verge of conversion. Augustine’s impact on Reformation is considered. He is a father of the Church who has exerted an unparalleled influence on more than the thousand years that separated him from the birth of Protestant churches, but that long period is not an empty space because his historical work was influential throughout this period. In a movement to renew and reform the Church the various Reformers of the sixteenth century like Martin Luther and John Calvin studied Augustine in order to challenge abuses within the Catholic Church. The influence and the legacy that Augustine had on other people is discussed as the final conclusion of the study. The ideas, which he phrased with great skill, were to be accepted by almost all the leading thinkers of Europe until after the Enlightenment in the eighteenth century. Augustine had made much of being the Catholic bishop of Hippo. / Dissertation (MTh)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Church History and Church Policy / MTh / Unrestricted

Is John Locke a philosopher or theologian? When considering Locke's religious thought, scholars seldom point to his Paraphrase and Notes on the Epistles of St. Paul. This is puzzling since the Paraphrase is his most extensive treatment of Christian theology. Since this is the final work of his life, did Locke undergo a deathbed conversion? The scholarship that has considered the Paraphrase often finds Locke contradicting himself on various theological doctrines. In this dissertation, I find that Locke not only remains consistent with his other writings, but provides his subtlest interpretation of Scripture. He is intentionally subtle in order to persuade a Protestant audience to modern liberalism. This is intended to make Protestantism, and specifically Calvinism, the vehicle for modern liberalism. This is seen clearly in Max Weber's The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. Though Weber concludes that Protestant support for capitalism in the late 19th Century is due to its theological foundation, I find that Weber is actually examining Lockean Protestantism. Locke's success in transforming Protestantism is also useful today in showing how a modern liberal can converse with someone who actively opposes, and may even wish to harm, modern liberalism. The dissertation analyzes four important Protestant doctrines: Faith Alone, Scripture Alone, the church and family, and Christian political life.

Christianity has two kinds of public prayer: one involves only words, and the other uses music. These public prayers have been evolving since the earliest writings of the Bible and continue to the present day. Often times, music can be seen in the Bible as a powerful way to bring people together or teach lessons. However, in the history of Christianity, music has also served as a dividing force, separating churches and indirectly encouraging the development of new denominations. During the sixteenth-century Reformation, reformers such as Martin Luther and John Calvin were dissatisfied with the way that the Roman Catholic Church was operating. Musical disagreements and debated theological matters eventually led to Protestant Christianity as separate from the Roman Catholic Church. This thesis will evaluate these sixteenth-century reform debates, especially the viewpoints of Martin Luther and John Calvin. With the transition of these branches over to the Unites States, continual divisions have led to further development of denominations including the modern Baptists and Reformed Baptists. Through evaluating primary sources from these reformers, comparative analysis of their theological beliefs, and analysis of the musical structures of their compositions, this thesis seeks to understand the continued divisions within the Protestant church. An ongoing reform continues among Protestant and Reformed churches, and this project will show that these debates are likely to continue as modern Protestant believers evolve and seek relevant ways to worship through music.