The doctrine of the mediation of Jesus Christ in the scientific theology of T.F. Torrance rests on the fundamental scientific axiom, derived from the natural sciences, that knowledge is developed in accordance with the nature (kata physin) of the object as it is revealed in the course of scientific inquiry. As a theological realist, Torrance finds real and accurate knowledge of God in Jesus Christ. To know God through the incarnate Son, who is “of one nature with the Father” (homoousios to Patri), is to know God in strict accordance with God’s nature and hence in a theologically scientific way. Scientific theology will operate on a christological basis, for the incarnation of Jesus Christ is the “controlling centre” for the Christian doctrine of God. Torrance’s holistic theology investigates its object of inquiry within the nexus of “onto-relations,” or “being-constituting” interrelations, that disclose its identity. Because the fundamental aspects of reality are relational rather than atomistic, a scientific theological approach to the doctrine of the mediation of Jesus Christ requires that he be investigated within the nexuses of interrelations that disclose his identity as incarnate Saviour of the world. An examination of Torrance’s doctrine of mediation reveals three specific nexuses of “onto-relations” that disclose the identity of Jesus Christ. These are his interrelations with 1) historical Israel, 2) God, and 3) humanity. In the present thesis, the vast and scattered array of Torrance’s thought on the mediation of Jesus Christ is reduced to a minimal number of basic concepts, or “elemental forms,” that arise from the nexuses of interrelations that constitute the identity of the incarnate Son. These basic, constitutive concepts of Torrance’s doctrine of the mediation of Christ are the Nicene homoousion and the Chalcedonian doctrine of the hypostatic union, as well as the doctrines of incarnational redemption and the “vicarious humanity” of Jesus Christ. These elemental forms provide a basic, organising framework to examine and explain the mediation of revelation and reconciliation of Jesus Christ in the scientific theology of T.F. Torrance. / Thesis (PhD (Church and Dogma History))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

O tema da pesquisa é a tese de Heidegger para a origem do pensamento metafísico. O presente tema parte do pressuposto de que o filósofo alemão Martin Heidegger (1889-1976) entende que a metafísica esteja ligada a um modo de comportamento criador de hipostasias. O conceito de hipostasia denota o comportamento de tomar a consciência e os objetos como entes simplesmente dados, comportamento observado no cotidiano mais imediato e no pensamento filosófico tradicional (metafísico). Assumimos como problema a seguinte questão: como, segundo Heidegger, se origina o modelo teórico da metafísica?; como subproblema: como a metafísica se vê comprometida com o comportamento hipostasiante? A pesquisa possui os seguintes objetivos: a) determinar como o modelo teórico da metafísica se originaria desse comportamento hipostasiante; b) avaliar em que grau o modelo teórico da metafísica está comprometido por tal comportamento. Nosso trabalho atuará em caráter expositivo, com o método descritivo próprio à fenomenologia. Tem, primeiramente, a tarefa de apresentar os pressupostos que permitem a caracterização da referida tese enquanto tema; depois, define seus termos para, partindo desses, reconstituir seus argumentos. Essa reconstituição, por sua vez, só se realiza unindo os indícios deixados em documentos que testemunham o interesse do filósofo pelo tema e antecipam a formulação mais elaborada da tese em Ser e tempo (1927). (Isso delimita o campo da presente pesquisa entre alguns dos principais textos da produção do filósofo na década de 1920). Deste modo, reconstruir a tese heideggeriana sobre a origem da metafísica implica reconstituir o modo com o qual o comportamento hipostasiante atua na filosofia tradicional criando crises. Essa metodologia (exposição reconstrutiva) busca, portanto, explicitar o esforço de Heidegger por mostrar que a metafísica é resultado de uma série de descuidos (Versäumnis) que podem ser identificados no interior da história da filosofia. O tema e problema de nossa pesquisa se justificam por trabalharmos com a questão que desde cedo motivou as investigações heideggerianas acerca do sentido do ser, o que não só inaugurou o diálogo do filósofo com a tradição metafísica, quanto provocou desdobramentos e modulações integrantes da obra de Heidegger. E ainda, por, ao nos ocuparmos do tema da origem da metafísica, buscamos esclarecer como é possível que algo assim com a filosofia seja possível. / The research theme is Heidegger thesis of the origin of metaphysics. This theme assumes that the German philosopher Martin Heidegger (1889-1976) understands that metaphysics is connected to a mode of behavior creator of "hypostasis." The concept of hypostasis denotes a behavior that takes conscientiousness and objects as simply given, behavior observed in everydayness and thought in philosophical tradition (metaphysical). We assume the problem: how, according to Heidegger, does the theoretical model of metaphysics arise?, and the subproblem: how metaphysics is compromised by the hypostatic behavior? The research has the following objectives: a) determine how the theoretical model of metaphysics would be originated from this hypostatic behavior; b) assess to what extent the theoretical model of metaphysics is compromised by such behavior. Our work will make an exhibition of this theme with the descriptive method of phenomenology. The work has primarily the task of presenting the assumptions that allow the characterization of that argument as an issue; then to define its terms, leaving them to reconstruct its arguments. This reconstruction, in turn, can only be achieved by uniting clues, left in documents that testify to the philosopher's interest in the subject and anticipates the more elaborate formulation of the theory in Being and Time (1927). (This limits the field of this research of some of the key texts of the production of the philosopher in the 1920s). Thus, the reconstruction of the Heidegger's thesis about the origin of metaphysics involves reconstitution of the way in which the hypostatic behavior operates on the traditional philosophy creating crises. This methodology (reconstructive exposition) seeks to clarify Heidegger's effort to show that metaphysics is the result of a series of oversights (Versäumnis) identified in the history of philosophy. The theme and problem of our study is justified by the work with the issue that motivated the early research on the Heideggerian sense of being, which not only opened the dialogue of the philosopher with the metaphysical tradition, but also led to developments and modulations of members of Heidegger's work. And yet, for we turn to the issue of the origin of metaphysics we seek to clarify how it is possible that such a thing is possible with the philosophy.

This master's thesis is dedicated to the theological disputation upon the using of the title Theotokos for Virgin Mary that had been finally resolved at the Third Ecumenical Council in Ephesus in 431 AD. The first part deals with the crucial moments of deepening theological knowledge in the Church history in order to show a development of the disputation mainly in the 3rd and 4th century. Although Christology wasn't the main theme of the teachings of the Church in that early period some of the theologians especially Irenaeus, Origen, Paul of Samosata and Apollinaris of Laodicea also raised some issues in the field of Christology. The end of the first part offers an inside into the theological mindset of both sides of the disputation - Diodorus of Tarsus and Theodor of Mopsuestia on the one side and the Orthodox fathers Athanasius, the Cappadocian Fathers, Didymus the Blind and John Chrysostome on the other side. The second part presents the written sources of the disputation and offers an insight to its beginning and development. The third and main part focuses on the correspondence between Cyril of Alexandria and Nestorius mainly on their Second Epistles containing the major topics of the disputation. It discusses a content of these two epistles and also analyses and compares theological arguments of both...

O tema da pesquisa é a tese de Heidegger para a origem do pensamento metafísico. O presente tema parte do pressuposto de que o filósofo alemão Martin Heidegger (1889-1976) entende que a metafísica esteja ligada a um modo de comportamento criador de hipostasias. O conceito de hipostasia denota o comportamento de tomar a consciência e os objetos como entes simplesmente dados, comportamento observado no cotidiano mais imediato e no pensamento filosófico tradicional (metafísico). Assumimos como problema a seguinte questão: como, segundo Heidegger, se origina o modelo teórico da metafísica?; como subproblema: como a metafísica se vê comprometida com o comportamento hipostasiante? A pesquisa possui os seguintes objetivos: a) determinar como o modelo teórico da metafísica se originaria desse comportamento hipostasiante; b) avaliar em que grau o modelo teórico da metafísica está comprometido por tal comportamento. Nosso trabalho atuará em caráter expositivo, com o método descritivo próprio à fenomenologia. Tem, primeiramente, a tarefa de apresentar os pressupostos que permitem a caracterização da referida tese enquanto tema; depois, define seus termos para, partindo desses, reconstituir seus argumentos. Essa reconstituição, por sua vez, só se realiza unindo os indícios deixados em documentos que testemunham o interesse do filósofo pelo tema e antecipam a formulação mais elaborada da tese em Ser e tempo (1927). (Isso delimita o campo da presente pesquisa entre alguns dos principais textos da produção do filósofo na década de 1920). Deste modo, reconstruir a tese heideggeriana sobre a origem da metafísica implica reconstituir o modo com o qual o comportamento hipostasiante atua na filosofia tradicional criando crises. Essa metodologia (exposição reconstrutiva) busca, portanto, explicitar o esforço de Heidegger por mostrar que a metafísica é resultado de uma série de descuidos (Versäumnis) que podem ser identificados no interior da história da filosofia. O tema e problema de nossa pesquisa se justificam por trabalharmos com a questão que desde cedo motivou as investigações heideggerianas acerca do sentido do ser, o que não só inaugurou o diálogo do filósofo com a tradição metafísica, quanto provocou desdobramentos e modulações integrantes da obra de Heidegger. E ainda, por, ao nos ocuparmos do tema da origem da metafísica, buscamos esclarecer como é possível que algo assim com a filosofia seja possível. / The research theme is Heidegger thesis of the origin of metaphysics. This theme assumes that the German philosopher Martin Heidegger (1889-1976) understands that metaphysics is connected to a mode of behavior creator of "hypostasis." The concept of hypostasis denotes a behavior that takes conscientiousness and objects as simply given, behavior observed in everydayness and thought in philosophical tradition (metaphysical). We assume the problem: how, according to Heidegger, does the theoretical model of metaphysics arise?, and the subproblem: how metaphysics is compromised by the hypostatic behavior? The research has the following objectives: a) determine how the theoretical model of metaphysics would be originated from this hypostatic behavior; b) assess to what extent the theoretical model of metaphysics is compromised by such behavior. Our work will make an exhibition of this theme with the descriptive method of phenomenology. The work has primarily the task of presenting the assumptions that allow the characterization of that argument as an issue; then to define its terms, leaving them to reconstruct its arguments. This reconstruction, in turn, can only be achieved by uniting clues, left in documents that testify to the philosopher's interest in the subject and anticipates the more elaborate formulation of the theory in Being and Time (1927). (This limits the field of this research of some of the key texts of the production of the philosopher in the 1920s). Thus, the reconstruction of the Heidegger's thesis about the origin of metaphysics involves reconstitution of the way in which the hypostatic behavior operates on the traditional philosophy creating crises. This methodology (reconstructive exposition) seeks to clarify Heidegger's effort to show that metaphysics is the result of a series of oversights (Versäumnis) identified in the history of philosophy. The theme and problem of our study is justified by the work with the issue that motivated the early research on the Heideggerian sense of being, which not only opened the dialogue of the philosopher with the metaphysical tradition, but also led to developments and modulations of members of Heidegger's work. And yet, for we turn to the issue of the origin of metaphysics we seek to clarify how it is possible that such a thing is possible with the philosophy.

The thesis aims to provide a critical assessment of Camilo Torres' concept of efficacious love in the light of a hermeneutics and ethics of liberation, to contribute theoretically to theological reflection upon the mission of the Protestant and Roman Catholic churches in Colombia, and generally in Latin America. It proposes the thesis that the theology of Camilo Torres, viewed from the perspective of a hermeneutics and an ethics of liberation, can be foundational for seeking, constructing, and sustaining peace with justice in a context of oppression and violence. Based on the theological analysis, the academic and spiritual motivation should respond to two fundamental questions in our academic inquiry: what foundation exists in Camilo Torres' theology for the construction of a just, peaceful, liberative society and to enable proximity to the excluded, victimized, and poor population in Colombia to be achieved? And how can we as Christians respond to the grace of God in living efficaciously the values of the Kingdom of God, in order to bring structural changes in Colombia? The implications of the answers to those questions would result in the possibility to execute an integrating theological proposal for peace with justice for the church in Colombia. In an interpretative mode, we consider critically the multidisciplinary interaction of some of the theological foundations of liberation theology. Our task consists in clarifying and constructing theological presuppositions for a dialectical examination of the historical and current situation in Colombia, viewed in the light of the internal problems and realities. Thus, it is our intention in order to attempt a significant interdisciplinary juncture, to examine and interpret such relevant concepts as efficacious love, faith with works, kenosis, hypostatic union, hermeneutics and ethics of liberation, social justice, personal and collective socio-political conversion, and a praxis of faith as the church's mission in response to the Colombian context of poverty and violence.