Practising piety in a (post-) pandemic time: A spatial reading of piety in Psalm 66 from the perspectives of memory and bodily imagery

2021 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lodewyk Sutton
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
Social Anthropology ◽  
The Past ◽  
Body Imagery ◽  
Research Article ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Practical Theological ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Exodus Narrative ◽  
The Church

Situated in the larger collection of Psalms 51–72, also known as the second Davidic Psalter, the smaller group of Psalms 65–68 is found. This smaller collection of psalms can be classified mostly as psalms of praise and thanksgiving. The relation and compositional work in this cluster of psalms become apparent on many points in the pious expressions between groups and persons at prayer, especially in the universal praise of God, and in the imagery referring to the exodus, the Jerusalem cult and blessing. Such piety becomes most discernible in the imagery and expressions in Psalm 66. The psalm’s two main sections may be described as praise, with verses 1–12 being praise by the group or the ‘we’, and verses 13–20 being praise by the individual or the ‘I’. Personal or individual piety and private piety are expressed by the desire of the ‘we’ and the ‘I’, and the experienced immediacy to God by transposing the past into the present through the memory of the exodus narrative, the Jerusalem cultic imagery and the use of body imagery. In this research article, an understanding of piety in Psalm 66 in terms of the memory of past events and body imagery is discussed from a perspective of space and appropriated for a time of (post-) pandemic where normal or traditional ecclesiological formal practices cannot take place.Contribution: This article makes an interdisciplinary contribution based on knowledge from the Psalms in the Old Testament, social anthropology, literary spatial theories and practical theological perspectives on the church in order to contribute to the relevance and practice of theology today, during a time of turmoil and a global pandemic.

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.

Die koninkryk van God in die Ou Testament: ’n Kort oorsig

2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel F. O'Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
Kingdom Of God ◽  
Church Leaders ◽  
Real Difference ◽  
Central Concept ◽  
The Past ◽  
To Come ◽  
Psalm 22 ◽  
The Church ◽  
Technical Terms

The kingdom of God in the Old Testament: A brief survey. The kingdom of God is a central concept in the teaching of Jesus, but the question posed by this article is the following: What does the Old Testament say about the kingdom of God? Several Old Testament terms convey the concept of kingdom, kingship and rule of God. This article focuses on the Hebrew and Aramaic ‘technical’ terms for kingdom: mamlākâ, malkût, mělûkâ and malkû. One finds only a few Old Testament references where these terms are directly connected to God, most of them in the post-exilic literature: 1 Chronicles 17:14; 28:5; 29:11; 2 Chronicles 13:8; Psalm 22:29; 103:19; 145:11–13; Daniel 2:44; 3:33 (4:3); 4:31 (4:34); 6:27; 7:14, 18, 27; Obadiah 21. A brief study of these specific references leads to a few preliminary conclusions: The kingdom of God refers to a realm and the reign of God, the God of the kingdom is depicted in different ways, God’s kingdom is eternal and incomparable with earthly kingdoms, the scope of the kingdom is particularistic and universalistic, the Old Testament testifies about a kingdom that is and one that is yet to come, et cetera. It seems that there is no real difference when comparing the ‘kingdom of God’ with the ‘God is King’ passages. One cannot unequivocally declare that ‘kingdom of God’ is the central concept in the Old Testament. However, we must acknowledge that Jesus’s teaching about the kingdom of God did not evolve in a vacuum. His followers probably knew about the Old Testament perspective on the kingdom of God.Contribution: The concept ‘kingdom of God’ is relevant for the church in South Africa, especially congregations who strive to be missional. Unfortunately, the Old Testament perspective was neglected in the past. The purpose of this brief survey is to stimulate academics and church leaders in their further reflection on the kingdom of God.

An Intellectual Portrait of Pope John Paul II

Worldview ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 22 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 21-27
Author(s):  
George Huntston Williams
Keyword(s):  
Social Relations ◽  
Pope John Paul Ii ◽  
The Past ◽  
John Paul Ii ◽  
Lay Women ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Patron Saints ◽  
Santa Maria ◽  
The Church ◽  
First Words

Appearing on the balcony of St. Peter's, his first words as supreme pontiff were: “May Jesus Christ be praised!” At the close of the installation eucharist John Paul II lifted high the papal crozier, redesigned by Pope Paul as a staff surmounted by the crucified Christ. In all his utterances to date the new pope has emphasized Christ as the hope of the world but has also lifted up the mankind Christ came to save. He has illuminated the variousness of this mankind, from the individual in all his loneliness, even his alienation, to persons in collectivities of family, class, race, and nation. He has described many Christians too as people often filled with doubt about their ultimate meaning to themselves or for others, both on the level of social relations of all kinds and in the redemptive community of the Church. John Paul closed his installation homily: “I appeal to all men—to every man (and with what veneration the apostle of Christ must utter this word, ‘man’)—pray for me.“Some days later John Paul visited Santa Maria Sopra Minerva and declared that he dedicated his pontificate to the Dominican tertiary St. Catherine of Siena (d. 1380). This was one further gesture of his identification with the Italian people as their national primate, for St. Catherine and St. Francis of Assisi are the two patron saints of Italy. But he was also signaling his intention, in his choice of a lay woman, a reformer, a crusader, a mystic, and a doctor of the Church (so proclaimed in 1970), to assign high positions of decisionmaking to lay women and to female religious of all orders in recognition of the prominent role women have played in the past and of the much greater role, short of the priesthood, they would be playing under his pontificate.

The Construction of Paul’s Self in His Writings: Narrative Identity, Social Memory and Metaphorical Truth

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 244-265
Author(s):  
Simon Butticaz
Keyword(s):  
Collective Memory ◽  
Social Group ◽  
Narrative Identity ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Self Identity ◽  
The Past ◽  
Construction Of Self ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Narrative Mode ◽  
The Church

The article aims to investigate – in two autobiographical fragments of the Pauline writings (1 Cor. 15:8-10 and Gal. 1:13-24) – how the narrative mode enables the apostle to grasp the continuity and coherence of his identity, while integrating in the construction of his self disparate and discordant elements (like the Damascus event) which continually threaten the “narrative unity of a human life” (MacIntyre). Furthermore, since “collective memory” precedes and shapes the individual representation of the past (Halbwachs; Assmann), the article also examines how Paul integrates and negotiates in his construction of self-identity the “communal memories” shared by his social group, and in particular his past as persecutor of the Church. Finally, we shall describe the integration of these autobiographical fragments within their respective literary contexts and explore the “metaphorical truth” – or the “refiguration” of reality – which is produced by these different “configurations” of Pauline identity (Ricoeur).


Learning to Pray by Singing

2021 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-121
Author(s):  
Stefan Klöckner
Keyword(s):  
New Testament ◽  
Old Testament ◽  
Church Fathers ◽  
Gregory The Great ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Christian Perspective ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
Canonical Order ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Church

Gregorian chants are mostly based on Old Testament texts, predominantly from the Psalms. Decisive for their interpretation in the light of the New Testament are texts of the Church Fathers (Augustine, Gregory the Great, etc.). The texts often do not follow their canonical order in the Bible, but were primarily compiled on the basis of broader associations. Hence, it is not uncommon for new content references to emerge that are committed to a Christian perspective, emotionally and theologically very bold. This article describes an imaginary ‘Gregorian Composition Workshop’: the individual ‘chambers’ include compiling texts, the choice of a suitable mode and melody, as well as the most refined rhythmic differentiations. The final piece, through its unique quality as the ‘sounding word of Holy Scripture’ permits an intensive view of the spirituality of the ninth and tenth centuries, and a realistic understanding of the Psalms as the basis of Christian existence.

Augustine and Pentecostals

Pneuma ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 262-280
Author(s):  
Derek M. Geerlof
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
The Past ◽  
Triune God ◽  
In Christ ◽  
The Church ◽  
Figurative Interpretation

This essay interacts with Augustine’s figurative interpretation of Ps 142 and a pentecostal priority to experience God in ways analogous to experience found within the narratives of Scripture. Contending that the Psalms are both historical and prophecy-fulfilled-in-Christ, Augustine interprets Ps 142 within the dual histories of David and Christ. This grounds his figurative interpretation firmly within scriptural narratives while providing a means of viewing the psalm as the prayerful expression of Christ’s own experience. His theology of the totus Christus then unites the experiences of the church and Christ, ensuring that Christian interpretation of an Old Testament experience does not bypass Christ. The telos of interpretation does not reside in the past, but in the present transformation and encounter of the church with the triune God.

scholarly journals Pengajaran Eskatologi dalam Pendidikan Agama Kristen di Sekolah

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-26
Author(s):  
Simsoni Yosua Daud Patola ◽  
Oda Judithia Widianing
Keyword(s):  
Christian Education ◽  
Old Testament ◽  
School Environment ◽  
Talent Development ◽  
Dominant Focus ◽  
The Past ◽  
Education Material ◽  
Life Saving ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
The Church

AbstractAn essential aspect of the doctrine of escatology is futuristic fact, namely the disclosure of a number of events that will occur in the future through prophecy in the past. For this reason Bible prophecy is the dominant focus in the investigation and discussion of the doctrine of eschatology.  Eschatology is the most important doctrine that must be taught in the church, family, and school environment as Christian education material, the Doctrine of Eschatology is very important taught to students in schools, so that they understand it and take the attitude to repent and believe in Jesus Christ and obtain life-saving work. Everlasting, now while still alive on earth and later when Jesus comes the second time to pick up every believer By knowing eschatology, students can prepare themselves spiritually with a strong faith that Jesus will come a second time to pick up believers in the resurrection from the first stage of the dead and those who are still alive will experience the rapture to heaven. In Christian education in schools students must be taught that in the first stage of the resurrection the believers in the Old Testament era and the New Testament era will be raised from the grave, and the believers who are still alive at the time will be raptured, they will obtain a glorious body for and enter the feast of the Lamb of God. In Christian education it is necessary to put in place precautionary advice, encouragement to work faithfully, talent development, affirmation of responsibility for all actions, and noble hope for the day of the Lord's coming.Keywords: escatology; Christian educationAbstrakAspek penting dari ajaran eskatologi adalah fakta futuristik, yang merupakan wahyu tentang beberapa peristiwa yang akan terjadi di masa depan melalui nubuat masa lalu. Karena alasan ini, nubuat Alkitab menjadi pusat pemeriksaan dan diskusi tentang ajaran eskatologi. Eskatologi merupakan doktrin terpenting yang harus diajarkan dalam lingkungan gereja, keluarga, dan sekolah sebagai materi pendidikan agama Kristen, Doktrin Eskatologi sangat penting diajarakan kepada anak didik di sekolah, agar mereka memahaminya dan mengambil sikap untuk bertobat dan percaya kepada Yesus Kristus dan memperoleh karya keselamtan hidup yang kekal, sekarang ketika masih hidup di dunia dan nanti ketika Yesus datang kedua kali menjemput setiap orang percaya. Dengan mengetahui Eskatologi anak didik dapat mempersiapkan diri secara rohani dengan iman yang kuat bahwa Yesus akan datang kedua kali unuk menjemput orang-orang percaya pada kebangkitan dari antara orang mati tahap pertama dan orang-orang yang masih hidup pada saat itu akan mengalami pengangkatan  ke surga  (the rapture to heaven).  Dalam Pendidikan agama Kristen di sekolah anak didik harus diberikan pengajaran bahwa dalam kebangkitan tahap pertama orang-orang percaya pada zaman Perjanjian Lama dan zaman Perjanjan Baru akan dibangkitkan dari kubur, serta orang-orang percaya yang masih hidup pada saat akan diangkat (rapture), mereka akan memperoleh tubuh kemuliaan untuk dan masuk dalam pesta Anak Domba Allah.  Dalam pendidikan agama Kristen perlu disisipkan adanya nasihat untuk berjaga-jaga, dorongan untuk bekerja dengan setia, pengembangan talenta, penegasan tentang tanggung jawab atas semua tindakan, dan pengharapan yang mulia akan hari kedatangan Tuhan.Kata-kata kunci: eskatologi; pendidikan Kristen

scholarly journals Postacie kobiece Starego Testamentu w alegorycznej egzegezie Orygenesa

Vox Patrum ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 66 ◽  
pp. 39-56
Author(s):  
Mariusz Szram
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
The Body ◽  
Spiritual Warfare ◽  
Human Soul ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
Intellectual Abilities ◽  
Bodily Feelings ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Mind ◽  
The Church

The article systematises the metaphors ascribed by Origen (185-253/254) to the well-known female characters of the Old Testament utilising the method of allegorical exegesis of the text of Scripture. Females appearing on the pages of the historical books of Bible are – according to the Alexandrian – allegories of hu­man virtues or defects. They embody the spiritual warfare between the spirit and the body, between the mind and the feelings. In the collective sense they symbo­lize the synagogue or the church chosen from the Gentiles, and in the individual sense – the human soul in its relation to God. Origen refers to the telling names of women, translating them and embedding into the spiritual context often giving the several different allegorical meanings to the same biblical person. Despite the often-quoted in his writings beliefs characteristic to the ancient world, procla­iming that the woman is a symbol of bodily feelings and the man – a symbol of the intellectual abilities, majority of allegorical interpretations relating to the Old Testament women indicates a personification of the virtues worthy of imitation. This phenomenon is conditioned with the meaning of the names of those persons and the role attributed to them by the biblical authors, but Origen’s interpretations are original and based on his own concept of spiritual life. They deny opinions of misogyny of Origen and the early Christian writers in general.

scholarly journals Mariologiczno-eklezjologiczna interpretacja obrazu Niewiasty z Ap 12

Sympozjum ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1 (40)) ◽  
pp. 11-23
Author(s):  
Danuta Piekarz
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
The Sun ◽  
People Of God ◽  
The People ◽  
Average Reader ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Church

Mariological and ecclesiological interpretation of the image of the Woman from Apocalypse 12 In chapter 12 of the Apocalypse, key to the whole work, there appears the mysterious figure of a Woman clothed with the sun. Throughout history, this figure has been interpreted in many different ways. The average reader spontaneously associates her with Mary, as artists often portray the Mother of Christ according to the apocalyptic description; however, the oldest commentators saw in the Woman the People of God of the Old and New Testaments. Later on, the Marian-ecclesiological interpretation became widespread – and is often accepted in our Times – which perceives the Woman as both Mary and the Church. Certain elements of the description of the Woman are more suited to Mary, others – to the Church, and many can be interpreted in both senses. This is shown in the second part of the article, which discusses the individual symbolic elements of the image of the Woman, emphasizing the references to the texts of the Old Testament. Abstrakt W rozdziale 12. Apokalipsy św. Jana, kluczowym dla całości dzieła, pojawia się tajemnicza postać Niewiasty obleczonej w słońce. Na przestrzeni dziejów bardzo różnie interpretowano tę postać. Przeciętny czytelnik spontanicznie kojarzy ją z Maryją, gdyż artyści często przedstawiają Matkę Chrystusa zgodnie z apokaliptycznym opisem; jednak najstarsi komentatorzy widzieli w Niewieście Lud Boży Starego i Nowego Testamentu. Później rozpowszechniła się – i jest często akceptowana w naszych czasach – interpretacja maryjno-eklezjologiczna, dopatrująca się w Niewieście zarówno Maryi, jak i Kościoła. Pewne elementy opisu Niewiasty bardziej pasują bowiem do Maryi, inne – do Kościoła, a wiele można interpretować w obu znaczeniach. Ukazuje to druga część artykułu, w której omówiono poszczególne elementy symboliczne obrazu Niewiasty, podkreślając nawiązania do tekstów Starego Testamentu.

scholarly journals The church’s pastoral role concerning challenges faced by teachers in South-African public schools: Some practical theological perspectives

2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M E Baloyi
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
South African ◽  
Growing Up ◽  
The Past ◽  
Pastoral Role ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Practical Theological ◽  
The Church ◽  
People Today

Teaching used to be a well-respected profession, which many people used to love in the past.Many children, when asked what they wanted to be when growing up, indicated that theywanted to be teachers. This is why – even when children were play-acting – most of them likedto play the role of a teacher. It is disturbing to learn that this profession has grown to be hated bymany people today. This is evidenced by the mass resignations of teachers from many publicschools over the past few years in South Africa. This exodus had been researched by differentscholars from different disciplines who have also made their recommendations as to how thesituation can be reversed. The fact that teachers, who are disappointed and demotivated tocontinue with the career, are the creation of God and are teaching the creation of God, calls forthe church through its pastoral theological services to play its role in trying to compose guidelinesfor the elimination of the problem. The purpose of this article is to search for possible ways inwhich the church can theologically play its role in addressing the problem of the teachers’dissatisfaction as well as giving some guidelines on how this challenge can be eliminated.

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