The Essential Unity of the Church in Luther’s Theology

According to the Pentecostal tradition, miraculous or extraordinary healings confirm the Word being preached. There is, however, an on-going theological debate concerning how this understanding should be viewed in light of modern medical science. This article argues that a discussion of this issue should begin with an analysis of what the biblical texts say about healing. Its purpose is to contribute to laying a biblical groundwork for a further systematic theological discussion of the subject. This article explores the view of healing in relation to preaching in the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. Using Helge Kjær Nielsen’s doctoral dissertation as a dialogue partner, this article distinguishes between an eschatological and a legitimizing understanding of healing. It argues that both perspectives are prevalent in Luke and Acts. The eschatological understanding sees healing as a manifestation of the kingdom of God, and the legitimizing understanding views healing as a confirmation of the message being preached. This article maintains that these two perspectives belong together in an essential unity and that both are needed for a biblical view of healing. The last part of this article briefly reflects on the implications this observation has for the healing ministry of the church today in terms of the eschatological as well as the legitimizing aspects. Both aspects require further research.

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Die wese van die kerk: 'n Teologiese antwoord op 'n filosofiese vraag

HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies ◽

10.4102/hts.v44i2.2224 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 44 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

G. C. Velthuysen

Keyword(s):

Jesus Christ ◽

Philosophical Question ◽

Essential Unity ◽

The Church

The essence of the Church: A theological answer to a philosophical question In this article an attempt is made to define the essence of the church in the most concentrated formula possible. In doing so it is argued that the most essential truth regarding the church resides in the fact that it belongs to the Lord, Jesus Christ. Then it is indicated what relevance this definition has for the formulation and description of the qualities and properties of the church. It is indicated for example that the quality of the essential unity of the church receives quite a different meaning when approached from this angle than when approached from the idea of unity as such.

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Overcoming the World: Bavinck on Faith and Knowledge

Unio Cum Christo ◽

10.35285/ucc7.2.2021.art1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 11

Author(s):

HENK VAN DEN BELT

Keyword(s):

English Translation ◽

Human Subject ◽

Reformed Theology ◽

General Revelation ◽

The World ◽

Essential Unity ◽

Knowledge Form ◽

The Church

After A Short Biographical Introduction, This Article Argues That Herman Bavinck’s Reformed Theology Displays His Appreciation For The Catholicity Of The Church. This Attitude Appears Most Strongly In His Interest In Epistemology. For Bavinck, Faith And Knowledge Form An Essential Unity. He Intends To Avoid Subjectivity While Incorporating The Modern Epistemological Turn To The Human Subject. This Is His Most Original And Most Important Contribution To Theology. According To Bavinck, Faith Overcomes The World By Viewing It As God’s Fallen Creation On Its Way To Final Restoration Through Christ’s Redemption. The Appendix Offers The First English Translation Of Thus Far Unnoticed Theses On Faith And Knowledge. KEYWORDS: Herman Bavinck, Neo-Calvinism, Theological Catholicity, Christian Epistemology, General Revelation, Subjectivity

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Die buitengewone geboorte van Jesus Christus en die regering van sy kerk, in die besonder rakende die vrou

In die Skriflig/In Luce Verbi ◽

10.4102/ids.v42i3.274 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 42 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J. L. Helberg

Keyword(s):

Old Testament ◽

Jesus Christ ◽

Holy Spirit ◽

Image Of God ◽

The New Testament ◽

The Holy Spirit ◽

Essential Unity ◽

Intimate Relations ◽

The Image Of God ◽

The Church

The extraordinary birth of Jesus Christ and the reign of his church, especially regarding women The issue whether there is room for women in the special ser- vices of the church, especially as elder, is currently corespons- ible for tension within the Reformed Churches in South Africa (RCSA). The ruling task of the church is closely linked with the way God rules his people and with what the relation between Him and his people is. The book of Matthew shows that there is an essential unity but also a drastic difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament dispensations in this regard. This article investigates at what dominates both dispen- sations and how they differ concerning this. Sin disrupted humanness and harmony fundamentally and in the most intimate relations. In the old dispensation power was inter alia exercised by force, for example in slavery and disregard of women’s full humanness. The birth of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit from a woman without a man is the fulfilment of the Old Testament promises. All believers without difference in class or gender are recreated by Jesus Christ as the image of God and are reinstated in a personal relation with Him. Exercise of power over others, like in male domination of women and in earthly kingship and slavery makes room for being serviceable. Jesus Christ exercises his authority in a serving way. Especially his church must rule in a serving way by acknowledging Him as Head and testifying about his life, death and resurrection as contained in his Word. A believing woman is just as well equiped for this as a man.

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Spiritual Healing, Sick Kids and the Law: Inequities in the American Healthcare System

American Journal of Law & Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0098858800002847 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 29 (2-3) ◽

pp. 269-299

Author(s):

Janna C. Merrick

Keyword(s):

Medical Science ◽

Spiritual Healing ◽

Best Interests ◽

Legal Rights ◽

High Tech ◽

Divine Love ◽

Religious Minority ◽

Human Need ◽

East End ◽

The Church

Main Street in Sarasota, Florida. A high-tech medical arts building rises from the east end, the county's historic three-story courthouse is two blocks to the west and sandwiched in between is the First Church of Christ, Scientist. A verse inscribed on the wall behind the pulpit of the church reads: “Divine Love Always Has Met and Always Will Meet Every Human Need.” This is the church where William and Christine Hermanson worshipped. It is just a few steps away from the courthouse where they were convicted of child abuse and third-degree murder for failing to provide conventional medical care for their seven-year-old daughter.This Article is about the intersection of “divine love” and “the best interests of the child.” It is about a pluralistic society where the dominant culture reveres medical science, but where a religious minority shuns and perhaps fears that same medical science. It is also about the struggle among different religious interests to define the legal rights of the citizenry.

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Ideas and Leaders in Contentious Politics: One Parish Priest in El Salvador's Popular Movement

Behavioral and Brain Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0140525x13009862 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 38 (01) ◽

pp. 76-101

Author(s):

PETER M. SANCHEZ

Keyword(s):

Collective Action ◽

El Salvador ◽

Liberation Theology ◽

Contentious Politics ◽

Religious Leaders ◽

Political Movement ◽

Parish Priest ◽

Historical Moment ◽

Resource Mobilisation ◽

The Church

AbstractThis paper examines the actions of one Salvadorean priest – Padre David Rodríguez – in one parish – Tecoluca – to underscore the importance of religious leadership in the rise of El Salvador's contentious political movement that began in the early 1970s, when the guerrilla organisations were only just beginning to develop. Catholic leaders became engaged in promoting contentious politics, however, only after the Church had experienced an ideological conversion, commonly referred to as liberation theology. A focus on one priest, in one parish, allows for generalisation, since scores of priests, nuns and lay workers in El Salvador followed the same injustice frame and tactics that generated extensive political mobilisation throughout the country. While structural conditions, collective action and resource mobilisation are undoubtedly necessary, the case of religious leaders in El Salvador suggests that ideas and leadership are of vital importance for the rise of contentious politics at a particular historical moment.

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