This thesis is a comparative study of the concept and role of the law in the
theologies of Rosemary Radford Ruether and Gustaf Wingren. The analysis of
their theologies shows that Wingren uses the law as a formal theological
category and Ruether does not. The absence of the law in Ruether's theology
has implication for theological ethics.
For Wingren the law has two uses. The first use, the so called political use, is
that which compels and coerces ethical behavior in the human. The first use of
the law is used to insure that all humans receive the fullness of life that God
intends for all of creation. The second use of the law, the so called spiritual
use, accuses the human when he/she does not meet the demands of the law.
When the conscience is accused the human is prepared to hear the gospel. For
Wingren, the gospel is what gives the human a new will to live by freeing the
human from the burden and condemnation of the law. The law and the gospel
serve each other but have distinct functions. The law demands ethical behavior
and the gospel gives salvation. According to Wingren, the source of ethical
behavior is located in the doctrine of creation not in the doctrine of the
revelation of God through Jesus Christ; thus preserving the notion that the gift
of grace is not earned by good works but is given freely.
For Ruether, appropriate ethical behavior is revealed to humans through
paradigmatic individuals who denounce systems of oppression and announce
God's intent for creation, namely, liberation. Jesus is one such paradigmatic
individual who both denounces oppression and announces the kingdom of God.
Jesus both demands justice in relationships and offers liberation. The gospel
message of Jesus, in effect, collapses the law and the gospel into one entity.
The follower of Jesus hears that salvation is dependent upon appropriate
ethical behavior thereby nullifying the notion that grace is an unearned gift.
The thesis concludes with a constructive statement which develops a feminist
theology based on Wingren's concept of the law / Biblical and Ancient Studies / D. Th. (Systematic Theology)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:umkn-dsp01.int.unisa.ac.za:10500/16939 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Hess, Nancy Anne Olson |
| Contributors | Maimela, S. S. (Simon S.) |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 1 online resource (vii, 203 leaves) |
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