scholarly journals On Reading the Bible as Scripture, Encountering the Church

Perichoresis ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 67-86
Author(s):  
Steven Nemes

AbstractAs an exercise in the ‘theology of disclosure’, the present essay proposes a kind of phenomenological analysis of the act of reading the Bible as Scripture with the goal of bringing to light the theoretical commitments which it implicitly demands. This sort of analysis can prove helpful for the continuing disputes among Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox insofar as it is relevant for one of the principal points of controversy between them: namely, the relationship between Scripture, Tradition, and Church as theological authorities. It proceeds by analyzing both the objective and subjective ‘poles’ of the act, and it illuminates the presence of the Church and her Tradition on both sides. The Church—i.e., the community of God’s people—is both that which is immediately encountered in the text, as well as the factor which enables scriptural reading in the first place. The article terminates with an application of the insights of the preceding discussion to the controversy about icons.

1997 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iain Provan

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.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 81
Author(s):  
K Katarina ◽  
I Putu Ayub Darmawan

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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Piet J. Strauss

Church and state authorithy: The Confessio Belgica and three church orders. In reformed churches the Bible is regarded as the norm of the norms. The confessions of faith of these churches are the second norm and subjected to the Bible. The church order is less powerful than the Bible and the confessions but of a higher status than the normal decisions of church assemblies. Therefore, the influence of the Belgic Confession on three church orders is an important issue in these churches.The author recommends four principles to understand the relation between the church and the state authority in article 36 of the Belgic Confession: both should honour God in their activities; both are guided by the Ten Commandments; both have their own internal law to fulfil the purpose as an institution; and both should respect and co-operate with one another. Although they are not in agreement on every aspect, these principles give the guidance to understand the main issue in all four documents which are investigated. The theme of this article is of a theological and church historical nature and a contribution on a well-discussed topic in reformed churches.Contribution: It should be important for the reformed churches in the Dutch tradition that a dynamic relationship exists between their confessions of faith and their church orders. While the Bible is the first and most important norm for church life, the confessions are the second most important. Church history shows that the relationship between the church and state is of utmost importance for the church, the quality of the confessions and the order of the church.


2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirk G. Van der Merwe

Throughout its history, Christianity has stood in a dichotomous relation to the various philosophical movements or eras (pre-modernism, modernism, postmodernism and post-postmodernism) that took on different faces throughout history. In each period, it was the sciences that influenced, to a great extent, the interpretation and understanding of the Bible. Christianity, however, was not immune to influences, specifically those of the Western world. This essay reflects briefly on this dichotomy and the influence of Bultmann’s demythologising of the kerygma during the 20th century. Also, the remythologising (Vanhoozer) of the church’s message as proposed for the 21st century no more satisfies the critical Christian thinkers. The relationship between science and religion is revisited, albeit from a different perspective as established over the past two decades as to how the sciences have been pointed out more and more to complement theology. This article endeavours to evoke the church to consider the fundamental contributions of the sciences and how it is going to incorporate the sciences into its theological training and message to the world.


2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (261) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Pedro Carlos Cipolini

O artigo reflete sobre a íntima relação que vigora entre a Igreja e a Eucaristia: a Eucaristia une o povo fiel, faz o povo de Deus participar na vitória de Cristo, bem como o introduz na dimensão do Reino de Deus. Explora também o rico simbolismo do pão e do vinho, de origem bíblica, e aprofunda o sentido destas duas dimensões do mistério pascal celebrado na Eucaristia: refeição/convívio e sacrifício/entrega. Recorda a necessidade de um justo equilíbrio entre as dimensões de festa e sacrifício do mistério eucarístico. Mostra, por fim, que a participação na Eucaristia torna os fiéis missionários da Boa-Nova do Reino de fraternidade e paz, anunciadores de um mundo novo e liberto, criado pela “fração do pão”, e da vitória do “Ressuscitado”, penhor de nossa ressurreição, a festa que não tem fim.Abstract: The article deals with the close relation that prevails between the Church and the Eucharist: the Eucharist brings together the faithful, encourages God’s people to participate in Christ’s victory and introduces them into the dimension of God’s Kingdom. It also explores the rich symbolism of the bread and wine, originated in the Bible, and strengthens the meaning of these two dimensions of the paschal mystery celebrated in the Eucharist: meals/convivial spirit and sacrifice/surrender. It reminds us of the need for a fair balance between the dimensions of festivity and sacrifice in the Eucharistic mystery. Finally its shows that participation in the Eucharist turns the faithful into missionaries of the Good Tidings of the Kingdom i. e. the fraternity and peace that herald a new, free world, created by the “fraction of the bread” and the victory of “the one who resurrected”, the pledge of our resurrection, the endless feast.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 437-466
Author(s):  
Tatiana V. Volskaia ◽  

For many centuries, Western European art drew its subjects from ancient history, mythology and the Bible. The artists paid great attention to the depiction of saints, for each of whom, over time, a pictorial canon with its own attributes and certain subjects was formed. As a result, the viewer not only easily recognized a particular saint, but he could also get acquainted with the facts of his biography and the role he played in the history of the church. Saint Jerome of Stridon was one of the most popular among artists, of all the Fathers of the Church he was portrayed more often than others. The article discusses the formation of this canon on the example of Jerome’s life and work. It is based on a literature review of this topic and it contains the main studies of the biography and literary activity of Jerome, from which the artists drew subjects for their works. The article describes chronologically the vitae of St. Jerome, his hagiography from Jacobus de Voragine’s “The Golden Legend”, biography and posthumous legends, miracles and appearances of the saint from “Hieronymianus” by Giovanni d’Andrea. Erasmus of Rotterdam wrote a historical biography of Saint Jerome. Since the 19th century a large number of scientific studies of Jerome’s life and work has appeared. The article analyzes specific works of Jerome, which were also sources for pictorial images. Special attention is paid to a review of art history literature, as well as medieval bestiaries, since the paintings with St. Jerome are filled with numerous symbolic animals. A review of literature and sources on the stated topic will help stimulate researchers to further study the relationship between the lives of saints and their iconography in art, identify gaps in research on this topic and specify aspects that researchers have not yet paid attention to.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
Bertha Zendriani Toganti
Keyword(s):  
The City ◽  

One spoken of in the Bible leadership is leadership that is addressed to the leaders in the church or God's people. If the Bible tells about how the leaders role and lead his people in various ways, styles and methods, then the letter of Titus, was told that there was a requirement given by Paul to Titus as a leader of the church in the city of Crete. In Titus 1: 5-9, there are at least eight conditions given for applied by Titus in his ministry, they are: hospitable, will the good love, wisdom, justice, godly, self-controlled, telling the truth and keeping with sound doctrine. Abstrak Salah satu kepemimpinan yang dibicarakan dalam Alkitab adalah kepemimpinan yang ditujukan kepada para pemimpin dalam jemaat atau umat Allah. Jika dalam Alkitab menceritakan tentang bagaimana para pemimpin berperan dan memimpin umatnya dengan berbagai macam cara, gaya dan metode, maka dalam surat Titus, diberitahukan bahwa ada persyaratan yang diberikan oleh Paulus kepada Titus sebagai seorang pemimpin jemaat di kota Kreta. Dalam Titus 1:5-9, minimal ada delapan syarat yang diberikan untuk diterapkan oleh Titus di dalam pelayanannya, yakni: suka memberi tumpangan, suka akan yang baik, bijaksana, adil, saleh, menguasai diri, berkata benar dan sesuai dengan ajaran yang sehat


Kairos ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-90
Author(s):  
Ervin Budiselić

Presuming that within Evangelical Christianity there is a crisis of biblical interpretation, this article seeks to address the issue, especially since Evangelicals view the existence of the church as closely connected to the proclamation of the Truth. Starting with a position that Evangelical hermeneutics is not born in a vacuum, but is the result of a historical process, the first part of the article introduces the problem of sola and solo scriptura, pointing out some problematic issues that need to be addressed. In the second part, the article discusses patristic hermeneutics, especially: a) the relationship between Scripture and tradition embodied in regula fidei and; b) theological presuppositions which gave birth to allegorical and literal interpretations of Scripture in Alexandria and Antioch. In the last part of the article, based on lessons from the patristic era, certain revisions of the Evangelical practice of the interpretation of Scripture are suggested. Particularly, Evangelicals may continue to hold the Bible as the single infallible source for Christian doctrine, continue to develop the historical-grammatical method particularly in respect to the issue of the analogy of faith in exegetical process, but also must recognize that the Bible cannot in toto play the role of the rule of faith or the analogy of faith. Something else must also come into play, and that “something” would definitely be the recovery of the patristic period “as a kind of doctrinal canon.”


2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andries L. Du Plooy

Die artikel fokus op Calvyn se besondere rol in die formulering van artikels 2 en 18 van die kerkorde van Dordrecht 1618 en 1619. Hierdie kerkorde word steeds deur ’n groot aantal gereformeerde kerke in die wêreld aanvaar en gebruik.Onderwerpe en probleme wat aangeraak word, sluit vrae in soos die volgende: Wie is verantwoordelik vir die onderrig van Teologie? Is die tradisie geldig dat daar naas die drie dienste van Woordbedienaar, ouderling en diaken ook ’n vierde diens bestaan, naamlik dié van doktor in die Teologie? Kan hierdie tradisie, wat hoofsaaklik op die standpunte van Bucer en Calvyn berus, met die gegewens in die Bybel versoen word?Besondere aandag word aan die volgende aspekte gegee:• Historiese gegewens oor doktor in die Teologie met besondere verwysing na die standpunte en invloed van Calvyn.• ’n Kritiese evaluering van die begronding van die vierde diens op die Bybel.• Die verhouding tussen teologiese opleiding in die konteks van die kerk en/of ’n universiteit.• Besondere aandag word gegee aan die situasie in die Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika ten opsigte van die funksionering van hierdie vierde diens.Van die belangrikste konklusies wat gemaak word, is die volgende: die kerk het deur die eeue ’n besondere waardering en respek gehad vir die taak en funksie van die doktore in die Teologie. Dit het inderdaad tot groot seën van die kerke gedien. Calvyn se standpunte het dikwels tot verwarring aanleiding gegee, maar andersyds ook bygedra tot die erkenning van die belangrike funksie of taak wat hierdie vierde diens kerklik verrig. Net so vervul die doktore in die Teologie ’n besondere wetenskaplike rol aan teologiese fakulteite van universiteite.Calvin’s fourth office, the doctor ministry, and article 18 of the church order of Dordrecht 1618 and 1619: A critical reflection. This article focuses on Calvin’s special role in the ecclesiastical formulation of articles 2 and 18 in the church order of Dordrecht 1618 and 1619, which is still retained in a large number of reformed church orders in the reformed fellowship of churches.Topics and issues which are addressed include questions such as: Who is responsible for the teaching of Theology? Is the tradition valid that the doctorial or professorial office in theology exists as a fourth office beside that of ministers, elders and deacons? Is this tradition, which mainly rests on the views of Bucer and Calvin, correct in terms of the Bible?Particular attention to the following aspects is given:• Historical data on the doctor ecclesiae focusing on the views and influence of Calvin.• A critical evaluation of the foundation of the fourth office on the Bible.• The relationship between theological training in the context of a church and/or a university.• A special investigation of the situation within the Reformed Churches in South Africa in this regard.Important conclusions are made, for example that the church through the ages had a very high esteem and respect for the office of the doctor in Theology; that this fourth office is still retained in many reformed churches, with great blessing. Calvin’s views did cause some confusion on the one hand, but on the other hand it contributed to the acknowledgement of the important function the doctors in Theology have on behalf of the church and in the faculties of Theology at universities. 


2007 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pieter M. Venter

Marriage as identity marker in the Old Testament The formularies used for consecrating marriages in the Nederduitsch Hervormde Church reflect this church’s view on matrimony. As the biblical bases of the formularies are deficient, new ways of exploring biblical information on this subject should be followed. This article proposes that data on marriage in the Bible always be used in conjunction with other concepts to form theological constructs to outline who God is and who his people are. It is always intended to be an identity marker to the members of the church. In the three Genesis cycles of Genesis 11:10-25:11; 25:12-35:29 and 36:1-50:26 heirship, marriage and land are used in an integrated construct to indicate the identity of the post-exilic community in Yehud. In the penitential prayers of Ezra 9:6-15 and Nehemia 9:5b-37 the concepts law, land and marriage are jointly used to depict the identity of the “real” Israel. The conclusion drawn from this investigation is that the Bible does not present models for marriage, but rather theological constructs to understand the relationship with the Lord in metaphorical terms and to reflect on the meaning of everyday life of that relationship including matrimony under ever changing social circumstances.


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