Theses and Dissertations (New Testament and Related Literature)

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Die Schöpfungsordnung und ihre Auswirkung auf die Hermeneutik des Neuen Testamentes in der Frage der Rolle der Frau.
Suckau, Irina (University of Pretoria, 2025-08-30)
This thesis deals with the question of the role of women in the church. It examines in particular the connection between the creation story and the Fall, and the New Testament epistles, using methods of intertextuality. This thesis includes exegesis of Genesis 1-3 (in excerpts), 1 Corinthians 1:2-16; Ephesians 5:21-33, and 1 Timothy 2:12-15.
Christologie und Soteriologie im 1.Petrusbrief: eine exegetische Untersuchung der Vielfalt und Bedeutung der Christologie und ihr Zusammenhang mit der Soteriologie
Tittel, Jonas (University of Pretoria, 2025-08-31)
In dieser Arbeit wird erforscht, welche Rolle die Christologie und die Soteriologie im 1.Petrusbrief spielen. Ebenso wird die Vielfalt der Christologie sowie ihr Zusammenhang mit der Soteriologie erforscht. Hierfür wird zuerst in der Einleitung der Arbeit in das Thema und in die Arbeit eingeführt. Hier werden unter anderem die Zielsetzungen, die Arbeitsschritte und Methoden und die Themen und Arbeitsschritte, die nicht bearbeitet werden, detaillierter erläutert. Anschließend liefert das Kapitel „3 Gliederung und Inhalt des 1.Petrusbriefes“ einen Überblick über die inhaltlichen Themen des 1.Petrusbriefes und einen Überblick über mögliche Gliederungen des 1.Petrusbriefes. Dies soll helfen, die folgenden christologischen und soteriologischen Textstellen besser in ihrem engen literarischen Kontext betrachten zu können. Nun beginnt der inhaltliche Hauptteil der Arbeit. Zu jedem Kapitel des 1.Petrusbriefes gibt es ein Kapitel in der Arbeit. In diesen fünf Kapiteln werden die christologischen und soteriologischen Textstellen des jeweiligen Kapitels des 1.Petrusbriefes in einem ersten Schritt exegetisch untersucht. Es werden exegetische Herausforderungen differenziert betrachtet, im Hinblick auf die Frage, wie verschiedene christologische und soteriologische Aussagen zu interpretieren sind. In einem zweiten Schritt wird die Rolle der Christologie und die der Soteriologie herausgearbeitet. Es wird gezielt erforscht: Wie nutzt der Autor die Christologie und die Soteriologie im Verlauf des Textes? Welche Funktion erfüllt die Christologie und Soteriologie in der jeweiligen Textstelle? In welchen Zusammenhang steht die Christologie beziehungsweise die Soteriologie mit den jeweiligen Ermahnungen jeweiligen Textabschnitte? Ebenso wird der Zusammenhang der Christologie mit der Soteriologie betrachtet: Inwiefern hängt die Soteriologie von der Christologie ab? Aus Gründen der Übersichtlichkeit werden für die Thematisierung dieser Fragen keine separaten Unterkapitel erstellt, sondern diese Fragen werden am Ende des jewei-ligen exegetischen Kapitels betrachtet. Dieser Abschnitt wird mit „Rolle/Funktion/ Bedeutung der Christologie/ Soteriologie“ oder ähnlichen Formulierungen eingeleitet. Diese Vorgehensweise entspricht der in der Einleitung dargelegten Definition von Exegese. Diese Ergebnisse der jeweiligen Zwischenfazits werden in der Zusammenfassung dieser Arbeit gebündelt dargelegt. Im Forschungsausblick werden die Themen dargelegt, deren nähere Betrachtung als ertragreich eingestuft wird, die aber nicht dem Schwerpunkt dieser Arbeit entsprechen. Im Fazit werden die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit thematisch gebündelt. Diese wiederrum werden anschließend zusammengefasst und die Forschungsfragen werden gezielt beantwortet. Die Christologie und Soteriologie werden gezielt vom Autor in seinem Brief genutzt und eingesetzt. Die Christologie besitzt meist eine begründende Funktion für vorangegangene oder nachfolgende Ermahnungen. Dasselbe gilt für die Soteriologie. Auch wird die Christologie genutzt, um den Christusgläubigen ein Vorbild darzulegen, welchem sie folgen und somit genauso handeln sollen. Ebenso resultieren verschiedene ethische Handlungsanweisungen an die Christusgläubigen aus der Christologie wie auch aus der Soteriologie. Die Christologie und die Soteriologie sind somit eng mit dem Lebensalltag der Christusgläubigen verbunden. Im 1.Petrusbrief wird thematisch stark auf unrechtmäßiges Leiden der Christusgläubigen aufgrund ihrer Christusnachfolge eingegangen. Aus diesem Grund wird die Christologie wie auch die Soteriologie im Verlauf des 1.Petrusbriefes genutzt, um die Christusgläubigen in ihrem unrechtmäßigen Leiden zu ermutigen und zu stärken. Auch wird im Verlauf der Arbeit deutlich, dass die Soteriologie aus der Christologie resultiert.
Batswana and the miracles of Jesus : a social-anthropological study
Molopyane, Lethabo Melissa (University of Pretoria, 2025-09)
This study presents a decolonial re-interpretation of Jesus identity by employing a Tswana Ngaka (diviner) as both a heuristic and analogical tool. It challenges the dominant Western interpretations that tend to limit Jesus to a singular role, most often that of a healer or miracle worker, by emphasizing the rich, multidimensional nature of His identity, particularly within the gospel of Mark. With social-scientific criticism as a methodology and social anthropology as a theoretical framework, the research explores the socio-cultural background of first century Mediterranean society and draws meaningful comparisons with the traditional roles of the Ngaka in the Tswana culture. The study utilizes both direct and indirect analogical models to explore cross-cultural insights. While direct analogies examine figures from Jesus’ own historical and cultural setting in the ancient Mediterranean world, indirect analogies engage with the Tswana cultural perspective of Ngaka as a healer, community leader, spiritual guide, and restorer of harmony. Ethnographic methods, including interviews and focus group discussions with Tswana diviners and elders, enriched this comparative analysis, and grounded the research in lived African experiences. The findings demonstrate that, much like the Ngaka, Jesus was deeply engaged in the social, spiritual, and communal life of His context, restoring individuals to community life, challenging systems of oppression, and providing holistic healing. This perspective critiques the reductionist portrayals of Jesus and instead offers a more comprehensive understanding of Him as both divine and deeply human. In doing so, the study makes a significant contribution to African biblical scholarship by presenting a culturally rooted, decolonial reading of Jesus that resonates with African worldviews, especially those of Batswana. It further invites a broader intercultural engagement within historical Jesus’ research.
The haemorrhaging non-functional woman in Mark 5:25-34 using a healing perspective
Ndawonde, Nobuhle (University of Pretoria, 2025-03)
This research explores the narrative of the haemorrhaging woman in Mark 5:25–34 through multiple interpretive lenses, focusing on its social, cultural, and religious implications. Drawing from the hybrid frameworks of both Social-Scientific Criticism and healing perspectives as primary and secondary methodologies, this study examines how the woman's physical ailment intersects with her social marginalisation within the patriarchal and purity-obsessed society of ancient Israel. The haemorrhaging woman's condition, as described in Leviticus 15:25–30, rendered her ritually impure and socially ostracised, stripping her of agency and social status. This research emphasizes that the healing narrative is not only a physical restoration but also a profound social restoration. Jesus’ intervention challenges the exclusionary cultural norms, offering the woman both physical and social wholeness. The research further highlights the transformative role of faith in overcoming societal barriers and the public nature of healing to affirm the woman's dignity. By analysing the story through these lenses, this study underlines the broader implications of healing in terms of social identity, gender roles, and the intersection of faith, health, and communities
Paulus vor Damaskus : autobiografische notizen auf dem hintergrund hellenistisch-römischer selbstdarstellung
Nell, Mathias Werner (University of Pretoria, 2024-08)
Im Corpus Paulinum finden sich mehrere Passagen, in denen der Apostel Paulus Aussagen über die Zeit aus seinem Leben vor seiner Christusoffenbarung auf der Straße nach Damaskus trifft: Röm 1,1; 11,1; 1 Kor 15,9; 2 Kor 11,22; Gal 1,13- 15; Phil 3,5-6; 1 Tim 1,13; 2 Tim 1,3. Nach einer ausführlichen Auswertung und Darstellung darüber, wie diese Texte im Verhältnis zu zeitgenössischen Texten in der Paulusforschung bisher analysiert wurden, folgen eigene Untersuchungen dazu: Hierfür wurden intensiver als bisher die Vita des Josephus und die Res gestae divi Augusti analysiert. Ferner wurden Philos Legatio ad Gaium und, erstmals in der Paulusforschung, die nur fragmentarisch erhaltenen Schriften der Autobiographie des Augustus sowie die Autobiographie des Nikolaos von Damaskus untersucht. Schließlich wurden alle Schriften mit Plutarchs Moraltraktat De se ipsum citra invidiam laudando verglichen, worin Plutarch ausführt, wie man sich selbst loben kann, ohne Anstoß zu erregen. Als Ergebnis konnte gezeigt werden, dass Paulus in seiner apologetischen Selbstdarstellung weitgehend den rhetorischen Konventionen seiner Zeit folgt, aber manchmal auch drastisch von ihnen abweicht. Letztlich weiß Paulus, dass er nur Gott gegenüber verantwortlich ist und will daher allein ihm gefallen. Außerdem konnte gezeigt werden, dass einige der Stilmittel des Paulus im zeitgenössischen Umfeld früher vorhanden sind, als sie in der bisherigen Paulusforschung erkannt wurden.
Peace mediation : the role of John 7:53–8:11 for possible conflict management in reformed churches in northwest region of Cameroon
Tem, Roger M. (University of Pretoria, 2025-04)
No abstract
Weidet die Herde Gottes : Wie das Neue Testament die Hirte-Herde-Metapher gebraucht, um Gemeinde zu beschreiben
Hirschi, Andreas (University of Pretoria, 2024-08)
Die Hirten-Herde-Metapher vermittelt einen autoritären Leitungsstil. Die Schafe haben kein Mitspracherecht, noch werden sie nach ihren Wünschen gefragt. Welche Weide ihnen zusagen würde, welchen Weg sie zum nächsten Weideplatz wählen wollen, welche Therapie sie bei Krankheiten bevorzugen würden, wann sie gemolken oder geschoren werden möchten. Das Bild der Hirten-Herde-Metapher vermittelt eine strenge Hierarchie zwischen Leitern und Geleiteten. Es scheint, dass den Hirten eine fast grenzenlose Verfügungsgewalt über die Herde zugesprochen wird. Dem ist aber nicht so, denn die alttestamentlichen Texte und Schriften aus dem alten Orient geboten diesem Vorhaben Einhalt und sprachen mittels der Hirten-Metapher den Königen und Führern des Landes eine Fürsorgepflicht gegenüber ihren Völkern aus. Führern und Königen, die diese Pflicht nicht wahrnahmen, wurden die Hirtentitel aberkannt oder als schlechte Hirten dargestellt. Die neutestamentlichen Stellen bauen auf diesem Fürsorge-Verständnis auf, indem die Leitung einer Gemeinde mit der Hirtentätigkeit beschrieben wird. Die Texte legen dabei einen Schwerpunkt auf die Versorgung der Gemeinde. Diese beinhaltet das Weiden der Gemeinde. Darunter versteht das Neue Testament, dass die Hirten die Gemeinde mit geistlicher Nahrung versorgen, indem sie ihnen das Wort Gottes lehren und sie darin unterrichten. Vor Gefahren zu schützen gehört genauso zu ihrer Verantwortung, wie der Gemeinde gegenüber ein Vorbild zu sein. Im allgemeinen Verkündigungsdienst, sowie in seelsorgerlichen Belangen sind die Hirten für die ganze Gemeinde verantwortlich. Durch diesen Betreuungsdienst übernehmen die Hirten auch den Schutz der Herde. Die Gefahr der Irrlehre, welche aus der Gemeinde selbst kommt oder von außen in die Gemeinde eindringen kann, fordert die Hirten zur Wachsamkeit auf. Dieses „wachsam sein“ braucht es, um Irrlehren rechtzeitig erkennen und reagieren zu können. Diese Verantwortung tragen die Hirten gegenüber der Herde, sowie den anderen Hirten. Anders als der wortwörtliche Hintergrund der Metapher vermuten lässt, wird die Hingabe und der Gehorsam der Herde nur indirekt gefordert. Die Texte sind vor allem an die Hirten gerichtet, und nur die Gläubigen werden „Herde“ genannt. Die neutestamentlichen Stellen betonen sehr stark den rechtmäßigen Besitzer der Gemeinde. Also müssen die Hirten nach dessen Anweisungen der Gemeinde vorstehen und ihre Arbeit eines Tages vor dem Eigentümer verantworten. Dieses „Verantworten“ wird jedoch nicht als Drohung ausgesprochen, sondern als Belohnung in Aussicht gestellt. Jesus stellt sich als der eigentliche Hirte und Besitzer der Herde vor und er ist es, welcher das Seelenheil in seinen Händen hält, was für die Hirten eine große Entlastung ist.
Der hermeneutische Ansatz gemeinschaftlicher interpretation biblischer texte : Eine Untersuchung aus rezeptionsgeschichtlicher und neutestamentlicher Sicht
Ritzmann, Andreas (University of Pretoria, 2024-09)
The study examines the hermeneutical approach of communal interpretation of biblical texts and explores its contribution to interpretation in the 21st century. This approach can be associated with the term "hermeneutical community" and emphasizes the role of the community in the hermeneutical process of knowledge acquisition. To highlight this contribution, the approach is examined from both a New Testament and a reception-historical perspective. Regarding the New Testament, the guiding question is which texts indicate communal interpretation during the gatherings of the early Christians. Various texts are analyzed against their cultural-historical background and explored exegetically. The author identifies three different forms of communal interpretation in the New Testament, though not all of these forms equally emphasize the role of the community. From a reception-historical perspective, the focus is on models and forms of communal interpretation related to the examined texts and that methodologically reflect the approach. The author provides an overview of the last two centuries, outlining the opportunities and limitations of the different models. The results of both the New Testament and the reception-historical investigation are consolidated in the final chapter of the study. Based on the findings, the contribution of communal interpretation is 8 discussed, highlighting both its opportunities and limitations. The study concludes with a concrete model proposal that considers the study's findings and presents a differentiated view of a hermeneutical community. Throughout the work, the pluralistic context of the 21st century is considered, with the aim of offering a contribution to the current challenges through the approach of a hermeneutical community. German: Die Studie behandelt den hermeneutischen Ansatz gemeinschaftlicher Interpretation biblischer Texte und fragt nach dessen Beitrag für die Auslegung im 21. Jahrhundert. Der Ansatz lässt sich mit dem Begriff „hermeneutische Gemeinschaft“ in Verbindung bringen und legt einen Schwerpunkt auf die Rolle der Gemeinschaft im hermeneutischen Erkenntnisprozess. Um den Beitrag herauszuarbeiten, wird der Ansatz aus einer neutestamentlichen und aus einer rezeptionsgeschichtlichen Perspektive untersucht. Im Blick auf das Neue Testament ist die Frage leitend, welche Texte einen Hinweis auf eine gemeinschaftliche Interpretation bei den Zusammenkünften der ersten Christen geben. Dabei werden verschiedene Texte vordem kulturell-historischen Hintergrund beleuchtet und exegetisch erarbeitet. Der Autor arbeitet drei verschiedene Formen gemeinschaftlicher Interpretation im Neuen Testament heraus, wobei nicht jede dieser Formen die Rolle der Gemeinschaft gleichermaßen betont. Im Blick auf die Rezeptionsgeschichte liegen Modelle und Ausprägungen gemeinschaftlicher Interpretation im Fokus, die sich auf die behandelten Texte beziehen und den Ansatz methodisch reflektieren. Der Autor gibt einen Überblick über die letzten zwei Jahrtausende und benennt Chancen und Grenzen der verschiedenen Modelle. Die Ergebnisse der ntl. und der rezeptionsgeschichtlichen Untersuchung werden im letzten Kapitel der Arbeit gebündelt. Aufbauend auf dem erarbeiteten Ertrag wird der Beitrag gemeinschaftlicher Interpretation benannt, in dem sowohl auf Chancen als auch auf Grenzen hingewiesen wird. Die Arbeit wird durch einen konkreten Modellvorschlag abgeschlossen, der die Erträge der Arbeit berücksichtigt und ein differenziertes Bild einer hermeneutischen Gemeinschaft abbildet. Die gesamte Arbeit hat den von Pluralität geprägten Kontext des 21. Jhd. im Blick und möchte durch den Ansatz einer hermeneutischen Gemeinschaft einen Beitrag für die aktuellen Herausforderungen leisten.
A critical study of early christian construction of identity in 1 John : a social identity and social network analytic approach
Devenish, Pieter (University of Pretoria, 2025-02)
This thesis' primary research question revolves around how 1 John created identity and boundaries. The primary methodology of this study is embedded in the social scientific exegesis of the New Testament (Van Aarde & Joubert, 2009). In this study, the elements of Social Identity Theory (Tucker et al., 2014; 2020) will be incorporated with the critical aspects of social network analyses (Roitto, 2019) within the Johannine community to study and evaluate how identity and boundaries were constructed. The contribution of this study is grounded in that it finds the research gap of a combination of three distinct theoretical fields, namely a) the most recent perspectives of 1 John from a Social Identity perspective, b) the social network theoretical perspectives in conjunction with c) social scientific insights with regard to early first century social values such as dyadic personalities, reciprocity, honour, and shame, etc. This study is cordoned off by limiting the field of interpretive analysis specifically to a study of 1 John.
Investigation into the role of women during early christianity : implications for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Zimbabwe
Takawira, Tendai (University of Pretoria, 2024-11)
Employing a hybrid methodological framework which infuse African feminism and social-scientific criticism as research methodology, the study focused on investigating the role played by women during early Christian households’ pre-AD 70 milieu, an epoch understood by this research to cover the Hellenistic, Pauline, Synoptic Gospel, and deutero-Pauline households. The research sought to discover the implication of an African feminist and social-scientific reading of the above-named epochs’ texts which speak on the role of women in church as compared with their male counterparts and establish the light that reading cast on the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Zimbabwe’s (SDAZ) role assigning praxis between women and men. The findings were used as case study materials to justify reasons for her women’s ordination ban, a position that is against her official church policy directives contained in the 20th edition of the SDA church manual’s pages 78 and 85 which approves women’s ordination for deaconry and eldership roles to elected female church members. It was evinced that she opposes the SDA church manual directives on women’s ordination because of their incongruence with her African epistemological, philosophical, and cultural frameworks, which to a greater extent, resembles those of the early church’s milieu and thus through cultural borrowings, both the SDAZ and the early church ascribe collaborating-with-men roles to women, while the key authoritative ones are reserved for men. On this regard, she sees her ban on women’s ordination as having biblical support since she claims to be continuing with the early church practice. On the other hand, because the SDAZ’s epistemological, philosophical and cultural worldviews are diametrically opposed to those of her sister churches in the Euro-American continents, an ambivalent ordination of women practices thus exist in the SDA global church where the Euro-American SDA churches ordain with ease their women for the same roles that the SDAZ women are barred from. However, a deeper study on the SDA church’s policy documents discovered that their controlling body, the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists (the GC) has never approved women’s ordination for eldership and commissioned pastors’ roles even by the date of writing this research (see Chapter 2’s points 2.1 to 2.2.3), thereby revealing that the official position in the SDA church as regards women’s ordination, is that all Adventist women regardless of the territory they are in, are barred from the ordination rite. This reality shed the light necessary to see that the SDAZ is not violating her church policies in barring women for ordination. Rather, she is standing by the GC’s official position which currently does not approve the ordination rite to be administered to any female church member. As such, it is the Euro-American SDA churches that are opposing the GC position and thus are to face disciplinary action as is stipulated in on the 67th page of the SDA church manual. With this, the study concluded that the ambivalence is unofficial, yet unavoidable. However, the research recommended, as a future work, that there be studies to establish reasons why the universal ordination of women pronouncement carried in the 20th edition of SDA church manual’s pages 75 and 85 came about if the GC has not yet endorsed it. Also, that whether it gets approved in the upcoming GC Session to be held from 03 - 12 July 2025, they modify the phrase so that it does not project a universal application since the research foresees that the universal ordination of women is likely to be rejected again at the up-coming 2025 GC Session. The territorial ordination of women practice is thus the most likely outcome according to this study, where each territory/Division is to be allowed to decide on whether or not to ordain women guided by its epistemological, philosophical and cultural frameworks. The research revealed too that, although SDAZ women are barred from key leadership roles which require ordination, a plethora of other equally key leadership roles are open to all members regardless of sex or gender, ordained or non-ordained, through the GC working policy BA 60 10’s non-discriminatory employment practice claim thereby projecting the SDAZ as an inclusive church which offers leadership roles to all qualifying members regardless of gender, sex, race, ethnicity, class, or geographical location, which is enforced by the GC working policy FB 05 - K 05 (see Chapters 2 and 6). These led to the recommendations suggested in Chapter 7, where the SDAZ has been challenged to consider the extent to which the inevitable reality of the non-static nature of culture and the effects of cultural borrowings from her Euro-American SDA churches, and / or other continents of the global village may be allowed to inform her future ordination practices just as the Greco-Roman of the early church, which she claims to be continuing with, also later evolved to partially relinquish its previously rigid laws of persons, property and family for example, which denied privileges to women and other classes of people who were denigrated on gender, class and sex basis such as women, slaves and plebeians and began to offer them roles and statuses which were previously blocked for them. The SDAZ therefore, ought to stand ready to justify her claim that she is continuing with the early church cultural practises which governed relations between men and women by establishing whether her Zimbabwean/African culture is likely to begin to loosen its rigid patriarchal ethos, like did the Greco-Roman, to allow women to assume roles and rite previously barred for them, which their counterparts in Euro-American SDA churches are currently enjoying.
Theological tendencies in the Gospel of Thomas : a socio-rhetorical reading
Lukhozi, Sipho (University of Pretoria, 2025)
This study investigates the theology of the Gospel of Thomas by critically examining three sayings (GThom 9, GThom 64, and GThom 65) against their synoptic parallels using socio-rhetorical interpretation. Two of the sayings, GThom 9 and GThom 65, are part of the triple tradition, appearing in all three synoptic gospels, while GThom 64 is part of the double tradition, recorded by Luke and Matthew. Vernon Robbins' socio-rhetorical interpretation allows for a reading that exposes the unique rhetorical techniques employed by the different authors. These rhetorical techniques provide the reader with insight into the socio-cultural context of the gospel authors. By following Robbins' socio-rhetorical analysis, the author of this dissertation uncovers a theology unique to Thomasine Christianity—a theology that does not rely on the passion of Jesus, takes a dim view of merchants, and treats violence as an acceptable instrument of retributive justice.
Die Filippense-himne as hermeneutiese sleutel tot die Brief aan die Filippense : 'n Intertekstuele analise en 'n outeurskapattribusiemodel
Slabbert, Martin Johannes (University of Pretoria, 2024-08)
This study examines the Philippians Hymn (Philippians 2:6–11) as a hermeneutical key to unlock the broader theological and rhetorical context of the Epistle to the Philippians. Through a detailed analysis of echoes, allusions, and neologisms, the research reveals how these elements foster both intertextual and intratextual dialogism, enriching the epistle's coherence and depth. By employing Patrick Juola’s authorship attribution model the study explores the Hymn’s origins and its deliberate integration by Paul, highlighting how the Hymn serves as a central, unifying component within the letter. The findings suggest that the Hymn is not merely a liturgical insertion but a critical element that enhances the theological discourse of the epistle. This research offers new insights into Pauline theology and the possible Pauline authorship of the Hymn, emphasizing the significance of the Hymn in understanding the complex interplay of themes within the early Christian community, and contributing to the broader field of biblical studies.
Economic justice in Luke 19:1-10 : a post-apartheid imperial critical reading with reference to the land question in South Africa
Motuku, Kenosi Patson (University of Pretoria, 2023-11-17)
The primary thesis of this study is that Zacchaeus’ words in Luke 19:1-10 micronarrative are a radical futuristic resolve responding to Luke’s radical message of ‘good news to the poor’ and ‘wealth renunciation’. Met squarely with the Saviour, Zacchaeus repents of his economically fraudulent ways, and reconciles himself with his estranged community by performing economic restitution and wealth divestiture to the victims of his unjust economic practices. This penitential commitment by Zacchaeus is radical when analysed within the imperial values of Roman-Palestine specifically, and the Graeco-Roman world generally. In a world where the ruling elites amassed wealth through oppression, tyranny, and exploitation of the poor, Zacchaeus’ heed Luke’s radical message of ‘care and concern’ for the poor, and restores illegitimate wealth stolen from the poor. The study deduces that Luke’s economic message is radical and counter-cultural to the dominant values of the Roman-Palestinian world of the Lukan text, and the Graeco-Roman social-world of its readers. Luke’s economic message is viewed as representing God’s economy in contradistinction to the unjust Graeco-Roman economy, with Zacchaeus understood as epitomising the radical response required in heeding Luke’s radical call. Thus, Luke challenges the Palestinian-Roman native collaborators like Zacchaeus who benefits economically by colluding with Roman oppressors in extracting wealth from the poor agrarian peasants, and the Graeco-Roman elites who amasses wealth through heavy taxation, and expropriation of land through oppressive systems and institutions designed to benefit the elites. This radical economic message of Luke, and the attendant radical response by Zacchaeus, is viewed as a necessary paradigm required in bringing about justice and genuine reconciliation between Blacks and Whites in post-apartheid South Africa. The thesis argues that the CODESA negotiations, the TRC nation-building efforts, and the post-apartheid economic policy trajectory have not been effective in addressing the colonial apartheid economic and spatial injustices, which informs the poor race-relations between Blacks and Whites in South Africa today. A ‘Zacchaeus moment’ is thus proposed as a probable theological paradigm in addressing economic inequality and the land question in post-apartheid South Africa today. Thus, the prophetic role of theology is signified by this study.
Family and kinship in the early Christian church and the modern Seventh-day Adventist Church : a comparison in ecclesiology
De Winnaar, Hendrik (University of Pretoria, 2023-09-15)
This study aims to identify the comparisons and contrasts that might exist between the kinship and familial ecclesiology of the first-century Christian church and the ecclesiology of the SDA church. It further aims to highlight the benefits of developing a familial ecclesiology in the SDA church. The last aim of this study is to positively contribute to the development of a biblical familial approach to the doctrine and practice of ecclesiology in the SDA church by making specific recommendations. The aim of this study is not to bring complete reform to SDA ecclesiology, but rather to inform and sensitise the SDA community with regards to the familial experience of the early Christian believers.
Children are made holy through marriage : shaping Christian households in 1 Corinthians 7:12-16
Nkambule, Benedict Lindokuhle (University of Pretoria, 2023-09-25)
This study applies social identity complexity theory as the theoretical framework in reading 1 Corinthians 7:12-16. This dissertation focuses on how Paul uses holiness language in 1 Corinthians 7:12-16 as a rhetorical device to advocate for unity and peace in the complex households with various social groups and identities including believers married to unbelievers. Holiness, with no moral implications, in this passage is thus a social identity marker inclusive of the unbelievers and subsequently the children from these marriages.
Israel, die Nationen und die Gemeinde in der Offenbarung des Johannes
Proelss, Silvia (University of Pretoria, 2023)
The study examines how Israel and the Christ-following community are related to each other in the Book of Revelation. It differs from traditional approaches which propose that, according to Revelation, the church is the “new Israel”. In contrast, this thesis argues that the distinction between ethnic Israel and the nations is upheld and still relevant. A spiritual interpretation of “Israel” in the key passage Rev 7:4 provides the basis for traditional approaches. This interpretation, however, must be questioned with regard to the application of ethnic terminology in Revelation and the adequacy of such a spiritualization as a means for displaying the relationship between Israel and the Christ-following community. The examination of the Jew-Gentile relationship in the tradition-historical background (the Old Testament and Second Temple literature) shows that becoming a Jewish proselyte was not a prerequisite for having a relationship with YHWH nor was the term “Israel” applied for referring to a Gentile nation. Further key passages are Rev 2:9 and 3:9 where a “synagogue of Satan” is mentioned. These passages need not be read as judging Jewish people for not accepting Jesus as the Messiah. There are other interpretative options; Rev 2,9; 3,9 could also indicate a conflict with judaizing Gentile believers in the Messiah. A close reading of key texts based on an abiding distinction between Israel and the nations leads to coherent results. The thesis presents a reading for the visionary part of Revelation that centers upon the restoration of Israel and its universal implications. The 144.000 in Rev 7 and 14 are interpreted as ethnic Israelites. The woman in Rev 12 and the bride (Rev 19 and 21) are understood as metaphors for Israel. Although the letters to the seven churches (Rev 2 and 3) indicate that there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles regarding the potential eschatological blessing for the individuals, the visionary part with its universal perspective provides a picture according to which Israelite particularism plays out on a national and functional level in the unfolding of eschatological blessing. The final vision (Rev 21 and 22) displays the eschaton as shaped by interdependence and mutual blessing between the nations and the New Jerusalem. The consequences of choosing a different framework become clear regarding the question how Israel and the Christ-following community are related to each other. The relationship that comes to the fore in the salvation-historical perspective of Revelation is not one between Israel and the church, but one between Israel and the Gentile believers in the Messiah.
Social networks in early christianity according to Luke-Acts
Dörpinghaus, Jens (University of Pretoria, 2023)
This study explores the narrative portrayal of the early Christian network in Luke-Acts by utilizing Social Network Analysis (SNA) and critical spatiality. Understanding social interactions and networks and how they influence society are important issues in this quest. Most studies by historians and biblical scholars have only focused on understanding how the New Testament constructs networks and identity using exegetical methods. In this work we have developed suitable methods for a mathematical computational social network analysis using exegetical methods. First, we provide a detailed methodological discussion that highlights the overlap between narrative criticism and SNA. Combining both in a second step, we present a SNA based on exegetical observations on Luke-Acts. This includes a detailed analysis with multiple methods like distance measures, structural analyses, community detection, and other methods from the social sciences. Transferring these results back to the domain of biblical texts, we provide a detailed analysis of Luke’s portrayal of community and social cohesion. This also includes research on a network construction which combines both Luke’s Gospel and Acts, the mission co-workers in Acts, different locations and spatiality, and detailed studies of several major and minor actors. By using these methods, we were able to demonstrate that methods from the humanities, in particular social network analyses, can bring fresh perspectives to our understanding of Luke-Acts. While the Gospel of Luke focuses on the connection between theological and christological motifs with social aspects in thirdspace (according to the categories of critical spaciality), and in particular describes the ‘in’ and ‘out’ in the inclusive network of Jesus-followers, Acts is more concerned with the firstspace and secondspace spread of the network and in particular how the network developed and displays the previously introduced motifs. Further analysis indicates that Luke’s primary focus is on the inclusion of every single person. In this, his inclusion of women stands out, but, however, his interest goes even further: He opens the perspective to all people. Thus, the opposite is also important: The SNA of Luke’s Gospel does not allow any conclusions that Luke in his composition intended that one particular group should play a special role in the community. The network is built around Jesus being the centre of Luke’s narrative and heological intentions. Luke’s primary narrative interest in composing interpersonal relationship is the idea of participation in a community. Acts describes a stable, redundant but expanding network. It refers to strong interactions between people who belong to several communities, which is a key to understanding the network. The results of this SNA emphasize that Paul was a person deeply embedded within the early Christian network. In particular, Luke does not omit co-workers, but highlights collaboration in mission not only with Paul, but also for Barnabas, Peter and John. All these actors use different strategies to collaborate with co-workers. Our approach also has the added benefit that it integrates an analysis of the methodological overlap between SNA, literary approaches and narrative criticism. However, more research needs to be done to evaluate how digital methods can contribute to our understanding of biblical texts.
Papyrus 72 and the Bodmer Miscellaneous Codex : a study of the dynamics of early Christian identity formation
Oliveira, Nycholas Lawrence David (University of Pretoria, 2023)
Early Christian manuscripts like P72 and the Bodmer Miscellaneous Codex (BMC) offer a window into the dynamics of early Christian identity formation. Recent scholarship argues that the scribe of P72 was also the collector of the BMC. This allows these manuscripts to be studied together as a creation of a single person in the early 4th century. Through the utilization of social-scientific and text-critical methodologies, and with reference to social identity theory, the present study will aim to explicate the socio-historical context of these manuscripts in conjunction with their known textual features in an attempt to more fully appreciate the dynamic process of social identity and boundary formation in some early Christians. My thesis can be stated as follows: The selection of texts in the codex, as well as the marginal notes and textual emendations in 1 Peter, are indicative of a process of social identity formation, specifically an emerging orthodox Christian identity that is seeking positive distinctiveness and striving to reinforce the boundaries between an ingroup and various other outgroups.
Die “ander” : Lukaanse Jesus en Lévinas
Becker-Ferreira, Anel (University of Pretoria, 2023)
Emmanuel Levinas’s philosophy of the “other” is investigated and brought into conversation with how Jesus regarded his “other” through a Lukan perspective of Jesus. The main focus of Levinas's philosophical works is the primacy of an ethical relationship of the "self" towards the "other". Using the social scientific method, Jesus’ attitude and actions towards his “other” in the Gospel of Luke are considered. Jesus proposes new values to include “otherness” in the kingdom of God. In the new kingdom of God, boundaries and advantages created by ethnicity, gender, status, and age are nullified. A comparison between Jesus’s actions from the Gospel of Luke and Levinas's philosophy of the “other” is explored. A proposal towards what South Africans can learn about otherness, equality, and diversity and an approach to embracing outsiders is made.
A beauty that beckons. The glory of Christ and its perception in 2 Corinthians 2:14-4:6
Lanz, Elias Johannes (University of Pretoria, 2023)
This study is an analysis of the glory of Christ and its perception in Paul's apology of his apostolic ministry in 2 Corinthians 2:14-4:6. The exegetical focus within the passage lies on the three verses that address the spiritual transformation of believers through their encounter with God: 2 Corinthians 3:3, 3:18 and 4:6. The study also presents a survey of spiritual perception and appearance in the Corinthian correspondence, a hitherto neglected perspective. The survey concludes that Paul desires the Corinthians to grow in spiritual perception and warns them of judgement by appearance only. In 2 Corinthians Paul is concerned with his relationship to the Corinthians. In light of accusations made against his person and ministry, he intends to correct the Corinthians' misperceptions. He explains that, contrary to appearance, his ministry does have glory. The study concludes that Paul uses the perception of the glory of Christ to explain the paradoxical nature of his ministry. The glory of his ministry is like the glory of Christ: it is unassuming and therefore not appreciated by everyone. But those who see Christ’s glory are transformed by the Spirit. They accept the paradoxical self-revelation of God in the suffering servant and Messiah, Jesus Christ. In analogy, they also accept Paul and his ministry. A further conclusion is that Paul includes the Corinthians in his ministry as co-witnesses to the gospel and the glory of Christ. Their transformation into the image of Christ means that they (should) reflect Christ’s glory. The transformation of believers is initiated by and results in the perception of the glory of Christ.

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