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.

This study was set up to determine how the concept of biblical salvation is understood within liberation theology and how the concept is perceived from Pentecostal standpoint with the aim of developing a theological framework to challenge the dehumanising influences in contemporary society. The central argument of this thesis is that, there are irreconcilable differences between the salvation espoused by liberation theology's praxeological epistemology and the Pentecostal understanding of the concept etymologically and hermeneutically speaking. The study further probes whether Pentecostalism can provide the necessary theological framework that can be used to challenge the perceived dehumanising influences in contemporary society. The study achieved its purpose by setting meaningful objectives and following the appropriate research methodologies. Firstly, the study employed in-depth textual analysis, historiography, lexicology, and hermeneutic principles to understand the etymology of salvation from previous scholarship. This effort helped to elucidate differences that exist between liberation theology and Pentecostal renderings of the concept. Secondly, the concerns of existing contributors on the subject were evaluated by researching historical, linguistic and textual materials as well as exegetical analysis of relevant texts of Scripture. Thirdly, an in-depth literature analysis was undertaken to ascertain liberation theology's hermeneutic methodologies. This is necessary to establish whether the movement is more interested in promoting its ideologies and preunderstandings rather than biblical salvation. Fourthly, it was necessary to review the deep concerns expressed by liberation theology epistemology without compromising the message of the Gospel. This was achieved by a thorough analysis of social ministries undertaken by Progressive Pentecostals across the globe. Fifthly, the study evaluated the Pentecostal criticisms of liberation theology to see if there is any justification for that. This was achieved through an in-depth exegetical and hermeneutic analysis using word studies, theological dictionaries, bible commentaries, and by reviewing scholarly articles on the subject matter. Lastly, by analysing the difference between Pentecostal and liberation theologies, it was clear that their methods of operations are different. This goes to explain why Pentecostalism is growing exponentially while liberation theology is declining. The outcome of this analysis also explains why Pentecostalism is a better alternative in addressing the challenges facing our global community. / PhD (Dogmatics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

This study was set up to determine how the concept of biblical salvation is understood within liberation theology and how the concept is perceived from Pentecostal standpoint with the aim of developing a theological framework to challenge the dehumanising influences in contemporary society. The central argument of this thesis is that, there are irreconcilable differences between the salvation espoused by liberation theology's praxeological epistemology and the Pentecostal understanding of the concept etymologically and hermeneutically speaking. The study further probes whether Pentecostalism can provide the necessary theological framework that can be used to challenge the perceived dehumanising influences in contemporary society. The study achieved its purpose by setting meaningful objectives and following the appropriate research methodologies. Firstly, the study employed in-depth textual analysis, historiography, lexicology, and hermeneutic principles to understand the etymology of salvation from previous scholarship. This effort helped to elucidate differences that exist between liberation theology and Pentecostal renderings of the concept. Secondly, the concerns of existing contributors on the subject were evaluated by researching historical, linguistic and textual materials as well as exegetical analysis of relevant texts of Scripture. Thirdly, an in-depth literature analysis was undertaken to ascertain liberation theology's hermeneutic methodologies. This is necessary to establish whether the movement is more interested in promoting its ideologies and preunderstandings rather than biblical salvation. Fourthly, it was necessary to review the deep concerns expressed by liberation theology epistemology without compromising the message of the Gospel. This was achieved by a thorough analysis of social ministries undertaken by Progressive Pentecostals across the globe. Fifthly, the study evaluated the Pentecostal criticisms of liberation theology to see if there is any justification for that. This was achieved through an in-depth exegetical and hermeneutic analysis using word studies, theological dictionaries, bible commentaries, and by reviewing scholarly articles on the subject matter. Lastly, by analysing the difference between Pentecostal and liberation theologies, it was clear that their methods of operations are different. This goes to explain why Pentecostalism is growing exponentially while liberation theology is declining. The outcome of this analysis also explains why Pentecostalism is a better alternative in addressing the challenges facing our global community. / PhD (Dogmatics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Questions regarding the fate of the unevangelized have been contemplated for centuries and now, in this post-Christian world, issues of the church's claim that Jesus is the unique Son of God have been added to the debate. Does God truly desire the salvation of all human beings? Is Jesus Christ the full and unequalled revelation of God? This work explores, through means of comparison and contrast, the theological positions of exclusivism, pluralism, and inclusivism. Particular attention is given to each school's history, biblical arguments, theological arguments, and convictions concerning the purpose of missions, as well as an evaluation of each school's position. The author concludes that while exclusivism maintains a high Christology and pluralism a wide-ranging salvation, only inclusivism adequately harmonizes these positions in a cogent manner. / Systematic Theology & Theological Ethics / M. Th. (Systematic Theology)

English Studies / M.A. (English)

Sammanfattning och slutsatser Syftet med undersökningen har varit att studera växelverkan hos Erik Wickbergs predikantskap, mellan den identitetsskapande funktionen och mellan hans försök att höja predikans status internationellt. På detta sätt har jag också velat lyfta fram predikans roll som pastoral företeelse inom FA och för att kunna göra detta har jag ställt följande frågor: 1.    Vad kännetecknar Wickbergs predikantskap? 2.    Vilken syn på FA:s identitet kommer till uttryck i Wickbergs predikningar? Det är svårt att särskilja de två frågorna för de hör intimt samman. Därför är också svaren sammanflätade med varandra. När det gäller Wickbergs predikantskap så står han i en succession där han är den nionde generalen. Predikantskapet vilar i FA:s tidiga uppdrag att vara en röst både för och till de människor inga andra når. Booths teologi formades i tre steg. Det första steget ledde fram till att FA kom att förkunna både frälsning och helgelse. Det andra steget handlar om att FA är skapad av Gud och helgad för det speciella uppdraget att vara en röst både för och till de människor inga andra når. Det tredje steget gjorde FA till pionjärer på det sociala området som gör att man också har ett sådant arv att förvalta. Wickberg omfattar tanken att FA är en del i Guds universella kyrka. Han betonar att FA är sammanlänkad med Guds folk från Bibelns tid och med kristna genom årtusenden. Allt detta bekräftas i hans predikningar. I hans böcker och predikningar sägs det ingenting om att han ser FA som en kyrkoinstitution.   FA:s identitet som armé kommer tydligast fram i orden då han säger att FA ska vara en protesterande armé mot andlig slöhet, mot rasbarriärer och annan ondska. Wickbergs predikantskap utgår från denna självbild. Wickbergs predikantskap har också med personen Wickberg att göra. Hans barn- och ungdomstid präglades av FA, de många flyttningarna, nya språk och nya kulturer. Barn- och ungdomstiden gjorde honom både självkritisk, trygg, flexibel och öppen för allt nytt. Utbildningen, en aldrig sinande läslust och de olika uppdragen under 1924–1961 gjorde honom kompetent för ett ledarskap på högsta nivå. Under hela hans liv studerade han Bibeln och brottades med olika teologiska uppfattningar. Detta gjorde honom trygg i förkunnargärningen. Denna uppgift är också den som han satte främst i sin gärning som frälsningsofficer. Wickbergs predikantskap vilar också i FA:s homiletik. Bernard Watson konstaterar om Wickberg att ”By Salvationist average he had a high degree of Biblical scholarship though he always sought to express it in terms that ordinary people could understand”. Wickberg har alltså förmågan att sammanlänka en god teologi med möjligheten för alla att förstå. Homiletikens innehåll handlar om människans frälsning och ett fördjupande av det andliga livet genom helgelsen. Detta har också präglat Wickbergs förkunnelse. Slous har visat på att homiletiken har förändrats sedan den viktorianska tiden. Förkunnelsen då var av angripande natur men Slous talar om att denna bör vara av inbjudande karaktär. Wickberg är mån om att hans predikantskap ska vara både resultatinriktat och samtidigt ska det vara varmt och inbjudande. När jag sammanfattar Wickbergs predikantskap så upplever jag hans stora tilltro till Guds ord. Hans fokus är så starkt på innehållet i evangeliet att han undviker att ta upp samtidens stora händelser. Han snuddar vid dem genom att tala om ”materialismens och världens stormar” liksom han i samma predikan tar upp ”underströmmar” som kan förkväva vår kristna tro. Jag upplever hans predikningar som en ”väckarklocka”. Jag tänker då på hans syn på FA som han vill se som en proteströrelse, hans oro för dåliga predikningar, bristande tro och försummelsen att inte tillräckligt predika om helgelse.     Wickberg förkunnar också en helhetssyn på människan i sina predikningar. Jag tänker på de tre begreppen ”ny vitalitet”, ”intellektuell validitet” och ”social relevans”. Jag konstaterar slutligen att Wickberg genom sitt sätt att predika bekräftat att predikantskapet är identitetsskapande och att han på ett medvetet och strategiskt sätt har arbetat för att höja status och standard på predikan från sin internationella plattform.

This essay explores whether the notion of ‘hallowing’ provides a profitable lens through which to read and evaluate the soteriology of British theologian P.T. Forsyth, and it suggests that the hallowing of God’s name is, for Forsyth, the way whereby God both justifies himself and claims creation for divine service. It proposes that reading Forsyth’s corpus as essentially an exposition of the first petition of the Lord’s Prayer is an invitation to better comprehend not only his soteriology but also, by extension, his broader theological vision and interests. Chapters One and Two are concerned with questions of methodology, and with placing Forsyth in the social context of his day, with introducing the theological landscape and grammar from which he expounds his notion of reality as fundamentally moral, and with identifying some of the key but neglected voices that inform such a vision. Chapter Three explores the principal locale wherein the first petition of the Lord’s Prayer is answered: in Jesus Christ, whose confession of holiness ‘from sin’s side’ justifies God, destroys sin and creates a new humanity. Chapter Four examines Forsyth’s moral anthropology – specifically, the self-recovery of holiness in the human conscience – and considers holiness’ shape in the life of faith. Chapter Five inquires whether Forsyth’s theology of hallowing finally requires him to embrace dogmatic universalism, and identifies what problems might attend his failure to so do and consequently threaten to undermine his soteriological program.

Microreproduction of original thesis. / Thesis (DTh)--Stellenbosch University, 1986. / Some digitised pages may appear illegible due to the condition of the original microfiche copy. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: no abstract available / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: geen opsomming

This thesis suggests that Luce Irigaray's recent focus on spirituality in 'Luce Irigaray: key writings' makes explicit themes already suggested by her career-long insistence on the importance of sexual difference. It traces Irigaray's imagination of a dynamic, life-giving duality of sexual difference, suggesting that Irigaray's sexual difference displaces western philosophy's division between the natural and the spiritual; the earth and the sky; and mortals and the divine. In Irigaray's philosophy, cultivating sexual difference between men and women is the key to relinking the natural and the spiritual. This thesis calls this re-linking a religious task.Within this broad project, emphasis is placed on Irigaray's insistence that in order for sexual difference to be our redemption, women need to attend to creating a spiritual world appropriate to our own natural world. Indispensable to this project is the cultivation of a genealogy of mother-daughter relationships. This thesis explores this theme in Irigaray by discussing Drucilla Cornell's book, 'Legacies of dignity: between women and generations', as an Irigarayan genealogical exercise.This thesis also explores Irigaray's demand that western culture rethink its understanding of God. She suggests that we cultivate a sense of the divine as 'sensibly transcendent.' In order to highlight the distinction between Irigaray's divine and a monotheistic, transcendent God, this thesis turns to Patricia Huntington's article 'Contra Irigaray: the couple is not the middle term of the ethical whole.'The concluding chapter explores Irigaray's reworked notions of incarnation and salvation.Throughout these explorations, this thesis holds that Irigaray's re-integration of the natural and the spiritual will promote more ethical living -- with others, our selves, the earth and the divine.

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