Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Thesis (PhD (New Testament Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / New Testament Studies / PhD / unrestricted

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research aims to trace the exodus motif in the book of Revelation in general and Rev. 12-20 in particular, and to examine the socio-rhetorical function of the use of the exodus motif. Our hypothesis is that Rev. 12-20 constitutes a coherent unit in terms of narratology and that the exodus motif plays a significant role in forming the structure and the message of the book of Revelation, specifically of Revelation 12-20. Significantly, the song of Moses and the Lamb in Rev. 15 plays a pivotal role in the development of the thread of the chapter 12-20 as a plot. In the chapter 2, an overview of the history of interpretation of Revelation is provided and also the limitation of current studies of the song of Moses is highlighted. In addition, a new approach to the song of Moses in Revelation is suggested. The main goal of the chapter 3 is to examine Rev. 12-20 according to four narrative elements and from which Rev 12-20 can be deduced as a discrete literary unit constituting a plot. It will be argued that Rev. 12-20, as a plot, is highly stylized in the chiastic structure which has the song of Moses and the Lamb at the centre. Chapter 4 investigates Exod. 1-15 as a coherent story and explains how the author of Revelation adopts the exodus motifs in forming both the theme and the structure of Revelation. Moreover, it will be argued that the exodus motif generated certain sociorhetorical meanings to the audiences or the readers who were assimilated into the Roman Empire. For understanding the socio-rhetorical meanings, we examine the socio-rhetorical context, namely Asia Minor as part of the Roman Empire, and deal with the socio-rhetorical role of the exodus motif in the book of Revelation. In the chapter 5, firstly, drawing on the theoretical assumptions from social psychology, we build up a framework in which we can deal with Rev. 12-20 in terms of identity issues. Then, the covenantal identity based on the covenant in the book of Exodus will be suggested as an alternative identity. Thus, the exodus motif in Rev. 12-20 challenges the assimilated identity of the audiences or the readers to be renewed in the covenantal identity, so that they may be holy apart from the culture and the structure of the Roman Empire. The song of Moses and the Lamb reinforces the covenantal identity. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing ondersoek die gebruik van die eksodus-motief in Openbaring in die algemeen en in Op 12-12 in die besonder, terwyl dit ook die sosio-retoriese funksie van hierdie motief bestudeer. Die hipotese is dat Op 12-20 in terme van narratologiese analise ‘n koherente eenheid beslaan, en dat die eksodus-motief ‘n betekenisvolle rol speel in die struktuur en boodskap van Openabring, en Op 12-20 in besonder. Verder is dit betekenisvol dat die Lied van Moses en die Lam in Op 15 ‘n kernrol speel in die deurlopende lyn van Op 12-20 as plot. In hoofstuk 2 word ‘n oorsig oor die interpretasiegeskiedenis van Openbaring aangebied en beperkinge ten opsigte van huidige studies oor die Lied van Moses beklemtoon. In aanvulling daarby word ‘n nuwe benadering ten opsigte van die Lied van Moses in Openbaring voorgestel. Die hoofdoel van hoofstuk 3 is om Op 12-20 aan die hand van vier naratiewe elemente te ondersoek. As resultaat kan Op 12-20 as diskrete literêre eenheid sowel as die plot van Openbaring beskou word. As plot vertoon Op 12-20 ‘n noukeurige styl, met chiastiese strukture waarvan die Lied van Moses en die Lam die middelpunt vorm. Hoofstuk 4 ondersoek Eks 1-15 as koherente narratief en verduidelik hoe die outeur van Openbaring die eksodus-motief in die vorming van beide die tema en struktuur van die boek ingespan het. Die eksodus motief sou ook sekere sosio-retoriese betekenisse onder die gehore of lesers wat met die Romeinse Ryk geassimileer was, gegenereer het. Twv die beter verstaan van sulke sosio-retoriese betekenisse, word die sosio-historiese konteks naamlik Klein-Asië as deel van die Romeinse Ryk bestudeer. Vervolgens word die sosio-retoriese rol van die eksodus-motief in die boek van Openbaring behandel. In hoofstuk 5 word eerstens van teoretiese uitgangspunte binne die sosiale sielkunde gebruik te maak vir die konstruering van ‘n raamwerk om identiteitsake in Opn 12-20 te hanteer. Vervolgens word verbondsidentiteit soos dit voortvloei uit die verbond in Eksodus as alternatiewe identiteit voorgestel. Die eksodus motief in Op 12-20 daag die gehore of lesers van die boek uit om hul verbondsidentiteit te hernu, sodat hulle heilig en dus anders as die kultuur en strukture van die Romeinse Ryk kan wees. Die Lied van Moses en die Lam versterk Openbaring se gehore of lesers se verbondsidentiteit.

In response to the scarcity of biblical scholarship analysing the function of the Hebrew Bible’s exodus stories as persuasive communication, this dissertation investigates how these mnemonically dense stories were capable of creating and maintaining a long-term collective identity for ancient Israel. A narrative approach is selected in keeping with this intent, and the primary exodus story (Exod 1:1–15:21) and the 18 retold exodus stories found in the Hebrew Bible are identified as the focus of research. Since the tools used for analysing the narratives of non-fictional peoples need not be limited to those used for analysing literary fiction, a methodological tool—based on the principles of the social identity approach (SIA)—is developed and outlined to assist in exposing identity construction at a rhetorical level. Using the SIA heuristic tool, rhetorical formulations of identity—cognitive, evaluative, emotional, behavioural and temporal—like those occurring in face-to-face relationships, are identified in the exodus stories. These formulations make certain identity claims upon their hearers. A shared experience of oppression and deliverance is represented as the significant feature defining group membership in Israel. The literary portrayal of nine of the eighteen retold exodus stories in a setting just after the death of the adult exodus generation, asserts the importance of the appropriation of the story by a purportedly new generation. Likewise, exodus narratives with a literary setting in every major socio-cultural transition in Israel’s larger story portray Israel’s rehearsal of and participation in exodus as central and essential to her ongoing collective identity. Possible social identities offered to Israel include the temporal expansion of this ingroup based on the retelling and reappropriation of exodus and the “othering” of Israel based on non-compliance. Pre-exodus narratives are noted to have been shaped so as to include the patriarchs in “the people whom God brought out of Egypt.” Plurivocal retold exodus stories also reflects the recasting of narratives to fit identities so that, anachronistically, post-exodus members may also be included in “the people whom God brought out of Egypt.” This points to the revision and reuse of exodus narratives rather than to their unilinear development. Apart from any speculation on the historical motives of their producers, the identity-forming potential of exodus narratives characterized by the well-established, recognizable language of social identity is identified. The newly developed heuristic tool used in this analysis is its most significant contribution. It makes visible the nascent social identity language and concepts implicitly noted by prior scholarship, places them within the larger validating theoretical framework of the SIA and systematically identifies the specific persuasive elements and integrating qualities of exodus narratives.