From Preface: This study has a two-fold nature. In one sense the focus of attention is on the Apologists. The chapters on Clement and Athanasius attempt to follow through the basic questions raised by the Apologists. But in the other sense, what I have presented is four independent studies dealing with Justin, the other Apologists, Clement and Athanasius's Contra Gentes. Although much the same questions have been asked in all four sections, there has been no rigid attempt to systematize the answers. This may well be one of the strengths as well as one of the weaknesses of the work.

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Le but de notre recherche est de mettre en évidence le rôle original du réformateur Huldrych Zwingli (1484-1531) dans la transformation du sens théologique du sacrement de la Cène. Pour ce faire, nous exposons l'essentiel de sa théologie générale et sacramentaire pour en déduire sa théologie de la Cène. Nous adoptons une approche historico-critique qui nous permet d'analyser la démarche théologique de Zwingli avec un regard du vingt-et-unième siècle. Ceci nous permet de découvrir que Zwingli, rejetant la transsubstantiation catholique et la consubstantiation luthérienne, situe les paroles d'institution du sacrement de la Cène dans la prescription du mémorial: « Faites ceci en mémoire de moi ». Ainsi, pour Zwingli, ce qui confère à la Cène son statut de sacrement est, d'une part, la prescription du Christ et, d'autre part, le pain et le vin consommés sacramentellement et spirituellement par l'assemblée réunie dans la « vraie » foi en Christ Sauveur.

Within the first chapter I highlight the extent Platonism influenced modern eschatology and motives for mission. This dualism led to separating divine and secular history and suited the philosophy of secular historians and theologian's who had no taste for divine reality purveying both everyday history, and individual lives. The second chapter discusses how these views, because of Premillennial-Dispensationalism, created American fundamentalism that changed what motivates foreign and local missions. Oppression and the poor have become nothing more than the evidences of a corrupt world that is destined to be destroyed; hence, all stress is concentrated on saving individual souls from the wrath to come. The third chapter consists in analysing David Bosch's aversion to this very notion and his reasons for avoiding apocalyptic language in many of his writings. I conclude in agreement with Bosch's motivation for mission and a similar view of eschatology which embraces a present realised kingdom and a future consummation thereof. / Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

No abstract available / Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies / D.Th. (Old Testament)

No abstract available / New Testament / M.Th. (New Testament)

Islaam as a world religion is most often associated with terrorism and numerous bombings and conflicts around the globe. While, Islaam does not encourage these actions there exists movements within the Muslim community which use violence as a means of political expression similar to the early extremist Khawaarij sect who abused the concept of takfeer. Many modern day ideologues seem to adopt the main tenets of the Khawaarij creed and as a result exhort and carrying out actions of violence under the guise of Islaam. In addition, Western media, secularists, and United States policy also appears to have a direct role in fostering the growth of these movements. Therefore, there is a need for further study into the ideological roots of these groups, their actions, and how societies can look for solutions to combat their ideals before they evolve into terrorist actions. / Religious Studies and Arabic / M. A. (Islamic Studies)

Afrikaans text / Die uitverkiesingsleer is vanaf die vroeë Kerkgeskiedenis aan stryd gekenmerk, wat sedertdien geakkumuleer het. Die vername vrug hiervan is twee teenpole, naamlik Calvinisme teenoor Arminianisme. Hierdie entiteite blyk onversoenbaar te wees en impliseer twee groot vrae wat `n derde vraag (of moontlikheid) antisipeer, naamlik dat daar oor beide gevra moet word: Kies God só? `n Verdere vraag onstaan, naamlik of die Christelike gemeenskap met hierdie toestand tevrede kan wees, veral terwyl blyk dat hierdie stryd intensiveer. In hierdie dogmaties-historiese ondersoek blyk dit dat die antwoord op hierdie vraag negatief is: God kies nie só nie. Die bedoeling is nie om met harde beslistheid `n oordeel te fel nie, maar is dit deel van die soeke na `n beter begrip van hierdie leerstuk wat soveel energie in beslag geneem het en tot verdeeldheid binne die Christendom gelei het. Derhalwe word voorgestel dat daar in hierdie doolhoof `n moontlike middeweg tussen die twee ongenaakbare sienings, óf `n alternatief, weg van die tradisionele is. Die doel hiervan is egter nie om die tradisionele uitverkiesingsleer met `n absolute alternatief te vervang nie, maar eerder bydraend in die soeke na `n oplossing te wees. Derhalwe is die bedoeling hiervan nie om enige tradisionele siening op `n destruktiewe manier te kritiseer, of deur `n eulogie te kanoniseer as eksklusief-waaragtig nie. In hierdie literêre ondersoek word die ganse uitverkiesingsleer nie hanteer nie. Daar word as verteenwoordigende model veral op die probleem binne Protestantse kringe gekonsentreer – spesifiek op die probleem onder fundamentele evangelies-gesindes. Die klem of fokus word vernou om langs die tradisionele hoofmomente van Augustinus/Pelagius en Calvinisme/Arminianisme by die sogenaamde „Evangelicals‟ uit te kom. Hierdie stuk bepaal sigself dus by die evangeliese stroom binne die Protestantisme. Behalwe vir `n historiese oorsig, word kritiek op die tradisionele uitverkiesingsleer gelewer. Daar word ook op die Vyf Punte van Calvinisme gefokus, aangesien dit redelik verteenwoordigend van dié leer is. Besondere probleme, wat steeds heersend is, word uitgewys, waarna alternatiewe in die soeke na `n oplossing hanteer word. Uiteindelik word `n voortgesette, volgehoue en gemeenskaplike soeke na `n antwoord op die vraag: “Hoe kies God?”, voorgestel. / The doctrine of predestination is since the early beginnings of Church History featured by strife which is currently accumulating. A prominent result hereof is the entity of Calvinism, with its antipole, Arminianism. These entities seem to be irreconcilable and imply two major questions with the anticipation of a third, namely that it should be asked of both: Does God choose in this manner? A further question arises, namely if the Christian community is satisfied with this condition, especially when it seems that this strife is intensifying. In this dogmatic-historical enquiry it seems that the answer is negative: God does not choose in this manner. The intention is not to pass decisive judgement, but rather to obtain a better understanding of this doctrine which led to division and discord within Christianity. Consequently a possible middle course is proposed between these two entities, or an alternative, away from the traditional tendentiousness. The purpose hereof is not to replace the traditional doctrine of predestination with an absolute alternative, but rather contributing in search for a solution. Therefore the intention is not to criticize any traditional view in a destructive manner nor, on the other hand, canonize it as exclusively veracious. This literary study will not cover all aspects of the doctrine of predestination. The problem with this doctrine under fundamental, evangelicals will be taken as a model and the focus of this study. The focus will be further narrowed to the traditional momentums of Augustine/Pelagius and Calvinism/Arminianism which culminates in the evangelical movement. This study confines itself basically to Protestantism. Except for the historical review, criticism will be provided on the traditional doctrine of predestination. This will also focus on the Five Points of Calvinism, seeing that it is representative of this doctrine. Particular prevailing problems will be pointed out where after proposals for a solution will be suggested. Finally a continued, sustained and common search for an answer to the question: “In which manner does God choose?”, will be proposed. / Systematic Theology & Theological Ethics / D. Th. (Sistematiese Teologie)

Baptists, who have traditionally emphasised the authority of Scripture, agree strongly that New Testament teaching and practice allows them to baptize only believers upon profession of ~aith. There are, however, many remaining questions concerning the relation of children to God and the place of children in the church which are not as straightforwardly answered in Scripture; here Baptists often display little consensus. Although the principles of corporate solidarity and of individual responsibility operate in both Testaments, the development of individual responsibility, already apparent within later Old Testament history, is carried further in the New Testament where there is evidence of some breakdown in family solidarity and of division on the basis of individual allegiance to Jesus. Discussion of the place of the child in the early church to the fourth century centres around questions of original sin, the 'innocence' of children, the rise of infant baptism and the catachumenate. The historical survey also investigates the development of Anabaptist, early Baptist and modern Baptist views of childhood from the sixteenth to the twentieth centuries. Baptist perspectives in relation to four current issues in the theology of the child are considered: original sin and the 'age of accountability', infant salvation, 'faith development' and child evangelism. The South African situation is analysed by identifying amd interpreting areas of agreement and areas of uncertainty indicated by the results of a detailed questionnaire distributed amongst Baptists during 1990-1991. Baptists need to recognize that children of believers, although not necessarily saved, are in a creative relationship with the church, somewhat similar to that of the catechumenate in the early church. Two particularly problematic areas are the question of the appropriate age for baptism, church membership and communion of children. This is partly because although linked with faith rather than with ~ pastoral wisdom is needed to assess the evidence for true faith in particular cases. In spite of the difficulties to be faced, Baptist congregations and all Christians and churches have much to gain from a careful consideration of the theological issues related to the place of the child in the church. / Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Systematic Theology)

When reading the Bible in an independent way, i.e., not through the lenses of any official Church dogma, one is amazed by the many voices that come through to us. Add to this variety the literary finds from Nag Hammadi, as well as the Dead Sea Scrolls, then the question now confronting many spiritual pilgrims is how it came about that these obviously diverse theologies, represented in the so-called Old and New Testaments, were moulded into only one "orthodox" result. In what way and to what degree were the many Christian groups different and distinctive from one another, as well as from other Jewish groups? Furthermore, what was the influence of other religions, Judaism, the Mysteries, Gnostics and Philosophers on the. development, variety of groups and ultimately on the consolidation of "orthodox" soteriology? / Philosophy Practical and Systematic Theology / Th.M. (Systematic Theology)