Verbum et Ecclesia Volume 22 Issue 2 (2001)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/10864

Verbum et Ecclesia is fulltext available on Open Journals Publishing.

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Afrikaanse Bybelvertalings : 'n toekomsvisie
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2001) Stander, Hennie (Hendrik Frederik), 1953-
In this article the author argues that there is a need for a new "official" translation of the Bible. He discusses modern trends in Bible translation. He also evaluates Afrikaans translations of the Bible on the basis of these modern trends, and highlights the short-comings in the present Afrikaans versions. The aim of this article is to make scholars aware of the areas where present translations of the Bible can be improved and also to stimulate a debate on these issues. It is very important for scholars to thoroughly consider all modern trends before start working on new translations of the Bible in Afrikaans. This will ensure that the end product is of high quality, and not outdated even before it is published.
Danielboek as apokaliptiek
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2001) Nel, Marius Johannes
The tales in the Book of Daniel (Dan 1-6) do not have typical apocalyptic features. The tales form part of a book that also includes visions (Dan 7-12) that exhibit definite apocalyptic features. The question is posed: must the tales be interpreted as apocalyptic literature because the writer in the second century placed it as a prologue to the book with its apocalyptic message of the end of all known kingdoms? To answer the question, it is first necessary to define what apocalyptic literature comprises. This is a difficult question, because each apocalyptic work has unique features. To answer the question on the historic and social origin of apocalypticism difficulty is also encountered because the modern researcher does not have precise historical information relating to the phenomenon of apocalypticism. This article concludes that each apocalyptic work should be investigated on its own right, and that the tales in the Book of Daniel should be interpreted with the writer's apocalyptic aims in mind.
Waar is Abraham dan?
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2001) Le Roux, J.H. (Jurie Hendrik), 1944-
This article deals with some aspects of the historical Abraham. Reference is made to an Afrikaans author, Karel Schoeman, and his novel, "Verliesfontein". In this work Schoeman attempts to enter the history of a town and its people. This, however, is not possible and he therefore says that history is another country. A country which is totally inaccessable. It is, however, also true of Abraham. Since the nineteenth century it has been emphasized that we can never determine the historical Abraham. There are no reliable written sources about him (Wellhausen). Even if one tries to get behind the sources and determine the oral tradition (like Gunkel), Abraham still evades one. Through markers in the text and ancient near eastern parallels some scholars even sought to date and describe the era of Abraham. These attempts also failed. It is argued that we should rather refrain from dating Abraham. This, however, is not the end of the story. We can still try to determine how Abraham was interpreted in faith through the ages. In this regard Von Rad's usage of "Usage" can be of great assistance. In a next article this topic is discussed futher.
Teologiekroniek : die kerk en ekonomiese globalisering
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2001) De Villiers, D.E. (Dawid Etienne)
Die kerk kan die huidige debat oor ekonomiese globalisering nie ignoreer nie. Die debat het nie net te doen met die suiwer ekonomiese vraag of dit die mees effektiewe ekonomiese stelsel is waaroor ons tans beskik nie. Dit gaan ook oor die morele vraag of dit bydra tot groter geregtigheid in die wereld en of dit eerder groter ekonomiese ongelykheid en armoede bevorder. En dit gaan ook oor die vraag wat die taak van die kerk is ten aansien van ekonomiese globalisering en die uitwerking daarvan. Dit is onmoontlik om in hierdie kroniek volledige antwoorde op hierdie twee vrae te kry. Daar word eerder aanvoorwerk gedoen vir 'n deeglike en omvattende kerklike debat oor ekonomiese globalisering. Eers word probeer om vas te stel wat ekonomiese globalisering is en wat die faktore is wat daartoe bygedra het. Daarna word aandag gegee aan die uitwerking van ekonomiese globalisering. Ten slotte word verskillende vlakke onderskei waarop die kerk betrokke sou kon raak om die negatiewe uitwerking van ekonomiese globalisering te verlig.
No culture shock? Addressing the Achilles heel of modern Bible translations
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2001) Joubert, Stephan Jacobus, 1958-
Modern Bible translations are often more sensitive to the needs of their intended readers than to the right of biblical texts to be heard on their own terms as religious artefacts from the ancient Mediterranean world. Since all biblical documents linguistically embody socio-religious meanings derived from ancient Mediterranean societies, they also need to be experienced as different, even alien, by modern readers. Without an initial culture shock in encountering a Bible translation modern people are held prisoners by Western translations of the Bible. Therefore, translations should instil a new sensitivity among modern readers to the socio-cultural distance between them and the original contexts of the Bible. In order to help facilitate this historical awareness, a new generation of "value added" translations must, in creative and responsible ways, begin to provide a minimum amount of cultural information to assist modern readers in assigning legitimate meanings to the linguistic signs encapsulated on the pages of the Bible.
Psalm 137 : 'n (on)christelike Psalm?
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2001) Mare, Leonard P.
Christians tend to be horrified and embarrassed by the bloodthirstiness of Psalm 137, especially in the light of Jesus' command to forgive one's enemies. A prayer, which rejoices in the cold blooded murder of innocent children, seems totally unchristian. However, the psalm is part of the Christian canon, and therefore it cannot be ignored. It is the aim of this article to show that Psalm 137 can and should take its rightful place in the life and worship of the Christian Church.
Met 'n lied in die hart
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2001) Vos, C.J.A. (Casparus Johannes Adam), 1945-
Psalms are songs that have principal importance in Jewish and Christian traditions; in the Eastern Orthodox and Western churches; in the Roman Catholic tradition and numerous Reformed divisions. Contemplation on this rich heritage considers the Psalm's contribution to the enrichment and magnification of the liturgy. The richness that the Psalms offer as song book, should be rediscovered and utilised. In this article, selected new Psalms, recently versified in Afrikaans by T T Cloete, are analysed. These Psalms are to be taken into official use on 28 October 2001. The place and function of hymnals is also considered. The church songs are analysed using three criteria: theological, literary, and musicological aspects.
Morality, imagination and human decision making
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2001) Liebenberg, J.; Human, Lourens H.; Muller, Julian C.
The authors of this article explore the possibility of using imagination instead of so-called objective truths in human decision making. They argue that imagination plays a role even if one operates with the objectivist view of morality. What now is needed is to elaborate on the role that imagination plays when humans have to make moral decisions, especially when they exprience that they are lost, that they are in a state of aporia. In the approach suggested, one is forced to come to grips with the full complexity of one's situation. No easy, ultimately correct decision is presupposed. Instead, one is forced to take full responsibility both for the construction of alternative stories (and therefore alternative moralities) and also for choosing the preferred story and its desired and undesired moral consequences.
Biblical interpretation in the Russian Orthodox Church : an historical and hermeneutical perspective
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2001) Negrov, Alexander I.
This study attempts to identify the issues that are specifically important for an understanding of biblical interpretation within the Russian Orthodox Church. Its purpose is not to advocate pro or contra Russian biblical scholarship, but to place the emphasis on the history of biblical interpretation in the Russian Orthodox Church and on Orthodox biblical hermeneutics. Two considerations are specifically pertinent to the study of this topic. First, the history of biblical interpretation is surveyed from a sole and specific perspective - from within a historico-dogmatic development of the Russian Orthodox Church from the Kiev period of its history (9_13th century) till the Synodal period (1721-1917). Second, it is true that once originated, the Biblical Study in Russian Orthodoxy went its own way and developed its own fundamental principles of interpretation. Although many principles correlated and corresponded with general principles of biblical interpretation, in essence they form "Russian Orthodox Hermeneutics". This paper seeks to establish an outline of the essential elements of Orthodox biblical hermeneutics as they developed in the history of interpretation.
Reconciliation and economic justice in South Africa: The role of Church and Theology
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2001) Dolamo, R.T.H.
The Church as we understand it, is an alternative community to the State because it has been borne out of the single most important event of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (Pannenberg 1972:87). The Church is therefore an institution that does its theology from the christological perspective without doing violence to the other two persons of the Trinity. One important concept that needs to be revisited by the Church through its theology is that of reconciliation with regard to economic justice in South Africa. We have achieved democracy in April 1994, but economic justice will remain an elusive goal, if reconciliation is not related to South Africa's historical socio-economic imbalances. The Church by its nature, must remain a beacon of hope for those who are struggling from the underside and margins of society.
Liturgie, transformasie en die Afrika Renaissance
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2001) De Klerk, Barend Jacobus, 1945-
The African Renaissance concerns the moral, cultural and spiritual transformation of the African human being. Liturgy has a decisive impact on the vision, aspirations and hopes of the believer. Therefore, liturgy can have a significant influence on the African Renaissance if it adheres to fixed liturgical principles, the response of the believers is culturally bound and liturgy attains an indigenous character. As liturgy has the ability to restore human dignity and bring about reconciliation, believers can consequently gain confidence to co-operate in the healing process of the continent. Aspects of African culture displaying a close resemblance to the Bible should be developed, for example celebrating the presence of God, utilising the power of Scripture reading in liturgy, delivering sermons full of imagery, establishing an ubuntu of faith, using symbols inherent both in the Gospel and African culture, creating space for movement, communion and festivity, as well as developing songs, music and dances in a creative way.
Wat is de mens, dat Gij hem gedenkt? Een bijdrage tot een homiletische antropologie
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2001) Bos, Rein, 1955-
This article offers a contribution to the homiletical anthropology. It is an attempt to correct certain elements of the classical reformed vision, where human beings are theologically defined as sinners. About human relations, human thoughts, words and deeds, one cannot speak only in terms of sin, deficit or guilt that must be redeemed. Human experience also attests to the reality of the Kingdom of God and its righteousness. Theoretical homiletics and practical sermons have to accept this ambivalence of experience. This article wants to do justice to the multifacetted and multi-coloured character of the witnesses of Old and New Testament. - Obedience and righteousness get their places next to guilt and failure. - When preaching speaks about sin and sinners, the preacher must distinguish between perpetrators and victims. Preaching cannot and may not throw both on one heap. - The experience of evil is not only a matter of guilt. Evil can present itself also as suffering which gives rise to lament in the midst of the community of faith. - Human beings can also be surprised by unexpected joy and grace, which gives rise to songs of praise.
Inligtingsarmoede : 'n Christelik etiese refleksie
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2001) Britz, Johannes J.
Information poverty does not only pertain to the lack of essential information, but can also be defined as a condition of life where the majority of people within a specific context do not have the means nor the skills to access essential information for survival and development. It is a form of poverty that is furthermore characterised by global social injustice, and can as such be seen as one of the major poverty problems facing the new millenium. This article investigates the problem of information poverty from a moral perspective, and suggests ethical guidelines to address this form of poverty.
"But where's the bloody horse?" Die NG teologie in Afrika
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2001) Van Niekerk, A.S. (Attie)
The relation between theology in the Dutch Reformed Church and the African world is discussed with reference to: (a) the relation between theology in the Dutch Reformed Church and science, and specifically the university with its policies; (b) the relation between science and the African world, especially as seen by African writers; and (c) the way that certain theologians in the Dutch Reformed Church have dealt with the African world and African theology. The relation between theology and praxis depends on the conception of truth held by the theologian involved. If truth is seen as the product of the theologian as subject (each subject produces his or her own truth), or if truth is identified with propositions or statements, the related theology can be expected to be unrelated to the praxis. A relation concept of truth is where God addresses a person and confronted by the realities of life and discovers truth in these relationships. Such a concept of truth does offer the prospect of a theology that interacts with reality. It is suggested that opportunities to engage existentially in such relations should become a strong characteristic of the way in which our theology is structured.
Prinses Diana als postmoderne heilige en een kerkdienst in een museum : Tendensen in de dynamiek van cultus en cultuur vanuit een West-Europees perspectief
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2001) Barnard, Marcel
The publication of a new service book of the reformed and Lutheran churches in the Netherlands, and of a new liturgical handbook, have given the science of liturgy in that country a new impulse. The development of the discipline is focused on a cultural-anthropological perspective as well as on a reflection of the discipline in itself. In this article, two illustrating examples of four dimensions in this dynamism are given. The four dimensions are then discussed. These four dimensions are: 1. the popularity of rituals and symbols; 2. the interference of different systems of meaning; 3. the restoration of the two domains of art and liturgy into the one domain of imagination; and 4. the (sometimes radical) recontextualisation of liturgy. These dimensions of liturgy are all tendencies in the dynamism of cult and culture, and to understand them, it is necessary to use cultural-anthropological methods in the science of liturgy.
Politieke tegnologie van die vroee Christen se gepynigde liggaam
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2001) Vorster, J.N.
The early Christian martyr is usually only seen in terms of testimony or witness. It is argued that a political technology of the body enables us to see the manner in which the pained body of the early Christian martyr functioned as a space upon which political strategies for the empowerment of interested parties were enacted.
Jesus - Kind van God, vaderloos in Galilea
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2001) Van Aarde, A.G. (Andries G.)
This article consists of four sections. Firstly, it reflects on the public debate regarding Jesus' alleged illegitimacy. The article argues that illegitimacy here refers to fatherlessness. Secondly, Joseph is focused on. According to New Testament writings of the latter part of the first century, Joseph is either Jesus' biological father (John's gospel) or the person who adopted him as son (the gospels of Matthew and Luke). Thirdly, Joseph as a legendary literary model is discussed (in the Old Testament, intertestamentary literature, the New Testament, writings of the Church Fathers and the dogtrines of the Orthodox Church). Fourthly, the articles sketches a picture of a fatherless Jesus based on evidence from the earliest intracanonical writings (the Sayings Gospel Q, traditions in the Gospel of Thomas, Paul's letters and the Gospel of Mark). Joseph does not appear in these writings. The article concludes with a reflection on the relevance of fatherlessness for today.
Christ : a solution to suffering in First Peter
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2001) Steenberg, Pierre Francois
Christ is presented as a solution to suffering in first Peter. This is achieved by way of three main arguments. Firstly, a new identity is developed of which Christ forms the center. Secondly, the author provides hope, which includes eschatological hope that can be theirs only through Christ. Lastly, Christ is offered as the rational for endurance. His example is presented for the believers to follow. If the readers accepted the new identity in Christ, grasped onto the hope and followed the example of Christ, their suffering would become bearable in the present and be solved in the future.

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