My study offers a constructive exploration of divine judgment as salvific rather than destructive which I describe aphoristically as iudicandus est salvandus ('to be judged is to be saved'). My provocation to Christian eschatology is that human beings are not saved from judgment, but are saved within it. In chapter 1, I introduce the context of the study and propose the concept of salvific judgment. In chapter 2, I engage in an exploration of the symbols and problems of judgment through a reappraisal of De novissimis ('concerning the last things'), the last section found in traditional works of dogmatics. This is followed, in chapter 3, by a critical engagement with the soteriological optimism posited by four twentieth- and twenty-first century theologians: Sergei Bulgakov, Hans Urs von Balthasar, J.A.T. Robinson, and Marilyn McCord Adams. In chapter 4, I explore four versions of the purpose of judgment: (1) as retributive with a dual outcome, engaging the work of Paul O'Callaghan; (2) as retributive and universalist, in conversation with Sergei Bulgakov; (3) as non-retributive, rectifying, and universalist, exploring the oeuvre of Jürgen Moltmann; and (4) as non-retributive, constitutive of personhood, and quasi-universalist, investigating the eschatological thought of Markus Mühling. In chapter 5, I propose to approach divine judgment as the event of absolute recognition. I posit that it is within the eschatic recognition of God, the self, and the other that transformation and glorification occur in a way that avoids a dual outcome of salvation and damnation. I then explore the problems concerning eternal life ('heaven') in the received tradition and propose that life in the eschatic realm of God is not eternal stasis, but the semper novum. I also explore this understanding of eternal life as it relates to the communion of saints. I conclude by arguing that we may approach divine judgment with faith, hope, and love – not only for ourselves, but for the human race as a whole.

No description available.

A tradição escatológica cristã funda suas raízes em antigas concepções judaico-helenistas de perspectivas proféticas. A noção de dia final como julgamento de Deus sobre a vida do mundo habitado é uma das características dessa concepção religiosa, sendo a fé cristã marcadamente influenciada por este viés bíblico-teológico, haja vista a história de inclusividade presente na organização das comunidades do cristianismo primitivo, ainda que intermitentes períodos de exclusivismos identitários tenham sido presenciados ao longo da história da Igreja Cristã. Nesse diapasão é que o presente Trabalho Final de Mestrado Profissional (TFMP) busca analisar o discurso petrino de Atos 2.14-21, o qual estabelece sua textualidade numa intertextualidade presente no contexto linguístico do mundo contemporâneo ao apóstolo, tentando identificar aportes relevantes a uma atualização teológica que abarque elementos inclusivistas presentes na tradição profética joelina e nas práticas comunitárias. O trabalho está estruturado em três capítulos. O primeiro aborda o conceito da intertextualidade, sua origem, seus principais defensores, os diferentes aspectos e níveis da intertextualidade e seu uso no campo da teologia. No segundo capítulo far-se-á a análise dos textos de Joel e Atos dos Apóstolos, partindo da tradução interlinear do texto na língua original para o nosso vernáculo, sua contextualização histórica e abordagem de termos e temas chaves. Por fim, será visto as marcas da intertextualidade nos dois textos e abordado a importância do derramamento do Espírito e do fenômeno do empoderamento e sua importância para uma igreja inclusivista. / The Christian eschatological tradition finds its roots in ancient judeo-helenist conceptions of prophetic perspectives. The notion of the final day as the judgment of God on the life of the inhabited world is one of the characteristics of this religious conception, with the Christian faith being markedly influenced by this biblical theological point of view, considering the history of inclusivity present in the organization of the communities of primitive Christianity, albeit the presence of intermittent periods of identitarian exclusivisms occurring throughout the history of the Christian Church. It is within this understanding that this Final Paper of the Professional Masters Program seeks to analyze the Petrine discourse of Acts 2.14-21, which establishes its textuality within an intertextuality that is present in the linguistic context of the apostles contemporary world, trying to identify the relevant sources of support for a theological actualization which takes into account the inclusivist elements present in the Joeline prophetic tradition and in the community practices. The work is structured in three chapters. The first deals with the concept of intertextuality, its origin, its main defenders, the different aspects and levels of intertextuality and its use in the field of theology. In the second chapter, an analysis is made of the texts of Joel and the Acts of the Apostles, based on the interlinear translation of the text from the original language to our vernacular language, its historical contextualization and dealing with key terms and themes. Finally, the marks of intertextuality will be visualized in both texts and the importance of the pouring of the Spirit and the empowerment phenomenon and its importance for an inclusive church will be dealt with.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Reconstruction theology is widely regarded as one of the most influential approaches to contemporary African Christian theology – alongside others such as inculturation theology, liberation theology, African women’s theology, evangelical theology and Pentecostal theology. In this thesis I offer a critical assessment of one of the main exponents of such reconstruction theology, namely the Kenyan theologian Jesse Mugambi. I explore the question of how his position on the notion of reconstruction should be understood. One point of entry into understanding Mugambi’s views on reconstruction is to explore his position on the relationship between the church and the coming reign of God. In the history of Christianity this relationship has been understood in widely divergent ways. The task of this thesis will therefore be to examine, position, analyse and assess Mugambi’s particular view in this regard. This will be done on the basis of a close reading of Mugambi’s publications such as African Christian Theology: an Introduction (1989), From Liberation to Reconstruction: African Christian Theology after the Cold War (1995), Christian Theology and Social Reconstruction (2003), and numerous chapters in publications by African theologians.

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 and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

This dissertation explores the utopian and dystopian tones of apocalypticism in medieval secular literature and how literary authors treated the end of time. Beginning with two different representational models of medieval apocalyptic, notably those of St Augustine of Hippo and of Joachim of Fiore, this study examines to what extent selected literary texts adhered to or deviated from those models. Those texts include Marie de France's Espurgatoire seint Patriz, William Langland's Piers Plowman, Geoffrey Chaucer's The Pardoner's Tale, and Thomas Malory's Le Morte D'arthur. This dissertation reveals that several texts subscribed to an expectation of cosmic and personal annihilation, in the Augustinian representation, or of global transformation in the Joachist version. Nearly all of the texts agree in their bleak outlook regarding the end of time, suggesting a climate of fear predominated in the Middle Ages. While the projected Christian eschatological timeline should have fostered hope for the saved, what it produced was often terrors of eternity and emptiness.

The motif of hastening the Lord's coming: 2 Peter 3:1-13 and its alleged parallels and background is a study of an aspect of 2 Peter's message and the problems related to that aspect. The study consists of seven chapters. Chapter one is an orientative survey of 2 Peter research defining and describing the nature and scope of the problems which are investigated in later chapters, as well as indicating the importance of the study and its general outline. In chapter two, broad hermeneutical issues which influence the investigation in chapters three, four, five and six are highlighted. Chapter three investigates the use and meanings of a1fe 6 6 <.t> derivatives in the New Testament and finds out that apart from 2 Peter, those concerned are generally not explicitly used in association with Christ's Parousia. In chapter four, relevant sections of 2 Peter are exegeted to determine this motifs role and meaning within the message of 2 Peter. Chapter four's investigation finds out that this salient motif in 2 Peter emphasises the Christian community's role of being God's important partner in the achievement of the eschatological promises associated with Christ's Parousia. Chapter five then studies alleged parallels of this motif in the New Testament outside of 2 Peter and finds out that the ideas, which 2 Peter expressed through this motif are echoed within most of the passages. In chapter six the religious background of 2 Peter is investigated and it is discovered that ideas expressed through this motif in 2 Peter appear to be generally in discontinuity with those contained in the investigated backgrounds. The final chapter highlights the contemporary relevance of the study with reference to (i) New Testament study in general, (ii) 2 Peter research in particular; and (iii) the calling and responsibilities of the church in the context of today's problems. / Biblical and Ancient Studies / D. Th. (New Testament)

Text in Afrikaans / In hierdie studie is as doelwit gestel 'n nuwe benadering tot die verklaring van die boek Openbaring. Die rede hiervoor is dat sommige verklaringsmetodes nie by 'n duidelike formulering van die boodskap van Openbaring uitkorn nie. Sommige rnetodes is kunsrnatig, terwyl ander weer so ingewikkeld is dat dit die boek onverstaanbaar maak. In die werkshipotese van die studie word die hermeneutiese presupposisie gestel dat die boek self riglyne oor sy verklaring gee, veral in sy eerste hoofstuk. Die tema en die strekking van die boodskap wys uit hoe die boek verklaar rnoet word. Die heerskappy van God is die hoofmotif van Openbaring en die vertrekpunt van die uitleg daarvan. Dit word ontplooi deur Christus wat op aarde heers. Prinsipieel gesien beteken sy heerskappy dat Hy besig is om te kom as verlosser van sy uitverkorenes en as regter wat sy vyande oordeel en straf. Sy koms is nie slegs eindgebeure nie, maar dis nou reeds aan die gang (so is die hoofmotif dan ook 'n eskatalogiese motif) en sal die vooruitbepaalde voleinding dan gebeur soos God dit wil. Dit maak dat die boek nie as 'n suiwer apokalips geklassifiseer mag word nie, maar wel 'n egte profesie, hoewel met apokaliptiese trekke. Wanneer die struktuur van die boek wetenskaplik ondersoek word, word gevind dat hierdie wyse van verklaring as geldige een ondersteun word deur die struktuur. Eers word byvoorbeeld die nabyheid van Christus geleer, dan sy heerskappy oor die geskiedenis en die voleinding daarvan en hoe dit die kerk en die wereld raak. Die volgende aspek wat in die studie ondersoek is, is die begrip "heerskappy van God". Nadat die sisternaties-teologiese forrnulering van die begrip vasgestel is, word gekyk na wat Openbaring daaroor te se het. Ten slotte word 'n paar hoofstukke uit die boek Openbaring ondersoek om vas te stel of dit die aannames en persepsies oor die motif ondersteun. Aangesien die betrokke hoofstukke berekende capita selecta is wat 'n goeie oorsig bied oor wat in hoofsaak in Openharing gelees word, is dit belangrik om te let op hoe die inhoud van die boek telkens die hoofmotif van God se heerskappy uitspel en beklemtoon. In die laaste hoofstuk van hierdie studie word die boodskap van die boek Openbaring uiteengesit. Met die proklamering van die heerskappy van God wat deur Christus op aarde uitgevoer word, is die boodskap van die boek duidelik en verstaanbaar met die troos: God regeer en Christus beheer alles op die aarde tot aan die einde, daarom hoef die kerk nie te vrees nie, maar kan voortgaan om te groei en te lewe tot die eer van God die almagtige. / The objective of this study was to establish a new approach to the interpretation of the book of Revelation. This was undertaken because some of the methods used to interpret the book, did not succeed in delivering an acceptable or even a comprehensible message. Some methods are superficial, while others are so complicated that the book becomes more of a mystery. As a working hypothesis for this study the hermeneutical presupposition is posed that John's Revelation has its own guidelines as to its interpretation, as it is given primarily in its first chapter. The theme and message of the book clearly shows the way to its interpretation. The supremacy of God and his power as the Almighty proclaims his rule over this world and this forms the basis for the message to his people. Christ is given the authority as king of this world and He maintains the governing of this world till the end. This means that He as ruler over this world reveals his coming as happening in the salvation of his chosen people and in the judging and punishing of his enemies. His coming is already underway and now is the eschatological time in progress. He is already the Redeemer of his people and the judge of his enemies. But this motif is further developed in the fact that the end will come according to the will of God. In the light of this prophetic revelations the book is not a pure apocalypse in the apocalyptic tradition, but it is genuine prophecy although there are apocalyptic terms and trends used in the book. When the structure of the book is analysed, it is found that this method of interpretation is really plausible. The first overall message being the assurance of the presence of Christ in his church under all circumstances and his controlling of the history and bringing this world to its end according to God's will, thus revealing the effect this has on the church and the world at large, all this is sustained by the structure of the book. Another aspect researched in this study is the meaning of the term "the supremacy of God". First a survey of the systematic theological formulation of this concept is done and then a systematic summary of this concept in the book of Revelation is made. A selection of a number of chapters from the book of Revelation is studied with the purpose of showing how this motif is proved by the contents of the book. These capita selecta are specially selected for this purpose, but they do give an overall view of the book's message. The last chapter of this study formulates the message of the book of Revelation. With the proclamation of the supremacy of God as illustrated by the reign of Christ as Lord of this world, this paranesis is given to his people clear and simple: God is the Almighty and through Christ He has everything under his control, therefore the church must never fear but can continue serving Him and growing to his glory as his kingdom. / Biblical and Ancient Studies / Th. D. (Nuwe Testament)

A dissertação em questão procura analisar O sonho de um homem ridículo (1877), de Fiódor Dostoiévski, fundamentalmente a partir de uma aproximação crítica em relação à teoria polifônica erigida por Mikhail Bakhtin, em Problemas da Poética de Dostoiévski. O teórico russo buscou desvelar a poética dostoievskiana não por meio de uma síntese parcial em função do discurso ideológico do escritor ou de uma de suas personagens expediente tradicional da crítica partidária, segundo Boris Schnaiderman e Paulo Bezerra , mas através do modo pelo qual o diálogo deixaria de ser contingente para assumir um papel estrutural essencial. A identidade das personagens não se estabeleceria em si e por si mesma, uma vez que o eu, desde a sua expressão primordial, já apareceria formado, enformado e deformado pela inflexão do outro. A alteridade e a altercação, vozes imiscíveis e eqüipolentes a alicerçarem a polifonia. Bakhtin, porém, não pôde demonstrar o modo pelo qual se daria a apreensão da obra de Dostoiévski como uma totalidade polifônica integral. Haveria um norte em função do qual as vozes relacionais e contraditórias seriam estruturadas? Seria possível apreender a poética dostoievskiana por meio do arcabouço tradicional, monológico e sistêmico? O aporte da teoria crítica de Marx, Lukács, Horkheimer, Adorno e Benjamin passou a trilhar as galerias labirínticas do subsolo dostoievskiano de modo a reconstituir a crítica de Bakhtin à abordagem dialética. A polifonia, a partir de então, transforma-se em um momento dialético para a constituição da poética de Dostoiévski. Totalidade alquebrada, polifonia amordaçada, dialética sem síntese, dialética no labirinto, dialética do labirinto. Labirinto da dialética: dialogo com alguns autores da eslavística norte-americana destacadamente, Joseph Frank, Michael Holquist e Gerald Sabo e com o homem ridículo, o narrador equívoco e inequívoco da estória fantástica que, segundo Bakhtin, é quase uma enciclopédia dos principais temas da obra do escritor russo. Assim, o presente trabalho procura erigir um novo modelo que tensione as cordas vocais da polifonia integral de modo a reconstituir suas aporias e trilhar um caminho outro que restitua a contradição como categoria essencial para a apreensão da obra de Dostoiévski. / This dissertation seeks to analyze Feodor Dostoevskys The Dream of a Ridiculous Man (1877) fundamentally by a critical approach in relation to Mikhail Bakhtins polyphonic theory in Problems of Dostoevskys Poetics. The Russian theorist searched to unveil Dostoevskys poetics not by a partial synthesis in terms of the ideological speech of the writer or one of his characters traditional expedient of partisan critic, according to Boris Schnaiderman and Paulo Bezerra , but through the way by which dialog would leave its contingent form to assume an essential structural role. Characters identity would not be erected in itself and by itself, once the I, from his primordial expression, would arise shaped, formed and deformed by the inflection of the other. Alterity and altercation, immiscible and equipollent voices grounding polyphony. However, Bakhtin could not demonstrate the way by which it would be possible to apprehend Dostoevskys work as an integral polyphonic totality. Would there be a north toward which the relational and contradictory voices would be structured? Would it be possible to apprehend Dostoevskys poetics by the traditional, monologic and systemic background? The contribution from the critical theory by Marx, Lukacs, Horkheimer, Adorno and Benjamin trod the labyrinthic galleries of Dostoevskys underground allowing the reconstitution of Bakhtins critic to dialectical approach. From this point on polyphony becomes a dialectical moment to constitute Dostoevskys poetics. Prostrated totality, gagged polyphony, dialectic without a synthesis, dialectic in the labyrinth, dialectic of labyrinth. Labyrinth of dialectic: I dialog with some authors of North American slavistics specially Joseph Frank, Michael Holquist and Gerald Sabo and with the Ridiculous Man, the equivocal and unequivocal narrator of the fantastic story which, according to Bakhtin, is almost an encyclopedia of the Russian authors work. Therefore the present work seeks to erect a new model which tenses the vocal cords of integral polyphony in order to reconstitute its apories and tread another way which restitutes contradiction as an essential category for the apprehension of Dostoevskys work.

M.A.( Biblical Studies) / Please refer to full text to view abstract