Text in German with summaries in German and English / Zusammenfassung Die vorliegende empirische Forschungsstudie hat es sich zur Aufgabe gestellt, das Predigtverstandnis der baptistischen und mennonitischen Aussiedlerfreikirchen im heutigen Deutschland darzustellen. Da es keine von diesen Freikirchen veroffentlichten Dokumente zur Predigtlehre gibt, musste hier empirisch geforscht werden. Hierbei kamen anerkannte empirische Methoden zur Anwendung, die eine moglichst grosse Objektivitat bzgl. der Sammlung und der Analyse von Umfrage-Daten gewahrleisten sollen, damit die Ergebnisse des Weiteren ein moglichst reprasentatives Bild der Gesamtsituation der genannten Freikirchen bzgl. ihres Predigtverstandnisses in den Gottesdiensten darzustellen vermogen. Die Ergebnisse mehrerer zyklisch-triangularer Umfragen bzgl. des Predigtverstandnisses genannter Gemeinden werden dann diskutiert unter Berucksichtigung des prominentesten deutschen evangelikalen Predigtansatzes. Da diese Forschungsarbeit jedoch nicht einfach nur einem wissenschaftlich-theoretischen Interesse dienen soll, sollen ihre Ergebnisse auch fur die zukunftige Gemeindearbeit von Nutzen sein. Abstract The present empiric research study aims to present the current concept of preaching in the Russian-German Baptist and Mennonite Free Evangelical Churches in Germany. As these churches have not published documents concerning their preaching concept, this study has to be based on empiric research. For this purpose acknowledged empirical methods were applied which vouch for as much objectivity as possible in the collection and analysis of data. The subsequent aim was that the results thereof represent as much as possible an accurate picture of the current situation of these Free Churches with regard to their understanding of preaching in their services. The conclusions to various cyclic-triangular questionnaires regarding the understanding of preaching in these churches are then discussed against the background of a German evangelical homiletic concept. Since this study does not just serve a theoretical research interest, its conclusions are thought to be of use for future work within these churches. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M.Th. (Missiology)

Discontent with preaching as mode of communication is the problem statement of this study. The authoritative nature of deductive preaching is mirrored by the exploratory, "discovery nature" of inductive models, emphasizing how dialogical preaching is enhanced by incorporating inductive elements into preaching. Meaning production and levels of meaning were studied, and a hermeneutical model for Pentecostal churches were proposed. Dialogical preaching as attitude and principle as well as method was looked at, and the role of interactive participative communication in the dialogic process was described. Special emphasis was placed on the Parable, the metaphor and narrative preaching as models for inductive preaching, and the development and phases of the "plot" was examined. Bridging models between inductive and deductive styles were explored, while two dialogical tools for preparation of sermons were designed. / Practical Theology / Th.M. (Practical theology)

In this study, I expand the scope of the scholarship that Walter Ong and others have done in orality-literacy relations to examine the often uneasy juxtaposition of the oral and written traditions in the literature of the Victorian pulpit. I begin by examining the intersections of the oral and written traditions found in both the theory and the practice of Victorian preaching. I discuss the prominent place of the sermon within both the print and oral cultures of Victorian Britain; argue that the sermon's status as both oration and essay places it in the genre of "oral literature"; and analyze the debate over the extent to which writing should be employed in the preparation and delivery of sermons.

The thesis deals teologic comparison of two patristic commentaries of the Sermon on the Plain from Gospel of Luke - by saint Ambrose and by saint Cyril of Alexandria. Both autors are excerpts from their commentaries of Gospel of Luke. At first are outlined life and literary work of both authors and later an analysis of both texts from the point of view of selected principal theological topics is made. After that the two theological views are compared to the Sermon on the Plain, outlining the initial idea of both autors.

As a writer of medical summaries and compendia, Oribasius has often been dismissed as a harbinger of late antique medical decline. This dissertation challenges this long-lived assumption by revaluating the compiler and his writings, and the place of medicine in the cultural and social landscape of late antiquity. Chapter one examines the scholarly biases that surround Oribasius’ career, positing that his Medical Collections were produced in response to the intellectual priorities of the Emperor Julian’s scholarly circle. Moreover, both the medical art and the physician were highly regarded in the fourth century, as chapter two demonstrates. Not only do the Collections reflect the priorities and order of empire, but the idea of the medical encounter granted both emperor and bishop a symbolic language with which to pose and articulate social questions in this period. Chapters three and four outline the ways Oribasius engaged with the medical realities of his day, by retaining in his compilation a sense of personal experience and patient interaction. In his borrowed case histories, female subservience in the face of medical authority is expected; whilst the hierarchy of the elite household is shown to dictate his approach to the patients within it. A messier reality of female agency in their own physical and spiritual care is better captured by Christian writers in the miracle account and sermon, in part because Christians like the Cappadocians and John Chrysostom imbued female choice with new theological meaning. Chapter five sets Oribasius’ approach to the female patient in the broader context of late antique social shifts. The compiler’s careful delineation of responsibility and blame in dealings with vulnerable pubertal and pregnant women reflect an attempt to reaffirm an unwritten social contract with the elite and the paterfamilias; a social priority which is also apparent in the legal compendia of the period. Christian writers, meanwhile, drew metaphorically upon medical discourses of generativity and patrimony to distinguish Christian society from the classical past, as chapter six demonstrates. In the final analysis, Oribasius’ Collections are shown to be intimately and variously in dialogue with the society that produced them, reflecting both the high standing of the art in late antiquity, and its symbolic role in defence of the social world, patriarchy and empire. Christian interactions with medicine are shown to reflect many of these same priorities, and to engage with medical norms in more pervasive ways than has often been noted. But it is only in the Christian text that the medical writers’ woman transcends the determinisms of her traditional generativity and physical inferiority, so central to the writings of Oribasius and his classical predecessors.

Medieval rhetoric, as a field and as a subject, has largely been under-developed and under-emphasized within medieval and rhetorical studies for several reasons: the disconnect between Germanic, Anglo-Saxon society and the Greco-Roman tradition that defined rhetoric as an art; the problems associated with translating the Old and Middle English vernacular in light of rhetorical and, thereby, Greco-Latin precepts; and the complexities of the medieval period itself with the lack of surviving manuscripts, often indistinct and inconsistent political and legal structure, and widespread interspersion and interpolation of Christian doctrine. However, it was Christianity and its governance of medieval culture that preserved classical rhetoric within the medieval period through reliance upon a classic epideictic platform, which, in turn, became the foundation for early medieval rhetoric. The role of epideictic rhetoric itself is often undervalued within the rhetorical tradition because it appears too basic or less essential than the judicial or deliberative branches for in-depth study and analysis. Closer inspection of this branch reveals that epideictic rhetoric contains fundamental elements of human communication with the focus upon praise and blame and upon appropriate thought and behavior. In analyzing the medieval world’s heritage and knowledge of the Greco-Roman tradition, epideictic rhetoric’s role within the writings and lives of Greek and Roman philosophers, and the popular Christian writings of the medieval period – such as Alfred’s translation of Boethius’ Consolation of Philosophy, Alfred’s translation of Gregory the Great’s Pastoral Care, Ælfric’s Lives of Saints, Ælfric’s Catholic Homilies, Wulfstan’s Sermo Lupi ad Anglos, and the anonymously written Vercelli and Blickling homiles – an early medieval rhetoric begins to be revealed. This Old English rhetoric rests upon a blended epideictic structure based largely upon the encomium and vituperation formats of the ancient progymnasmata, with some additions from the chreia and commonplace exercises, to form a unique rhetoric of the soul that aimed to convert words into moral thought and action within the lives of every individual. Unlike its classical predecessors, medieval rhetoric did not argue, refute, or prove; it did not rely solely on either praise or blame; and it did not cultivate words merely for intellectual, educative, or political purposes. Instead, early medieval rhetoric placed the power of words in the hands of all humanity, inspiring every individual to greater discernment of character and reality, greater spirituality, greater morality, and greater pragmatism in daily life.

Discontent with preaching as mode of communication is the problem statement of this study. The authoritative nature of deductive preaching is mirrored by the exploratory, "discovery nature" of inductive models, emphasizing how dialogical preaching is enhanced by incorporating inductive elements into preaching. Meaning production and levels of meaning were studied, and a hermeneutical model for Pentecostal churches were proposed. Dialogical preaching as attitude and principle as well as method was looked at, and the role of interactive participative communication in the dialogic process was described. Special emphasis was placed on the Parable, the metaphor and narrative preaching as models for inductive preaching, and the development and phases of the "plot" was examined. Bridging models between inductive and deductive styles were explored, while two dialogical tools for preparation of sermons were designed. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / Th.M. (Practical theology)

Text in German / Die vorliegende Untersuchung beschäftigt sich mit inkarnatorischer Verkündigung, indem sie danach fragt, wie die christliche Botschaft heutzutage ganzheitlich präsentiert werden kann. Sie soll sowohl die Bevölkerung als auch Kirchen und Gemeinschaften eines urbanen Kontextes erreichen und dazu ermutigen, die Wirklichkeit der Guten Nachricht zu leben. Die Untersuchung definiert, wie ein inkarnatorisches Verständnis von Predigt als Ausdruck der kenotischen Partizipation, der kerygmatischen Leiterschaft und der sozialen Dimension aussieht und wie dieses in der mikro-, meso- und makrosozialen Ebene umgesetzt werden kann. Basierend auf dem Anspruch des Neuen Testaments, dass das Reich Gottes im Messias nahe herbeigekommen ist, dienen die Literaturstudie (deduktiv) und die qualitativen Experteninterviews (induktiv) der Erörterung des Untersuchungsgegenstandes. In einem mehrsprachigen Umfeld, in welchem die christliche Gemeinschaft fragmentiert und multikulturell existiert, kann der besprochene Ansatz zur Dialogfähigkeit, wechselseitigen Wertschätzung und vertieften Konzilianz beitragen. Ein inkarnatorisches Verständnis christlicher Verkündigung vermag Widerständen unterschiedlicher Art zu trotzen. Sowohl innerkirchlich als auch nach aussen gerichtet, kann ein gemeinsames Zeugnis der Gemeinschaften und Kirchen vor Ort wachsen. Die Sprach- und Handlungsfähigkeit einer auf Sammlung und Sendung ausgerichteten Ekklesiologie wird gefördert. / The presented research deals with incarnational preaching by asking how the Christian message can be presented nowadays so that both the population as well as churches and communities of an urban setting can be reached and encouraged to live and experience the Kingdom of God. The study defines what a incarnational understanding of preaching as an expression of kenotic participation, kerygmatic leadership and the social dimension looks like, and how this can be implemented in the micro-, meso- and macro social level. Based on the New Testament’s claim that in the Messiah the Kingdom of God is at hand, literature study (deductive) and expert interviews (inductive) will discuss the object of study. In a multilingual environment with a fragmented and multicultural Christian community, the discussed approach can contribute to dialog ability, mutual respect and reconciliation. An incarnational view of Christian preaching is able to defy various kinds of opposition. As a result a common witness of communities and local churches can grow – directed both within and outside the church. The ability to act and speak of a gathering- and missionoriented ecclesiology is promoted. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

Text in German with summaries in German and English / Zusammenfassung Die vorliegende empirische Forschungsstudie hat es sich zur Aufgabe gestellt, das Predigtverstandnis der baptistischen und mennonitischen Aussiedlerfreikirchen im heutigen Deutschland darzustellen. Da es keine von diesen Freikirchen veroffentlichten Dokumente zur Predigtlehre gibt, musste hier empirisch geforscht werden. Hierbei kamen anerkannte empirische Methoden zur Anwendung, die eine moglichst grosse Objektivitat bzgl. der Sammlung und der Analyse von Umfrage-Daten gewahrleisten sollen, damit die Ergebnisse des Weiteren ein moglichst reprasentatives Bild der Gesamtsituation der genannten Freikirchen bzgl. ihres Predigtverstandnisses in den Gottesdiensten darzustellen vermogen. Die Ergebnisse mehrerer zyklisch-triangularer Umfragen bzgl. des Predigtverstandnisses genannter Gemeinden werden dann diskutiert unter Berucksichtigung des prominentesten deutschen evangelikalen Predigtansatzes. Da diese Forschungsarbeit jedoch nicht einfach nur einem wissenschaftlich-theoretischen Interesse dienen soll, sollen ihre Ergebnisse auch fur die zukunftige Gemeindearbeit von Nutzen sein. Abstract The present empiric research study aims to present the current concept of preaching in the Russian-German Baptist and Mennonite Free Evangelical Churches in Germany. As these churches have not published documents concerning their preaching concept, this study has to be based on empiric research. For this purpose acknowledged empirical methods were applied which vouch for as much objectivity as possible in the collection and analysis of data. The subsequent aim was that the results thereof represent as much as possible an accurate picture of the current situation of these Free Churches with regard to their understanding of preaching in their services. The conclusions to various cyclic-triangular questionnaires regarding the understanding of preaching in these churches are then discussed against the background of a German evangelical homiletic concept. Since this study does not just serve a theoretical research interest, its conclusions are thought to be of use for future work within these churches. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M.Th. (Missiology)

This thesis examines the challenges faced by the ministers of religion in Churches of Christ (Restoration Movement) in Bicol, Philippines. The goal is to do theology from below, not from above, as pastoral ministry must come from the experience of those who practice it, not from textbooks. The pastoral perspectives of the dilemmas that the ministers raise are heard, observed, documented, and then reflected upon. To do this, case studies of four preachers are used and the mga problema that they present are explored with them. As a result, first, I introduce some of those challenges which are perplexing on the ground level and which appear to be under-researched in serious theological circles, especially in an Asian context. Second, I hope that these case studies can be used to stimulate reflection in ministerial and spiritual formation. Third, I document some of the theology and methodology of the Churches of Christ, particularly as practiced in the Philippines. Chapter 1 explores the dichotomy between the perceived satisfaction in the pastoral ministry with the crisis of role and identity. In particular, issues such as forced exits and stress are presented while baptism and preaching are scrutinized. Chapter 2 centres on the conundrums experienced in planting a new church and being the lone planter. Chapter 3 examines three challenges–the task of ministering in a home congregation, the issue of accreditation in ministerial training, and how the minister can be a success and grow the church. Never far from the thoughts and actions of any of the Bicolano ministers is the problema of poverty, so Chapter 4 considers some of the Filipino, personal, and spiritual complexities of poverty, delineates a number of factors that need to be taken into consideration in any effort to overcome this malady and concludes with a particular reference to ministry.