scholarly journals Probleme rondom die Bybel in die gereformeerde teologie: besinning vanuit ’n Christelike filosofie

2008 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Van der Walt
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Church Leaders ◽  
Reformed Theology ◽  
Philosophical Approach ◽  
Philosophical Perspective ◽  
Reformed Tradition ◽  
The Bible ◽  
God's Word ◽  
The Moment ◽  
The Way

Problems with the Bible in reformed theology: reflections from a Christian philosophical perspective The motivation for undertaking this investigation is the present tension in the reformed theology and in the reformed churches in South Africa. In spite of the fact that the reformed tradition confesses the authority of the Bible, theologians and church leaders are at the moment divided on how to view and interpret the Scriptures. They disagree about the message of God’s Word in the case of topical issues, for instance whether women should be allowed in ecclesiastical offices or on what the Bible has to say about homosexuality. The author is of the opinion that these tensions in the same church are caused, not only by different methods of interpreting the Bible but, at a much deeper level, also by the way in which one views the Bible according to different worldviews. In trying to resolve these problems and the resulting conflict of opinion, a Christian philosophical approach will be taken instead of the current theological efforts.

Prayer and Ethics: Reflections on Calvin and Barth

1989 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-184
Author(s):  
John Kelsay
Keyword(s):  
Spiritual Exercises ◽  
Reformed Theology ◽  
Reformed Tradition ◽  
Vision Of God ◽  
The Way

Because the title of this article is ambiguous, I will begin by sharpening the issue of the justification of prayer. The point, in the first place, is to see how Calvin and Barth, as Reformed theologians, answer the question, “Why pray?” A second interest emerges in the discussion: prayer provides a case for illustrating the significant differences in the reasoning of Calvin and Barth on matters of ethics. In particular, the case of prayer indicates the way that Calvin's ruledeontology allows an important (albeit circumscribed) role for teleological appeals in the justification of prayer. Barth's act-deonotological theory consistently eschews such appeals. And this fact leads to a third interest of the paper: what are the strengths and weaknesses of the Reformed tradition for discussions of “spirituality” and ethics? If “spirituality” entails, as some would argue, a notion of “spiritual exercises” aimed at the cultivation of certain dispositions/virtues requisite to the vision of God, can Reformed theology have a “spirituality”? I argue that it can, but only if it is possible to preserve the teleological dimensions of Calvin's justification for acts such as prayer, which (as he would have it) is the “chief exercise of faith.”

The Divine Decree

2020 ◽  
pp. 403-419
Author(s):  
Paul T. Nimmo
Keyword(s):  
Karl Barth ◽  
Friedrich Schleiermacher ◽  
Reformed Theology ◽  
Reformed Tradition ◽  
The Way

This chapter explores the doctrine of the divine decree in Reformed theology, with specific attention to the tradition’s teaching on election and reprobation. It begins by considering the shape of the doctrine in general, noting some of the doctrine’s more controversial possibilities. It proceeds to focus on the way in which the early Reformed tradition understood the decree in both its positive and negative aspects, drawing variously on the texts of early Reformed writers and confessions and the works of Reformed orthodoxy. It then turns to the work of two more recent figures who have advanced significant revisions of the classical Reformed doctrine—Friedrich Schleiermacher and Karl Barth. It concludes with a concise series of recommendations in respect of ongoing reflection on this doctrine.

The Christology of Simon Maimela—A Contextual, Systematic Theologian

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Hendrik Fick
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Liberation Theology ◽  
Harvard University ◽  
Theological Reflection ◽  
Systematic Theology ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Ongoing Dialogue ◽  
The Way

Abstract Simon Maimela was one of the first contextual theologians appearing on the scene in the 1970s in South Africa. He obtained a ThD at Harvard University in 1978 and was appointed inter alia as lecturer in the Department of Systematic Theology at Unisa. Like other contextual theologians his writings give evidence of a search for an ongoing dialogue between ‘text’ and ‘context.’ They have a strong Christological character, which corresponds with his conviction that liberation theology should be a keen exponent of a doctrine of atonement. This article is an attempt to investigate and describe the way in which his Christology stands in relation to a number of systematic theological loci. This is done within a broader context of the nature of African and South African Christology. The impact of his theological reflection in South Africa is finally assessed in the light of his view on the Bible.

8. The Bible in the post-colonial world

2021 ◽  
pp. 90-103
Author(s):  
John Riches
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Church Leaders ◽  
Significant Part ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
Promised Land ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Desmond Tutu

‘The Bible in the post-colonial world’ describes how colonizers and missionaries used the Bible. During the colonization of Latin America, the narratives of the conquest of Canaan in Joshua and Judges provided support not only for conquest, but also for the merciless killing of those who refused to submit. Nevertheless, Latin America also saw a powerful movement arise to rescue the Bible from its colonial misuse. In Africa too, the Bible could be used as an instrument both of oppression and of liberation. In South Africa, the stories of the Exodus and the entry to the Promised Land played a significant part in the emerging ideology of Afrikanerdom. At the same time, church leaders like Desmond Tutu used the language of the Bible to mount a powerful attack on apartheid.

scholarly journals Gereformeerde teologiese opleiding vir Afrika in die een-en-twintigste eeu

1990 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Van Rooy
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Christian Higher Education ◽  
Reformed Theology ◽  
African Churches ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
The Moment ◽  
Correspondence Course ◽  
Theological Training

Although the numbers and influence of the Reformed Churches in South Africa seem to be dwindling at the moment, they still have a precious heritage which should be passed on to Africa: the reformed faith and reformed theology:. Christianity is growing apace in Africa, but unfortunately this is often a superficial, nominal Christianity. A great need and desire for thorough, biblical, theological training does exist. This need should be answered by the Reformed Churches by providing theological courses for extension training at four academic levels, especially for equipping leaders of the independent African churches, not with the purpose of making proselites, but primarily with the purpose of biblical leaching where it is needed. These courses should be made available at inter alia the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, which is already involved in the Timoteus correspondence course.

scholarly journals Die aktiwiteit van die belydende GKSAvrouelidmaat tydens die erediens

2002 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Van Helden
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Reformed Tradition ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Worship Services ◽  
In Christ ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
Hands And Feet

The activity of the female communicant during worship services in the Reformed Churches in South Africa (GKSA) This article is a report of research done on how a female communicant in the GKSA can be active in Christ while certain traditions tie her tongue, hands and feet. By attempting to outline the internal and external activity of female communicants during worship, this article attempts to determine empirically the extent to which current church practice is Scriptural within The Reformed tradition. Definite and specific tendencies regarding the nature of female ministerial empowerment in the churches have been noticed. Suggestions concerning expanding the involvement by women during worship services have also been indicated. A possible response to the questions raised in this regard depends on the attitude and willingness of the GKSA to correct inhibiting and unbiblical traditions and to reform according to the essence of the Bible. Real reformation is the only way to ensure that a Reformed scriptural approach towards female Christians will be practised in future – an approach that will enable female members to participate fully in worship services.

scholarly journals Aspects of Reformed missiology in Africa: A contribution to a German Lutheran debate

2009 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ignatius W.C. Van Wyk
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Special Reference ◽  
The State ◽  
The Self ◽  
Reformed Theology ◽  
Reformed Tradition ◽  
Lutheran Church ◽  
Missionary Work ◽  
Decisive Influence ◽  
New Strategies

This article is based on a paper delivered at a Lutheran Missionary Conference in Bleckmar, Germany. The request was to give an overview of the development and the state of Reformed missiology with special reference to South Africa in order to stimulate the missiological debate in the German-Lutheran church. Within the space of an hour, one could only concentrate on the struggles and concerns of one’s own church and its missionary institute. The border lines of the article are laid down by the major themes of Reformed theology and missiology, such as ‘the Word alone’, ‘conversion’, ‘the formation of congregations’, ‘the glory of God’ and ‘ongoing reformation’. Readers are introduced to a few Reformed missiologists who had a decisive influence on the development of Reformed missiology, such as Gisbertus Voetius, Hendrik Kraemer, Arnoldus van Ruler, Johannes Verkuyl and Jürgen Moltmann. The initial Lutheran audience was informed about the self-caused problems in the Reformed tradition. Both the audience and the readership are cautioned not to withdraw from the basic Lutheran theologoumena, such as the ‘two-kingdom theory’. The next decade will be a decisive period for the missionary efforts of the churches. Ecumenical solidarity and cooperation will be needed to work out new strategies whereby churches will be enabled to continue with missionary work on a new financial basis.

scholarly journals Liberating reformed theology, social-embedded economics, and the white Afrikaans Reformed Churches

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Pieters
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Reformed Theology ◽  
Privileged Position ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Economic Paradigm ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
Conventional Paradigm

In this article, the author used a social-embedded framework to analyse the current economic paradigms of the white Afrikaans Reformed Churches in South Africa. He concluded that the current conventional paradigm is problematic in the lack of engagement with both the poor and alternative economic paradigms. He suggested that the notions of covenant, sovereignty and providence could assist the churches to develop an economic paradigm that is informed by solidarity with the poor. For this to happen he concludes that the churches need to develop a liberating hermeneutic in which the Bible is read as a book for the poor, while the readers remain conscious of their privileged position.

scholarly journals BÍBLIA E LITERATURA: A RECONSTRUÇÃO DA EVIDÊNCIA

2010 ◽  
Vol 42 (117) ◽  
pp. 171
Author(s):  
José Tolentino Mendonça
Keyword(s):  
Writing Workshop ◽  
Western Culture ◽  
Divine Revelation ◽  
The Bible ◽  
God's Word ◽  
The Way

Proliferam hoje os estudos de intertextualidade que ligam a Bíblia à Literatura. «Infinita intertextualidade», diz Pierre Gisel, e, de facto, assiste-se à confirmação do amplo estatuto seminal que a Bíblia desempenha na cultura e imaginário ocidentais. A Bíblia é palavra de Deus, na medida em que nela a revelação divina encontra uma singularidade de dicção. Mas a Bíblia não deixa de ser palavra, corpo e corpus onde o que existe é palavra. Não podemos perder de vista a inteligência literária da Bíblia, que é também a sua natureza. O modo como a Bíblia (ex)põe a palavra não é simplesmente um veículo neutro e utilitário para a mensagem, mas é sim protagonista de uma verdadeira poética. Isto faz dela um monumental ateliê de escrita, uma oficina de experimentação linguística e acústica que é preciso conhecer.ABSTRACT: There proliferate today intertextuality studies linking the Bible to Literature. “Infinite intertextuality”, says Pierre Gisel, and indeed we are seeing confirmation of the broad seminal status that the Bible plays in Western culture and imagination. The Bible is God’s word, in the measure that, in it, divine revelation encounters a singularity of diction. But the Bible does not cease to be word, body and corpus, where what exists is word. We must not lose sight of the literary intelligence of the Bible, which is also its nature. The way in which the Bible (ex)poses the word is not simply a neutral and useful vehicle for the message, but is rather the protagonist of a real poetics. This makes it a monumental writing workshop, a workshop of linguistic and acoustic experimentation which is necessary to know.

scholarly journals The Bible and the justification of apartheid in Reformed circles in the 1940's in South Africa: Some historical, hermeneutical and theological remarks

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert R Vosloo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Close Reading ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The Way

This article focuses on the way the Bible was used in the 1940s in some Reformed theological circles in South Africa as part of the discourse to justify apartheid. Attention is also given to some voices critical of this endeavour. The article therefore offers a close reading of influential texts by prominent theologians who provided a biblical justification of apartheid, such as JD du Toit (Totius) and EP Groenewald. In addition, the article attends to some of the writings of theologians such as BJ Marais and BB Keet, who strongly opposed any attempt to justify apartheid in this manner. The article is especially interested in identifying the constructions of identity and otherness that seem to be operative in the discourse connected to the biblical justification of apartheid during this period.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document