This thesis sets out to proof that Paul advised the Corinthians, at least prominently, from a Christ-centred koinwniva frame of mind when addressing their issues in 1 Corinthians. Firstly it has been established that the koinwniva word group may be defined within the nuances of a dynamic relationship. Secondly the study has compiled, with this definition in mind, at least 47 of the most prominent koinwniva elements as found throughout the Bible, with special focus on the New Testament. These elements have then been organised in a koinwniva defined theological framework so that it could be easily accessible for further study into the way Paul might have used them later on in 1 Corinthians. The study then continued not only to point out the important role of 1 Cor 1:1-9 in the Corinthian letter, but also to show how the themes still to be addressed are actually being set in a koinwniva frame of mind. Furthermore, the role of 1:9, as nexus, combined with the specific reference to koinwniva with Christ has also been stressed. In doing so Paul actually supply us with what could be called a “key” to unlock other koinwniva elements in the rest of 1 Corinthians without encountering the koinwniva term as such. So, armed with this “key” and our carefully defined koinwniva theological framework, 1 Cor 5-6 and 8:1-11:1 have been selected as test cases in proving the hypothesis as true. After the issues that Paul encountered in these chapters have been clarified and his responses exegetically laid out, it has been shown in every textual unit, within the designated macro units, that Paul most definitely put koinwniva with Christ in the focus of each suggested solution. Through this “key” other relevant referrals were then made to one or more of the 47 koinwniva elements from the previously compiled koinwniva theological framework. Realising that the koinwniva dynamics featured consistently behind Paul’s suggestions to the Corinthians, led to the conclusion that Paul extensively tapped into a Christ-centred koinwniva dynamic as a prominent frame of mind to address some of the key issues featuring in 1 Corinthians. / Thesis (PhD (New Testament Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / New Testament Studies / unrestricted

Thesis (Ph.D. (Liturgics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

Chapter 1 emphasizes the central position that the worship service occupies in the life of the believer, but then the whole person of the believer. The atmosphere is therefore vital. This is researched in part 2 by an exegetical study of 1 Corinthians 1-14, as well as the rest of Scripture. The variations through history are also studied. The atmosphere in the worship service should be such that the worshipper meets God with the necessary awe and respect. The service must also create an atmosphere of love, warmth, friendliness, and joy. All present must be invited and made welcome by the service. The atmosphere must further encourage and create room for everybody to participate and use their specific gifts. It can therefore change from service to service and within a single service. Important instruments in the atmosphere are the liturgical space, symbols, rituals, physical movement, gestures, music, song and the senses. Part 3 studies the contribution of adjacent sciences, like the theory of communication, cognitive science, symbolism, music, architecture and multimedia. These sciences support the principles of part 2 and give important perspectives for the practical application thereof. The situation in practice is studied by empirical research. The atmosphere is clearly not sufficiently integrated in the worship service. Although some elements are present, they are purely coincidental. A specific aimed strategy is lacking. Part 4 tries to bridge the gap between the base theory (part 2) and the practice (part 3) by suggesting practical guidelines. Because every congregation is in a unique context, a model is given to realize the principles. The image of the 'house of God is used to summarize and explain the principles. The final conclusion is that atmosphere plays a vital role in the worship service. In practice very little is made hereof. If the Atmosphere in the worship service is adjusted to what it should (and can!) be, the worship service will come closer to the purpose for which it is there and will it become even more of a meeting of the total person with the totality of God and with the totality of the fellow believer and the world. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Liturgics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

Chapter 1 emphasizes the central position that the worship service occupies in the life of the believer, but then the whole person of the believer. The atmosphere is therefore vital. This is researched in part 2 by an exegetical study of 1 Corinthians 1-14, as well as the rest of Scripture. The variations through history are also studied. The atmosphere in the worship service should be such that the worshipper meets God with the necessary awe and respect. The service must also create an atmosphere of love, warmth, friendliness, and joy. All present must be invited and made welcome by the service. The atmosphere must further encourage and create room for everybody to participate and use their specific gifts. It can therefore change from service to service and within a single service. Important instruments in the atmosphere are the liturgical space, symbols, rituals, physical movement, gestures, music, song and the senses. Part 3 studies the contribution of adjacent sciences, like the theory of communication, cognitive science, symbolism, music, architecture and multimedia. These sciences support the principles of part 2 and give important perspectives for the practical application thereof. The situation in practice is studied by empirical research. The atmosphere is clearly not sufficiently integrated in the worship service. Although some elements are present, they are purely coincidental. A specific aimed strategy is lacking. Part 4 tries to bridge the gap between the base theory (part 2) and the practice (part 3) by suggesting practical guidelines. Because every congregation is in a unique context, a model is given to realize the principles. The image of the 'house of God is used to summarize and explain the principles. The final conclusion is that atmosphere plays a vital role in the worship service. In practice very little is made hereof. If the Atmosphere in the worship service is adjusted to what it should (and can!) be, the worship service will come closer to the purpose for which it is there and will it become even more of a meeting of the total person with the totality of God and with the totality of the fellow believer and the world. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Liturgics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

This work embarks on a study of the use and interpretation of the term ’<font face="symbol">egkr</font>´<font face="symbol">ateia</font> (self-control) in the principal Pauline letters. But, first of all, a study is made of the use of this term in the literature outside the New Testament. It becomes clear that ’<font face="symbol">egkr</font>´<font face="symbol">ateia</font> was a cardinal virtue closely associated with <font face="symbol">syvrosung</font> (temperance), one of the four basic Greek virtues. The emphasis fell particularly on the educated person's ability to control himself through strict self-discipline. However, this idea of self-control is alien to the tradition of the Old Testament. Only through the Hellenised Wisdom literature it became part of the Judaism of Paul's time. Through an exegetical analysis of Paul's use of the modes of the term ’<font face="symbol">egkr</font>´<font face="symbol">ateia</font>; in 1 Corinthians 7:5, 9 and 9:25, as well as in Galatians 5:23; it becomes clear that to him ’<font face="symbol">egkr</font>´<font face="symbol">ateia</font> was part of the love with which believers served one another, within the freedom to which Christ has called them. It was the result of divine empowerment and control, because it was part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Although Paul also utilised the term as a virtue, to him it was not primarily characteristic of a person, but rather characterised the restrained and sacrificial managing of rights and privileges in relationships within the faith community. His own style of apostleship was a good example, because he willingly gave up his right to receive recompense for preaching the gospel. He illustrated this behaviour with the metaphor of an athlete's willingness to disregard certain rights with the eye on his goal. Believers should similarly be charitable towards one another. Nevertheless, regarding the control of sexual desires, Paul went a little further in his use of ’<font face="symbol">egkr</font>´<font face="symbol">ateia</font>. Although he did not denounce matrimony, it was his opinion that a distinctly demarcated group of believers received the gift to easily control their sexual desires. He advised them to stay celibate in order to devote themselves even more to God's service. Comparing Paul's utilisation of ’<font face="symbol">egkr</font>´<font face="symbol">ateia</font> with the use of writers outside the New Testament, confirms his creative harnessing of concepts from the cultures in his environment. But it was not the classical or Hellenistic interpretation of ’<font face="symbol">egkr</font>´<font face="symbol">ateia</font> that influenced him. The Hellenised Judaism of the Septuagint formed Paul's concept of ’<font face="symbol">egkr</font>´<font face="symbol">ateia</font>. Nevertheless, his utilisation of the term was innovative original: by angling the Christian view away from the Hellenistic self-centredness, and focusing it on a loving and altruistic managing of rights and liberties, he thoroughly christianised the term. A study of the church's understanding of Paul reveals that his use of ’<font face="symbol">egkr</font>´<font face="symbol">ateia</font> was mostly misunderstood. Again the term was understood and utilised as depicting the virtue of self-discipline in the classical and Hellenistic sense of the word. This, in turn, led to widespread incidence of asceticism and celibacy in the church. Even some views that lay behind modern day legalism and pietistic tendencies, originated from this understanding by the church of ’<font face="symbol">egkr</font>´<font face="symbol">ateia</font> . / Dissertation (PhD (New Testament Science))--University of Pretoria, 2004. / New Testament Studies / unrestricted

In the history of exegesis 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and 1 Timothy 2:11-15 have functioned as the heavy artillery against women in the ministries. From the 4th century BC, when the Church really started to develop from a dynamic underground movement of believers to a state Church organised in the image of the Roman Empire and so became the Catholic Church, women were more and more suppressed under the influence of deeply rooted Hellenistic anthropological ideas that were read into these passages. Only in the second half of the Twentieth Century, under the influence of changes in society after the sexual and feminist revolutions, changes set in that sparked the discussion about the role of women in the Church. This discussion is still continuing – in the Reformed tradition at least. These two passages, however, seem to oppose an overwhelming number of biblical themes and data that at least bring a strong nuance to the picture the two passages seem to portray. The creation of man and woman in the image of God and the protection for women against the arbitrariness of men clearly picture an original and principal equality of men and women. In the circle of disciples around Jesus Christ this becomes even more manifest. This attitude is also visible in the earliest churches. Paul expresses this in Galatians 3:28: In Christ there is no … male nor female. The passages that seem to limit the rights of women in the Church do not actually oppose this picture, but show that for the sake of the proclamation of the gospel not everything is (immediately) allowed. This dissertation attempted to interpret these two passages with the help of the grammatical-historic method. In 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 Paul personally intervenes in the apparent chaotic meetings of the cosmopolitan and charismatic congregation. He requires from different categories of participants – among them the married women that have a Christian husband – to not burden the fellowship with – in the case of the aforementioned women – their (otherwise rightful) participation in the discussion of the prophetic message during the worship service. In 1 Timothy 2:11-15 he gives his friend and student Timothy, the young pastor and teacher of the congregation in Ephesus, tools to call upon the members of the congregation not to start a revolution but to conquer the world for Christ by living an exemplary life. The context of this directive is a heresy that was particularly influencing some women that developed a prominent and domineering attitude in the Church. None of these directives or instructions of Paul talk about special ministries in the Church. It is all about attitude. For the sake of the steady progress of the gospel this attitude is to be determined by discipline and humbleness. However, the form this discipline and humbleness have largely depends on the context of the believers. / MTh (New Testament), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

In the history of exegesis 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and 1 Timothy 2:11-15 have functioned as the heavy artillery against women in the ministries. From the 4th century BC, when the Church really started to develop from a dynamic underground movement of believers to a state Church organised in the image of the Roman Empire and so became the Catholic Church, women were more and more suppressed under the influence of deeply rooted Hellenistic anthropological ideas that were read into these passages. Only in the second half of the Twentieth Century, under the influence of changes in society after the sexual and feminist revolutions, changes set in that sparked the discussion about the role of women in the Church. This discussion is still continuing – in the Reformed tradition at least. These two passages, however, seem to oppose an overwhelming number of biblical themes and data that at least bring a strong nuance to the picture the two passages seem to portray. The creation of man and woman in the image of God and the protection for women against the arbitrariness of men clearly picture an original and principal equality of men and women. In the circle of disciples around Jesus Christ this becomes even more manifest. This attitude is also visible in the earliest churches. Paul expresses this in Galatians 3:28: In Christ there is no … male nor female. The passages that seem to limit the rights of women in the Church do not actually oppose this picture, but show that for the sake of the proclamation of the gospel not everything is (immediately) allowed. This dissertation attempted to interpret these two passages with the help of the grammatical-historic method. In 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 Paul personally intervenes in the apparent chaotic meetings of the cosmopolitan and charismatic congregation. He requires from different categories of participants – among them the married women that have a Christian husband – to not burden the fellowship with – in the case of the aforementioned women – their (otherwise rightful) participation in the discussion of the prophetic message during the worship service. In 1 Timothy 2:11-15 he gives his friend and student Timothy, the young pastor and teacher of the congregation in Ephesus, tools to call upon the members of the congregation not to start a revolution but to conquer the world for Christ by living an exemplary life. The context of this directive is a heresy that was particularly influencing some women that developed a prominent and domineering attitude in the Church. None of these directives or instructions of Paul talk about special ministries in the Church. It is all about attitude. For the sake of the steady progress of the gospel this attitude is to be determined by discipline and humbleness. However, the form this discipline and humbleness have largely depends on the context of the believers. / MTh (New Testament), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Pentecostalism has, in recent times, undeniably contributed towards the growth of the church as a whole. Public worship services inherently submit and contribute towards the meeting between man and God as well as fellowship between the people who form part of said service. Public services in honor of God speak to the purposes of God and man’s fundamental desire to meet with our Creator. Consequently, research into this phenomenon proves vital in determining and even extending the role of the Pentecostal ideology in correlation to the longevity of honorary public services. Chapters 2 through 4 shed light on some of the key concepts that clarifies the dynamic nature of these events, throughout the service wherein the radiant power of God touches the human heart in some astounding ways. Exegetic studies have been undertaken into 2 Chronicles 5-7 which examines these instances of divine meeting in the Old Testament while the second chapter of Acts deals with the event from a New Testament perspective. In addition to this, 1 Corinthians 11-14 was utilized to highlight the role of the Holy Ghost as the instigator for divine meeting. Specific issues addressed by the research include service preparation and the role of music and its contribution to ambience preceding a meeting between man and God. Moreover, a keen focus on the sermon and the delivery thereof as well as its progression leading up to the conclusion and summary in closing and prayer, are all dealt with as part of this study. This dynamic, in essence, becomes visible through the statement issued by the life of each disciple as a living testament to this consuming and changing event. Honorary public services fit the bill as an event to promote divine meeting. Chapter 5 delves into some of the auxiliary sciences i.e. sociology, communication science, psychology and the field of antropology. The principles in chapters 2 through 4 are affirmed by these aspects of science and provide perspective on the practical applications thereof. All these factors in relation to practice have also been scrutinized through empirical research. This research clearly places divine meeting as a central to and inseparable from perceiver experience. Chapter 7 provides practical guidelines to alternative approaches in practicum. The study proposes a model whereby certain aspects can be examined from a Pentecostal point of view in order to tailor services as a dais for divine meeting. Most importantly it should be evident in the life of the participant that they have truly encounter God. This meeting is the prime objective and at the heart of public service. It serves and should always serve as a doorway to Christian life. / PhD (Liturgics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Pentecostalism has, in recent times, undeniably contributed towards the growth of the church as a whole. Public worship services inherently submit and contribute towards the meeting between man and God as well as fellowship between the people who form part of said service. Public services in honor of God speak to the purposes of God and man’s fundamental desire to meet with our Creator. Consequently, research into this phenomenon proves vital in determining and even extending the role of the Pentecostal ideology in correlation to the longevity of honorary public services. Chapters 2 through 4 shed light on some of the key concepts that clarifies the dynamic nature of these events, throughout the service wherein the radiant power of God touches the human heart in some astounding ways. Exegetic studies have been undertaken into 2 Chronicles 5-7 which examines these instances of divine meeting in the Old Testament while the second chapter of Acts deals with the event from a New Testament perspective. In addition to this, 1 Corinthians 11-14 was utilized to highlight the role of the Holy Ghost as the instigator for divine meeting. Specific issues addressed by the research include service preparation and the role of music and its contribution to ambience preceding a meeting between man and God. Moreover, a keen focus on the sermon and the delivery thereof as well as its progression leading up to the conclusion and summary in closing and prayer, are all dealt with as part of this study. This dynamic, in essence, becomes visible through the statement issued by the life of each disciple as a living testament to this consuming and changing event. Honorary public services fit the bill as an event to promote divine meeting. Chapter 5 delves into some of the auxiliary sciences i.e. sociology, communication science, psychology and the field of antropology. The principles in chapters 2 through 4 are affirmed by these aspects of science and provide perspective on the practical applications thereof. All these factors in relation to practice have also been scrutinized through empirical research. This research clearly places divine meeting as a central to and inseparable from perceiver experience. Chapter 7 provides practical guidelines to alternative approaches in practicum. The study proposes a model whereby certain aspects can be examined from a Pentecostal point of view in order to tailor services as a dais for divine meeting. Most importantly it should be evident in the life of the participant that they have truly encounter God. This meeting is the prime objective and at the heart of public service. It serves and should always serve as a doorway to Christian life. / PhD (Liturgics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014