Thesis (MA (Ancient Studies)--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of the quotations of Paul’s Epistle to the Romans in the conversion narratives in Augustine’s Confessions. The Confessions is an account of Augustine’s conversion to Catholic Christianity. Within the Confessions there are many conversion narratives which form part of a greater narrative that culminates in Augustine’s final conversion in Book 8 of the Confessions. Within these conversion narratives, Augustine often quotes from Romans. In the first chapter, I discuss the use of Rom. 10:14‐15 in the opening paragraph of the Confessions, particularly Augustine’s sensitivity to the diatribe style. The opening paragraph is also significant within the context of the conversion narratives, as it features Augustine in his converted state and effectively represents the goal towards which the conversion narratives will strive. My second chapter deals with the “aversion” narrative in Conf. 5.3.5 and the use of Rom. 1:21‐25. Much attention is given to Augustine’s allusion to apologetic works, particularly the Wisdom of Solomon, which Rom. 1:21‐25 emulates. Chapter three is concerned with the significance of Rom. 1:21‐25 in the intellectual conversion of Augustine. While Augustine reuses a quotation in Conf. 7.9.13‐15, I focus on the unique use of this quotation and its specific significance to the intellectual conversion. The fourth chapter deals with the scriptural conversion and Augustine’s use of Rom. 7:22‐25. In the final chapter, I discuss the use of the references to Romans in Book 8 which Augustine has already quoted earlier in the Confessions. I then show how these quotations affect the interpretation of the spiritual conversion at the end of Book 8. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is om die gebruik van die verwysings na Paulus se Brief aan die Romeine in die bekeringsverhale in Augustinus se Confessiones te ondersoek. Die Confessiones is ’n berig van Augustinus se bekering tot die Katolieke Christendom. In die Confessiones is daar baie bekeringsverhale wat deel vorm van ’n groter verhaal wat sy voltooiing in die slotbekeringsverhaal in Boek 8 van die Confessiones vind. In hierdie bekeringsverhale haal Augustinus dikwels Romeine aan. In die eerste hoofstuk bespreek ek die gebruik van Rom. 10:14‐15 in die inleidende paragraaf van die Confessiones, met klem op Augustinus se aanwending van die diatribe styl. Die inleidende paragraaf is ook van belang met betrekking tot die bekeringsverhale, omdat dit Augustinus in ’n bekeerde toestand uitbeeld en effektief die doel verteenwoordig wat die bekeringsverhale nastreef. My tweede hoofstuk handel oor die “afkeer”‐toneel in Conf. 5.3.5 en die gebruik van Rom. 1:21‐25. Aandag word gegee aan Augustinus se toespeling op apologetiese werke, veral die Wysheid van Salomo, wat deur Rom. 1:21‐25 nageboots word. Hoofstuk drie handel oor die belang van Rom. 1:21‐25 in die intellektuele bekeringsverhaal van Augustinus. In Conf. 7.9.13‐15 gebruik Augustinus weer ’n keer dieselfde aanhaling, en hier is die fokus op die unieke gebruik van hierdie aanhaling en sy spesifieke konteks binne die intellektuele bekeringsverhaal. Die vierde hoofstuk handel oor Augustinus se bekering tot die Skrif en sy gebruik van Rom. 7:22‐25. In die laaste hoofstuk bespreek ek die gebruik van verwysings na Romeine wat Augustinus alreeds vroeër aangehaal het in Boek 8 van die Confessiones. Ten slotte toon ek aan hoe hierdie aanhalings die interpretasie van die geestelike bekeringsverhaal aan die einde van Boek 8 beïnvloed.

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The purpose of this dissertation was to explore Paul's preaching of the significant theological themes in Ephesians in an attempt to establish a model of expository preaching for modern preachers. The study comprised five chapters. The introduction justified the investigation, explained and evaluated the New Homiletic, and summarized the history of the studies of Paul's preaching and Paul's use of the Old Testament in Ephesians. Chapter 2 examined Paul's preaching on the triune God against the Old Testament backdrop. God has provided the spiritual blessings of unity and reconciliation to humanity by the work of Christ's death and resurrection through the Holy Spirit. The investigation demonstrated that Paul's preaching of God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit reflects his eschatological perspective that believers have already experienced the salvation but they still anticipate its consummation. Chapter 3 surveyed Paul's preaching on the Christian life as a new creation primarily dealing with the latter three chapters. Paul's imperative messages, emphasizing on how newly created believers should live a Christian life in conformity of their calling, are grounded on his indicative messages, focusing on what God has done for humans through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Christ. In Paul's preaching there is no dichotomy between the internal work of the Holy Spirit for the believer's redemption and His external ethical exhortation for the believer's life. Paul's preaching of the believer's life also reflected an eschatological dimension. The believer has experienced an ultimate triumph over the evil powers in Christ, but the fruits of that victory have not yet been fully realized. Chapter 4 studied homiletical implications of Paul's preaching in Ephesians and proposed a model of expository preaching. First, expository preaching should be the indicative-grounded and the imperative-oriented. Second, expository preaching should be Christ-centered preaching, focusing on the redemptive work of the triune God in the canonical context. The conclusion summarized the main results of the investigation and suggested Paul's preaching in Ephesians and proposed a future direction for expository preaching. / 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 attempts to answer the questions, “What is the most appropriate background for understanding Paul’s views on marriage, celibacy and divorce as found in 1 Corinthians 7?” and “How do we account for the unique features in 1 Corinthians that are not clearly delineated in the Greco-Roman works, Jesus tradition or in other NT writings?” This work argues that Paul derives the substance of his perspective on marriage, celibacy and divorce directly from the Jewish Scriptures (LXX) and the uniquely motivated Jesus tradition to which he was exposed. Paul’s reception of this Jesus tradition can be traced to first generation believers as well as to his own revelatory religious experience. Such a proposal does not preclude Paul from being significantly influenced by his social context, but suggests that he was acutely aware of the philosophical differences between himself and other thinkers of his day. This work follows the contention that Hellenism only affected the ‘outer shell’ of Paul’s brand of Pharisaism (Hengel). What is more, the Apostle openly uses this Jesus tradition when the situations of his missionary churches paralleled those confronted by Jesus and seems to have expanded upon it when he had no explicit tradition from which to draw as new situations arose within his communities. / New Testament / D. Th. (New Testament)

M.A. / Marriage is neither a Jewish nor a Christian invention. Both religions have one thing in common: their origin is traced back to the God of the Bible, who is also the Creator of the universe. While Christianity does not hesitate to trace its origins to Judaism, Judaism perceives it as a perversion of its heritage. Christian ethics have a rich Jewish background. Actually, the very founders of Christianity were Jewish. Jesus and Paul were, first and foremost, Jews. The former was neither a Christian nor did he intend to start a new religion apart from the Jewish faith. He only perceived himself as a Jewish revivalist, and the long-awaited Messiah. The latter was a Jew who got converted to Christianity. The first four books of the New Testament are an attempt, by both eyewitnesses and their disciples, to present a record of the words and deeds of the historical Jesus. Paul interprets the God's plans of salvation as fulfilled in the Jesus of Nazareth. This research paper attempts to compare the teachings of both Paul and Jesus on marriage and divorce. Christian marriage is a marriage in which both partners are Christian believers. Jesus' teaching is generally addressed to a homogenous JeWish Christian community, with few excerptions in the Markan and Lukan versions. In view of Christian marriages, the Law of Christ seems to be binding upon both partners. A problem arose when the Gospel crossed the borders of Palestine into the Gentile lands. Paul became the instrument used by God to put the universality of the Gospel into practice. The issue of mixed marriages comes into place in the Pauline community. In such unions, the Law of Christ would be binding on only one partner, namely, the believer. The apostle finds himself now faced with a real life situation in which there is no direct command of the Lord. His churches looked up to him for answers. Like marriage, divorce is neither Christian nor non-Christian, although many scholars would have us think in terms of their being Christian or non-Christian. Between what is ethically right and wrong, is the twighlight zone of the acceptable or the unacceptable. For the Jew, divorce was custom. The Gentile world also had its own rules governing marriages, which were no better than those held by Jews. Jesus (the synoptics) quotes no code of law for or against the practice of divorce. He bases his argument on the natural order of things - that is, God's original plan at creation. Marriage may be perceived as a pre-fall divine institution, and divorce a post-fall divine concession. In speaking about marriage, Jesus speaks in terms of principles: marriage was meant to be a permanent bond. Man's sinfulness necessitated a compromise on the part of God: to allow for divorce. We propose that the synoptics speak about the ideal. The state of affairs which Jesus propagates is not practical, and cannot be fully realised in the present age of fallen man. Conversely, Paul deals with the practical - the realistic as opposed to the ideal. His teaching reflects the problems of applications in a rather heterogeneous context. The whole law of God reflects the relativised will of God. In Christianity, Jesus seems to be the first person to relativise the very Law of God. In order for us to fully comprehend the perfect will of God, we need to look beyond the code of law, to that state of absolute perfection. The state which man cannot attain in this present life, where sin and the devil are still at large. This seems to have been the approach applied by Jesus in answering questions on marriage and divorce. In the whole record of Jesus' ministry, nowhere was a called to resolve a real marital problem. We thus propose that What Jesus he gives is only a theoretical framework which requires further analysis before it can be applied to real life situations. We also propose both Jewish and Gentile ethical principles need to be readjusted and reinterpreted before they can be adopted into Christianity. The socio-historical context of both the writer and readers will play an important role in our quest for the link between the Pauline and synoptic perspectives on marriage and divorce. The gulf between the ideal and the real seems to be as wide as one between justice and mercy. The following questions raise some of the major concerns in this research: Are there any links between Paul and Jesus (synoptics) on marriage and divorce? If Jesus speaks about the ideal in his absolutist attitude, is there any link between the ideal and the real; between principle and practice?

This dissertation attempts to illuminate the significance of what has been called the "coworkers" for Paul's mission. At the same time it revises the traditional portrait of Paul as a "lone ranger", not properly understood and appreciated by others. Thus the focus is on the way in which Paul together with his co-workers as his missionary partners achieved the various tasks of early Chrisian mission, namely the proclamation of the gospel and the consolidation of churches. This phenomenon is best described with the German term Kollegialmission, i.e. a mission carried by a team of colleagues. A survey of research is followed by a detailed analysis of this phenomenon in the letters commonly recognised as written by Paul himself. In additon to explicit statements on the co-workers, attention is also given to implicit references, e.g. verb forms in the first person plural which appear in some letters and contribute to understanding this Kollegialmission. Then the same methodological procedure is applied to the disputed letters of Paul. A final chapter examines the portrait of Paul and his co-workers in the Book of Acts. This dissertation demonstrates that this understanding and practice of Kollegialmission was a central point in Paul's mission and self-understanding. His co-workers receive their commission and authority from God, to whom they are responsible. The gospel constitutes the foundation for this cooperation between Paul and his co-workers. Thus the co-workers perform the same duties as Paul himself, though his special apostolate remains in place. The picture of the Kollegialmission in the Deuteropauline letters differs only slightly from that of the letters generally recognised as Paul's own. As the author of Acts is mainly interested in the person of Paul, his co-workers appear increasingly on the backstage as the story unfolds. This examination closes with an application of some principles of Paul's Kollegialmission to present day congregational ministry and mission work. / Theology / M.Th.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2002 / On title page: Master of Philosophy (Bible Skills) / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The apostle Paul was called and commissioned to the city centres of the eastern Mediterranean world. These city centres were places of power, trade, wealth and travel. They were the nerve centres of civilisation in the East. People from various parts of the Roman Empire were found in these major cities. The city was therefore a highly significant institution in the Roman Empire. The governing authorities wanted hellenization and romanization to spread from these cities. The Christian leaders also decided that Christianity had to spread in the Roman Empire from its city centres. The apostle Paul's Christian mission was therefore to the various cities in the Roman Empire. The sociohistorical realities in these cities therefore formed the context of Paul's life and apostolic work and determined his relation to a city. The political, social, cultural and religious factors in a city could therefore impinge on his life and work. The apostle Paul was usually drawn to these large cities where he could find Jewish communities. As Christianity was resting on a Jewish foundation, his initial strategy was his work in the synagogues amongst the Jews. Paul also needed an alternative venue for his Christian work in the city. These alternate venues were usually the private homes of individuals who had become Christians. In these homes Paul established his church in a city. The hosts in these homes would usually become the benefactors and leaders in the church. Paul's apostolic work in a city was also done in the city streets. His church therefore became thoroughly mixed in terms of social status, however, the church gave all equal rights and privileges. When Paul left a city, he also placed on them the responsibility to reach their surrounding regions and provinces with the Christian message. These cities therefore had to be strategically located. The apostle Paul chose five specific cities that had an advantageous geographical position in the Roman provinces to complete his apostolic work in the eastern Mediterranean world. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die apostel Paulus was geroep en opgedrag vir die stedelike sentrums van die ooste Middellandse wereld. Hierdie stedelike sentrums was plekke van invloedryke mag, ekonomiese handel, rykdom en reis aktiwitiete. Hulle was ook die kern van menslike beskawing in die Ooste. Bevolkings groepe vanuit verskeie dele van die Romeinse ryk was in hierdie groot stede te vinde. Stede was 'n hoogs betekensvolle instelling in die Romeinse ryk. Die politieke owerhede wou he dat hellenization en romanization moes sprei van hierdie stede. Die Christelike leiers het ook besluit dat Christendom moes in die stede van die Romeinse ryk sprei. Die apostel Paulus se Christelike sending was dus tot die verskillende stede in die Romeinse ryk. Die sosio-historiese realiteite in hierdie stede was die samehang van Paulus se apostoliese werk en het ook sy verhouding met die betrokke stede bepaal. Die politieke, maatskaplike, kulturele en godsdienstige faktore in 'n stad kon dus 'n invloed uitoefen op sy lewe en werk. Paulus was gewoonlik aangetrokke tot hierdie groot stede waar Joodse gemeenskappe te vinde was. Aangesien Christendom in die Joodse geloof gegrondves was, was sy aanvanklike strategie om sy werk te loots in sinagoge waar Joode te vinde was. Paulus het ook 'n alternatiewe ontmoetings plek vir sy Christelike werk in die stede nodig gehad. Hierdie alternatiewe ontmoetingsplekke was gewoonlik in die huise van indiwidue wat Christene geword het. Die eienaar van hierdie huishouding het gedien as gasheer, weldoener en leier in die kerk. Paulus het ook sy apostoliese werk voortgesit in die stedelike strate. Sy kerke het as gevolg hiervan 'n gemende samelewing status gehad, nogtans het hy gepoog om alle Christene gelykwaardig te stel. Wanneer Paulus 'n stad verlaat het, het hy het ook aan hulle die verantwoordelikheid gegee om uit te reik na hulomliggende streke en provinsies met die Christen boodskap. Hierdie stede moes dus strategies gelee wees. Paulus het vyf spesifieke stede wat 'n voordelig geologiese posisie in die Romeinse provinsies uitgeken om sy apostoliese werk te voltooi in die ooste Middellandse wereld.

This dissertation attempts to illuminate the significance of what has been called the "coworkers" for Paul's mission. At the same time it revises the traditional portrait of Paul as a "lone ranger", not properly understood and appreciated by others. Thus the focus is on the way in which Paul together with his co-workers as his missionary partners achieved the various tasks of early Chrisian mission, namely the proclamation of the gospel and the consolidation of churches. This phenomenon is best described with the German term Kollegialmission, i.e. a mission carried by a team of colleagues. A survey of research is followed by a detailed analysis of this phenomenon in the letters commonly recognised as written by Paul himself. In additon to explicit statements on the co-workers, attention is also given to implicit references, e.g. verb forms in the first person plural which appear in some letters and contribute to understanding this Kollegialmission. Then the same methodological procedure is applied to the disputed letters of Paul. A final chapter examines the portrait of Paul and his co-workers in the Book of Acts. This dissertation demonstrates that this understanding and practice of Kollegialmission was a central point in Paul's mission and self-understanding. His co-workers receive their commission and authority from God, to whom they are responsible. The gospel constitutes the foundation for this cooperation between Paul and his co-workers. Thus the co-workers perform the same duties as Paul himself, though his special apostolate remains in place. The picture of the Kollegialmission in the Deuteropauline letters differs only slightly from that of the letters generally recognised as Paul's own. As the author of Acts is mainly interested in the person of Paul, his co-workers appear increasingly on the backstage as the story unfolds. This examination closes with an application of some principles of Paul's Kollegialmission to present day congregational ministry and mission work. / Theology / M.Th.

This study investigates the meaning of Paul's expression 'works of the law' ( tpycx vOμou) • A survey of representative scholars regarding Paul's attitude toward the Mosaic law demonstrates that confusion over this issue continues as a difficulty in Pauline studies. It is suggested that ascertaining the meaning of this expression will help alleviate that confusion. This study indicates that Paul's use of tpyov is ethically neutral: 'work' itself is neither positive nor negative for Paul. The ethical orientation of a given 'work' is determined by the descriptors Paul attaches to it. Paul speaks positively and negatively about the law itself, yet only negative descriptors are used with tpycxvOμou. This gives significant direction for the interpretation of 'works of the law.' The historical backgrounds of Galatians and Romans support this negative orientation for tpycx vOμou. These letters were written to confront separate crisis situations in different churches. Yet they share common situational elements. Paul was faced in both churches with a form of 'judaizing' opposition that insisted that Gentile converts become 'practical Jews' in order to 'complete' the Abrahamic covenant through the Mosaic. Paul addresses this threat to these churches by means of epistolographical and rhetorical mechanisms. He uses these persuasive communication devices powerfully, insisting that these converts recognize what it means to be 'in Christ,' and what it means and does not mean to be 'Jewish.' 'Works of the law' are not necessary for salvation, and were never intended for redemption. Likewise, identity as one who performs 'works of the law' does not provide any claim upon God. One does not have to become a 'practical Jew' to have a right relationship to God, and a Jew has no redemptive status before God on the basis of ethnicity. 'Works of the law,' then, serve as a factor in Paul's polemics because the continuing validity of the Mosaic law is the issue being addressed by Paul and his opponents. They are a feature in Paul's view of the law because he is both positive and negative toward the law, depending upon one's intended salvific orientation to God through it / Psychology of Education / D. Th. (New Testament)

Text in English / The purpose of this dissertation was to establish the rhetorical function of Romans 7 within the context of Romans 5-8. Chapter 1 involved a survey of the problem that led to the investigation and a discussion of a number of approaches offered as an interpretation for understanding Romans 7. Chapter 2 centred on an investigation into the nature of Paul's audience in Rome. Chapter 3 investigated the purpose of the letter as a help to understanding the rhetorical function of Romans 7. Chapter 4 dealt with the rhetorical function of Romans 7. The causa underlying Paul's rhetoric in Romans 7 was a tendency among Gentile Christians to want to return to the law. Paul set out strongly to counter this tendency because it was incompatible with their position in Christ and would foil his plans in respect of the Gentile Christians in Rome and of the Gospel to the West. / Biblical & Ancient Studies / M.A. (Biblical Studies)