Thesis (Ph.D. (Liturgics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

Chapter 1 emphasizes the central position that the worship service occupies in the life of the believer, but then the whole person of the believer. The atmosphere is therefore vital. This is researched in part 2 by an exegetical study of 1 Corinthians 1-14, as well as the rest of Scripture. The variations through history are also studied. The atmosphere in the worship service should be such that the worshipper meets God with the necessary awe and respect. The service must also create an atmosphere of love, warmth, friendliness, and joy. All present must be invited and made welcome by the service. The atmosphere must further encourage and create room for everybody to participate and use their specific gifts. It can therefore change from service to service and within a single service. Important instruments in the atmosphere are the liturgical space, symbols, rituals, physical movement, gestures, music, song and the senses. Part 3 studies the contribution of adjacent sciences, like the theory of communication, cognitive science, symbolism, music, architecture and multimedia. These sciences support the principles of part 2 and give important perspectives for the practical application thereof. The situation in practice is studied by empirical research. The atmosphere is clearly not sufficiently integrated in the worship service. Although some elements are present, they are purely coincidental. A specific aimed strategy is lacking. Part 4 tries to bridge the gap between the base theory (part 2) and the practice (part 3) by suggesting practical guidelines. Because every congregation is in a unique context, a model is given to realize the principles. The image of the 'house of God is used to summarize and explain the principles. The final conclusion is that atmosphere plays a vital role in the worship service. In practice very little is made hereof. If the Atmosphere in the worship service is adjusted to what it should (and can!) be, the worship service will come closer to the purpose for which it is there and will it become even more of a meeting of the total person with the totality of God and with the totality of the fellow believer and the world. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Liturgics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

Like many other people I have thought about the biblical understanding of homosexuality. Because of my previous study on sexual purity before marriage and the exegetical work done on key biblical passages for that study, I thought I understood where the real issues lay regarding the subject of homosexuality. This study is an attempt to contribute to the current discussion in the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa on the topic of homosexuality. In bringing this study to its final format I have received the indispensable help of others. First and foremost I wish to express my gratitude to my promoter, Professor Fika J van Rensburg. I am indebted to him beyond what mere words could convey in terms of gratitude. Our academic relationship spans five years and has developed into a warm friendship. It has been to my matchless benefit to be associated with him. I have profited much from his biblical knowledge, scholarly experience and overall passion and love for the Lord Jesus Christ. I also want to thank Reverend Erlo Stegen of Mission Kwasizabantu for his support and spiritual guidance. It is very special to be associated with a person who preaches the Word of God unambiguously and who has given and dedicated his life to Christ and Christ alone. Through his dedication Mission Kwasizabantu had become a home to the spiritual homeless and a refuge for the spiritual weary. The Mission has also been my home since 1994. I would like to express appreciation to Dr Andre van Niekerk and the North-West University for the financial support to complete this study. It is my prayer that the critical reader of this thesis will acknowledge that the money was well invested. I also wish to express my sincere gratitude to my friend, Reverend Frits van der Menve, for proofreading the manuscript. A special word of thanks to the personnel of the Ferdinand Postma and Jan Lion Cachet Libraries for their help and assistance. All my requests were always met with a smile and helpful attitude. All work done for me was executed in a spirit of kindness and benevolence. Lastly, I would like to thank my wife Andra and my son Chris, whose lives are inextricably bound with my own and who shared in the sacrifices associated with this study. / Thesis (Ph.D. (New Testament))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

This study uses a postcolonial feminist analysis to show how a biblical text (1 Cor 11:1-16), because of its patriarchal and imperial background, excludes women from the image of God. It demonstrates how this text has been taken up, developed and appropriated to support the subordination of women throughout the Christian tradition from the Church Fathers to the reformers and right up to the present day postcolonial Kenyan Church context. While this text has been used for a long time to oppress women, this study argues that a critical reading of the text from a postcolonial feminist perspective shows that gender disparity exists in this and in other gender-biased Pauline and post-Pauline texts because they were based on the existing patriarchal and imperial structures, which subordinated women to men. Further the study demonstrates that the texts have continued to subordinate women to men throughout the history of Christian tradition. Most churches, such as the Anglican Church, express belief in the Scriptures. Yet such churches like the Anglican Church of Kenya, which seemingly supports gender equality through its gender inclusive article in its Constitution, does not offer guidance about how such texts are to be read and appropriated by Christians. The study offers a method to fill this gap. It is hoped that the academy and the church will avail themselves of this method in their reading practices of the Bible. It takes into account the history of gender and imperial biases in the construction of texts such as 1 Cor 11:1-16 that exclude women from the image of God. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.

Like many other people I have thought about the biblical understanding of homosexuality. Because of my previous study on sexual purity before marriage and the exegetical work done on key biblical passages for that study, I thought I understood where the real issues lay regarding the subject of homosexuality. This study is an attempt to contribute to the current discussion in the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa on the topic of homosexuality. In bringing this study to its final format I have received the indispensable help of others. First and foremost I wish to express my gratitude to my promoter, Professor Fika J van Rensburg. I am indebted to him beyond what mere words could convey in terms of gratitude. Our academic relationship spans five years and has developed into a warm friendship. It has been to my matchless benefit to be associated with him. I have profited much from his biblical knowledge, scholarly experience and overall passion and love for the Lord Jesus Christ. I also want to thank Reverend Erlo Stegen of Mission Kwasizabantu for his support and spiritual guidance. It is very special to be associated with a person who preaches the Word of God unambiguously and who has given and dedicated his life to Christ and Christ alone. Through his dedication Mission Kwasizabantu had become a home to the spiritual homeless and a refuge for the spiritual weary. The Mission has also been my home since 1994. I would like to express appreciation to Dr Andre van Niekerk and the North-West University for the financial support to complete this study. It is my prayer that the critical reader of this thesis will acknowledge that the money was well invested. I also wish to express my sincere gratitude to my friend, Reverend Frits van der Menve, for proofreading the manuscript. A special word of thanks to the personnel of the Ferdinand Postma and Jan Lion Cachet Libraries for their help and assistance. All my requests were always met with a smile and helpful attitude. All work done for me was executed in a spirit of kindness and benevolence. Lastly, I would like to thank my wife Andra and my son Chris, whose lives are inextricably bound with my own and who shared in the sacrifices associated with this study. / Thesis (Ph.D. (New Testament))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

Chapter 1 emphasizes the central position that the worship service occupies in the life of the believer, but then the whole person of the believer. The atmosphere is therefore vital. This is researched in part 2 by an exegetical study of 1 Corinthians 1-14, as well as the rest of Scripture. The variations through history are also studied. The atmosphere in the worship service should be such that the worshipper meets God with the necessary awe and respect. The service must also create an atmosphere of love, warmth, friendliness, and joy. All present must be invited and made welcome by the service. The atmosphere must further encourage and create room for everybody to participate and use their specific gifts. It can therefore change from service to service and within a single service. Important instruments in the atmosphere are the liturgical space, symbols, rituals, physical movement, gestures, music, song and the senses. Part 3 studies the contribution of adjacent sciences, like the theory of communication, cognitive science, symbolism, music, architecture and multimedia. These sciences support the principles of part 2 and give important perspectives for the practical application thereof. The situation in practice is studied by empirical research. The atmosphere is clearly not sufficiently integrated in the worship service. Although some elements are present, they are purely coincidental. A specific aimed strategy is lacking. Part 4 tries to bridge the gap between the base theory (part 2) and the practice (part 3) by suggesting practical guidelines. Because every congregation is in a unique context, a model is given to realize the principles. The image of the 'house of God is used to summarize and explain the principles. The final conclusion is that atmosphere plays a vital role in the worship service. In practice very little is made hereof. If the Atmosphere in the worship service is adjusted to what it should (and can!) be, the worship service will come closer to the purpose for which it is there and will it become even more of a meeting of the total person with the totality of God and with the totality of the fellow believer and the world. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Liturgics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

Text in German and English / Basing the following on the premise that one-seded balance of power in mission work impedes fellowship and partnership (chapter 2), it is the intention of this treatise to investigate, with the help of the method of text pragmatics and incorporating the Malian context (chapter 1), what findings from 1 Corinthians 9 are helpful towards dealing with the problem (chapters 3-4). Paul describes the problem of financial support in detail, yet actually it serves to lead to the real aim of the text, i.e. Paul, while in Corinth, lived exemplarily by renouncing, on his own free will, his apostolic rights, thus demonstrating a model of how the "strong" and the "weak" could treat each other in good partnership. Paul lived his apostolic freedom being bound to Christ and in responsibility for people. This mentality of incarnational lifestyle (chapter 5) enables us to put the missionary's behaviour and the partnership problem between Western mission agency and African church in their proper place both, christlogically, and ecclesiologically (chapter 6). When applying this to practice in missionary life (chapter 7), it becomes evident ... - what consequences renunciation on his own free will has on the missionary's status and social and communicative behaviour (chapter 7.2 and 7.3); - how "power, control and one-sidedness" may be reduced where partners in missionary work cooperate. When putting this in concrete terms we have to ask, how missionaries can contribute to strengthen their partner in the host country by renouncing their right to a say, within the structures on the national level (chapter 7.4). Additionally, possibilities of the African partner having more say in administering finances and in where the missionaries are to serve, are shown. On the international level, suitable management structures are to make clear that the West is ready to renounce one-sided control, and to invite African partners to share responsibilities on the highest level. Finally, it becomes clear that more interchurch partnership certainly reduces the hegemony of the mission agency, but, in the end, may stimulate the missionary effort (chapter 7.5). Annotations on financial support of missionary work ends this treatise. / Ausgehend von der Prämisse, dass einseitige Machtverhältnisse in der Missionsarbeit Gemeinschaft und Partnerschaft negativ beeinträchtigen (Kap. 2) verfolgt die vorliegende Studie das Ziel, mit Hilfe der textpragmatischen Methodik und unter Einbeziehung des malischen Kontextes (Kap. 1) zu untersuchen, welche Einsichten aus 1 Kor. 9 hilfreich sind, um dieser Problematik zu begegnen (Kap. 3-4). Obwohl Paulus das Problem der materiellen Unterstützung ausführlich darstellt, dient es letztlich nur als Hinführung zum eigentlichen Skopus des Textes. Dieser besteht darin, dass Paulus in Korinth freiheitlichen Verzicht auf Inanspruchnahme apostolischer Rechte exemplarisch gelebt hat und so ein Modell aufzeigt, wie "Starke" und "Schwache" partnerschaftlich miteinander umgehen können. Paulus lebt apostolische Freiheit als Bindung an Christus und in Verantwortung für Menschen. Diese Mentalität des inkarnatorischen Lebensstil (Kap. 5) ermöglicht es, das Verhalten des Missionars heute und die Partnerschaftsproblematik zwischen westlicher Missionsgesellschaft und afrikanischer Kirche sowohl christologisch als auch ekklesiologisch einzuordnen (Kap. 6). Bei der missionspraktischen Anwendung (Kap. 7) wird deutlich, ... - wie sich freiheitlicher Verzicht auf den Status und das soziale und kommunikative Verhalten des Missionars auswirkt (Kap. 7.2 und 7.3). - wie "Macht, Kontrolle und Einseitigkeiten" in der Kooperation der am missionarischen Handeln beteiligten Partnern reduziert werden können. Die Konkretionen beziehen sich auf die Frage, wie Missionare im Gastland durch freiwilligen Verzicht auf Mitspracherechte in den Strukturen auf nationaler Ebene zur Stärkung des Partners beitragen können (Kap. 7.4). Des Weiteren werden die Möglichkeiten verstärkter Mitsprache afrikanischer Partner bei der Verwaltung von Finanzen und dem Einsatzort der Missionare aufgezeigt. Auf internationaler Ebenen sollen adäquate Leitungsstrukturen die Bereitschaft des Westens zum Verzicht auf einseitige Kontrolle verdeutlichen und afrikanische Partner zur Mitverantwortung auf höchster Ebene einladen. Schliesslich wird deutlich, dass verstärkte zwischenkirchliche Partnerschaften zwar die Vormachtstellung der Missionsgesellschaft reduziert, aber letztlich die Missionsarbeit befruchten kann (Kap. 7.5). Anmerkungen zur finanziellen Unterstützung missionarischer Arbeit beschliessen die Abhandlung. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D.Th. (Missiology)

The impetus of this study is that by understanding the way John Chrysostom (flor. 398 AD) interprets the gifts of the Spirit (Charismata) as an Antiochene exegete, insights may be yielded as to how the general tendency of Antiochene exegetes may aid in the interpretation of 1 Corinthians 12:1-13:3, which in turn also contributes to the current research on the New Testament. This study asks the question: How does John Chrysostom, as typical Antiochene exegete, interpret the charismata? In order to address this problem, an inductive-deductive method is followed, in which the general characteristics of the Antiochene exegetical school will be examined and then an analysis of the homilies of John Chrysostom, specifically his corpus Homilies on 1 Corinthians, homily 29 to 32, is given. Each homily is examined in the light of its contents, with specific reference to certain traits typical of Antiochene exegesis, such as sensitivity to history, social- and cultural customs, as well as to the grammar and rhetoric of, in this instance, Paul the Apostle. A translation of each homily is also provided. Finally, their value for current research is expounded. Each homily is translated and evaluated from the basis of the ancient Greek text, in which the homilies were originally composed. The homilies are also evaluated in the light of primary and secondary sources as inter-texts. Since the homilies are verbal commentaries, early Christian literature (of approximately 100-700 AD) on the same topic, the primary sources, are compared with the homilies of Chrysostom. Other ancient sources, not necessarily Christian, of the same period or earlier are also incorporated. But it is also necessary to view the homilies within the context of modern commentaries. Thus, a number of modern secondary sources are also evaluated in the light of the homilies and vice versa. In conclusion, the homilies depict an insightful image on how the Antiochene exegetical school viewed the charismata, which in turn, also provides valuable insights for modern interpreters. In this study of the Wirkungsgeschichte of 1 Corinthians 12:1-13:3, one is reminded that, although these primary sources are dated, they are still unexpendable resources for the current study of 1 Corinthians and of the New Testament in general. / Dissertation (MA (Ancient Languages and Cultures Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Ancient Languages / unrestricted

This study integrates three independent subjects-translation theory, Mandarin aspect, and Greek aspect-for the purpose of formulating a working theory applicable to translating the New Testament. Aspect is treated here as a grammatical category-as opposed to Aktionsart-and is described as the locutionary agent's subjective viewpoint expressed morphologically by a verb. The primary objectives are defined in terms of grammatical translation of Greek aspect into Mandarin aspect at the discourse level. However, major Bible translation issues pertaining to lexical, phonological, formal, and functional elements, as well as translating conditional statements and figurative speech, are also considered. A historical overview of the Chinese Bible is provided as a way of introducing major issues related to linguistic, conceptual, and logistical challenges. Porter's tripartite model of aspect in Greek, defined in terms of the binary oppositions [±perfective], and [+imperfective] vs. [+stative], is adopted. Aspect in Mandarin closely resembles that in Greek, except that the privative opposition [±remote] does not exist in Mandarin. Also, unlike the tense-forms in Greek, morphologically expressed aspect morphemes (e.g. -le, IDVCs) are largely optional in Mandarin. Thus, notions of markedness and grounding become pertinent when the 0 morpheme is used instead of morphologically expressed aspect morphemes to translate all five tense-forms in Greek: the more heavily marked disyllabic verbs are preferable in translating the present and imperfect, whereas the less heavily marked monosyllabic verbs are preferable to translate the aorist. The most heavily marked four-character set phrases are utilized to reflect both the stative aspect and discourse function ofthe perfect and pluperfect as frontgrounding tense-forms. It is argued that morphologically expressed perfective and imperfective aspect morphemes are preferable to the 0 morpheme. The more heavily marked two-morpheme aspect compounds (e.g. zai...-zhe) are employed to reflect the foregrounded prominence indicated by the present and imperfect tense-forms. The proposed theory provides the translator with a powerful tool, which is tested in the two sample passages in John 18-19 and 1 Corinthians 15. Provided also are critical reviews of over sixty Chinese Bible versions, Nestorian, Manichaean, Catholic documents, and a translation written according to the proposed theory. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

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