Bible and Biblical Theology in the Early Reformation

1962 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-65
Author(s):  
J. N. Bakhuizen Van Den Brink
Keyword(s):  
Biblical Theology ◽  
Historical Event ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The People ◽  
God's Word ◽  
The Reformation ◽  
The Church

The Reformation gave back the Bible to the people, that is to say the Bible in the vulgar tongue. We may enter now into some of the theological problems implied in this important historical event, by revealing the well-known circumstances of the first religious disputation held at Zürich on 29th January 1523. Zwingli's first thesis was that those who do not recognise the Gospel but by the authority of the Church, err and insult God. The same conviction is repeated in quite the same words and with still greater completeness in the Scots Confession, art. 19. Some months before the disputation, Zwingli had sent his treatise Von Klarheit und Gewissheit des Wortes Gottes, to the Black Friars of Oetenbach. For three years already he had himself been preaching daily in Our Lady's Münster in the capital. In his correspondence with the vicar of Constanz, who seriously disapproved of Zwingli's activity, he published his Apologeticus Archeteles, 1522, in which he said: ‘to this treasure, I mean the certitude of God's Word, our heart should be directed’, and in his second answer to the objections of the vicar he ventured to give the assurance that ‘the people will always surrender themselves with the simplicity of a dove to the sole Gospel, and in proportion as it is the less stained by the dust of human traditions, the people will be the more susceptible to the celestial doctrine in which they take their refuge with all confidence as to a holy anchor’.

Bible and Biblical Theology in the Early Reformation

1961 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 337-352
Author(s):  
J. A. B. van den Brink
Keyword(s):  
Holy Spirit ◽  
Biblical Theology ◽  
General Situation ◽  
Lord's Prayer ◽  
Knowledge Of God ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Ten Commandments ◽  
The Reformation ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Church

Everywhere in Europe the translations of the Bible into the evernacular languages have been the strongest help towards Reformation. It would be a very attractive task to study in detail, to compare and to summarise the history of the Bible in the Reformation movement, from West to East and from South to North in Europe.2 John Knox tells us that, when the Act of Parliament of 1543 allowed the Scriptures to be read freely, this was ‘no small comfort to such as before were held in such bondage that they durst not have read the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, nor articles of their faith, in the English tongue, but they should have been accused of heresy. Then might have been seen the Bible lying almost upon every gentleman's table. The NT was borne about in many men's hand.3 By these words is given no doubt a true and striking picture of the general situation in Scotland in those days and this may be true also for the beginnings of the Reformation in other countries some decades earlier. The Scots reformer adds that, although for reasons of profit many acted in an inexcusable way with the new book, ‘yet thereby did the knowledge of God wondrously increase and God gave his Holy Spirit to simple men in great abundance’.Now this is my first thesis: that the Bible in the early Reformation was passionately desired, not for the book as such, nor to have it as a weapon against the Church and its superfluous appendages, but as a help to find a better way to God.

scholarly journals Sacred Covenant and Huguenot Ideology of Resistance: The Biblical Image of the Contractual Monarchy in Vindiciae, Contra Tyrannos

Religions ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 589
Author(s):  
Andrei Constantin Sălăvăstru
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
Biblical Text ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The People ◽  
The Reformation ◽  
Political Works ◽  
The Church ◽  
Constitutional Monarchy

The Bible had been a fundamental source of legitimacy for the French monarchy, with biblical imagery wielded as a powerful propaganda weapon in the ideological warfare which the kings of France often had to wage. All Christian monarchies tried to build around themselves a sacral aura, but the French kings had soon set themselves apart: they were the “most Christian”, anointed with holy oil brought from heaven, endowed with the power of healing, and the eldest sons of the Church. Biblical text was called upon to support this image of the monarchy, as the kings of France were depicted as following in the footsteps of the virtuous kings of the Old Testament and possessing the necessary biblical virtues. However, the Bible could prove a double-edged sword which could be turned against the monarchy, as the ideological battles unleashed by the Reformation were to prove. In search for a justification for their resistance against the French Crown, in particular after 1572, the Huguenots polemicists looked to the Bible in order to find examples of limited monarchies and overthrown tyrants. In putting forward the template of a proto-constitutional monarchy, one of the notions advanced by the Huguenots was the Biblical covenant between God, kings and the people, which imposed limits and obligations on the kings. This paper aims to examine the occurrence of this image in Vindiciae, contra tyrannos (1579), one of the most important Huguenot political works advocating resistance against tyrannical kings, and the role it played in the construction of the Huguenot theory of resistance.

The Church of the Reformation Faces Today's Challenges

1950 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 446-464
Author(s):  
Joseph L. Hromádka
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
New Order ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The People ◽  
The Reformation ◽  
Protestant Theologian ◽  
The Right ◽  
Princeton Theological Seminary ◽  
Communist Countries ◽  
The Church

Prefatory Note—Dr. Joseph L. Hromádka, Dean of the Jan Hus Theological Faculty in Prague, is considered the foremost Protestant theologian and Church leader in Czechoslovakia. He fled the Nazi terror and came to the United States to spend eight years in exile as a professor of theology in Princeton Theological Seminary. Shortly after the War closed, during the summer of 1947, he and his family returned to his native land to help in the reconstruction. Political conditions changed rapidly and the Communist Party came into power early in 1948. Since that time Dr. Hromádka and his colleagues have had to face a new situation. They have tried to maintain a Christian position in their national revolution, believing that while the new order represents an inevitable development in history, the Christian must not withdraw from it, but take a positive yet critical attitude towards it and give his Christian witness in it. That this is being done is evidenced by this powerful address, which is here presented in unabridged form. Some think that Hromádka has gone too far in working with the new order, although they admire his courageous stand and his precarious position. Others, who know the European situation, feel that he is on the right course, and that his future will no doubt determine the future of evangelical Christianity in all Communist countries. Communists in Czechoslovakia respect men like Hromádka, because they know that such Christians are sincere, fearless, and incorruptible. They also know that Christians like Hromádka have great social concern for the people. This address, delivered a few months ago to several thousand people in one of the large halls of Prague, is based upon Psalm 75 and will indicate to those who read the Psalm how relevant the Bible is! It reveals the core of the Protestant faith of the Reformation which is coming to renewed life in many areas of the Church. The address also communicates the tension which in a sense always exists between the Church and the world, the tension which in our time has become acute.—E. G. Homrighausen.

Canons to the Left of Him: Brevard Childs, his Critics, and the Future of Old Testament Theology

1997 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iain Provan
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
18Th Century ◽  
Biblical Theology ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Probable Origin ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Church

It is well known that the seeds from which the modern discipline of OT theology grew are already found in 17th and 18th century discussion of the relationship between Bible and Church, which tended to drive a wedge between the two, regarding canon in historical rather than theological terms; stressing the difference between what is transient and particular in the Bible and what is universal and of abiding significance; and placing the task of deciding which is which upon the shoulders of the individual reader rather than upon the church. Free investigation of the Bible, unfettered by church tradition and theology, was to be the way ahead. OT theology finds its roots more particularly in the 18th century discussion of the nature of and the relationship between Biblical Theology and Dogmatic Theology, and in particular in Gabler's classic theoreticalstatementof their nature and relationship. The first book which may strictly be called an OT theology appeared in 1796: an historical discussion of the ideas to be found in the OT, with an emphasis on their probable origin and the stages through which Hebrew religious thought had passed, compared and contrasted with the beliefs of other ancient peoples, and evaluated from the point of view of rationalistic religion. Here we find the unreserved acceptance of Gabler's principle that OT theology must in the first instance be a descriptive and historical discipline, freed from dogmatic constraints and resistant to the premature merging of OT and NT — a principle which in the succeeding century was accepted by writers across the whole theological spectrum, including those of orthodox and conservative inclination.

scholarly journals Kajian Praktis Tentang Pola Asuh Orang Tua dalam Meningkatkan Minat Belajar Alkitab Anak Berdasarkan Amsal 22:6

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-84
Author(s):  
Dadan Wahyu ◽  
Rudolf Sagala ◽  
Stimson Hutagalung ◽  
Rolyana Fernia
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Qualitative Method ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Scientific Article ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
The Bible ◽  
God's Word ◽  
Official Sources ◽  
Grounded Theory Approach ◽  
The Church

The objectives of this study are, first, to provide an explanation of the importance of parenting. Second, Provide guidance to parents in building spiritual children based on the book of Proverbs 22:6. The method that the researcher uses is a qualitative method with a grounded theory approach. Data collection techniques used: the Bible, books, official sources from the internet, and other articles related to the writing of this scientific article. The results of this study are, first, good parenting will encourage children to have an interest in reading the Bible regularly until their old age. Second, so that parents can understand properly and correctly the meaning of the advice written in the book of Proverbs 22:6 in raising their children. That is why parents and the Church from the beginning have played a role in the protection and maintenance of their lives, so that they know the way of truth through God's word every day, so that they become strong individuals in the future, strong in their faith, and fearing God to make life a blessing or meaning to others.

scholarly journals Alkitab dalam Formasi Rohani pada Era Reformasi Gereja dan Implikasi bagi Gereja Pada Masa Kini

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 81
Author(s):  
K Katarina ◽  
I Putu Ayub Darmawan
Keyword(s):  
Spiritual Formation ◽  
Moral Life ◽  
Spiritual Life ◽  
Word Of God ◽  
Church Member ◽  
The Bible ◽  
God's Word ◽  
Present Context ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Church

This article discusses spiritual formation and God's Word in reformation. The formulation of the problem is the relationship between spiritual formation and God's Word in reformation. The author uses literature studies to collect information about spiritual formation and God's Word in reformation. Spirit for sola scriptura has produced a change in the life of the church at that moment. All teachings, church traditions, and practical actions which is conducted by church member must be tested under the Word of God. In the present context, church who facing various challenges related to moral life, teaching, and practical actions must return to the principles of word of God. To build a spiritual life, we must start from the Bible that is interpreted correctly, which then becomes a theological development, which then influences the concept of believer's thinking and practical actions. Artikel ini membahas tentang formasi rohani dan Firman Tuhan dalam reformasi. Rumusan masalah penelitian ini adalah bagaimana kaitan antara formasi rohani dan firman Tuhan dalam reformasi? Penulis menggunakan studi pustaka untuk menggali informasi tentang formasi rohani dan Firman Tuhan dalam reformasi. Semangat untuk sola scriptura menghasilkan perubahan dalam kehidupan gereja pada masa itu. Segala pengajaran, tradisi gereja, dan tindakan praktis yang dilakukan oleh setiap anggota gereja harus diuji di bawah Firman Tuhan. Dalam konteks masa kini, menghadapi berbagai tantangan gereja baik yang terkait dengan kehidupan moral maupun pengajaran dan tindakan praktis, gereja harus kembali pada prinsip Firman Tuhan. Untuk membangun kehidupan rohani maka harus dimulai dari Alkitab yang ditafsirkan secara benar yang kemudian menjadi sebuah bangunan teologi yang kemudian mempengaruhi konsep berpikir orang percaya dan tindakan praktis.

Erasmus, Desiderius (c.1466–1536)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erika Rummel
Keyword(s):  
Political Thought ◽  
Divine Revelation ◽  
Christian Humanism ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The Reformation ◽  
Christian Thought ◽  
Articles Of Faith ◽  
Absolute Knowledge ◽  
The Church ◽  
Textual Critic

Although Erasmus was not a systematic philosopher, he gave a philosophical cast to many of his writings. He believed in the human capacity for self-improvement through education and in the relative preponderance of nurture over nature. Ideally, education promoted docta pietas, a combination of piety and learning. Erasmus’ political thought is dominated by his vision of universal peace and the notions of consensus and consent, which he sees as the basis of the state. At the same time he upholds the ideal of the patriarchal prince, a godlike figure to his people, but accountable to God in turn. Erasmus’ epistemology is characterized by scepticism. He advocates collating arguments on both sides of a question but suspending judgment. His scepticism does not extend to articles of faith, however. He believes in absolute knowledge through revelation and reserves calculations of probability for cases that are not settled by the authority of Scripture or the doctrinal pronouncements of the Church, the conduit of divine revelation. Erasmus’ pioneering efforts as a textual critic of the Bible and his call for a reformation of the Church in its head and members brought him into conflict with conservative Catholic theologians. His support for the Reformation movement was equivocal, however. He refused to endorse the radical methods of the reformers and engaged in a polemic with Luther over the question of free will. On the whole, Erasmus was more interested in the moral and spiritual than in the doctrinal aspects of the Reformation. He promoted inner piety over the observance of rites, and disparaged scholastic speculations in favour of the philosophia Christi taught in the gospel. The term ‘Christian humanism’ best describes Erasmus’ philosophy, which successfully combined Christian thought with the classical tradition revived by Renaissance humanists.

scholarly journals Towards a New Homiletic

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-60
Author(s):  
Liz Shercliff
Keyword(s):  
Biblical Text ◽  
Feminist Methodology ◽  
People Of God ◽  
Women's Voices ◽  
New Homiletic ◽  
Women Preachers ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The People ◽  
The Church ◽  
Shared Narrative

Feminism’s contribution to homiletics so far has arguably been restricted to exploring gender difference in preaching. In 2014, however, Jennifer Copeland identified a need not merely to ‘include women “in the company of preachers” but to craft a new register for the preaching event’. This article considers what that new register might be and how it might be taught in the academy. It defines preaching as ‘the art of engaging the people of God in their shared narrative by creatively and hospitably inviting them into an exploration of biblical text, by means of which, corporately and individually, they might encounter the divine’ and proposes that in both the Church and the Academy, women’s voices are suppressed by a rationalist hegemony. For the stories of women to be heard, a new homiletic is needed, in which would-be preachers first encounter themselves, then the Bible as themselves and finally their congregation in communality. Findings of researchers in practical preaching discover that women preachers are being influenced by feminist methodology, while the teaching of preaching is not. In order to achieve a hospitable preaching space, it is proposed that the Church and the Academy work together towards a new homiletic.

scholarly journals Unsettling Theology: Sunday school children reading the text of the Bible in the age of recolonisation

2016 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nico Botha
Keyword(s):  
School Children ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Sunday School ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Blood Disease ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The People ◽  
The Reformation ◽  
Women Abuse

During Women’s month in South Africa (August), a group of Sunday school children from the rural congregation of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA), Middelburg- Nasaret, got together to read the narratives of the resurrection of the daughter of Jairus and the healing of the woman suffering from a blood disease. The exercise which appears to be quite innocent is in a sense subversive in its hidden script. In the Reformed tradition, the pulpit as a centre of reading and preaching the Word has become the ‘holy of holiest’ which nobody, leave alone children, except the ordained minister could occupy. This is of course contrary to the intention of the Reformation to return the Bible to the people and have the people return to the Bible. The reading exercise of this article goes beyond all exegetical and theological presuppositions, unsettling conventional interpretations of Scripture. The children allow their real life experiences in the township of having witnessed, among others, child and women abuse to inform their reading of Mark 5:21–43. In the process they avoid a linear reading of the Bible which is based on the explication-application scheme of matters. Put differently, instead of doing a deductive reading of the portion, i.e. trying to explain or exegete the text clinically and then applying it to their context, they read it inductively, resulting in a hope sharing and hope giving understanding of the rising from the dead of the 12-year-old girl and the healing of the woman with a blood disease. A major spin-off of such reading of the Bible by children is the unlocking of refreshingly new avenues of reading the Bible and interpreting the text.

Was the Diatessaron Anti-Judaic?

1925 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Rendel Harris
Keyword(s):  
New Testament ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The People ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
The Media ◽  
The Church

Vogels, in his new “Handbook to New Testament Criticism,” has started some interesting and important enquiries, by a consideration of the changes that can be marked in the copies and versions of the New Testament by an investigator who understands not only how to register various readings but also how to detect the causes of such differences. The evangelical stream is demonstrably discolored by the media through which it passes. The Bible of any given church becomes affected by the church in which it circulates. The people who handle the text leave their finger-prints on the pages, and the trained detective can identify the criminal who made the marks.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document