Verbum et Ecclesia Volume 23 Issue 2 (2002)
http://hdl.handle.net/2263/10483
2024-03-28T17:04:48ZBetekenis en funksie van die himnes in Openbaring 12-22
http://hdl.handle.net/2263/10787
Betekenis en funksie van die himnes in Openbaring 12-22
Viljoen, Francois P.
The hymns in Revelation 12-22 function as type of commentary, as they interpret the narrative events of the kernel plot. Being separated spatially and in some instances temporally, the hymns offer interpretations on the events and emphasise the basic themes of God's accomplishment of salvation and judgement through Jesus Christ in the narrative. The final set of hymns in 19:1-8 recall the prior themes recounted through the hymns to form a musical climax. The hymns function as both prolepsis and analepsis in the narrative time, to the creation of the cosmos by God on the one hand, and the final victory of God on the other. As satellelites, the hymns maintain contact with the readers. The hymns function in an assuring sense throughout, constantly reminding of the final victory, one in which the implied reader plays an active role. A better understanding of the use of hymns in Revelation could enrich the use of songs in our liturgy today.
2002-01-01T00:00:00ZThe soteriological meaning of Jesus' death in Luke-Acts. A survey of possibilities
http://hdl.handle.net/2263/10785
The soteriological meaning of Jesus' death in Luke-Acts. A survey of possibilities
Van Zyl, Hermie C. (Hermias Cornelius)
The portrayal of Jesus' death in Luke-Acts remains an intriguing issue. Ever since the rise of critical scholarship it has become the standard view that Luke does not accord salvific meaning to the death of Jesus, but rather stresses the exaltation of Jesus as the zenith of his soteriology. In light of this standard view, this article investigates the question whether the soteriological meaning of Jesus' death has received more attention in recent literature. The finding is that in the main scholarship still favours the exaltation of Jesus as the soteriological zenith. However, it is also clear that there is a tendency to move away from a bland underestimation of Jesus' death towards a more balanced view in which Jesus' death acquires a more positive soteriological meaning in and of itself.
2002-01-01T00:00:00ZWit kerk en swart nood : is daar nog sout in die soutpot oor? Opmerkings oor die betrokkenheid van die wit kerk by die MIV/Vigs pandemie in Suid-Afrika
http://hdl.handle.net/2263/10782
Wit kerk en swart nood : is daar nog sout in die soutpot oor? Opmerkings oor die betrokkenheid van die wit kerk by die MIV/Vigs pandemie in Suid-Afrika
Schoeman, L.G.; Verster, Pieter; Kritzinger, J.J. (Johan Jakob)
There are reasons why the churches in the white community of South Africa are not really concerned or involved in the HIV / Aids pandemic, which is primarily ravaging the Black community. This may, however, be regarded as the "shibolet" for the credibility of the church. The article emphasises the need for the (White) church to listen in three directions: to understand its own identity, to listen (again) to the will of the Lord, and to listen to the needs of the Black community (especially in terms of HIV / Aids). Then the church should become involved. This involvement must be above else in the local communities, in the practical ways, which are indicated, in the area of short-term help, but also empowerment and liberation.
2002-01-01T00:00:00ZHellenisties-Romeinse wereld en die ontstaan van apokaliptiek en gnostisisme
http://hdl.handle.net/2263/10780
Hellenisties-Romeinse wereld en die ontstaan van apokaliptiek en gnostisisme
The world view and culture created by the oikoumene of the Hellenistic-Roman era (331 BC to early fourth century AD) was conducive to the rise of several philosphico-religious movements, like Mithraism and other mystery religions; Stoicism, Epicureanism and Middle Platonism; apocalypticism and wisdom literature in Hellenistic Judaism and Gnosticism. These movements have in common that they originated in a world defined by change and insecurity, leading to an attitude of alienation, despair and agony amongst many people. These people looked for a soter, and the philosophico-religious movements offered such soteria, salvation from an alien and evil world and entrance to a new world. Jewish apocalypticism flourished during the period from the third century BC to the first century AD, when orthodox rabbi's started purifying Jewish religion from all foreign hellenistic elements like the dualistic views of apocalypticism. When this happened Christianity had already adopted the essence of Jewish apocalypticism. During the second century AD some Christians were disappointed that the parousia had not realised as expected imminently, and from their disappointment grew their involvement in gnostic Christian movements, centered around strong leaders (guru's). Our age is also characterised by change and insecurity, just as the case was during the Hellenistic-Roman age, and the hypothesis of the article concludes with the assertion that the phenomenal growth in the New Age movement and neo-paganism can be explained in the same terms as apocalypticism and gnosticism.
2002-01-01T00:00:00Z