Thesis (MTh (Old and New Testament))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / The aim of this thesis is to discern the trends in current scholarship on the concept of wisdom in Job 28. The trends differ according to methodological perspectives (literary, historical, and theological), depending on the relationship among the concepts of wisdom as the fear of the Lord, transcendent wisdom and traditional wisdom. However, in each perspective one can find some different interpretations which are also found in other perspectives. Most current scholars from the literary perspective consider Job 28 as a wisdom poem or song, anticipating the speeches of Yahweh. For them, the theme of Job 28 criticises traditional wisdom which entails the doctrine of retribution and suggests transcendent wisdom, which is inaccessible to human being. The fear of the Lord is the practical conclusion of transcendent wisdom. For the scholars working from the historical perspective, there are various opinions about the authorship, the date, the location, and the purpose of Job 28. However, for many scholars the concept of wisdom in Job 28 reveals only transcendent wisdom, which contradicts traditional wisdom that entails the doctrine of retribution. The concept of the fear of the Lord also belongs to traditional wisdom. For many scholars who work from the theological perspective, the concept of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord in Job 28 is the repetition of the Prologue and anticipation of the speeches of Yahweh. The fear of the Lord is the practical conclusion of transcendent wisdom and can coexist with traditional wisdom.

Thesis (DTh (Old and New Testament))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / This dissertation focuses on studying the relationship between humankind and nature in Psalm 8. The study of this relationship was triggered by Psalm 8 which, when closely examined, reveals a relationship suggesting an interrelatedness between humankind and nature. This research investigates the cause, nature, and result of that interrelatedness. The hypothesis that has guided this study has been that humankind and nature form a oneness or holism and partnership, and this oneness or holism and partnership lead to interrelatedness between these two entities. Our appreciation of this can be enhanced by approaching it from a Xhosa perspective. This approach also makes a contribution to Seventh-day Adventist theological reflection. In support of this hypothesis an exegesis of Psalm 8 is presented. Psalm 8 is one of the several Old Testament texts that seem to reflect this oneness and partnership, suggesting the interrelatedness between humankind and nature. In this exegesis a close reading approach was employed. The close reading approach refers to the studying of the language in the text, the style of the writing, the metaphors, and the relation of these to one another [Childs 1983:33, 34]. Xhosa and Seventh-day Adventist perspectives of the relationship between humankind and nature have been considered in this discussion: the Xhosa perspective because of my affiliation to these people, and also because Xhosas maintain that there is oneness or holism between humankind and nature. The Seventh-day Adventist perspective has been incorporated since I am a Seventh-day Adventist and have derived my theology from this tradition. Exegesis of Psalm 8 reveals a oneness or holism and partnership of humankind and nature, and this oneness or holism and partnership of these two entities leads to their interrelatedness. Moreover, this oneness and partnership that leads to the interrelatedness of the two entities is rooted in the creation of Genesis 1 of which Psalm 8 seems to be a development. In this relationship each party (humankind and other created beings) plays a role. Humans play the role of leading and representing the group in such a way that their actions or the results of those actions – good or bad - influence all members of the partnership. On the other hand, the other members of this partnership are there to serve the rest of the body, including humanity. In short, the emphasis on the relationship of Psalm 8 is that humankind and nature are so connected that they can hardly survive without each other. The benefit of this research is two-fold. First, it has provided an alternative perspective into the modern theological debate of the relationship of humankind and nature based on the Old Testament. This alternative is that humankind and nature form oneness or holism. Therefore, rather than separating humankind from nature and focusing the attention on humanity to the exclusion of nature, let the debate recognize this oneness and inseparableness.

Thesis (DTh (Old and New Testament))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: It has been acknowledged in two recent studies that the translation of key biblical terms is an area that needs urgent attention. Many lexicons provide the meaning of a word by describing its etymology, hardly paying any attention to the socio-cultural contexts within which it is used. Thus, lexicons are often of limited value for Bible interpretation and translation. This dissertation argues that the meaning of a word can only be fully determined by taking into consideration the linguistic and socio-cultural contexts within which it functions. A basic assumption is that the biblical source text serves as a frame of reference for the semantic analysis of a particular word. The text provides an integrative semantic and pragmatic framework within which a biblical term must be investigated with reference to its wider socio-cultural setting. In the light of this framework, this study investigates the meaning of dsj in the book of Ruth from a Lomwe perspective. Although the word occurs only three times (Ruth 1:8, 2:20 and 3:10) with reference to Ruth, Boaz and Yahweh as subjects, respectively, the book is a “dsj story”, which represents the essence of the covenant between Yahweh and His people. The essence of this covenant is demonstrated by the main characters of the story, which unveil the theological depth that dsj brings to the understanding of this narrative. Since the aim of the study is to evaluate the suitability of the terms osivela, osivela combined with woororomeleya and ikharari in relation to others that are potentially available in Lomwe to convey the conceptual complexity denoted by dsj, a Cognitive Frames of Reference (CFR) approach was introduced for the translation. To bridge the cognitive gap between the socio-cultural worlds of the biblical audience and the target audience, the study used different dimensions of CFR namely the textual, socio-cultural, communicational and the organizational frames of reference. Using the book of Ruth as a starting point for the translation of the word dsj into Lomwe, it is argued that this approach offers a better understanding of the meaning of dsj in Ruth 1:8, 2:20 and 3:10. Since osivela waya woororomeleya does not do justice to the meaning of dsj in the three passages, the words ikharari (1:8 and 2:20) and oreera murima (3:10) have been proposed as exegetically and socio-culturally more appropriate alternatives. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In twee onlangse studies is aangedui dat daar dringend aandag geskenk behoort te word aan die vertaling van sleutel bybelse terme. Baie woordeboeke verskaf die betekenis van woord deur die etimologie daarvan te beskryf, met beperkte fokus op die sosio-kulturele kontekse waarin dit gebruik word. Gevoglik is die waarde van woordeboeke beperk met betrekking tot bybelinterpretasie en -vertaling. Hierdie proefskrif argumenteer dat die betekenis van woord slegs volkome bepaal kan word deur die inagneming van die literêre en sosio-kulturele kontekste waarin dit funksioneer. Basiese aanname is dat die bybelse bronteks as verwysingsraamwerk dien vir die semantiese analise van bepaalde woord. Die teks verskaf geïntegreerde semantiese en pragmatiese raamwerk waarin bybelse term ondersoek moet word met verwysing na sy breër sosio-kulturele milieu. In die lig van hierdie raamwerk ondersoek hierdie studie dus die betekenis van dsj in die Boek van Rut vanuit Lomwe perspektief. Alhoewel die woord slegs driekeer voorkom (Rut 1:8, 2:20 en 3:10) met betrekking tot onderskeidelik Rut, Boaz en Jahwe as onderwerpe, is die boek “dsj storie” wat die essensie van die verbond tussen Jahwe en sy volk verbeeld. Die wese van dié verbond word gedemonstreer deur die storie se hoofkarakters wat die teologiese diepte van dsj tot beter verstaan van die narratief blootlê. Aangesien die studie evaluering van toepaslike terme osivela, osivela, gekombineer met woororomeleya, en ikharari, in verhouding tot andere wat moontlik in Lomwe beskikbaar is, om die konseptuele kompleksiteit weer te gee, ten doel het, is Kognitiewe Verwysingsraamwerk (KWR) benadering vir vertaling voorgestel. Ten einde die kognitiewe gaping tussen die sosiokulturele wêrelde van die bybelse gehoor en die teikengehoor te oorbrug, het hierdie studie verskillende dimensies van KWR, te wete die tekstuele, sosio-kulturele, kommunikatiewe en organisatoriese verwysingsraamwerke aangewend. Deur die Boek Rut as vertrekpunt te neem vir die vertaling van dsj in Lomwe, word geargumeenteer dat dié benadering beter verstaan van dsj se betekenis in Rut 1:8, 2:20, 3:10 tot gevolg het. Aangesien osivela waya woororomeleya nie reg laat geskied aan die betekenis van dsj in hierdie drie perikope nie, is die woorde ikharari (1:8 en 2:20) en oreera murima (3:10) as eksegeties en sosio-kultureel meer toepaslike alternatiewe voorgestel.

Thesis (DLitt (Ancient Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 1998. / This is an iconographic study of the motifs of the sea, lion, wings, horns and the enthroned in the iconography of Palestine/Israel with reference to the vision of Dan 7:2-14

The present study is a history of interpretation. In that sense it does not fit neatly into the category of Wirkungsgeschichte. Moving through successive periods of the Christian church’s history, we will select representative interpretations of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and theological works dealing explicitly with the question of true and false prophecy in an effort to present a sampling of material from the span of the church’s existence. This study seeks to function as a hermeneutical guide for the present interpretive problem of interpreting true and false prophecy in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible by displaying ways various interpreters have broached the subject in the past. In this way it may prove useful to the current impasse concerning the notion of false prophecy in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. Seeing continuity, or a family resemblance, in the Christian church’s interpretation of true and false prophecy in relation to the law’s role amongst exilic and post-exilic prophets, we will observe those ways in which a historically informed reading might offer an interpretive guide for subsequent interpretations of true and false prophecy.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

M.A. / Condemnation (by various biblical writers) of certain practices found among st the Israelites which led ultimately to the Exile have often been viewed from two opposite views. The believer in the Bible simply accepted the condemnation at face value, and without question, whereas the scholar sought to explain it in terms of extra-biblical knowledge of the history of other civilisations which often threw doubt on the accuracy and veracity of the biblical record. This mini-dissertation seeks to show that it is possible to accept the viability of the biblical account in terms of the extra-biblical sources.

This dissertation examines leadership and management competencies of Southern Baptist mega-church executive pastors. The study discusses the issue of limited research on the position of the executive pastor. Resources related to this position are cited. Possible reasons for the emergence of this position are examined including the minister's dilemma of being both shepherd and administrator and the issue of leadership training as preparation for the pastorate. Also provided is a theological and philosophical foundation for the leadership and management practices. Servant leadership as the biblical foundation for leadership and secular leadership models appropriate for church administration are reviewed. Research findings on ministerial effectiveness and the minister as manager are included. The available research on the role of the executive pastor is analyzed to reveal the practices posited in current literature. The methodological design is based on the 1988 research of Stephen Boersma. This study identifies and analyzes the self evaluated importance of leadership and management competencies. Demographic data and professional experience are studied to identify relationships between the executive pastors' response and his background. The analysis of findings presents the raw data, displays and statistical analysis. A description of how the raw data was compiled and an evaluation of the research design is provided. The analysis relates to the demographic data of the population, the rank order of the importance ratings, a comparative analysis of this study's findings with the finds of the Boersma study, an analysis of the demographic characteristics that are predictors of the importance ratings and a brief study of the findings related to the subjects' self-reported job satisfaction, performance and preparation in the role of the executive pastor. This research contends that there are certain leadership and management competencies necessary for the management and administration of the church. The executive pastor will employ these practices as foundational to the position. There is also a relationship of demographic characteristics to the importance rating. Finally, pastors and executive pastors tend to agree on the importance of these competencies. / This item is only available to students and faculty of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. If you are not associated with SBTS, this dissertation may be purchased from <a href="http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb">http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb</a> or downloaded through ProQuest's Dissertation and Theses database if your institution subscribes to that service.

This dissertation proposes that Deuteronomy portrays the role of divine paternity in three dimensions; progenitor, caregiver, and covenant partner. After presenting the history of the research in chapter 1, this study recognizes that the fatherhood of God in Deuteronomy had been largely overlooked. Recognizing the phrase, "God is a father," to be metaphorical, this study presents a discussion on metaphorical theory in order to understand how metaphors work. Max Black's theory of interaction is accepted as a framework to understanding Deuteronomy's metaphor, "God is a father." Chapter 3 presents an overview of fatherhood from the perspective the ANE. The purpose of the chapter is to establish a system of associated commonplaces concerning the word "father" in the ANE, which, in turn, helps modern readers understand the phrase, "God is a father." This study investigates the literary and theological context of Deuteronomy 32, 1, 8, and 14 (in that order) where the fatherhood of God is revealed. Subsequently, it discusses the structure and genre of each chapter. Finally, it analyzes the verses in their context that speak of God as the father of Israel (Deut 32:6, 18; 1:31; 8:5; 14:1-2). Chapter 4 logically begins with Deuteronomy 32, for there it reveals Yahweh as the progenitor of Israel. Moreover, it is the only occurrence in Deuteronomy where the word "father" is used metaphorically for Yahweh. Deuteronomy 1 reveals Yahweh as caregiver , as he is compared to an earthly father carrying his son. Deuteronomy 8 continues the caregiving theme in the form of Yahweh disciplining Israel for their refinement and for their good. Deuteronomy 14 presents Yahweh's fatherhood as covenant partner . The chapter also portrays Israel as his son, his holy people, and his special treasure. Israel's role, as son, is to obey Yahweh's commands. The conclusion provides a summary and concluding thoughts pertaining to God's fatherhood in Deuteronomy. It affirms that Deuteronomy portrays Yahweh's divine paternity over Israel as progenitor, caregiver, and covenant partner. / This item is only available to students and faculty of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. If you are not associated with SBTS, this dissertation may be purchased from <a href="http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb">http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb</a> or downloaded through ProQuest's Dissertation and Theses database if your institution subscribes to that service.

This dissertation presents a Whiteheadian interpretation of the notions of mind, immanence and process as they are addressed in the Zohar. According to many scholars, this kabbalistic creation story as portrayed in the Zohar is a reaction to the earlier rabbinic concept of God qua creator, which emphasized divine transcendence over divine immanence. The medieval Jewish philosophers, particularly Maimonides influenced by Aristotle, placed particular emphasis on divine transcendence, seeing a radical separation between Creator and creation. With this in mind, these scholars claim that one of the goals of the Zohar’s creation story was to emphasize God’s immanence within creation. Similar to the Zohar, the process metaphysics of Alfred North Whitehead and his followers was reacting to the substance metaphysics that had dominated Western philosophy as far back as ancient Greek thought. Whitehead adopts a very similar narrative to that of the Zohar. First there is mind containing all the eternal objects which serve as potential for the creation (God’s primordial nature). Mind becomes immanent in all actual occasions through prehension (God’s consequent nature). Finally God becomes “the lure” (to use Whitehead’s phrase) in the ongoing process of nature (God as superject). In this narrative, God is not the static being, the unmoved mover as discussed by Aristotle, but rather, is portrayed as a dynamic becoming, a God of process. Due to these significant similarities between Whitehead’s process philosophy and the Zohar with regard to the immanence of God and the process of creation, it is worthwhile to attempt a process interpretation of the kabbalistic creation story. The first part of this dissertation is entitled Philosophical Foundations, focusing on the intellectual framework of this study of the Zohar. The second part is entitled Creating a Narrative, looking at the text of the Zohar through the lens of Whitehead’s metaphysics. Finally, the conclusion looks at the narrative and discusses whether the goals of the dissertation have been achieved. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection