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Rather than the expression of mystical Je^ire tor unity with God, Ignatius' letters are interpreted (using Weber's charismatic type) as the efforts of an 3 ut ho r-ity using his extraordinary position to protect communities from divisive house-church meetings. Protection from false teaching was initiated by reinforcing the position of bishops (the hosts of the common euchanstic assembly).

This dissertation seeks to examine and analyse the healing practices within JMC in relation to health care provided to women during pregnancy. The healing practice performed in this church has made the church become popular and grow numerically. This is also exacerbated by the high cost of medical care in Zimbabwe which is a challenge especially for pregnant women. This is an empirical study which used in-depth interviews with both men and women who are married and are long serving members of JMC. The objective of the study was to find out how the healing practice within JMC contributes to women’s health during pregnancy. The study found out that; one of the teachings of this church is that members are not allowed to seek for medical help from the hospitals. Therefore women who are pregnant are supposed to receive health services only from the church. This is done in form of prayers, prophecy and use of symbols which are directed towards the protection of the mother and child from evil that is perceived to attack them during this period. The church also provides teachings to these mothers to be on how to look after themselves through the use of elderly women who act as birth attendants. The study also found out that some women decided to also seek other forms of medication like visiting hospitals despite the consequences that were put up by the leaders of the church. This study does not claim that religion cannot help women during pregnancy but rather seeks to show that while the church focuses on spiritual healing, there is also a need for a holistic approach to healing that will call on women to visit hospitals, especially when addressing issues relating to pregnancy. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

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This thesis examines Luke-Acts to explore if, how, and in what ways Jesus and early church leaders intentionally shaped the culture of their followers. In Luke, table fellowship was the primary means Jesus used to shape the culture of his followers, as demonstrated through the prominence of eleven meal scenes. In Acts, teaching was the primary means early church leaders used to shape the organizational culture of the early church, as demonstrated through five paraenetic sermons addressed to the church. Table fellowship and teaching affected the behavior, values, and underlying beliefs of the early church related to Jew/Gentile relations (Acts 11; Acts 15), who should be considered as insiders/outsiders (Luke 5:29-39; Luke 7:36-50, Luke 19:1-10), hypocrisy (Luke 11:37-54), Sabbath regulations (Luke 6:1-5), status and humility (Luke 14:1-24; Luke 22:14-34), Jesus' identity (Luke 9:10-17; Luke 24:13-43); the disciples' obedience (Luke 9:10-17; Luke 10:38-42), and leadership (Acts 1:15-26; Acts 20:17-38).

The Ecclesiastical History is the primary historical source of the Christian Church in the pre-Constantinian era. The History narrates the nature and work of Christ, the highlights of the apostolic age and the advancement of the Christian Church in the Roman Empire up to the principate of Constantine. Investigating the Ecclesiastical History using a quantitative method reveals Eusebius' preoccupation with the office of the bishop. There is almost no subject that Eusebius addresses that does not reflect his portrayal of the bishop's influence and universal presence. This thesis demonstrates the high status and undisputed authority of the episcopate as presented by Eusebius of Caesarea. The research of this thesis contributes to an understanding of the bishop in Roman society before Imperial favour. / iv, 250 leaves ; 28 cm.