Did Jesus Rise Bodily From the Dead? Yes and no!

2008 ◽  
Vol 15 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 133-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pieter Craffert
Keyword(s):  
New Testament ◽  
World View ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Belief System ◽  
Affirmative Answer ◽  
Divine Intervention ◽  
Bodily Resurrection ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
The Dead ◽  
Social Scientific

AbstractDid Jesus rise bodily from the dead? Even those who give an affirmative answer to this question do not all agree on the reasons why. According to the Gospels, Jesus's close circle of followers believed in his resurrection because he has appeared to them. For almost twenty centuries, Christian believers affirmed a bodily resurrection based on their belief in one of the central elements of the Christian belief system. In response to the rationalist denial of such beliefs by critical New Testament scholarship, orthodox New Testament scholars design affirmations based on historical proof. They defend a literal bodily resurrection based on historical plausibility and the possibility of divine intervention in a world-view which tolerates paranormal events in history against the scientific rejection of a bodily resurrection by critical scholars. The aim of this article is to offer both a meta-analysis of these viewpoints about Jesus's resurrection and an alternative understanding of the resurrection accounts in the New Testament itself. The social-scientific perspective employed provides both tools for the analysis of the above positions and the framework for offering an alternative answer to the question of Jesus's literal bodily resurrection.

scholarly journals Armoedekultuur: Die leefwereld van die Nuwe Testament en die situasie in Suid-Afrika vandag

1996 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andries Van Aarde
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Testament ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Culture Of Poverty ◽  
Economic Statistics ◽  
The Social ◽  
The World ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
Social Scientific

Culture of poverty: The world of the New Testament then and the situation in South Africa today. In this article poverty in the world of the New Testament is explained in the  light of the social dynamics of the first century Eastern Mediterranean. The focus is on the sub-culture of the disreputable poor. Features of a culture of poverty are reflected upon from a social-scientific perspective in order to try to understand why poverty is intensifying in South Africa today. The article aims at identifying guidelines for Christians in using the New Testament in a profound way to challenge the threat of poverty. The following aspects are discussed: the underdevelopment of third-world societies over against the technical evolution in first-world societies during the past two hundred years, economic statistics with regard to productivity and unemployment in South Africa, the social identity of the disreputable poor, poverty within the pre-print culture of the biblical period, and the church as the household of God where Christians should have compassion for others.

Jewish Law in the Gospels in Light of the Dead Sea Scrolls

2021 ◽  
pp. 014610792110343
Author(s):  
Lawrence H. Schiffman
Keyword(s):  
New Testament ◽  
Dead Sea Scrolls ◽  
Dead Sea ◽  
The Self ◽  
First Century ◽  
Jewish Law ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
The Dead ◽  
The Right

This study examines a number of specific examples of halakhic (Jewish legal) matters discussed in the New Testament that are also dealt with in the Dead Sea Scrolls. This paper compares and contrasts the rulings of these two traditions, as well as the Pharisaic views, showing that the Jewish legal views of the Gospels are for the most part lenient views to the left of those of the Pharisees, whereas those of the Dead Sea Scrolls represent a stricter view, to the right of the Pharisaic views. Ultimately, in the halakhic debate of the first century ce, the self-understanding of the earliest Christians was very different from that of the sect of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

scholarly journals Image (of God) as ethical injunction: A social-scientific perspective

1995 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Van Staden
Keyword(s):  
New Testament ◽  
Old Testament ◽  
Jesus Christ ◽  
Image Of God ◽  
Religious Symbol ◽  
Metaphorical Language ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
Social Scientific ◽  
The Image Of God

Taking cognizance of the fact that language - especially metaphorical language - can be expressive of deeplying cultural or religious symbol sets in man, the study explores the  possible original content of the syntagma εἰΚὼν ΤΟῦ θεΟῦ in both the Old and the New Testament. It is argued that there is a definite shift in the symbol set of which the concept (metaphor) 'image of God' is expressive. Whilst the Old Testament usage of the term probably attests to the conviction that humankind is part of the genus God and may even resemble him physically, the New Testament substitutes Jesus Christ for man as the primary carrier of the 'image of God'. Humankind in general does not reflect that image any more. It is only to be found in those who through faith in Jesus Christ regain the image of God. Our thesis is that the concept of 'image' is to be regarded as much an ethical injunction as it is an ontological state-ment. The faith of adherents to the community of believers finds expres-sion in distinctive behavior - that is, in conduct that clearly identifies them as reflecting the image of God.

The Role of Exorcism in Clinical Practice and Pastoral Care

1989 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sydney H.T. Page
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Pastoral Care ◽  
New Testament ◽  
World View ◽  
Beliefs And Practices ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
The Church ◽  
Valid Form

This article contends that there is a legitimate place for exorcism in the church today, but urges caution in its use. It begins with a survey of biblical, theological, historical, and practical considerations which favor the recognition of exorcism as a valid form of ministry. It then examines claims that the teaching and practice of Jesus are not normative because (a) his knowledge was limited by the incarnation, (b) he consciously accommodated himself to a prescientific world view, (c) exorcism is not mentioned in the New Testament epistles, and (d) genuine possession was limited to the ministry of Jesus. The next section discusses the following difficulties inherent in the ministry of exorcism: (a) the diagnosis of cases where exorcism is appropriate, (b) the risk of aggravating the condition of a disturbed person, and (c) the tendency to develop beliefs and practices which lack biblical support. Some guidelines for the practice of exorcism conclude the article.

The Jewish Background to The Resurrection of the Son of God by N.T.Wright

2005 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-169
Author(s):  
David Bryan
Keyword(s):  
New Testament ◽  
Historical Event ◽  
Son Of God ◽  
Traditional Belief ◽  
Jewish Thought ◽  
Bodily Resurrection ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Magnum Opus ◽  
Made In

AbstractThis response to N.T. Wright's recent magnum opus on the resurrection of Jesus concentrates on his handling of the Jewish background to the beliefs about what had happened to Jesus. It was made in dialogue with the author at the British New Testament Conference in Edinburgh (Sept. 2004). In his study Wright vigorously argues that Christian beliefs stand out as both continuous with the mainstream of Jewish thought on the subject, but also introducing a new and unexpected element, namely that no one expected an individual to rise ahead of the rest of humankind. This conclusion forms the bedrock for Wright's investigation of the New Testament traditions about Jesus and his robust defence of the traditional belief in the bodily resurrection of Jesus as an historical event. The pivotal nature of his conclusion about the background beliefs therefore called for a thorough analysis of his handling of this material. This article goes some way to offering that kind of critique.

scholarly journals Bultmann se ontmitologiseringsprogram herwaardeer

2000 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gert Malan
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Testament ◽  
World View ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
Definition Of

Bultmann's demythologising program reevaluated. The kerygma of the New Testament is depicted in the mythological language of a bygone mythological world-view. Bultmann suggested that demythologisation is necessary in order to explore the true Existenzverstandniss contained in the mythological concepts. Reaction to his program of demythologising was mostly negative, especially in South Africa. This article focuses on the necessity for demythologisation as well as Bultmann's definition of myth, in order to re-evaluate his program of demythologisation. Bultmann's demythologising program is considered as a responsible method for interpreting the texts of the New Testament.

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