German text / In dieser Studie wird der Frage nachgegangen, ob der Jakobusbrief den Weg zum vollkommenen Glauben zeigt. Dazu wird zunächst die Berechtigung einer solchen Fragestellung anhand der neueren Forschung aufgezeigt. Dann werden in knapper Form allgemeine Fragen zum Jakobusbrief behandelt, bevor die beiden Zentralbegriffe dieser Studie untersucht werden: Glaube und vollkommen. Um eine inhaltliche Definition dieser Begriffe im Jakobusbrief geben zu können, wird zunächst dargelegt, welche sprachlichen bzw. inhaltlichen Kontexte in der damaligen Zeit gegeben waren und den Schreiber des Jakobusbriefes beeinflusst haben könnten. Die so gewonnenen Ergebnisse fließen sodann in die Untersuchung von Jakobus 2 ein. Dabei werden unter Berücksichtigung des rhetorischen Aufbaus, der sprachlichen Besonderheiten und der kulturellen Gegebenheiten die Verse Jakobus 2:1-13 und 2:14-26 untersucht. Hierbei ist das Beispiel von Abrahams Glauben in Jakobus 2:22 von besonderer Bedeutung. Abschließend wird eine Antwort auf die eingangs aufgeworfene Frage gegeben. / This thesis examines whether and in what way the Epistle of James shows the way to perfect faith. A detailed survey of research indicates that this is an important and relevant question that has, as yet, not been adequately examined. General questions about the Epistle of James are addressed before a detailed analysis of the central terminology of this study, the language of faith and of perfection. Assessment of this terminology requires an understanding of which linguistic and other contexts were prevalent at the time of writing and how these may have influenced the author. The results of these analyses are included in a detailed exegesis of James 2:1-26 (which constitutes the main part of the thesis). Close attention is paid to the rhetorical structure, the linguistic features and the cultural background of the passage. This thesis argues that the example of Abraham’s faith in James 2:22 is of special significance in the argumentation of the letter and in the quest for perfect faith. The conclusion confirms the notion that the Letter of James makes a crucial contribution to our understanding of faith and its perfection. This thesis also draws out certain implications for New Testament theology, the contemporary church and society at large. / New Testament / M. Th. (New Testament)

German text / In dieser Studie wird der Frage nachgegangen, ob der Jakobusbrief den Weg zum vollkommenen Glauben zeigt. Dazu wird zunächst die Berechtigung einer solchen Fragestellung anhand der neueren Forschung aufgezeigt. Dann werden in knapper Form allgemeine Fragen zum Jakobusbrief behandelt, bevor die beiden Zentralbegriffe dieser Studie untersucht werden: Glaube und vollkommen. Um eine inhaltliche Definition dieser Begriffe im Jakobusbrief geben zu können, wird zunächst dargelegt, welche sprachlichen bzw. inhaltlichen Kontexte in der damaligen Zeit gegeben waren und den Schreiber des Jakobusbriefes beeinflusst haben könnten. Die so gewonnenen Ergebnisse fließen sodann in die Untersuchung von Jakobus 2 ein. Dabei werden unter Berücksichtigung des rhetorischen Aufbaus, der sprachlichen Besonderheiten und der kulturellen Gegebenheiten die Verse Jakobus 2:1-13 und 2:14-26 untersucht. Hierbei ist das Beispiel von Abrahams Glauben in Jakobus 2:22 von besonderer Bedeutung. Abschließend wird eine Antwort auf die eingangs aufgeworfene Frage gegeben. / This thesis examines whether and in what way the Epistle of James shows the way to perfect faith. A detailed survey of research indicates that this is an important and relevant question that has, as yet, not been adequately examined. General questions about the Epistle of James are addressed before a detailed analysis of the central terminology of this study, the language of faith and of perfection. Assessment of this terminology requires an understanding of which linguistic and other contexts were prevalent at the time of writing and how these may have influenced the author. The results of these analyses are included in a detailed exegesis of James 2:1-26 (which constitutes the main part of the thesis). Close attention is paid to the rhetorical structure, the linguistic features and the cultural background of the passage. This thesis argues that the example of Abraham’s faith in James 2:22 is of special significance in the argumentation of the letter and in the quest for perfect faith. The conclusion confirms the notion that the Letter of James makes a crucial contribution to our understanding of faith and its perfection. This thesis also draws out certain implications for New Testament theology, the contemporary church and society at large. / New Testament / M. Th. (New Testament)

Au carrefour de l'éthique, du politique, de la noétique et de la métaphysique, la notion de kamāl (perfection, excellence) est fortement présente dans la philosophie arabe médiévale : elle est présente dans les écrits d'un al-Fārābī (870-950) ou d'un Miskawayh (932-1030), comme condition de bonne gouvernance et de bonheur. Elle constitue un sujet de prédilection dans les salons littéraires ou dans les lieux de rencontres entre intellectuels dans le Bagdad du Xe siècle, comme l'atteste l'ouvrage d'al-Tawḥīdī (932-1030) intitulé « Du plaisir et de la bonne compagnie ». C'est à la fois cette réflexion commune sur la notion d'excellence et l'apport propre de chacun des auteurs de ce siècle spécial qu'est le Xe siècle que ce travail de thèse se propose de développer. Sur le plan historique, il cherchera à apporter des éclairages sur les milieux intellectuels de l'époque, et à faire ressortir les affinités qui existaient entre des auteurs très connus comme al-Fārābī, et d'autres moins connus et moins étudiés comme Ibn 'Adiyy, philosophe chrétien, élève de Fârâbî et auteur d'un livre intitulé la réforme de l'éthique, ou comme al-'Amīrī, auteur d'un livre fondamental sur le bonheur. sur le plan théorique, il cherchera à dégager l'articulation entre la notion d'excellence et des notions aussi présentes chez les penseurs de cette époque telles que les notions de bonheur, de bien, de justice… cette réflexion se déploiera suivant trois axes extrêmement solidaires, mais dont la distinction permettra d'étudier, à chaque fois, la notion d'excellence, à partir d'un angle différent et selon des critères singuliers : un axe éthique, un axe politique et un axe noétique. / The concept of kamāl– perfection, excellence- is deeply ingrained in the medieval arabic philosophy, it is a concept at the crossroads of ethics, politics, noetics and metaphysics. This concept is present in the writings of someone like Al-Fārābī-870-950 or someone as Miskawayh -932-1030 and it appears as a prerequisite for good governance and happiness. It is also the most favoured theme of talks in the literary saloons or in places gathering intellectuals in Baghdad in the Xth century. This is revealed by the book of al-Tawḥīdī -932-1030- named Charming and Delightful company (pleasure of speaking in the court society).This work is at the same time a reflection on the concept of excellence and on what all the authors of this unique century have brought of interesting in this field.It is this matter that this PHD is exploring.On a historical plan, the purpose is to shed light on the intellectual milieu in this century and on the bonds between very famous authors like al-Fārābī and others less reknowned and less studied like Ibn Adiyy who was a Christian philosopher (student of al-Fārābī) and who wrote a book named “the reform of ethics” or other authors like al-Amīrī who wrote a very important book on happiness.On a theoretical plan, this work will try to unravel the links between the concept of excellence and other very important concepts which were the objects of work for thinkers of that century like happiness, goodness, justice…This reflection is built on three very important axes close one to another and at the same time distinct, the study of which will enable to shed light on the concept of excellence from different perspectives and on basis of particular criteria.The axes directing the present work are therefore the following: Ethics, politics,noetics.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

O regime da cidade virtuosa é o tema central dos escritos políticos de Alfrb÷ levando a uma ordem política cujos princípios são a realização da excelência humana ou da virtude, conduzindo à atividades úteis à aquisição da perfeição e da felicidade, pois o homem não se torna perfeito meramente pelos princípios naturais presentes nele e ele não é eternamente perfeito, mas precisa adquirir sua perfeição através da atividade que procede da compreensão racional, da deliberação e da escolha entre várias alternativas sugeridas pela razão. / The virtuous regime is the central theme of Alfrb÷s political writings and theres a political order whose guiding principles are the realization of human excellence or virtue, taking to activities useful to the achievement of perfection and happiness. Man is not rendered perfect merely through the natural principles present in him and he is not eternally perfect, but need to achieve his perfection through the activity proceeding from rational understanding, deliberation and choosing among the various alternatives suggested by reason.

Ralph Waldo Emerson is a great American literary figure that began his career as a minister at Boston’s Second Church. He discontinued his ministry to become an essayist and lecturer and continued as such for the remainder of his life. This thesis was written with the intent of demonstrating that, in spite of leaving the ministry, Emerson continued to be religious and a religionist throughout his life and that he promulgated a unique religion based upon the principle of self-reliance. At the heart of Emerson’s religion of self-reliance is the doctrine of perfectionism, the infinite capacity of individuals. This thesis defines Emerson’s perfectionism and then tries to locate him in American Studies by contextualizing him with three of his religious contemporaries that were also preaching the doctrine of perfectionism. (109 pages)

Thesis (M.S.)--Auburn University, 2008. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 70-77).

Thesis (D.Min.)--Acadia University, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 268-282). Also available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

O regime da cidade virtuosa é o tema central dos escritos políticos de Alfrb÷ levando a uma ordem política cujos princípios são a realização da excelência humana ou da virtude, conduzindo à atividades úteis à aquisição da perfeição e da felicidade, pois o homem não se torna perfeito meramente pelos princípios naturais presentes nele e ele não é eternamente perfeito, mas precisa adquirir sua perfeição através da atividade que procede da compreensão racional, da deliberação e da escolha entre várias alternativas sugeridas pela razão. / The virtuous regime is the central theme of Alfrb÷s political writings and theres a political order whose guiding principles are the realization of human excellence or virtue, taking to activities useful to the achievement of perfection and happiness. Man is not rendered perfect merely through the natural principles present in him and he is not eternally perfect, but need to achieve his perfection through the activity proceeding from rational understanding, deliberation and choosing among the various alternatives suggested by reason.

The focus of this study is to discover the identity of the emphatic “I” of Rom 7 with the added purpose of attempting to “draw” a spiritual portrait of a mature Christian believer. To accomplish this purpose, the process is as follows: An examination of Rom 7, within its context, is conducted. This examination is followed by an attempt at determining the experience of the emphatic “I” found within Rom 7. The next step in the process is to compare the experience of the emphatic “I” of Rom 7, as found within its context of Rom 1-8 with what Paul wrote elsewhere on the experience of new life in Christ for Christian believers. The purpose of this comparison is to discover if Paul had a “consistent” portrait of spirituality and Christian maturity. The final step is to compare the experience described by Paul, both in Rom 7 and in the wider Pauline Corpus, with the experience which John Wesley called “perfection”, and with the Mystical experience called the “spiritual marriage”. The study of Romans, Wesley, and the Mystics, coupled with the wider study of the secondary literature showed that there is a remarkable consistency in the teaching and understanding that the closer a Christian believer gets to God, the more this Christian believer is aware of his or her own sinfulness. Paul, in describing the experience of the emphatic “I”, is describing a person who is becoming more and more aware of his or her own sinfulness. The conclusion to be drawn from this study is that the identity of the empathic “I” is of a regenerate Christian believer, one who is growing ever closer and closer to God and at the same time is in “pain” over the remaining effects of sin. / Thesis (PhD (New Testament Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / New Testament Studies / PhD / unrestricted