Between Theology and Text Criticism as Interpreted on the Psalms by Hans-Joachim Kraus

Цель настоящего исследования - показать, каким образом немецкий учёный Ганс-Иоахим Краус (1918-2000 гг.) совместил теологический подход к исследованию Писания с историко-критическим. Это делается на примере его экзегезы 109 и 131 псалмов, входящей в известнейший труд Крауса - трёхтомный комментарий на Псалтирь. Для решения поставленной задачи проводится анализ предпосылок научного подхода Крауса, которые связаны с верой Бога, открываемой Ветхим Заветом. Далее демонстрируется методология Крауса по реконструкции исторической и культовой среды, в которой формировались библейские поэмы. Как показывает исследование, Краус активно использует небиблейские источники, проводит текстологический анализ рукописей, показывая какую роль могли играть псалмы в культе почитания Сиона и иерусалимского царя. Краус избегает использование типологии и аллегории и осторожно подходит к вопросу об исполнении ветхозаветных пророчеств в Новом Завете. Как учёный, он доказывает, что Писание содержит фактологическую информацию, которой можно верить. Его строго академический и в то же время по-христиански благоговейный подход к исследованию Библии, на наш взгляд, может служить ответом на вопрос, как может сочетаться вера с научным познанием Библии. One of those German scholars who tried to combine the theological with the historical-critical approach to the Scriptures studies was Hans-Joachim Kraus (1918-2000). Kraus’s most famous work is a three-volume commentary on the Psalter. Using the exegesis of Psalms 109 and 131 as an example, the author of this article shows how Kraus balanced between theology and historical criticism. For this, an analysis of his premises of the faith in the living God is carried out. I try to demonstrate Kraus’s methodology in reconstructing the historical cultic environment in which the biblical poems were formed. As my study shows, Kraus actively uses non-biblical sources, conducts theological analysis of manuscripts, showing what role the psalms could play in the veneration of Zion and Jerusalem king. Kraus avoids the use of typology and allegory and is cautious about fulfilling Old Testament prophecy in the New Testament. As a scientist, he argues that Scripture contains factual information that can be believed. His strictly academic and at the same time Christian-reverent approach to Bible study, in my opinion, can serve as an answer to the question: how can faith be combined with scientific investigation of the Bible.

Editorial

2018 saw the fiftieth anniversary of the spontaneous founding of an interfaith initiative involving Jews and Christians in the unlikely location of Germany. Anneliese Debray, who was the director of a Catholic women’s adult education centre in Bendorf, near Koblenz, had the imagination and courage to set about creating programmes for encounter and reconciliation in the post-war world. The centre, the Hedwig Dransfeld Haus, became a meeting place for French and German and Polish and German families; for physically and mentally handicapped people together with ‘normal’ people; for the challenging task of ecumenical encounters between Catholic and Protestant Christians; for dialogue between Christians and Muslims; and eventually between Israeli and German young people. In that latter context the editor of this journal found himself visiting the centre and then, with two fellow rabbinic students at Leo Baeck College, attending an annual Catholic Bible study conference that summer. Our presence, our willingness to be there, and the rarity of such an opportunity for the participants, led to the desire to repeat the experiment the following year. Through incremental changes, the International Jewish-Christian Bible Week became an annual reality. After the death of Anneliese Debray, who had struggled for years to keep the Haus financially afloat, it went into bankruptcy. Nevertheless, what had been built had enough recognition and influence that it led to an invitation from Dr Uta Zwingenberger, who was responsible for Bible education in the Diocese of Osnabrück, to re-establish the Week in a new home, another Catholic adult education centre, Haus Ohrbeck, in the area of Osnabrück. There it continues to grow and flourish, hosting up to 130 people each year. Part of the impact, which makes it different from other more formal interfaith encounters, is the participation of families, with special programmes for children, so that the entire atmosphere is one of a normal human community.

Enchanted Calvinism

The goal of this chapter is to explain how healing and deliverance practices were instituted in the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG). The first half of this chapter examines the PCG’s initial transformation, which was driven by three factors: the decision by the leadership to introduce healing practices into the church, the creation of the Bible Study and Prayer Group to manage the afflicted within congregations, and the influence of two parachurch organizations. The second half of this chapter focuses on Catechist Ebenezer Abboah-Offei, who since 1996 has been leading Grace Presbyterian Church in Akropong, the primary site of healing and deliverance practices within the PCG. With regards to Abboah-Offei, this chapter describes how he came to teach and practise deliverance and the process by which Grace Presbyterian was established. Finally, this chapter describes the various healing and deliverance activities that occur at Grace Presbyterian Church.

Ansiedade e Medo: Um estudo exegético-psicológico de Marcos 4,35-41

This book seeks to read the narrative in Mark 4.35-41, focusing on the character of the individuals in order to understand their behavior when facing a dangerous situation in the storm at sea they ask Jesus, “Master, do you not care that we are perishing?” When facing danger, the prevalent emotions are fear, despair and anxiety. Therefore, the exegetical study will be conducted using psychology, a science that studies human behavior and mental processes. Based on the theoretical principles of Bible study as literature, the goal of the present study is to perform an exegetical analysis of the biblical narrative in Mark. The miracle description includes all issues related found in manuals and biblical commentaries with their multivisions. It also includes a parenetic, coeval analysis of the text based on the sciences of human behavior aimed at updating and application in modern life. Therefore, the text exegesis sheds light on the history, the validity of the pericope and update for modern life based on psychology. It applies to the study in question the historical-critical method over the structuralist and fundamentalist.

Refleksi Mengelola Tekanan Hidup menurut Mazmur 77

Life stress is something that occurs as a result of changes in life. The purpose of this study is to analyze and interpret managing the stresses of life according to Psalm 77, then implement it in the lives of believers today. The biblical manuscript research method is the book analysis method, in this case using a research method that includes exegesis and Bible study to understand the text in Psalm 77. Based on the results of the reflection study of Psalm 77, the following conclusions are drawn: calling on God to convey the struggle, remembering blessings God in the past, strengthen beliefs and divert thoughts that are applied to matters relating to God's actions in the past. Then glorify God and trust him as a release from the struggles and pressures of life by remembering God's loving and generous character. Abstrak Tekanan hidup adalah sesuatu yang terjadi akibat timbulnya perubahan dalam kehidupan. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk menganalisis dan menafsir mengelola tekanan hidup menurut Mazmur 77, lalu mengimplementasikannya dalam kehidupan orang percaya masa kini. Metode penelitian naskah Alkitab yaitu mentode analisis kitab, dalam hal ini menggunakan metode penelitian yang mencakup eksegesis dan kajian Alkitab untuk memahami teks dalam Mazmur 77. Berdasarkan hasil kajian refleksi Mazmur 77, maka ditarik beberapa kesimpulan sebagai berikut: berseru kepada Allah menyampaikan pergumulan, mengingat berkat Allah dimasa lalu, mengokohkan keyakinan dan mengalihkan pikiran yang diterapkan kepada hal-hal yang berkaitan dengan perbuatan Allah di masa lalu. Kemudian memulikan Tuhan dan memercayainya sebagai pelepas atas pergumulan dan tekanan hidup dengan mengingat karakter Allah yang penuh kasih dan murah hati.

Pengajaran tentang Roh Kudus bagi Pembinaan Warga Jemaat Dewasa di Gereja Berdasarkan Surat Efesus

Teaching about the Holy Spirit is an important theme in the teaching curriculum for the formation of adult members of the church. Paul's letter to the Ephesians emphasized the importance of living under the leading of the Holy Spirit. The church must carry out the teaching of the Holy Spirit in the formation of the members of the congregation, so that the congregation has a correct understanding. Through a literature study approach related to the study of the Ephesians, it was found that the teaching of the Holy Spirit in Ephesians is the Holy Spirit as a seal, believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit when they believe which signifies that believers belong to God. The Holy Spirit is the guarantee that believers will receive what He has promised. Believers are the abode of the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit indwells believers. The Holy Spirit empowers believers by His Spirit within. Believers should not grieve the Holy Spirit, but believers are commanded to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who guides believers in prayer. The Bible study in Ephesians about the Holy Spirit can be a reference for the church to implement a curriculum for teaching about the Holy Spirit for the formation of adult members of the congregation. The teachings of the Bible in the letter of Ephesians are the basis for the importance of teaching the Holy Spirit to adult members of the church.Pengajaran mengenai Roh Kudus merupakan tema penting dalam kurikulum pengajaran bagi pembinaan warga jemaat dewasa di gereja. Surat Paulus kepada jemaat di Efesus menekankan pentingnya hidup dalam pimpinan Roh Kudus. Gereja harus melaksanakan pengajaran mengenai Roh Kudus dalam pembinaan warga jemaat, supaya jemaat memiliki pemahaman yang benar. Melalui pendekatan studi literatur terkait dengan kajian surat Efesus, ditemukan bahwa pengajaran Roh Kudus dalam surat Efesus ialah Roh Kudus sebagai meterai, orang percaya dimeteraikan dengan Roh Kudus sewaktu percaya yang menandakan bahwa orang percaya adalah milik Allah. Roh Kudus menjadi jaminan bahwa orang percaya akan menerima apa yang telah dijanjikan-Nya. Orang percaya adalah tempat kediaman Roh Kudus, karena Roh Kudus yang mendiami orang percaya. Roh Kudus memberi kekuatan kepada orang percaya oleh Roh-Nya di dalam batin. Orang percaya tidak boleh mendukakan Roh Kudus, melainkan orang percaya diperintahkan untuk terus menerus dipenuhi oleh Roh Kudus. Roh Kuduslah yang menuntun orang percaya dalam berdoa. Kajian Alkitab dalam surat Efesus mengenai Roh Kudus dapat menjadi acuan bagi gereja untuk pelaksanaan kurikulum pengajaran tentang Roh Kudus bagi pembinaan warga jemaat dewasa. Ajaran alkitab dalam surat Efesus menjadi landasan tentang pentingnya pengajaran Roh Kudus bagi jemaat dewasa di gereja.

Experiencing Esther

Feasts, drinking, beauty treatments, conversations, and even violence: the book of Esther contains experience after experience. Jews have experienced the book for centuries as part of their Purim celebration, while some Christians have struggled to experience this book. Guiding hearers and readers to and through experiences with Esther may seem challenging. In this article, I suggest two distinct ways to experience Esther that focus on the text from somewhat different directions: Esther through movies and Esther through empire and difference. These options could be adapted for many settings (academic classroom, Bible study, peer learning group) and could involve any number of people. These approaches to Esther help bring the text into the experiences of Christian communities.