Includes bibliographical references (leaves 136-148) / The name Ellen G. White as a founding member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and as an author, currently still being read, evokes a great deal of discussion. The various views that are to be found within the discussion cover a wide range of views, either promoting or criticising White’s authority. By comparing the works of Canright, Nichol, Bradford, and Knight, we gain a wide perspective on three critical views in this discussion. This dissertation will consider the issues regarding White’s authority, the historical development of her authority and consideration of her authority in comparison to Scriptural authority. The dissertation seeks to offer the development of White’s authority and the changes that contributed to the various views around her authority, and presents a critical evaluation regarding her authority for today. After the different authors were compared, and having provided my critical evaluation, I came to the conclusion that a moderate view of White as presented by Bradford and Knight presents the view that allows for the following: • Retaining the principle of Sola Scriptura. • Managing White’s authority. • Providing theological freedom. As such, White’s authority can be a positive influence in Seventh-day Adventist theology, promoting theological growth and not impeding it. The critical evaluation makes it evident that there is a lack of a paradigm to evaluate White, especially her authority. The need for a paradigm from which to evaluate White requires further study. / Die naam Ellen G. White, ’n stigterslid van die Sewende Dag Adventiste Kerk en ook ’n outeur wie se boeke tans nog gelees word, ontlok baie bespreking. Hierin vind ons ’n verskeidenheid van geleerdes wat White hetsy voorstaan of kritiseer. ’n Vergelyking van die werke van Canright, Nichol, Bradford en Knight bied ’n wye perspektief oor drie kritiese beskouings in hierdie debat. Hierdie verhandeling ondersoek die kwessies rondom White se gesag, die historiese ontwikkeling van haar gesag en ’n beoordeling van haar gesag in vergelyking met die Skrif se gesag. Die verhandeling bespreek die ontwikkeling van White se gesag, die veranderings wat bygedra het tot die verskillende sienings rondom haar gesag, asook ’n kritiese beoordeling van haar gesag vir vandag. Nadat ek die verskillende outeurs vergelyk het en my kritiese beoordeling gegee het, kom ek tot die slotsom dat die gematigde siening van Bradford en Knight oor White die volgende bevorder: • Behoud van die beginsel van Sola Scriptura. • Hantering van White se gesag. • Voorsiening vir teologiese vryheid. As sodanig kan White se gesag as ’n positiewe invloed op die Kerk se teologie dien deur teologiese groei aan te moedig in plaas daarvan om dit te strem. Die kritiese beoordeling dui op die gebrek aan ’n paradigma om White, veral haar gesag, mee te beoordeel. Die behoefte aan so ’n paradigma vereis verdere studie. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Systematic Theology)

Ellen G. White and Gustavo Gutierrez make significant contributions on the issue of christians and involvement in politics. A knowledge of their backgrounds and theological orientations is helpful. White was born in 1827. She is accepted as a prophet in the Seventh-day Adventist church. Central to her theology is the sanctuary doctrine which also influences her views on politics. White holds that christians may participate in the "broad" but not the "narrow" aspect of politics. A Roman Catholic priest, Gutierrez was born in 1928. Many regard him as the pioneer of liberation theology. The starting point for his theology is the situation of poverty in Latin America. This influences his views on politics. He also argues for christians' participation in the "broad" but not the "narrow" aspect of politics. White and Gutierrez have more points of agreement than disagreement. Comparing their views on politics provides useful insights on christians' participation in politics. "I declare that: ELLEN G. WHITE AND GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ ON CHRISTIANS AND INVOLVEMENT IN POLITICS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged complete references' / Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Systematic Theology)

Ellen G. White and Gustavo Gutierrez make significant contributions on the issue of christians and involvement in politics. A knowledge of their backgrounds and theological orientations is helpful. White was born in 1827. She is accepted as a prophet in the Seventh-day Adventist church. Central to her theology is the sanctuary doctrine which also influences her views on politics. White holds that christians may participate in the "broad" but not the "narrow" aspect of politics. A Roman Catholic priest, Gutierrez was born in 1928. Many regard him as the pioneer of liberation theology. The starting point for his theology is the situation of poverty in Latin America. This influences his views on politics. He also argues for christians' participation in the "broad" but not the "narrow" aspect of politics. White and Gutierrez have more points of agreement than disagreement. Comparing their views on politics provides useful insights on christians' participation in politics. "I declare that: ELLEN G. WHITE AND GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ ON CHRISTIANS AND INVOLVEMENT IN POLITICS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged complete references' / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Systematic Theology)

The aim of this thesis is to compare the concept of sin in the theologies of Ellen G. White and Leonardo Boff. Chapter 1 examines Ellen G. White's concept of sin. White's historical and theological backgrounds coupled with her use of the "great controversy" motif provide a better grasp of her understanding of sin. White defines sin as the transgression of God's Law. She views sin to comprise at least two dimensions, namely, the individual and the social. White regards these two aspects of sin to have equal significance. White's detailed treatment of the sanctuary teaching also highlights the two dimensions of sin. In Chapter 2 Boff' s idea of sin is investigated. Boff' s historical background, which exposed him to the poor, influenced his perception of sin. Boff's theological background together with his familiarity with Karl Marx's social analysis prompted Boff to define sin as the negation of God's love in a human history bedevilled by class conflict. Boff views sin to have the individual and social dimensions. Yet, in terms of importance, Boff believes that the social dimension of sin is more consequential than the individual one. In Chapter 3 White's and Boff s views on sin are compared. From this comparison it is evident that both White and Boff recognize the bipolarity of sin. Both seem to agree that christians should take an active role in correcting social evils because love for God is manifested by how we relate to our neighbor. Boff devotes less space to the individual aspect of sin than White. Chapter 4 shows that White's theological tradition has a lot to learn from Boff and his tradition and also vice versa. An awareness of the current priestly ministry of Christ evident in White's theology could help Boff to bring some balance to his stance on the social and the individual dimension of sin. Boff' s use of Marx's social analysis should also help Seventh-day Adventists, the inheritors of White's theology, not to interpret White's theology of sin only along individualistic lines while overlooking its social dimension. / Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology / D.Th. (Systematic Theology)

The aim of this thesis is to compare the concept of sin in the theologies of Ellen G. White and Leonardo Boff. Chapter 1 examines Ellen G. White's concept of sin. White's historical and theological backgrounds coupled with her use of the "great controversy" motif provide a better grasp of her understanding of sin. White defines sin as the transgression of God's Law. She views sin to comprise at least two dimensions, namely, the individual and the social. White regards these two aspects of sin to have equal significance. White's detailed treatment of the sanctuary teaching also highlights the two dimensions of sin. In Chapter 2 Boff' s idea of sin is investigated. Boff' s historical background, which exposed him to the poor, influenced his perception of sin. Boff's theological background together with his familiarity with Karl Marx's social analysis prompted Boff to define sin as the negation of God's love in a human history bedevilled by class conflict. Boff views sin to have the individual and social dimensions. Yet, in terms of importance, Boff believes that the social dimension of sin is more consequential than the individual one. In Chapter 3 White's and Boff s views on sin are compared. From this comparison it is evident that both White and Boff recognize the bipolarity of sin. Both seem to agree that christians should take an active role in correcting social evils because love for God is manifested by how we relate to our neighbor. Boff devotes less space to the individual aspect of sin than White. Chapter 4 shows that White's theological tradition has a lot to learn from Boff and his tradition and also vice versa. An awareness of the current priestly ministry of Christ evident in White's theology could help Boff to bring some balance to his stance on the social and the individual dimension of sin. Boff' s use of Marx's social analysis should also help Seventh-day Adventists, the inheritors of White's theology, not to interpret White's theology of sin only along individualistic lines while overlooking its social dimension. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D.Th. (Systematic Theology)

Theological divisions are threatening the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s unity and focus on mission. Some Adventist theologians suggest that the cause of these divisions is a departure by other Adventist theologians from adhering to and applying the sola Scriptura principle. This study analyzes this problem. Chapter one presents reasons for a call during the 16th century, to reform the church to its apostolic purity. Martin Luther and other Protestant Reformers argued against the medieval church, popes, and church councils’ claim for authority to properly interpret and teach Scripture and Tradition. Differing views of reforming the church sparked divisions among the Protestant Reformers, creating two main streams, the magisterial and the radical Reformers. The Roman Catholic Church responded to the Protestant Reformations with a Counter-Reformation. Chapter two discusses Seventh-day Adventism’s application of the sola Scriptura principle. Although Adventism claims to descend from the radical wing of the Protestant Reformations, its acceptance of Ellen G. White’s prophetic ministry and her non-canonical inspired writings departs from a radical application of the sola Scriptura principle. Chapter three presents Biblical evidences for God’s use of multiple media of communication beside the Bible. Therefore Adventism needs to clearly define its understanding and application of the sola Scriptura principle to accommodate other theological sources in addition to the Bible. Chapter four presents Scripture in Zambian Adventist context, tracing Adventism’s use of the Bible in evangelization. Adventism’s responses to changing socio-political and religiopluralistic trends which threatened to marginalize Bible Instructions, and the development of, but failed attempt to implement an Adventist Bible-based Religious Education syllabus at Rusangu Secondary School are presented. Chapter five gives the general summary, conclusion and recommendations. / Systematic Theology and Theological Ethics / D.Th. (Systematic Theology)

In John Calvin and Ellen G White’s sense making approaches God’s act of redemption and reconciliation in and through Jesus Christ takes the centre stage in the foursome of God’s acts expressed in the biblical historical timeline as creation, reconciliation in Jesus Christ, renewal through the Holy Spirit and fulfilment at the end of time. While the 16th century Calvin emphasised God’s acts of creation and reconciliation in Christ more than God’s acts of renewal and fulfilment, the 19th century White’s emphasis was more on God’s acts of reconciliation in Christ and fulfilment at the end of time than on creation and renewal through the Spirit. With all the differences in their sense making approaches their central perspectival focus in their writings, sayings and doings is the way God and humanity, heaven and earth are closely connected in a unity without being fused and mixed in Jesus Christ. Their central christological theme of ‘God staying God’ and ‘human staying human’ in an interactional substantialist sense in Christ designates the great alternative view that differs on the one hand, from the view of the trans-substantialist option in which the human being Christ Jesus is in a sacramental-sacred way transformed into ‘a divine human being’ –, and on the other hand, the view of the consubstantialist option in which the human being Jesus is permeated and diffused by his divinity, thereby becoming ‘the human God.’ Calvin and White in their reflection operating within the realm of divine historicity that is staying within the biblical historical timeline from Genesis to Revelation were viewed by many as not theologians in the real sense of the word. Calvin and may be to a greater extent White worked and contributed to the new and emerging field of Faith Studies in which a theologian or theorist of faith cannot reflect on God, human beings or the natural cosmic world in three separate avenues as was commonly the case with speculative and scholastic theologies in history. White’s Faith Studies contribution is in the global arena of theology where the omnipresent ‘–logies’ of mainline church theologies such as Christology, Ecclesiology, Pneumatology and Eschatology hold sway.

Theological divisions are threatening the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s unity and focus on mission. Some Adventist theologians suggest that the cause of these divisions is a departure by other Adventist theologians from adhering to and applying the sola Scriptura principle. This study analyzes this problem. Chapter one presents reasons for a call during the 16th century, to reform the church to its apostolic purity. Martin Luther and other Protestant Reformers argued against the medieval church, popes, and church councils’ claim for authority to properly interpret and teach Scripture and Tradition. Differing views of reforming the church sparked divisions among the Protestant Reformers, creating two main streams, the magisterial and the radical Reformers. The Roman Catholic Church responded to the Protestant Reformations with a Counter-Reformation. Chapter two discusses Seventh-day Adventism’s application of the sola Scriptura principle. Although Adventism claims to descend from the radical wing of the Protestant Reformations, its acceptance of Ellen G. White’s prophetic ministry and her non-canonical inspired writings departs from a radical application of the sola Scriptura principle. Chapter three presents Biblical evidences for God’s use of multiple media of communication beside the Bible. Therefore Adventism needs to clearly define its understanding and application of the sola Scriptura principle to accommodate other theological sources in addition to the Bible. Chapter four presents Scripture in Zambian Adventist context, tracing Adventism’s use of the Bible in evangelization. Adventism’s responses to changing socio-political and religiopluralistic trends which threatened to marginalize Bible Instructions, and the development of, but failed attempt to implement an Adventist Bible-based Religious Education syllabus at Rusangu Secondary School are presented. Chapter five gives the general summary, conclusion and recommendations. / Systematic Theology and Theological Ethics / D.Th. (Systematic Theology)

In John Calvin and Ellen G White’s sense making approaches God’s act of redemption and reconciliation in and through Jesus Christ takes the centre stage in the foursome of God’s acts expressed in the biblical historical timeline as creation, reconciliation in Jesus Christ, renewal through the Holy Spirit and fulfilment at the end of time. While the 16th century Calvin emphasised God’s acts of creation and reconciliation in Christ more than God’s acts of renewal and fulfilment, the 19th century White’s emphasis was more on God’s acts of reconciliation in Christ and fulfilment at the end of time than on creation and renewal through the Spirit. With all the differences in their sense making approaches their central perspectival focus in their writings, sayings and doings is the way God and humanity, heaven and earth are closely connected in a unity without being fused and mixed in Jesus Christ. Their central christological theme of ‘God staying God’ and ‘human staying human’ in an interactional substantialist sense in Christ designates the great alternative view that differs on the one hand, from the view of the trans-substantialist option in which the human being Christ Jesus is in a sacramental-sacred way transformed into ‘a divine human being’ –, and on the other hand, the view of the consubstantialist option in which the human being Jesus is permeated and diffused by his divinity, thereby becoming ‘the human God.’ Calvin and White in their reflection operating within the realm of divine historicity that is staying within the biblical historical timeline from Genesis to Revelation were viewed by many as not theologians in the real sense of the word. Calvin and may be to a greater extent White worked and contributed to the new and emerging field of Faith Studies in which a theologian or theorist of faith cannot reflect on God, human beings or the natural cosmic world in three separate avenues as was commonly the case with speculative and scholastic theologies in history. White’s Faith Studies contribution is in the global arena of theology where the omnipresent ‘–logies’ of mainline church theologies such as Christology, Ecclesiology, Pneumatology and Eschatology hold sway.