Classics and Modern Europe Language / M.A. Ancient Languages and Culture

The Evangelical Reformed Church is celebrating its sixtieth anniversary. This study investigates this church's unique view of Scripture and places it within the broader context of a Reformed approach. To this end, a literary study is conducted, whereby the Evangelical Reformed conviction is compared to that of Calvin and Barth, as put forward in their Institutions and Church Dogmatics, respectively. This procedure allows for a collation of the Evangelical Reformed stance and the Reformed view. Since the belief regarding Scripture has an effect on many aspects of the traditional reformed dogma, several bibliological facets are singled out, namely, revelation, authority, inspiration, and the inception of the canon. By way of illustration, these details are considered with specific reference to the Reformed doctrine of Predestination. The goal of this exercise is to evaluate the application of the bibliological dogma in the formulation of theology. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th

Text in German; abstract in German and English / Diese Studie untersucht die Gerichts- und Heilsverkündigung innerhalb des Lukasevangeliums, um herauszufinden, wie der Zusammenhang von Heil und Gericht dargestellt wird, welche Vorstellung von Gericht und Heil der ideale Rezipient gewinnen sollte und mit welcher Funktion bzw. Zielsetzung diese Aussagen gebraucht werden. Sind Heil und Gericht dabei zwei Seiten der gleichen Medaille oder liegen unterschiedliche Konzepte vor, die nicht wesentlich miteinander verknüpft sind? Dazu werden zentrale Texte des Lukasevangeliums, in denen sowohl eine Gerichts- als auch eine Heilsperspektive vermittelt werden, mit Hilfe der narrativen Exegese analysiert. Dem detaillierten Vergleich folgt eine Zusammenfassung der lukanischen Darstellung von Heil und Gericht. Die Studie endet mit einer kritischen Diskussion über die Auswirkungen auf die christliche Verkündigung in unserer Zeit. / This study examines the understanding of salvation and judgement in Luke’s Gospel. How is the correlation between salvation and judgement described, which perception should the ideal recipients gain, and for which function or intention are these statements used? Are salvation and judgement two sides of one coin or are they different concepts which are not linked? For this purpose, key texts which address both salvation and judgement are analysed by applying narrative- critical methodology. A detailed comparison is followed by a summary of the Lukan portrayal of salvation and judgement. The dissertation closes with a critical discussion of the implications for Christian proclamation in our day and age. / Biblical and Ancient studies / M. Th. (New Testament)

This thesis is a study of the theological relationship between divine mercy and judgment in the attribute formula of Exodus 34:6-7 and in three of its "echoes" (Numbers 14:18, Isaiah 53:4-12 with 54:7-10, and Nahum 1:3). The primary scholarly interlocutor for this study is Walter Brueggemann. In his Theology of the Old Testament, Brueggemann offers an alternative interpretation of how mercy and judgment are related in these texts. Against Brueggemann, this study defends the view that in Ex 34:6-7 and these three echoes, divine mercy and judgment are not only mutually compatible but also are integrated with one another. I reach this conclusion by means of an exegesis of the above four texts that is canonical, theological, and contextual. The introduction Chapter 1 includes a survey of relevant scholarly literature, an analysis of relevant aspects of Brueggemann's work, and a statement of the canonical method employed in the thesis. Chapter 2 provides a theological exegesis of Exodus 34:6- 7 in the context of Exodus 32-34. Chapters 3-5 offer theological exegesis of the three echo-texts noted above. Chapter 6 offers a conclusion, summarising the argument and making some final observations.

The present study covers the causes of victory and defeat in the light of chapter eight of the Holy Qur'an. It has been prompted by the current situation facing Muslims in many parts of the world, which is characterized by despair, reversals and loss, This study is thus reflexive in nature. In order to obtain a satisfactory response to this predicament, the relevant text in addition to several of its commentaries were scrutinized. The latter search remained unsatisfactory since their focus of inquiry was merely exegetical and failed to reveal any didactic element, which is crucial for obtaining guidance. This work has successfully managed to deduce this aspect from the text which amplifies the importance of extensive sacrifice for gaining glory. / Religious Studies and Arabic / M.A. (Islamic studies)

There is presumed dialogue between the book of Proverbs and Shona wisdom poems in dealing with the subject of home based nurturing towards societal stability. The underlying principle in both approaches, it seems, is that preparation for life begins in the home. Its negligence could account for societal breakdown. This study seeks to explore, on the one hand, the contemporary validity of home based nurturing as observed in these traditional settings, and on the other, to investigate whether this dialogue yields a methodological approach of using Africa to interpret the Old Testament. The assumption we are taking in this study is that societal stability begins in the home. A socio-rhetorical reading of Proverbs 1-9 seems to reveal that these texts were written from the perspective of a parent-teacher, with years of experience and attained wisdom, which creates a forum to pass on this knowledge to a child-student. The common approach in both traditional settings is that the speaker employs wisdom poems, (memorable compositions) and local sayings (observed phenomena) to illustrate or illumine a given everyday reality as the prescriptive solution for becoming successful in life. Thus, wisdom poems, both biblical and Shona, are almost consistently used to communicate truth and lessons for life. For that reason, the reading of the book of Proverbs and that of Shona wisdom poems demands a novel hermeneutical approach. / Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Biblical Studies)

This dissertation examines the legends of the Biblical book of Joshua in an attempt to identify the relics of reminiscence that reside within the document. The initial step in this process is presenting the neuropsychological perspective of myth making and the nature of confabulation in oral tradition. The natural segue is then made to the Deuteronomistic history of the text and the formation of the initial source legend. From this investigation the basic structure of the Primary Conquest Source Legend is exposed. The next step is a comparison of this Source Legend with the history of proto-Israel. This investigation provides a clear contextual epoch for the legend of conquest against Jericho and Ai. A related finding is the contextual epoch for the second source legend used to form the present text of Joshua. / Religious Studies and Arabic / D.Litt. et Phil. (Biblical Studies)

This research has the objective to explore the concept of faith in the Gospel of Mark. An exegetical investigation of the faith terminology (pist-word group) in the Gospel is required for that. An analysis of the model passages with occurrences of the motword group shows the variety of possible connotations of the term. The most paradigmatic of them are in the sense of trust in God [which means to be open towards the highest reality]. Comparison of the results of the analysis with the concept of faith in the Old Testament, Classical Greek, and Hellenistic Greek is helpful to understand the etymology of the Markan use of the pist-word group and to make clear the conceptual meaning of faith in the Gospel which is closer to the Old Testament idea of an active commitment to God expressed in a continuous existence in the presence of Him. / New Testament / M. Th. (New Testament)

This thesis is an investigation into the discrepancies that exist in textual interpretations within Pentacostalism, in view of the ongoing search for a viable hermeneutic model unique to Pentecostalism. Since its birth, the modern Pentecostal movement has been influenced by many other theological traditions, especially Covenant theology and Dispensationalism. Nevertheless, from this research it becomes clear that Pentecostalists themselves have contributed to the discrepancies by failing to distinguish between biblical passages related to national Israel and those related to the church. It is factual that cultural differences and theological backgrounds influence the interpretations ascribed to Scripture. Yet, this research found that scriptural interpretive discrepancies exist amongst Pentecostalists belonging to the same cultural group and same denomination. This study presents a new perspective on biblical interpretation for Pentecostalism, namely the Mediatorial View, which when consistently applied to all tectual interpretations, most certainly will reduce the number of discrepancies that exist. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Systematic Theology)

ABSTRACT (deutsch) Das Lukasevangelium ist ein literarisches Werk in Form einer Erzählung. Die Pharisäer spielen darin eine zentrale Rolle als wichtigste Gruppe der Gegenspieler Jesu. Die Methode der narrativen Exegese ist daher geeignet, die Darstellung der Pharisäer zu analysieren und eine literarische Charakterisierung vorzunehmen. Eine Untersuchung aller Texte des Lukasevangeliums, in denen Pharisäer erwähnt werden, ergibt ein komplexes und facettenreiches Pharisäerporträt. Die Pharisäer werden primär negativ dargestellt, als religiöse Führer, die die göttliche Sendung Jesu, seine Vollmacht und seinen Auftrag, nicht erkennen und ablehnen. Die Pharisäer haben eine Kontrastfunktion innerhalb der Gesamterzählung des Lukasevangeliums. Sie dienen als Negativfolie, auf der die Bedeutung der Hauptfigur Jesus umso heller aufleuchtet. Ein Merkmal des Lukasevangeliums ist jedoch, dass dieses primär negative Bild durch die erzählerische Darstellung mehrfach abgeschwächt wird. Der Erzähler zeichnet kein einseitiges Pharisäerbild (flat character), sondern differenziert deutlich (mehr als die anderen Synoptiker). Er verzichtet bei der Präsentation ihres Verhaltens und ihrer Worte weitgehend auf explizit feindliche Aspekte. Er deutet eine relative Nähe zwischen Jesus und den Pharisäern an. Eine abschließende negative Wertung oder Verurteilung der Pharisäer unterbleibt. Auffällig ist die komplette Auslassung der Rolle der Pharisäer beim Prozess gegen Jesus. Die Reaktion Jesu auf die Pharisäer ist geprägt von Milde und Hoffnung, trotz vereinzelter scharfer Auseinandersetzungen. Jesus ist bei allen Begegnungen mit den Pharisäern bemüht, ihnen zur Erkenntnis seiner Person als göttlichem Gesandten zu verhelfen und sie zur Umkehr zu bewegen. ABSTRACT (english) The Gospel of Luke is a literary work in narrative form in which the Pharisees play a central role as the most important group in opposition to Jesus. Thus narrative exegesis is an appropriate method to analyse the presentation of the Pharisees and to undertake a literary characterisation of their role. An examination of all the texts in Luke's Gospel which mention the Pharisees yields a complex, multi-facetted portrait of the Pharisees. The Pharisees, characterised primarily negatively as religious leaders, neither recognise nor acknowledge the divine mission of Jesus, nor his authority nor mandate. Rather the Pharisees function in juxtaposition to Christ and his ministry within the overall narrative of Luke's Gospel. They serve as a negative backdrop against which the central figure of Jesus appears all the more significant, indeed even radiant. However, it is one trait of Luke's Gospel that this primarily negative picture is repeatedly softened by the narrative presentation. The narrator does not paint a one-sided picture of the Pharisees (flat character) but differentiates clearly in his presentation (more than the other Synoptic Gospels do). In his presentation of the Pharisees' behaviour and words the author to a large extent forgoes mentioning explicitly hostile aspects, but rather intimates the relative proximity between Jesus and the Pharisees. There is no final negative evaluation or judgement passed on the Pharisees. It is noteworthy that there is a complete omission of the role of the Pharisees in the legal proceedings and court trials against Jesus. Jesus' reaction to the Pharisees is nevertheless one of gentleness and hope, despite a few acrimonious conflicts recounted in the narrative. In all of his encounters with Pharisees Jesus endeavours to help them recognise himself as divine envoy and to move them to repentance. / New Testament / M.Th.