Magister Artium - MA / Imam Malik b. Anas (d. 179 A.H.) is an important intellectual figure in Islam. He is the author of the first hadith collection, the Muwatta, and is the founder of one of the four major Sunni schools of law. His contribution towards formulating a distinct legal school allows millions of Muslims daily to perform their daily rituals of worship. Previous research, however, has not given enough attention to a systematic study of his beliefs. This study intends to address this shortcoming. My thesis examines the belief of imam Malik, particularly his concept of faith and the external expression thereof. It examines the first two eras of Islam, that of the Companions and Followers, which preceded him and their influence on his methodology of formulating his theological and legal views. It further looks at his approach to the textual evidences and his attitude towards speculative reasoning (kalam) regarding theological issues. This study further aims to verify the statements attributed to imam Malik regarding what constitutes correct faith and whether it increases or decreases. It also looks at the conflicting statements attributed to him regarding the increase and decrease of faith and tries to resolve them. Furthermore, it sources reliable biographical information on imam Malik to determine his attitude towards the diverse theological trends such as the Qadarites and Murji’ites prevalent during his time. In addition, the study compares the views of imam Malik with that of the other three founders of the Sunni Sunni legal schools.

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真耶穌教會是當今華人自創的獨立教會之中最為活躍的教派之一，從1917年在北京創會以來至今即將堂堂邁入百周年。隨著晚近基督宗教的版圖向全球南方轉移，歐洲和北美不復為中心，「世界基督教」的概念也逐漸得到學者重視。在此架構底下，中國的基督教自然是不容忽視，而像真耶穌教會這類中國自立教派得以被放在更大的框架被討論，跳脫以往只是從中國教會自立運動著手的限制，成為西方學者對非西方基督教的研究個案。另一方面，今日在英語世界由某些學者力倡的「全球五旬節運動研究」，也同樣基於前述的理解，關注全球南方的五旬節運動發展。而真耶穌教會這類具五旬節派特徵的非西方自立教會就因此被放入全球五旬節運動的討論範圍裡。無論是「世界基督教」或「全球五旬節運動研究」均強調去西方中心，關注全球南方的基督宗教。鑑於前述旨趣，真耶穌教會遂被視為全球南方五旬節運動的其中一員，然而這樣的歸類和命名卻隱含某種本質論和東方主義的意涵。本文以真耶穌教會為個案，梳理其與五旬節運動的歷史關連，釐清兩者的連續性和斷裂性，同時也處理相關歷史議題，並主張真耶穌教會無論從歷時性和共時性的觀點，都不宜被視同於五旬節派。此外，本文的討論也藉此指出西方學界對今日全球南方五旬節派或具類似特質獨立教會的東方主義想像與再現的問題。

Le sujet de cette thèse est la conception du divin et de l’être humain parfait (insân kâmil) et du voyage spirituel dans la doctrine d’Ibn ‘Arabi à travers une présentation et une analyse de ses œuvres et études en anglais et en français. Cela implique une analyse profonde des sujets qui sont fondamentaux tout en étant dispersés dans l’œuvre du maître. Cette étude interprétative se concentre sur l’analyse et la discussion de ce que les traductions et les études offrent au chercheur occidental. La première partie présente la conception du divin chez Ibn ‘Arabi, ce qui inclut la présentation de la doctrine des différentes dimensions de la réalité divine. Le mouvement de l’unicité à travers les noms divins à la création du cosmos et de l’être humain est présenté et analysé. La deuxième partie analyse la totalité de la réalité de l’autre angle, celui de la perspective de l’être humain dans la doctrine d’Ibn ‘Arabi. Les caractéristiques de l’amour et de la lumière, que les humains et Dieu partagent, sont éclaircies. Le développement spirituel du serviteur qui cherche la proximité de Dieu et les différences entre les saints et les prophètes sont décrites dans la deuxième partie. La troisième partie précise le lien entre les deux parties précédentes. La question de l’identité du voyageur, sa motivation et sa destination sont examinées dans la perspective de l’ascension et de la redescente. Le chapitre conclusif rassemble les conceptions clés du sujet et introduit la conception de la transcendance inclusive dans l’œuvre d’Ibn ‘Arabi. / This thesis explores the concepts of the divine, the perfect human being (insan kamil) and the spiritual journey in the doctrine of Ibn ' Arabi through a presentation and analysis of his works and studies in English and French. This involves a thorough analysis of the topics that are fundamental and yet dispersed in the work of the sheikh. This interpretative study focuses on the analysis and discussion of what the translations and studies provide the Western researcher. The first part presents the concept of the divine in Ibn 'Arabi, which includes the presentation of the doctrine of the different dimensions of the divine reality. The movement of unity through the divine names in the creation of the cosmos and of human beings is presented and analysed.The second part analyses the totality of reality from another angle, that of the perspective of the human being in the doctrine of Ibn 'Arabi. The characteristics of love and light that God and humans share are elucidated. The spiritual development of the servant who seeks proximity to God and the differences between the saints and the prophets are also described. The third part of the thesis establishes the connection between the previous two parts. The question of the identity of the traveller, their motivation and final destination are discussed from the perspective of the ascent and subsequent descent. The concluding chapter brings together the key concepts of the study and introduces the concept of ‘inclusive transcendence’ in the work of Ibn 'Arabi.

One of the central issues of early Christianity was the identity of Jesus Christ. Paul and other early Christians discussed this question within the framework of traditional Jewish monotheism and used the language of deity to describe Christ. This thesis explores how and why they integrated the two concepts of monotheism and the deity of Jesus. As a window into this process, it particularly examines Paul’s discourse in 2 Cor 3:16–4:6, employing grammatical-historical exegesis with insights from rhetorical criticism and Oneness Pentecostal Christology. We consider three fundamental questions: (1) What does the exalted language concerning Christ in this text represent? (2) How did Paul reconcile the deification of Jesus with his monotheistic heritage? (3) Why did Paul deify Jesus? What interests were served, and what were the practical consequences? The conclusion is that early Christians, prior to and including Paul, worshiped Jesus within a Jewish monotheistic context and not as a result of Hellenization. They viewed Jesus as the revelation of the one God, not as a second deity or a different personage. Although they reinterpreted their core beliefs in light of Jesus, they did not see their worship of Jesus as violating their core beliefs. The evidence from Paul’s Corinthian correspondence does not require an explicit binitarian or trinitarian model, but it reveals that many early Christians viewed God as both transcendent and immanent and worshiped Jesus as the God of Israel manifested in human identity. We identify four significant socio-rhetorical factors in the monotheistic deification of Jesus: (1) In a context of rapid social change it enabled Christians to combine Hebrew monotheism with Greek longing for universals, thereby claiming both traditional heritage and Christocentric distinctiveness. (2) It gave them a unique social identity and cohesiveness. (3) It affirmed their soteriological experiences, beliefs, and outreach. (4) It positioned the movement to attract all people, moving the new faith beyond Jewish ethnicity and traditional boundary markers so that it became a universal monotheism with a missiological focus. The socio-rhetorically constructed identity of Jesus Christ defined the identity of the early Christians. The result was a distinctively Christian faith. / New Testament / D. Th. (New Testament)

One of the central issues of early Christianity was the identity of Jesus Christ. Paul and other early Christians discussed this question within the framework of traditional Jewish monotheism and used the language of deity to describe Christ. This thesis explores how and why they integrated the two concepts of monotheism and the deity of Jesus. As a window into this process, it particularly examines Paul’s discourse in 2 Cor 3:16–4:6, employing grammatical-historical exegesis with insights from rhetorical criticism and Oneness Pentecostal Christology. We consider three fundamental questions: (1) What does the exalted language concerning Christ in this text represent? (2) How did Paul reconcile the deification of Jesus with his monotheistic heritage? (3) Why did Paul deify Jesus? What interests were served, and what were the practical consequences? The conclusion is that early Christians, prior to and including Paul, worshiped Jesus within a Jewish monotheistic context and not as a result of Hellenization. They viewed Jesus as the revelation of the one God, not as a second deity or a different personage. Although they reinterpreted their core beliefs in light of Jesus, they did not see their worship of Jesus as violating their core beliefs. The evidence from Paul’s Corinthian correspondence does not require an explicit binitarian or trinitarian model, but it reveals that many early Christians viewed God as both transcendent and immanent and worshiped Jesus as the God of Israel manifested in human identity. We identify four significant socio-rhetorical factors in the monotheistic deification of Jesus: (1) In a context of rapid social change it enabled Christians to combine Hebrew monotheism with Greek longing for universals, thereby claiming both traditional heritage and Christocentric distinctiveness. (2) It gave them a unique social identity and cohesiveness. (3) It affirmed their soteriological experiences, beliefs, and outreach. (4) It positioned the movement to attract all people, moving the new faith beyond Jewish ethnicity and traditional boundary markers so that it became a universal monotheism with a missiological focus. The socio-rhetorically constructed identity of Jesus Christ defined the identity of the early Christians. The result was a distinctively Christian faith. / New Testament / D. Th. (New Testament)