scholarly journals The concept of sobornost’ and the problem of church authority in Russian theology late 19th — early 20th centuries

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 537-552
Author(s):  
Vyacheslav A. Yachmenik ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Chronological Order ◽  
Local Council ◽  
Compassionate Love ◽  
Church Authority ◽  
Church Structure ◽  
Theological Thought ◽  
Academic Theology ◽  
The Church

This article is devoted to the problematization of the idea of сhurch authority in Russian theology at the turn of the epochs, which is considered on the basis of the emergence and development of the concept of sobornost’. The reconstruction of the polemical context of A. Khomyakov allows the interpretation of the texts of which the concept of sobornost’ is included in theological thought. It also makes it possible to connect the problem of the authority of hierarchy with the idea of sobornost’ of the Church. In addition to the “Khomyakovsky” context, the author refers to three other authors, considered in chronological order. First, this concerns a collection of articles by Fr. A. Ivantsov-Platonov, in which he interprets the idea of sobornost’ designating it as an ideal characteristic of church structure. Here sobornost’ is associated with conciliar rule, which was not directly suggested by Khomyakov’s concept, and becomes a marker of (un)canonicity. Secondly, the author turns to the spiritual-academic theology at the beginning of the century, in which “sobornost’” is developed at two levels — institutional and mystical. This attempt receives the greatest meaningful development in the texts of Metropolitan Archbishop Antony (Khrapovitsky), who substantiates the authority of the hierarchy through the development of “personalistic” sobornost’ and the idea of the pastoral “compassionate love” for parishioners. Thirdly, the author considers the documents of the 1917–1918 Local Council in the focus of the connection between sobornost’ and church authority. It is concluded that the inclusion of the idea of sobornost’ into the context of academic theology leads to the formulation of the idea of the hierarchy’s authority, which was expressed in the construction of a new image of patriarchal ministry at the Council.

Yesus Sebagai Yang Sulung Lebih Utama Dari Yang Diciptakan

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 62-85
Author(s):  
Yosef Yunandow Siahaan
Keyword(s):  
Literal Meaning ◽  
Early Church ◽  
Main Topic ◽  
Chronological Order ◽  
Jehovah’S Witnesses ◽  
Jehovah's Witnesses ◽  
Figurative Meaning ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Church

Throughout the history of the church, from the early Church to the present, Christology has become the main topic of discussion, and it has often led to debates and even polemics for both the Church and those outside the church. The point of a long debate in the field of Christology is about Jesus as a creator or only as a creation. This study investigates this by using theological research, this study uses the exegesis method. The text that will be executed to provide evidence that Jesus was the Creator or creation is Colossians 1:15-20. Jehovah's Witnesses say that this text shows that Jesus was God's First creation. Whereas true Christians actually view this text as saying that Jesus is the Creator. The research used the exegesis method. The results show that Christ is the agent of creation. In building the understanding of the eldest word (Prototokos), it is not allowed to use the isolated text method. There are at least 2 meanings of this word, the first literal meaning is as the first born according to the order of time, and the second, the figurative meaning The eldest means the main, superior. Of course when looking at the context in Colossians 1:16-17, then Christ is not the first born according to chronological order, and comes from creation. Rather, He is the Creator, so it is not surprising that He is supreme or superior to all creation. Abstrak Indonesia Sepanjang sejarah gereja mulai dari Gereja mula-mula hingga kini Kristologi menjadi topik utama diskusi bahkan tak jarang menimbulkan perdebatan bahkan polemik baik bagi Gereja maupun kalangan di luar gereja. Yang menjadi titik perdebatan panjang dalam bidang Kristologi adalah Mengenai Yesus sebagai pencipta ataukah hanya sebagai ciptaan. Penelitian ini menyelidiki hal tersebut dengan menggunakan penelitian Teologi, penelitian ini menggunakan metode eksegesis. Teks yang akan dieksegesa guna untuk memberikan bukti Yesus adalah Pencipa atau ciptaan adalah Kolose 1:15-20. Saksi-saksi Yehuwa mengatakan bahwa teks ini menunjukkan bahwa Yesus adalah ciptaan Pertama dari Allah. Sedangkan Kristen sejati justru memandang teks ini mengatakan bahwa Yesus adalah Pencipta. Penelitian menggunakan metode eksegesis. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan Kristus adalah pelaku penciptaan. Dalam membangun pemahaman kata yang Sulung (Prototokos), tidak boleh menggunakan metode teks terisolasi. Paling tidak ada 2 makna dari kata ini, yang pertama makna literal adalah sebagai yang lahir pertama menurut urutan waktu, dan yang kedua, makna figuratif Yang sulung berarti yang utama, unggul. Tentu ketika melihat konteks dalam Kolose 1:16-17, maka Kristus bukanlah sang pertama lahir menurut urutan waktu, dan berasal dari ciptaan. Melainkan Ia adalah Pencipta, sehingga tidak mengherankan bahwa Ia adalah yang utama atau paling unggul di atas segala ciptaan.

Old Pastor and Local Bureaucrats: Recasting Church-State Relations in Contemporary China

Modern China ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 564-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jifeng Liu ◽  
Chris White
Keyword(s):  
Church Leaders ◽  
The State ◽  
Local State ◽  
Religious Activities ◽  
Contemporary China ◽  
Church Structure ◽  
Church State Relations ◽  
State Relations ◽  
The Church ◽  
Local Levels

In examining the relationships between a state-recognized Protestant pastor and local bureaucrats, this article argues that church leaders in contemporary China are strategic in enhancing interactions with the local state as a way to produce greater space for religious activities. In contrast to the idea that the Three-Self church structure simply functions as a state-governing apparatus, this study suggests that closer connection to the state can, at times, result in less official oversight. State approval of Three-Self churches offers legitimacy to registered congregations and their leaders, but equally important is that by endorsing such groups, the state is encouraging dialogue, even negotiations between authorities and the church at local levels.

scholarly journals The missional church structure and the priesthood of all believers (Ephesians 4:7�16) in the light of the inward and outward function of the church

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy A. Van Aarde
Keyword(s):  
Kingdom Of God ◽  
Missional Church ◽  
Priesthood Of All Believers ◽  
The West ◽  
Church Structure ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
Institutional Church ◽  
Church Structures ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Church

The missional church is a new consciousness which has been raised for the missionary sending of the church in the West to be a witness for the Kingdom of God in its own context. The missional church has returned mission to the centre of ecclesiology. A structural functioning of the missional church and its relation to existing church structures are essential to rescue the missional church from simply becoming the latest fad. The present missional church conversation in advocating for an organic church structure undermines existing institutional church structures. A dynamic functioning church structure in which the inward and outward dimensions of the church�s single ecclesiological structure are able to function in a cohesive unity is set out in Ephesians. The function of the gifted persons in the task of equipping of the believers to fulfil their missional calling, vocation and function is paramount to the healthy integration of the missional church model in existing mission and church paradigms and for it to function within the framework of existing church structures.Interdisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The article suggests that a dynamic unity exists between the ecclesiology of the church and missional structure and function of the church. The article explores interdisciplinary implications from the fields of the New Testament and missiology.

scholarly journals ECCLESIOLOGICAL CONDITIONALITY OF THE AUTOCEPHALOUS SYSTEM OF THE UNIVERSAL ORTHODOXY

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-17
Author(s):  
Andriy Kobetіak
Keyword(s):  
The State ◽  
Natural State ◽  
Byzantine Empire ◽  
Ancient Rome ◽  
Local Churches ◽  
Church Management ◽  
Political Bargaining ◽  
Church Structure ◽  
Church Law ◽  
The Church

The article deals with one of the fundamental problems of the whole corps of the church law – autocephalous principle of the existence of the church. This problem drives the researchers' attention to the very essence of the existence of orthodoxy in general. The preaching of Christ and the Gospel leave no direct pointers of the internal organization of the church. The apostles make only the subtle hints to the administrative arrangement of the church in general. Their mission preaching and spreading the faith to all nations, however, they did not envisage any other administrative system than autocephaly. Church dogmas and canons, which regulate all aspects of the life of the Church, were formed during the heyday of Christianity in the Byzantine Empire. However, the significant politicization and dependence of the church on imperial power led to the proclamation of a number of canons that contradicted the original nature of the church. This also applies to autocephaly. Under the pressure of the state authorities, the primacy of honor together with ancient Rome is shared by the capital's Constantinople chair. The theory of the "Five Patriarchates" is be- ing formed, which are called to rule the world Orthodoxy. During the Ecumenical Councils, autocephaly was transformed from a basic and natural state of the Church existence into a certain privilege and a subject of political bargaining in the international arena.Despite the long process of forming the canonical and legal corps of Orthodoxy, there is no clear regulation of the procedure for proclaiming a new autocephalous church today. This led to significant misunderstandings and the termination of Eucharistic communion by a number of Local Churches after granting autocephalous status to the Ukrainian Church. Theological disputes over the very procedure of signing the Tomos still take place today. Besides theoretical justification, the internal church structure also has a practical value for the process of bestowing autocephaly on the new national Local Churches. This is relevant due to the struggle of a number of modern countries for the church independence and the Ecumenical recognition. Starting since the Byzantine Empire times, the state power has constantly imposed its own church management principle and methods, which often was going against traditions and canonical norms. Orthodox ecclesiology offers its own approach to church-administrative management. It is proved that merely the autocephalous system is the only acceptable option of the existence of the Universal Orthodoxy.

Priest Peter Ilyinsky (1871-1938): Educator, publicist, confessor

2019 ◽  
pp. 286-292
Author(s):  
Николай Сергеевич Черепенин
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Pastoral Ministry ◽  
Russian Orthodox ◽  
Orthodox Church ◽  
Chronological Order ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Crucial Point ◽  
Russian Orthodox Church ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Church

Изучение жизненных обстоятельств священнослужителей первой половины XX в. является важной составляющей изучения истории Русской Православной Церкви. Оно позволяет детально проследить некоторые процессы и явления, происходившие в Церкви того периода, на конкретных примерах. Данная статья посвящена священнику Петру Ильинскому, около сорока лет прослужившему на сельском приходе. Его служение раскрывается в статье в хронологическом порядке: педагогическая и хозяйственная деятельность пастыря дополняется описанием его публицистических трудов и заканчивается описанием его семьи и исповеднического подвига. Данная работа служит свидетельством незаурядного пастырского служения священника Петра в переломный момент жизни нашего государства и в достаточной мере иллюстрирует историческую эпоху конца XIX - первой половины XX веков на конкретном примере. The study of the life circumstances of clergymen in the first half of the 20th century is an important part of the study of the history of the Russian Orthodox Church. It allows us to trace in detail some of the processes and phenomena that took place in the Church in that period, using concrete examples. This article is about the priest Peter Ilyinsky, who served forty years in a rural parish. His ministry is presented in chronological order: his teaching and economic activities are followed by a description of his publicist writings and ending with a description of his family and confessional deeds. This work is a testimony to the extraordinary pastoral ministry of the Priest Peter at a crucial point in the life of our nation, and illustrates the historical era of the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century with concrete examples.

Does Theology Belong in the University? Schleiermacherian Reflections from an Australian Context

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 484-495
Author(s):  
Ben Myers
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
Public Theology ◽  
Christian Leadership ◽  
Christian Community ◽  
Practical Science ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Common ◽  
The University ◽  
Academic Theology ◽  
The Church

Abstract This article argues that theology belongs in the university not because of its relationship to the other disciplines but because of its relationship to the church. It discusses Schleiermacher’s understanding of theology as a practical science oriented towards Christian leadership in society. It argues that Schleiermacher’s account provides an illuminating perspective on the history of academic theology in Australia. Theology belongs in the university not for any internal methodological reasons but because of specific contextual conditions in societies like Australia where Christianity has exerted a large historical influence. The article concludes by arguing that the ecclesial orientation of university theology is compatible with the aims of public theology, given that service to the Christian community is a means by which the common flourishing of society can be promoted.

scholarly journals Selfgetuienis en interpretasie

1988 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Potgieter
Keyword(s):  
Human Factor ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Direct Bearing ◽  
Theological Thought ◽  
The Church

Self-evidence and interpretation Hermeneutics has become a major issue in current theological thought. It is quite apparent that the interpretation of Holy Scripture is one of the most often discussed subjects amongst theologians. As to the authority of the Bible, its self-evidence is a particularly noticeable factor. This in turn has a direct bearing on the explicatio and applicatio o f Scripture in preaching, and consequently on the very life of the church. It is argued that, even though the human factor should not be minimized, God Himself is subject of his Word in those various statures in which it addresses mankind.

scholarly journals St Luke’s Anglican Church in Ikwerreland, Nigeria (1904–2014)

2017 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jones U. Odili ◽  
Elizabeth Lawson-Jack
Keyword(s):  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Anglican Church ◽  
Church Authority ◽  
History Of ◽  
Gray Areas ◽  
The Church

Over the decades, there has been a paradigm shift in interests, approaches and methods in African Christian Historiography. There is a need for a circumscribed study and documentation of people’s engagement and involvements in the Church in Africa. This study illuminates the roles lay agents play in the advent, growth and development of St Luke’s Anglican Church, Rumuadaolu. Using the historical and sociological methods of inquiry into a religious phenomenon, this study reveals that about two-thirds of the indigenes of Rumuadaolu are Anglicans. This is because of the amiable activities of lay agents in that community. This study in addition to providing an in-depth documentation of the history of St Luke’s Anglican Church points out gray areas that the church authority and members of the St Luke’s Anglican Church, Rumuadaolu community are to note and effect necessary changes if the St Luke’s Anglican Church has to fulfil her divine mission in Rumuadaolu. Members of the church, St Luke’s Anglican Church, Rumuadaolu community and scholars who wish to have a complete view of the turn of events in African Christian historiography would find this study very important.

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