Thesis (MTh (Old and New Testament))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis interacts with the generally held view that Ephesians is a general
epistle with no concrete historical context and contingency, by arguing that this
letter addresses particular religious concerns and beliefs of the believers of
Ephesus and surrounds. A focussed literary survey of the religious-historical
material of the western Mediterranean region in the first century AD is conducted,
with particular attention paid to the cult of the Ephesian Artemis and the
prevalence of magic. Special focus is placed upon Ephesians 1:15-23, which is
exegeted using both grammatical-historical and socio-rhetorical methods of
interpretation to gain insights into how the author employed and reformulated
contemporary terms and concepts to demonstrate the lordship of Jesus Christ.
Serious consideration of the religious and magical context of the first century
Greco-Roman world when interpreting this letter to the Ephesians may open
many possible avenues for future study, particularly in the area of understanding the letter in an African context. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie tree in dialoog met die algemene opvatting dat die Efesiërs-brief ’n
algemene brief of omsendskrywe was, wat geen besondere historiese konteks of
dringende saak aangespreek het nie. Die studie oordeel dat die brief spesifieke
religieuse sake en oortuigings van die gelowiges in Efese en omgewing
aangespreek het. Deur ’n literêre oorsig is daar gefokus op die religieushistoriese
materiaal van die westelike Mediterreense area in die eerste eeu nC,
met besondere nadruk op die Artemis-kultus en wydverspreide magie. Spesiale
klem is geplaas op Efesiërs 1:15-23, wat met behulp van beide grammatikaalhistoriese
en sosio-retoriese metodes geëksegetiseer is ten einde te bepaal hoe
die outeur kontemporêre terme en konsepte wat die heerskap van Jesus Christus
demonstreer, gebruik en herformuleer het. Noukeurige oorweging van die
religieuse en magiese konteks van die eerste-eeuse Grieks-Romeinse wêreld ten
tyde van die interpretasie van Efesiërs mag deure open vir moontlike verdere
areas van studie, veral met die oog op die verstaan van die brief in ’n Afrika konteks.
Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/4352 |
Date | 03 1900 |
Creators | Visagie, André Jacobus |
Contributors | Punt, Jeremy, University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Old and New Testament. |
Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
Language | English |
Detected Language | English |
Type | Thesis |
Format | 134 leaves |
Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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