The thrust of this study proceeds from the presupposition that first, the Cush texts of the Old Testament which may be used as a conduit for finding `Africa' in the Bible have generally been `ignored' or not given the priority they deserve especially by traditional western biblical scholarship. Second, that when, however, they have been accorded a `token paragraph or two', the interpretations given more often than not tend to portray a negative image of the African Cush. As a result, those of African ancestry who tend to trace their identity (however that term is understood) and historical roots to the biblical Cush tend to take offence at such interpretations. They perceive them as a deliberate attempt to `de-Africanize' or `de-emphasize' the African presence in and contribution to the Bible. This thesis argues that there are serious consequences for `de-Africanizing' the Bible, especially for the African peoples. This constitutes the fundamental argument in chapter one. To highlight the problem dogging the Cush texts even more, a sample excursion into the works of the major interpreters of the Cush texts is offered. As a result of this, two groups of scholars emerge: the Eurocentric on one hand, and the Afrocentric on the other. It is observed that each of the two groups more or less interprets the texts from its own cultural perspective. This is basically the subject matter of chapter two. Against this background, the researcher is consequently obligated to return to the sources and, in so doing, attempts another re-reading of all the fifty-six Cush texts from the historical-critical perspective, as well as from other perspectives. This is carried out with the intention of developing an interpretative model which, first of all, does justice to all the Cush texts, thereby offsetting what traditional western biblical scholarship has hitherto done; and which, second, attempts to offer an interpretation of the Cush texts which tries to take into consideration both Eurocentric as well as Afrocentric perspectives and concerns. In this way, a balance of sorts is struck. This is the main focus of chapters three, four and five, which comprise the main corpus of this thesis. The approach employed in the analysis of the Cush references is a `thematic' one. In other words, texts are grouped according to their presumed `themes' and are analyzed under the subtitles of `Preliminary remarks' and `Analytical remarks'. The former generally focus on literary matters such as those pertaining to the grammar and syntax of the MT, although to a certain extent are also interpretative. The latter attempts an explanation of the given reference as the main focus, but also takes into consideration the views of other scholars. This is how all the references are treated. The MT however is the pivot around which all the analyses hinge. The procedure is `fluid', however, in that there is much overlapping of the arguments put forward. Finally, a conclusion summarizing the findings related to all the references belonging to one thematic group is provided at the end of each chapter. The last chapter, which comprises the conclusion to the whole thesis, focuses on the importance and challenges of the Cush texts for Africa. In this connection a way forward is also proposed as to how such texts may be organized and read with some sense in a context of higher learning such as that which obtains in an African University. / Biblical and Ancient studies / D. Th. (Old Testament)

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2001 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research is a study of the promise of land in the Old Testament. Special emphasis is given to what theological-ethical implications the nature, conditions, and purpose of the promise of land entail - what it meant to the Israelites and what it means to us today. The scope of this thesis is the Old Testament in its final form (here the 39 books of the Protestant Bible). However, the study is mainly based on the narratives and prophetic literature, as the promise of land is mostly found in these texts. A careful study of the natures of the four land covenant texts of Genesis 15 and 17 (Abrahamic covenant), Exodus 19-24 (Sinaitic covenant; cf. Dt 5:6-18; 12-16),2 Samuel 7:5-29 (Davidic covenant), and Jeremiah 31:31-34 (new covenant) will show that Yahweh's promise (gift) of land to Abraham and his descendants (the Israelites) in the Old Testament is conditional. Possession and continual possession of the promised land will depend on the Israelites' observance of the stipulations of the land covenants. In order to possess and continually possess the land, the Israelites must worship Yahweh exclusively, live a holy life, pursue righteous and justice, share the land equally among themselves, and care for the land according to the will of the giver. Failure to observe these stipulations will result in losing the land (exile). Israel failed and was exiled. But that was not the end. The promise of land is also the promise of restoration (to the land) if the Israelites return to the Lord. Return, they did, and were restored to the promised land. All these conditions apply (some of them analogously orland metaphorically) to us today as we live on this planet earth, God's creation-gift. The purpose of the promise of land is for blessing - both material blessing of wellbeing and spiritual blessing of knowing and worshipping Yahweh God. This blessing is for both the Israelites and the whole world. By promising a land to the Israelites, God wants to use the promised land and its people as a standard measure for other lands and nations. In this way, the promise of land is not so much a privilege as it is a responsibility. On the one hand, the promise of land gives the Israelites, for that matter, other peoples as well, a spatial-ethnical identity, which entails the need to respect every people's ethnic identity and their "God-given" land. On the other, the promised land is not exclusively for the Israelites, it is a place where other peoples (aliens) may also live (Eze 47:21- 23). This inevitably challenges us to strive towards a peaceful coexistence and sharing of resources including land regardless of color, creed, and language. The promised land, for that matter, the whole earth, is God's collective gift to the whole humanity. Therefore every human has a right to the land. The earth, God's creation-gift, if shared and managed according to the will of the giver, is enough to provide a home to everyone and meet his or her needs. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing bestudeer die landbelofte in die Ou Testament. Spesiale klem word gele op die teologies-etiese implikasies ten opsigte van die aard, voorwaardes en doel van die belofte - en die betekenenis daarvan vir die Israeliete en vir ons vandag. Die bestek van hierdie tesis is die finale vorm van die Ou Testament (hier die 39 boeke van die Protestantse Bybel), maar die fokus val op die verhalende en profetiese literatuur, waarin die landsbelofte meeste aangetref word. Noukeurige analise van die aard van die vier land-verbond tekste van Genesis 15 en 17 (Abraham-verbond), Eksodus 19-24 (Sinai-verbond; vgl. Deut 5:6-18; 12-16),2 Samuel 7:5-29 (Dawid-verbond), en Jeremia 31 :31-34 (nuwe verbond) toon dat Jahwe se belofte (gawe) van land aan Abraham en sy nakomelinge (die Israeliete) in die Ou Testament voorwaardelik is. Die huidige en toekomstige besit van die beloofde land vereis dat die Israeliete die voorskrifte van die landverbond nakom. Om die land te kan eien en die eienaarskap daarvan voort te sit, moet die Israeliete Jahwe uitsluitlik aanbid, 'n gewyde lewe voer, reg en geregtigheid nastreef, die land eweredig met mekaar dee! en omsien daama ooreenkomstig die wil van die gewer. Om te faal in die nakom van hierdie opdragte sal veroorsaak dat die land weerhou word (eksiel). Israel het misluk, en is in ballingskap gevoer. Dit was egter nie die finale woord nie. Die belofte van land impliseer ook die belofte van herstel (restorasie van die land) indien die Israeliete hulle tot die Here sou terugkeer. Dit het hulle gedoen, en die beloofde land is aan hulle terugbesorg. Hierdie voorskrifte geld ook vandag vir ons (sommige weI analogies en/of metafories) waar ons die planeet aarde, God se skeppingsgawe, bewoon. Die doel van die landsbelofte is seen, beide as materiele welvaart en geestelike seen in die ken en aanbied van Jahwe God. Hierdie seen geld vir die Israeliete soos ook vir die ganse wereld. Deur land te beloof aan die Israeliete, bepaal God dat dit gebruik moet kan word vir alle inwoners as 'n standaardmaatstaf ook vir ander lande en nasies. Op die manier is die beloofde land nie slegs 'n voorreg nie maar ook 'n verantwoordelikheid. Enersyds bied die beloofde land aan die Israeliete, soos ook vir ander mense, 'n ruimtelike etniese identiteit, wat meebring dat alle etniese identiteite en hulle "Godgegewe" grond respek verdien. Andersyds geld die landsbelofte nie uitsluitlik vir die Israeliete nie, dit is 'n ruimte waar ook ander mense (vreemdelinge) mag woon (Eze 47:21-23). Dit stel onvermydelik aan ons 'n uitdaging tot vreedsame naasbestaan en verdeling van hulpbronne insluitend grond, benewens verskille in kleur, godsdiens en taal. Die beloofde land, trouens die hele aarde, is God se kollektiewe gawe aan die hele mensdom. Daarom is elke persoon geregtig op land. Die aarde, God se skeppings gawe, is toereikend om vir elkeen 'n tuiste te verskaf en aan sy of haar behoeftes te voldoen, mits dit gedeel en bestuur word volgens die wil van die gewer.

This thesis examines the use and function of a specific group of Psalms, the so-called “Royal Psalms,” among the texts of the Qumran library. From the time of their integration into the worship practices of the Israelite people in the obscure past to the Second Temple period and beyond, these Psalms continued to be a source of inspiration to the Jewish people. Though there have been many studies that have analyzed their Sitz im Leben, use, interpretation, and application for many different periods, no study has attempted a thorough analysis of their use among the Qumran documents. Analyses of the use in the Qumran texts of certain individual Royal Psalms exist, but these do not attempt to cover the Royal Psalms as a corpus. The present thesis will analyze the appearance in the Qumran library of the eleven generally-accepted Royal Psalms: Pss 2, 18, 20, 21, 45, 72, 89, 101, 110, 132, and 144. This study explores whether or not these Psalms are to be found in the known Qumran Psalms scrolls, variations or differences as compared to the Masoretic Text, how they are were interpreted in exegetical and other texts, quotations of and allusions to them, and how themes from the Royal Psalms contribute to the structure and theology of non-canonical royal psalms found at Qumran. An understanding of the use of the biblical Royal Psalms in these texts is of value for our comprehension of what happened to the pre-exilic royal traditions as these hymns continued to be used in a post-monarchic society. This dissertation makes an original contribution toward these goals, establishing that there was an interest on the part of the authors of many of the Qumran texts in royal themes although they lived long after the monarchy had ended.

The thesis consists of two main parts. The first part focuses on the ethical values in the Old and New Testament. At the beginning basic concepts are defined, that are essential for the thesis and are related to ethics and moral evaluation. The first part centres on the important events that shaped society and that come from The Bible (Creation, The Ten Commandments, God's contracts with the nation of Israel, the life of Jesus Christ, the parables, The Sermon on the Mount and The Lord's Prayer). The thesis also compares these values with the philosophy of Socrates and then with the approach, that Jan Amos Comenius offered in his work. The second part analyzes views of Christian ethical values today : whether there is a need to know these values, why we should strive for their observance, whether they are current and whether people (Christians and atheists ) honor and follow them. On the basis of the second section I conclude, that our culture is formed under the strong influence of Christianity, these values are still held and are considered important for the functioning of human relationships and society. Although it may seem that these values are not held today, they are still an ideal within our culture and people are trying to achieve them in their lifes.

Cette thèse examine la particularité de la démarche qui consiste à traduire le Nouveau Testament en hébreu et qui implique de transférer le texte fondateur du christianisme dans un contexte juif. Elle se concentre sur la façon dont le traducteur utilise la Bible hébraïque et la littérature rabbinique ancienne pour accomplir ce transfère. Il est montré que grâce aux liens historiques, théologiques et conceptuels étroits entre le Nouveau Testament et ces deux corpus juifs, l’emploi d’éléments repris d’eux pour rendre des éléments du Nouveau Testament est particulièrement efficace pour augmenter la compréhensibilité du Nouveau Testament en hébreu et son acceptabilité dans un contexte juif. Cependant, l’usage de tels éléments dans la traduction du Nouveau Testament en hébreu risque souvent de gommer les spécificités du Nouveau Testament par rapport au judaïsme. Le travail du traducteur du Nouveau Testament en hébreu implique donc une constante hésitation quant à la pertinence des formes d’expressions hébraïques et des concepts juifs pour refléter les formes d’expression et les concepts du Nouveau Testament, et, plus généralement, quant aux affinités et aux contrastes entre le christianisme et le judaïsme. / This dissertation examines the specificity of translating the New Testament into Hebrew, an activity which involves transferring the founding text of Christianity into a Jewish context. The dissertation focuses on the use of the Hebrew Bible and of ancient rabbinic literature in bringing about this transfer. It is shown that because of the close historical, theological and conceptual links between the New Testament and these two Jewish corpora, the use of elements borrowed from them in rendering elements found in the New Testament is particularly effective for enabling the New Testament to be easily understood in Hebrew and to be accepted in a Jewish context. However, the use of such elements in a Hebrew translation of the New Testament may often result in blurring features of the New Testament that are distinguished from Judaism. For this reason, the translator of the New Testament into Hebrew constantly hesitates whether Hebrew forms of expression and Jewish concepts are suitable for reflecting the New Testament’s forms of expression and concepts, and asks himself, more generally, what exactly unites and distinguishes Christianity and Judaism.

This thesis employs a historical approach to practical theology in an effort to discover resources from past practices for critical reflection upon a current methodology with the intent of producing a revised practice. The following research question is pursued: How can the practices of patristic preachers enhance the current efforts of redemptive-historical preachers to preach faithfully the New Testament quotations of the Old Testament? Chapter One reviews literature from five major redemptive-historical theologians: Geerhardus Vos, Edmund Clowney, Sidney Greidanus, Bryan Chapell, and Graeme Goldsworthy. Five of the major shared characteristics of these authors are considered in light of their various contributions. Chapters Two, Three, and Four examine various patristic homilies, outlining practical considerations for a contemporary model of preaching. Chapter Two examines two early homilies, 2 Clement and Quis Dives Salvetur, noting the influence of the synagogue. Chapters Three and Four respectively examine the preaching of Origen and Chrysostom. Chapter Five outlines some major characteristics of patristic preaching discovered through a comparison of the findings of chapters Two through Four. Chapter Six provides a model for preaching New Testament quotations of the Old Testament that is consistent with the theological convictions of redemptive-historical homileticians and informed by the insights gained from reflection upon the practices of patristic preachers. This model makes an original contribution to knowledge by advancing the discussion of redemptive-historical preaching both through the application of the redemptive-historical approach to the New Testament quotations of the Old Testament and through the consideration of the relationship between redemptive-historical practices and patristic practices. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology)

<p>Jag ämnar med den här uppsatsen att belysa det teologiska språket som den mänskliga konstruktion jag anser det vara. Mitt syfte är att fokusera på faran att ensidigt betona metaforen om Gud som en man, som personlig och opersonlig varelse, och att diskutera den metaforiska innebörden hos den bibliska Gudsbilden och att påskina den revidering jag anser vara nödvändig i det metaforiska språket av Gudsbilden, som är genomsyrat av en patriarkalisk anda. Det andra blir litteraturstudier med anknytning till ämnet och en slutlig avhandling och diskussion med hjälp av vad jag fått fram.</p>

<p>Syftet med uppsatsen är att undersöka hur översättarna bakom de två bibelöversättningarna valt att framställa de gammaltestamentliga kvinnorna i rubrikerna. Den övergripande frågeställning som jag kommer att besvara i den här uppsatsen är:</p><ul><li>På vilket sätt skiljer sig rubrikerna mellan de två översättningarna åt i hur kvinnor betonas?</li></ul><p>Min följdfråga är:</p><ul><li>Kan en eventuell förändring härledas från de direktiv som låg till grund för översättningsarbetet?</li></ul><p>Utifrån den övergripande frågeställning kommer jag att undersöka de rubriker som kvinnor nämns i med utgångspunkt i det som en del av feministteologerna strävar efter, nämligen att synliggöra kvinnan. Min hypotes är att kvinnan har synliggjorts mer i och med den nya bibelöversättningen.</p>

<p>I fokus för denna uppsats står textfynden och samfundet från Qumran. Huvudsyftet med min uppsats är att presentera olika teorier om vem eller vilka som skrivit Dödahavsrullarna, samt att göra en analyserande undersökning av dessa teorier. Vad kan jag hitta för brister i dessa teorier?</p><p>Uppsatsens delsyfte kan formuleras i några enkla frågeställningar. Några av dessa frågor kanske kan få utförliga svar, andra frågor kanske förblir obesvarade, vilket i första hand vilar på materialtillgång. Hur hittades Dödahavsrullarna? Vad fann man vid de arkeologiska utgrävningarna? Vad är det för litterärt innehåll i Qumrantexterna? Kan textfynden lära oss något om samfundets liv och lära? Hur såg samhällsklimatet ut i Israel/Palestina under den tid då Qumran var bebott? Kan det vara av betydelse att titta närmare på den historiska kontexten i Israel för att kunna komma en bit närmare svaren på frågorna kring samfundet?</p>

<p> </p><p>Syftet med uppsatsen är att undersöka de mest framträdande likheter och skillnader i hur änglar och änglalika väsen har framställts i Koranen, Gamla testamentet och i det Nya testamentet. Uppsatsen är en beskrivande och komparativ litteraturstudie, i vilken jag har använt mig av hermeneutiken som tolkningsmetod.</p><p>Resultatet av mitt studium visar att de mest framträdande skillnaderna är att änglarna i Koranen inte beskrivs ha en lika tydlig roll som talande sändebud som i det Gamla och Nya Testamentet. Däremot har jag funnit att rollen som handlande tjänare är mer framträdande och därför mera lik den roll som de har i de båda testamentena. Detta betyder att jag då funnit att framställningen av relationen mellan Gud och änglarna, och mellan änglarna och människan kan sägas uppfattas som beskrivet som ett större avstånd. Den allra tydligaste skillnaden är att Koranen framställer änglarna som skapade, vilket inte gäller för Gamla eller Nya Testamentet.</p><p> </p>