PhD Theses

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14194/2796

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A Biblical and Theological Analysis of Specific Tenets of Word of Faith Theology: Pastoral Implications for the Church of God
(South African Theological Seminary) Morris, Russell Alexander; Lioy, Dan T.
This research seeks to answer the question, “what are the major pastoral implications of word of faith theology within the ministry context of the Church of God”? To accomplish this task, a practical theological paradigm is utilised. First, a literature review investigates the current state of scholarship regarding word of faith theology.The literature review reveals several gaps in current scholarship. No substantial inquiry regarding word of faith theology and pastoral ministry in the Church of God (Cleveland, TN) was found, therefore, the need for this research finds validation. Second, a contextual analysis that examines the basic biblical and theological tenets of the Church of God (Cleveland, TN)is given. This analysis establishes the classical Pentecostal context within which the research is conducted. Third,a historical analysis is offered that explores the historical and contemporary framework of word of faith theology.This allows for the juxta positional assessment of Church of God teaching and word of faith theology. Fourth, the biblical and theological foundations needed to critique and assess specific tenets of word of faith theology are explored. Fifth, the major implications of word of faith theology for pastoral ministry within the Church of God are suggested.Here, practical recommendations are offered as correctives for the various cited implications. Finally, a summary of the research findings, recommendations for further study and the contribution of this research to the field of practical theology are offered.
A Biblical Theology of Sabbath-Keeping Based on the Cosmic Temple Understanding of Creation, Especially for Lay Shepherds in Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California
(South African Theological Seminary Johannesburg) Hay, Chris 1958; Lioy, Dan T.
The Sabbath has long been debated, contested, and often ignored. It has fallen prey to legalistic overreach and new covenant apathy. This thesis seeks to develop a biblical theology of the Sabbath that will restore Sabbath-keeping to the twenty-first-century church without falling into Sabbatarianism or discounting the Sabbath as an old covenant relic. The major claim is that understanding the seventh day of creation as God taking up residence in his cosmic temple clarifies a biblical theology of Sabbath-keeping. The implications of this Sabbath rest are applied to the non-vocational lay shepherds at Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California. Chapter 1 introduces the research questions that drive this thesis and demonstrates that the Sabbath has its origins in creation week. Chapter 2 surveys the findings of the theological literature on the Sabbath published primarily in the last 30-35 years. Chapter 3 exegetes and analyzes several biblical texts that provide the foundation for developing a biblical theology of the Sabbath. Chapter 4 analyzes biblical texts that teach the cosmic temple understanding of creation week. Several texts from ancient Near Eastern writings are also explored to provide a cultural setting for the Old Testament texts. Chapter 5 synthesizes the research from Chapters 3 and 4 into a biblical theology of the Sabbath. Chapter 6 concludes the study and offers practical suggestions for Sabbath-keeping for the twenty-first-century lay shepherds at Cornerstone Church. The thesis concludes that the Sabbath is a creation ordinance that God intended for all people at all times. ‘Sabbath-keeping’ is defined as stopping one’s everyday work for one day each week, understood as a spiritual discipline, not a rigid, legalistic demand. The conclusions suggest that the ancient Israelites would have understood the Genesis creation narrative as describing God creating a cosmic temple during the first six days, that he entered his cosmic temple on day seven to rest, and in so doing, he established and defined the Sabbath for all time. The implications of God entering his cosmic temple on the seventh day of creation demonstrate that the Sabbath is not a day for adhering to burdensome rules but a day to stop normal activities and demonstrate one’s radical trust in a God who provides all that is needed for life. There is freedom and flexibility in how that day is experienced, but it is a day to experience the peace and stability in trusting him. These conclusions are applied to the lay shepherds at Cornerstone Church, encouraging them to stop their everyday work for one day each week. This weekly practice should provide an environment for spiritual growth and restoration, enabling them to continue their faithful service.
A Comparative Study of the Practices of the Mystics sadhu Sundar Singh and the Desert Fathers and the Implications of Appropriating Christian Mystic Practices in the Church Today
(South African Theological Seminary) Parks, Clayton Aaron; Arles, Siga
This research seeks to answer the question: How do the spiritual practices of Sadhu Sundar Singh and the Desert Fathers compare with each other and what are the implications of appropriating Christian mystic practices in the Church today? This study utilizes the method of phenomenology to solve the research problem by identifying and analyzing relevant literary data in order to explore God’s interactions with man through Sadhu Sundar Singh and the Desert Fathers.First, a literature review explores the current status of scholarly research into the personalities and histories of the legendary Christian figures of Sadhu Sundar Singh and the Desert Fathers. A literature review reveals that within several areas of current scholarship, gaps appear and no substantial inquiry regarding the similarities and differences of spiritual practices between Sadhu Sundar Singh and the Desert Fathers is found. Therefore, the need for researchinto this specific area finds validation.Second, a survey of the lives and theology of Sadhu Sundar Singh and the Desert Fathers is provided in order to introduce readers to the personalities and histories of the legendary Christian figures. Third, a detailed analysis is conducted of the textual examples of documented prayer and meditation, visions and miracles, and self-deprivation undertaken by Sadhu Sundar Singh and the Desert Fathers.Fourth, a comparative analysis of the spiritual practices of Sadhu Sundar Singh and the Desert Fathers is provided, followed by a critical assessment of Christian mystic practices appropriated in the Church today.Finally, a summary is provided of the research findings, including the theological and practical value of studying the spiritual practices of these Christian legends,as well as the pros and cons of appropriating Christian mystic practices in the Church today. Recommendations are then made regarding the benefits of utilizing said practices for deepening one’s personal spiritual life and the dangers of appropriating unbiblical mystic practices in the Church today.
A Critical Analysis of Christology in N.T. Wright and Wolfhart Pannenberg: Implications for a Christo-Centric Homiletic
(South African Theological Seminary Johannesburg, 2023) Duffield, Devon 1988; Bartholomaeus, Michael; Falconer, Robert D.
The Christo-centric homiletic is considered one of the leading contemporary approaches within the evangelical hermeneutic and homiletic society. However, its popularity has not made this approach immune to criticism. This thesis seeks to point out that the Christo-centric homiletic is embedded in a Christology from above, which contributes to its strengths and weaknesses. It explores the implications of the from below Christologies of N.T. Wright and Wolfhart Pannenberg on the Christo-centric approach. A unique research methodology is employed that consists of five literary tasks to address the research problem. The research project begins with examining the from below Christologies of Wright and Pannenberg, which encompasses the overarching tenets of their Christologies and the influences of other scholars upon their presuppositions and Christological developments. Then, the strengths and weaknesses of their Christologies are identified, described, and evaluated through critical analysis. Subsequently, the Christo-centric homiletic is examined, and its underlying Christology and shortcomings are specified and assessed. It is argued that the Christo-centric homiletic is embedded in a from above approach to Christology and that the presuppositions of a Christology from above contribute to the homiletical approach's shortcomings. The implications of the strengths of Wright and Pannenberg's Christologies on the Christo-centric homiletic are then explored. These implications demonstrate that these two from below Christologies enrich and challenge the Christo-centric method in various meaningful ways. This thesis suggests that if the Christo-centric method takes the from below Christologies of Wright and Pannenberg seriously, it can address specific weaknesses and find resources to enhance some of its strengths without negating its central conviction of preaching Christ in every sermon. This thesis fulfils the profound need to place the current homiletical debate on Christo-centric preaching in dialogue with Christology. It defends the unique proposal that the Christo-centric method can address its criticisms without becoming more Theo-centric.
A Critical Evaluation of John Robert Stevens’ Theology of Spiritual Formationin Dialogue with Søren Kierkegaard
(South African Theological Seminary Johannesburg, South Africa) Gruenberg, Jeremiah; Asumang, Annang
John Robert Stevens (1919-1983) was a Pentecostal/Charismatic minister whose teachings emphasize Christian maturity. In his dozens of major published works, he describes a Christian lifestyle of “a walk with God”, which stands as a uniquely holistic and relational model of spiritual formation. Utilizing the existential voice of Soren Kierkegaard as a dialogical partner, this dissertation identifies, synthesizes, systematizes, assesses, analyses, and critiques John Robert Stevens’ teachings on a walk with God. Stevens’ holistic model is described and measured along four axes: goal, paradigmatic concept, theological foundations, and activities. Stevens’ concept of a walk with God includes the primary interrelated topics of Christlikeness, the Kingdom, and the believer’s relationship with God. Christ and His Lordship are the centre of this formative walk with God. Further, Christian maturity reflects the internalized Kingdom, as well as the transformation of God's Kingdom citizens. True spiritual formation results from an ongoing, obedient relationship with God, who is the only source of genuine transformation. According to Stevens, Christian formation is an existential and relational endeavour. It naturally arises from a daily focus of relating to God in the course of life, and consistently moving in the direction of God's will. The dialogue with Kierkegaard—the father of existentialism—highlights and sharpens Stevens’ view of Christian spiritual formation. In the course of engaging with Stevens’ teachings, particular aspects of his model are critiqued exegetically, while others are critiqued theologically. Contemporary biblical scholarship and works on spiritual formation supplement missing elements of Stevens ‘Theo-philosophical foundations. The result of this systematic study of John Robert Stevens’ concept of a walk with God is this summary proposition: Christian spiritual formation is a relational endeavor in which ontological maturity toward Christlikeness is realized via an interactive, obedient, and holistic relationship with three persons of the Trinity in an ongoing walk with God, who is the only source of true spiritual transformation.
A Critical Examination of the Role of the South African Evangelical Church in the African Renaissance
(South African Theological Seminary) Lockard, Anna-Marie; Domeris, William R.
This research examines the key role of the South African evangelical church in the African Renaissance movement. A paradigm for assessing this role was taken from the book of the Acts of the Apostles. The hermeneutics of a socio-rhetorical interpretation of chapters two through four was used to identify ways whereby the first century church engaged with its culture without losing its unique identity.The origins and objectives of the African Renaissance have been carefully considered, particularly within the South African context. A critical examination of the ideology of the movement was examined in order to determine the feasibility of the church engaging with the movement’s philosophy and objectives.Although several scholars maintain that the African Renaissance has objectives within the political, socio-economic, and cultural arenas, few scholars suggest the role of faith and the church in their goals.Therefore, this research presents biblical strategies whereby the South African evangelical church may engage with the African Renaissance as a bold and innovative witness.
A Critical Study of the Doctrine of Impartation in the Church of God Denomination
(South African Theological Seminary Johannesburg) Bewley, Billy Darrell; Joubert, Callie W. T.
Research reveals that many of the major Pentecostal denominations as well as the Church of God accept impartation as a biblical doctrine and practices in assembly meetings. However, there is some definite inconsistency in how the term ‘impartation’ is understood which has created controversy among church leaders. The problem surrounding the doctrine relates to two main areas: (1) the theoretical, which refers to an unbiblical understanding of the doctrine, and (2) the practical, and that is the manner in which impartation is practiced in the churches. In other words, there is strong indication that the doctrine of impartation although practiced has not been given adequate theological and/or hermeneutical attention. The Greek word for imparts metadatum, which means to ‘give over, to give a share’. Consequently, some Pentecostals and charismatics incorrectly view metadatum to mean the ability to transfer one’s own anointing and/or spiritual gift/gifts to another person or persons. Also problematic is the unscriptural bias towards the impartation of extraordinary gifts over and above those gifts considered to be ordinary. This, in turn, has led some to conclude that the definition of impartation has become so hermeneutically skewed and misunderstood that it consequently distorts the nature and intention of God’s gifts. The findings of this study reveal that although impartation is a valid biblical doctrine, there is no evidence to support the view that believers can seek impartations from the dead, initiate healings and blessings at will or volitionally impart their spiritual gifts and anointings to other persons. Rather, the study reveals that all gifts are spiritual in origin and available for impartation, that God imparts His gifts and blessings sovereignty, and may alternatively use human intermediary assistance to impart through the laying on of hands, spoken words and acts of service. The study attempts to formulate a correct biblical understanding of the doctrine of impartation and provides a biblical model of impartation that can be considered for adoption and implementation by Pentecostalism and, more specifically, the Church of God.
A Critical Study of the Newfrontiers Apostolic Network and the Impact of the Transfer of Leadership on Structure, Unity and Mission
(South African Theological Seminary Johannesburg, South Africa) Dooley, Sean Derrick; Joubert, Callie W. T.
Newfrontiers is a modern apostolic network of churches. It not only has its origin in and developed from the apostolic gift of Terry Virgo, but also grew rapidly into an international movement based on Virgo’s apostolic ministry and an ‘apostolic team’ of Ephesians 4:11 ministries he had established. As Virgo approached his later years, the international apostolic network faced the question of apostolic succession. A decision was made to release several new apostolic spheres under new apostolic leadership. This amounted to the multiplication of the erstwhile single apostolic sphere into several apostolic spheres rather than simply replacing Virgo with one apostle and maintaining Newfrontiers as a single apostolic sphere. The latter has been the approach of the modern apostolic network known as New Covenant Ministries International, which has led to that movement splintering into several independent apostolic spheres. Newfrontiers has expressed the hope that the Newfrontiers spheres will remain relationally and organically connected as a movement in order to avoid becoming a bureaucratically formalised organisation. The aim of the study is to analyse Newfrontiers’ transition and the factors that had an impact on Newfrontiers’ transition. It compares the dynamics of Newfrontiers’ transition with biblical teaching on apostolic succession in the Pastoral Epistles and applies Peppler’s Christocentric principle to the Gospel of Matthew. Bridges’ theories on how to manage leadership transitions in organisations are used to further evaluate Newfrontiers’ leadership transition, whether the transition conformed to Bridges’ principles of best practice. Together, these methods form the lenses through which the impact of Newfrontiers’ leadership transition on the mission, unity and structure of the movement is evaluated. The study concludes that the multiplication of Newfrontiers into several new spheres is indeed in accordance with the leadership teachings of the Pastoral Epistles and Peppler’s Christocentric principle. It shows that Newfrontiers could have done better if it had a specific transition plan in place for the period of transition from the old situation to the new. The question of whether women can be apostles and elders is also raised, together with how the lack of female engagement in the process at the highest decision-making level may have affected it. Finally, there is also the question of whether Newfrontiers’ sense of theological and ecclesiological certainty, its call to pioneer the restoration of the church to its New Testament glory, and the movement’s male bias might produce a movement that is cognitively closed to outside theological and ecclesiological perspectives and therefore may not remain receptive to changes that would sustain the movement in future.
A Critical Theological Examination of Little’s Creation-Order Theodicy’s Soteriology in Light of the Coexistence of Gratuitous Evil with the Benevolence and Sovereignty of God
(South African Theological Seminary) Johnson, Connie
The task of theodicy is the ongoing effort to rationalize the coexistence of God, with all his attributes, and evil. This research examines Little’s Creation-Order Theodicy, identifying inherent weaknesses in the theodicy, and proposing revisions to eliminate the weaknesses. The resultant revised Creation-Order Theodicy provides for the salvation of all who would be saved and upholds the benevolence and sovereignty of God, while affirming the coexistence of gratuitous evil. This research employs an integrative theology methodology, drawing from multiple fields to construct a holistic resolution. Beginning with an examination of Little’s Creation-Order Theodicy and then to both historical and contemporary theodical theories, comparisons and contrasts are made to extract, or formulate, biblically and theologically sound doctrine. The contributory elements of both historical and contemporary theodical doctrine, in both original and revised formulations, are introduced back into the dialectic circle, effecting the revision of Little’s original Creation-Order Theodicy. Having theologically and systematically formulated revisions to the Creation Order Theodicy, the revisions are evaluated against theories of significant monotheistic theodicists and Little’s original Creation-Order Theodicy to determine if the revised theodicy better addresses soteriology in light of the coexistence of gratuitous evil with the benevolence and sovereignty of God. The resultant revised Creation-Order Theodicy provides sound biblical, theological and logical solutions to the weaknesses found in Little’s original Creation-Order Theodicy. Lastly, the contribution of the revised Creation-Order Theodicy to theology is examined and suggestions for further research are recommended.
A Critique of the Radical Lutheran Theological Method, and Defense of the Lutheran Scholastic Method
(South African Theological Seminary, May 2018) Cooper, Jordan; Lioy, Dan T.
This dissertation is a defence of the Lutheran scholastic method as used in Martin Chemnitz and Johann Gerhard, as well as a critique of the theological methodology of the Radical Lutheranism of Gerhard Forde, Steven Paulson, and Oswald Bayer. In particular, this work defends the use of classical essentialist metaphysical categories in theological discourse, and critiques the use of existential and linguistic categories which are proposed by some as an alternative system. The philosophical presuppositions within the Lutheran scholastic method are explained with reference to both the reformers as well as seventeenth century theologians, and are demonstrated to be those of classical philosophy, utilizing elements of both Plato and Aristotle’s thought. This scholastic approach is contrasted with Radical Lutheranism, which rejects both Platonic and Aristotelian essentialism. Instead, these authors use philosophical ideas taken from the linguistic philosophy of John Austin as well as existentialism and relation alontology. This leads to a theology which is opposed to traditional categories of essence and substance, as they favour categories of act, relation, and language. It is demonstrated in this work that though these modern writers add some valuable insights into Lutheran thought, these modern categories do not give an adequate basis for doing theology apart from a real-essentialist metaphysic. Apart from the notion of essence, the categories of relation, language, and existence fail to give an adequate explanation of the doctrine of God, of anthropology, and other areas of Christian thought. The claim is made in the dissertation that the metaphysical categories of Plato and Aristotle, as modified and adopted by Lutheran scholastics, are a necessary and beneficial part of the theological task. Contemporary theology is in need of this grounding, not to replace developments in Lutheran thought within the past century, but to teach them in a manner consistent with classical Christian orthodoxy. The goal of this work is to demonstrate the inadequacies of Radical Lutheranism and the superiority of scholastic categories. These ideas are applied throughout to various practical and theological issues that impact the contemporary church. There are three particular areas in which the implications of these ideas are discussed: Lutheran identity, apologetics, and understandings of gender. In each of these areas, it is demonstrated that the Radical Lutheran method does not give adequate answers to these questions. Instead, it is contended that the traditional scholastic method allows for a more consistent and biblical perspective on these particular topics. This leads to a proposal for a new scholasticism in the contemporary church.
A Dialectic Inquiry Concerning Meredith Kline’s Covenant Theology as Architectonic Substructure of the Reformed Two-Kingdom Project
(South African Theological Seminary, 2021) Beck, Michael David Lockhart 1979; Falconer, Robert D.; Lioy, Dan T.
The emergence of the Reformed Two-Kingdom project has generated a great deal of discussion. However, in this discussion, it is often assumed that Kline was the founder and architect of the project. The problem is that there has been very little examination of this point. In response, the following study investigates Kline’s covenant theology as it stands in relation to the current proposals of the Reformed Two-Kingdom doctrine. Due to the nature of Kline’s contribution, this research falls within an overlap of systematic theology and biblical theology. The data to be evaluated is obtained through the means of a dialectic inquiry—a research methodology that allows for the legitimate exploration of Kline’s thought in the light of competing perspectives within the Reformed tradition. After presenting the preliminaries of the study, as well as a robust literary survey, Kline’s covenant theology is itself described. His system is then put into discourse with three differing covenantal models. The primary dialogists in view at this point are (1) Greg Bahnsen, (2) John Frame, and (3) Herman Dooyeweerd. These represent the Theonomist, Perspectivalist, and Dooyeweerdian schools, respectively. The responses to Kline from these differing schools are analysed according to their central concerns. As a right understanding of the cultural mandate is a central concern for all the above perspectives, this issue is examined separately through the means of a biblical-theological study. The collected data of the preceding chapters is used as the means of a final evaluation. The findings of this study show both that Kline is able to withstand the critique of his interlocutors and also that his covenant theology has a clear bearing upon current discussions between Two-Kingdom and transformationalist groups. His model not only challenges monocovenantal conceptions of Reformed thought, but in so doing, shows important connections between soteriology, missiology and culture engagement. Further, it is seen that Kline’s protological eschatology, along with his insistence upon a basic level of post-fall structural duality, prevents a conception of the cultural task that falls prey to triumphalism and over-realized eschatology. In regard to the above, while the key differences between Kline and his interlocutors are clarified, the often-overlooked points of nuance in these differences are also highlighted. As these nuances prove important in their potential to lessen frustration and impasse in the ongoing dialogue, it is here that the value of the study is most clearly observed. The study shows that while Kline’s work can be seen to support contemporary expressions of the Reformed Two-Kingdom doctrine, it is anachronistic to understand this as though he himself advocated all the details of these proposals. Further, although Kline is typically spoken of as the father of the Reformed Two-Kingdom project, it is not as readily acknowledged that Kline himself stood in tentative alignment with some important features of Kuyperian and Dooyeweerdian thought. By providing clarity on this point, this study assists in reducing facile and overstated argumentation. More positively, it takes focus off of simplistic labels and instead directs future inquirers to the more central substructural issues that are at play. Further, it suggests that intra-Reformed polemics will lack productivity if the undergirding covenantal elements of the discussion are not given greater attention.
A Formação de Liderança UrbanaNuma Perspectiva Missional e Pastoral:Estudo de Caso de Seminário Teológico Batista Nacional,Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil
(South African Theological Seminary Johannesburg South Africa) de Melo Silva, Eder José; Barro, Antonio C.
The formation of urban leadership in a missional and pastoral perspective: case study of the National Baptist Theological Seminary in Goiania-GO-Brazil. In the urban context, the educational process of Christian leadership formation presupposes a theological instruction that offers a double theoretical focus, namely missional and pastoral. The research shows that most of Brazilian theological seminaries focus on pastoral formation and that the missional approach is an exception. As the single approach on either, or pastoral or missional, results in dysfunctional formation, the proposal is to focus on both kinds of approach: missional –know how to reach the non-God’s people –and pastoral –know how to nourish the God’s people faith and give them tools to the missional work. The Theology of Integral Mission (TMI) was chosen as our theoretic and theological (missional/pastoral) framework because the National Baptists have chosen it as ecclesiological axis and reference point to the pastoral and missional church’s activities. For many, the TMI was born in Latin America, from Latin American theologians. It has roots in the missionary movement of North America and Europe in 19thand 20thcenturies, also in the classical theology and evangelical movement. The creation and expansion of TMI has, as grounding facts, the Latin American Congress of Evangelization (CLADE), the first in 1969, the beginning of the Latin American Theological Fraternity (FTL) in 1970, and World Evangelization Conference in Lausanne –Switzerland in 1974. Three bases were extracted from TMI in order to cooperate for theological education with pastoral and missional bias, in leadership formation from the urban context. They are: (i) principle of integrity of human being, (ii) principle of contextualization, and (iii) principle of mission. The cultural and biblical anthropology are the most suitable anthropological framework (missional/pastoral). It is so because the cultural anthropology helps the understanding of the web of meaning that weave the homo urbanely. It also guides to build links of understanding on missional and pastoral actions and thoughts, both from the city, where the drama of human existence has its locus. And yet the biblical anthropology also offers us fundamental tools for the missional and pastoral actions and thoughts. Starting 13on biblical anthropology of Pauline leadership, biblical principles of Christian leadership formation are extracted. It’s done by analysing Paul’s letters and the book of Acts, keeping in mind Paul’s cultural and familiar background, his converting experience and called, his way as disciple and leader, as missionary, pastor and theologian. In each and all of these aspects, we have four auxiliary principles for the theological education of leadership formation that, from de urban context, meet the demands, which are: (i) anthropological, (ii) pedagogical, (iii) ecclesiological, (iv) strategic. The Metropolitan Area of Goiania (RMG), with more than 2 million citizens, is the historical and geographical area of research approach here. The city of Goiania started on October 24th, 1933 as Capital of the State of Goins. At that time it was one of the five Brazilian cities well planned. It was created in order to be head in the national integration process from Midwest on. The new capital creation was contributed by four factors: (i) the national economical groups, mainly with headquarters in São Paulo, wanted expand their bounds because of 1929 Economic Depression in USA; (ii) the Revolution of 30ies, when Giulio Vargas created the West Occupancy Program, known as “Marche para o Oeste” [“March to the West”]; (iii) The political scene in Goins, since Dr.Pedro Ludovico Teixeira, Auditor of the State was political enemy of the oligarchy of the Caiados, that dominated politically and were installed in the old capital of Goiás; (iv) the old capital did not meet the conditions of being a metropolis due to several factors, among them the topography and the insalubrity, pleaded since the 19thcentury. The original layout of Goiania was inspired by Versailles in France and had as its ultimate goal the construction of Brasilia as federal capital. Goiania has become a regional leader in several areas, such as third sector, medicine, education and culture. Its location made it a national strategic point between South/Southeast and North/Northeast as well as for the entire Brazilian Midwest. The webs of meaning that form the cultural ethos of the homo urban us Goianiense, with their peculiar characteristics resulting from the process of city formation, are: urban/rural conflict and attachment to the religious. In several areas, especially in music and architecture, it’s possible to find out the Goianiense homo Urbanus characteristics. In architecture it was the city where the attachment to the neo-colonial occurred for longer, and in music became the capital of Brazilian country music. In the last years it was the 14attachment to the religious and the rural that lost field because of secularization and urbanization. In architecture it lost field by the option of modernist styles, and in music by the adoption of the university country music. The general characteristics of the homo urban us Goianiense, urban stress caused by traffic, unwanted conurbation, and violence affect the life of the city. From the cultural ethos of the present urban world we find in the homo urban us Goianiense some characteristics, such as: the sense of impermanence, generated by the strangulation of the traditional family and by immigration; the culture of sensations, generated by an individualistic and materialistic worldview. Unemployment and competition are facts that affect the Goianiense daily life, making urban life even more individualistic and generating immense personal and structural conflicts. Other two characteristics present in the homo urban us goianiense are: being relational and storyteller. This research has shown that the institutional agents involved in the transformation process, through the pastoral and missionary activity and reflection in the RMG, are three: the National Baptist Theological Seminary (SETEBAN)in Goiania, the National Baptist Convention of Goiás (CBN-GO), and the eighteen National Baptist Churches of the RMG. The profile of the National Baptist pastors of the RMGis: in the totality, man; most white men; married; average of two children; and most have their own houses. All have theological formation; average age is 50 years; time of ministry 20 years. Most were born in an evangelical home and have always belonged to the CBN. The churches that herd, most have their own headquarters; with average capacity for 200 people. Involvement with mission is regular and with social issues is weak. Of the 20 cities that make up the RMG, we have churches in 6 cities. They are thirteen in Goiânia, one in Aparecida de Goiânia, one in Trindade, one in Senador Canedo (the five largest cities of RMG), and one in Inhumas. The SETEBAN-Goiânia was created in August 21st, 1982. It‟s mission is theological formation of one‟s vocation and growth propitiation of the National Baptist Churches of the RMG. It does that through orientation on National Baptist doctrine, mainly on Holy Spirit baptism issues and spiritual gifts, which points to an educational philosophy with content and functionalist bias. The Seminary educational process has a curriculum whose matrix is common to most Brazilian seminaries. The research suggests interventions in the institutions 15that are part of the process, especially in SETEBAN-Goiânia. It proposes a new educational philosophy, namely: serving in the preparation of persons dedicated to the ministry in a missional and pastoral perspective, according to Baptist principles, not leaving aside the questions concerning the Holy Spirit baptism and the spiritual gifts as realities for our days. It also proposes the execution of a Pedagogical Project, whose values are the three principles of the TIM and the four principles of leadership of the Pauline experience. Keywords: Theological Education; Urban leadership; National Baptist Convention; SETEBAN-GO.
A Igrejacomo Agente de Transformação: Uma Perspectiva Bíblica e Teológicana Pós-Modernidade e no Contexto de Brasília.
(South African Theological Seminary) De Melo, Expedito Ferreira; Barro, Antonio C.
This thesis is a result of a bibliographic research made from literary ecclesiology works of general theology and sociologic literature, in a Christian and missiology perspective, in attempt to identify the reason of the existence of dichotomy in the theology of types of the Christian faith universe as well as aspects of greater social incidence of the church. Our aim is to answer the following questions: Does the church have social responsibilities? How has the church responded to the social problem in its context? Until what point can the church be a transforming instrument in society? Also, in a resumed way, we try to offer answers to questions related with the needs of the Bible and Theology as for the church not to lose itself on the ways of liberalism, fundamentalism and post-modern pragmatism. We also make an approach about the type, or types, of Theology that the church needs to operate as a true agent of transformation of the human being as a person and its social-political and cultural context. In the final chapter, the approach will be the implementation of the global mission in Brasilia’s context. Several social-political and cultural aspects have been considered based on the society of Brasilia’s ethic transformation and its position as the federal capital. These aspects have been analyzed based on the post-modern philosophy, and its many characteristics, that have been molding men’s mentality in the post-modernity. Immediately we presented some practical suggestions so that the church in Brasilia’s region, that its formed by the Federal District and surroundings, can operate as a transforming agent of an individual as well as the context of which this individual is inserted. Key words: social responsibility, incident ecclesiology, relevant theology, contextualization, transforming mission, fundamentalism theology and post-modernity.
A Linguistic Evaluation of the Calvinist “All Without Distinction” Reading of πᾶς in the Pastoral Epistles
(South African Theological Seminary Johannesburg, 2023) Jensen, Aaron Michael 1989–; Lioy, Dan T.; Coon, George
This thesis examines the Calvinist “all without distinction” reading of πᾶς, an interpretation that safeguards the Calvinist teachings of double predestination and limited atonement by claiming that in four key passages within the Pastoral Epistles (1 Tim 2:4, 6; 4:10; Titus 2:11) πᾶς denotes not all individual people but all kinds of people. By exegetically refuting other Calvinist proposals for these verses, this thesis demonstrates that double predestination and limited atonement are unviable without the “all without distinction” reading. Nevertheless, it also documents how the primary motivations for these Calvinist teachings—preserving God’s role as sole cause in election, conversion, and salvation, and preserving an effective atonement—are maintained without double predestination and limited atonement by other Christian traditions. Although Calvinists allege that linguistic support for the “all without distinction” interpretation is found in other passages where πᾶς denotes something less than every individual, no prior study quantified the linguistic rationale for the referent of πᾶς being limited. This thesis undertakes this missing linguistic analysis using a corpus-based lexical analysis. It identifies six manners of restriction found with πᾶς: hyperbole, implicit domain restriction, nonveridicality, intensive nouns, collective nouns, and superordinate categories. Using Gricean pragmatics, exegetical analysis, operator scoping, semantic analysis, and cognitive linguistics, it determines the linguistic features by which restricted uses of πᾶς might be identified. By applying these criteria to 1 Timothy 2:4, 6; 4:10 and Titus 2:11, this thesis finds that these verses lack the linguistic features necessary for such restrictions. Consequently, it demonstrates that the “all without distinction” interpretation is unviable, as are the Calvinist teachings of double predestination and limited atonement that depend on it. Conversely, it confirms as scriptural teaching that God desires the salvation of all and that Christ died for the sins of all. This thesis further articulates the practical significance of recognizing the universal scope of the Father’s merciful will and the Son’s atoning death. Non-Christians being evangelized can be presented with a sure basis for faith, and Christians doubting their own faith or elect status can be offered direct assurance from God’s will, Christ’s death, and the means of grace.
A missiological exploration of the encounters between Reuben Omulo and the Church Missionary Society in Central Nyanza, Kenya
(South African Theological Seminary, 2022) Omondi, Francis 1966; Kritzinger, J. N. J.; Johannes S. Malherbe
This research examined the Anglican Church’s history of mission in Central Nyanza, focusing on the formative role played by Reuben Omulo, a Luo mission innovator. It explored the key features of the mission praxis of Omulo and his encounters with the Church Missionary Society (CMS). It adopted Kritzinger’s (2008) seven-point “praxis matrix” in an “encounterological” approach to probe the encounters between the mission praxes of Omulo and CMS. This involved investigating the dynamics of the interaction between those praxes, focusing on each of the seven dimensions in turn. The study used data from personal interviews and discussions with a selected group of respondents from Siaya and Kisumu Counties, among families and places where Omulo worked. It analysed secondary data from relevant published works and other written materials from private archives. The pre-colonial encounters forged the diverse Luo people into a nation, as this research clarified, and further described those complex relations, which shaped critical features of the Southern Luo world, priming them for their encounters with the European colonialists and CMS missionaries. CMS’s intention for indigenizing the Church met resonance in Omulo. As the research illustrated, Christianity met spiritual needs that traditional religion could not. For Omulo and his colleagues, more so, the vernacular Scriptures eliminated ambiguities in the Luo religion, making the transition to Christianity more effortless for them. The study revealed a creative tension between Omulo and CMS praxes, which for Omulo was an attempt to balance Christianity’s demands with traditional responsibilities and integrate the Luo into Christianity. But CMS sought to interpret the Luo worldview to infuse it with the Scriptural message of Christianity. Omulo and his colleagues proved to be active recipients of the Gospel, as the study showed, for protesting colonial injustice, compelled the authority to reform, and further stimulated CMS and Anglican Church in Kenya to embrace a social justice spirituality. The challenges facing the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) can be traced to how CMS established the African Anglican Church in Central Nyanza, as this research showed. This research, therefore, suggested that the ACK should focus on empowering the laity as her primary agency for mission and that the Church’s mission praxis must reaffirm culture to speak to the core needs of the people. It recommended that mission history be studied with the praxis matrix as part of an “encounterological” approach.
A Multi-Disciplinary Study of Deuteronomy 23:12-14
(South African Theological Seminary Johannesburg, South Africa) Yamoah, James; Domeris, William R.; Asumang, Annang
Deuteronomy 23:12-14 is pregnant with interesting theological, moral, and socio-cultural concepts which require exploration. From the premise that the possession of and survival on the Promised Land required that Israel would engage in warfare, YHWH’s presence in their camp to engage in a war against His enemies, who were Israel’s enemies, had to be ensured. Such divine presence required the maintenance of holiness of their military camp,which called for the people having to bury their faces outside it, a practice argued to be motivated by other reasons as well.This multi-disciplinary study focuses not only on unearthing these concepts,but also determining the interconnections between themand integrating them meaning fully to show that the usual interpretation of the holiness laws from a dichotomous perspective needs revision. Based on the historical-grammatical model for exegesis, the contextual,literary and textual underpinnings of the pericope are analysed, bringing to bear its structural and rhetorical undertones. The analyses identify major concepts:ritual purity, hygiene, sanitation,‘place theology’, ‘name theology’, and ‘YHWH/holy war’, and produce a translation of the text that was interpreted for the original and other OT audiences. It is shown that the overall motivation for the pericope was not YHWH’s presence in the camp; rather the war that He would execute.On the strength of a proposed hermeneutical grid for the interpretation of OT laws in the NT context, the dissertation links the pericope to some NT passages. One major link is to Paul’s letters to the Corinthians,where he discusses purity of the temple (2 Cor 6:14-7:1). Ultimately, the undergirding concepts find allusions in the apocalyptic camp (19:11-21:27), where the prophecy of God’s final war is given.The analyses confirm the hypothesis that the pericope is not only undergirded by many concepts (or disciplines) which can be integrated meaningfully,but also helps in providing a general framework for the study of OT passages.Overall, not only are the findings presented in this dissertation relevant to contemporary Christians as they look forward to the fulfilment of the ‘camp’promises,but the larger society of today can also derive some benefits from the recommendations it makes.
A narrative-rhetorical analysis of John the Baptist’s contribution to the Christology the gospel according to John.
(South African Theological Seminary Johannesburg) Mzebetshana, Mzayifani; Asumang, Annang
Recent Gospel studies in general, and especially on John’s Gospel have neglected the extent and nature of the contribution of the Baptist’s Christology to John’s Christology. Some studies have predominately accentuated the polemical purposes of the Baptist’s accounts against the Baptist’s followers. However, considering that the accounts of the Baptist’s ministry and witness are strategically and prominently positioned in John’s literary structure, this suggests a very heightened role in John’s narrative. This study, therefore, investigated the nature, influence and contribution of the Baptist’s Christology to the overall Christological programme of the Gospel of John. Also, it examined the narrative-rhetorical contribution of the Baptist’s Christological witness to John’s rhetorical strategy. It was determined based on narrative-theological and comparative analyses that the Baptist’s Christology is a major resource for the Evangelist’s formulation of his own Christological beliefs and articulation thereof. This conclusion counters the competing suggestion that the Baptist is employed for polemical rhetorical purposes by the Evangelist. Also, based on the theory of eyewitness memory and comparative analysis, it was resolved that the Baptist’s Christology in John’s Gospel is historically plausible. And, based on a narrative-rhetorical analysis, it was determined that the Baptist’s Christological witness was employed to enhance the credibility of John’s rhetorical strategy. Specifically, the author relied on the Baptist’s authority and social prestige to convince his readers to believe that Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God. However, these readers were dissuaded from ensuing the patterns of the Jewish religious authorities because of their unbelief, conflict, and hatred of Jesus. Ultimately, all John’s readers were to aim to be at the level of Baptist’s belief, characterised by precise Christological confessions, a full grasp of the significance and implication of their Christological confessions and unwavering conviction about Jesus’ identity and mission. overall, the study makes four fundamental contributions to scholarship, namely, (a) that in theological terms, the Christology of the Baptist substantially influences the overall content and presentation of the Christology of the Fourth Gospel, (b) that the nature and extent of this influence derive from the historical relationship that existed between the Baptist and the fourth Evangelist as a former disciple of the Baptist, thus formatively shaping the latter’s Christological beliefs and formulations,(c) that therefore the Evangelist marshalling of the Baptist’s Christology for rhetorically advancing his pastoral and evangelistic purposes in writing the Gospel derives from these historical and theological influences, and (d) that these findings severely undermine the hitherto common scholarly construct that the references to the Baptist in the Gospel served polemical purposes.
A New Proposal forA Biblically Grounded Christian Social Welfare Provision Among the Ghana Baptist Convention Member Churches inAshanti Region, Ghana
(South African Theological Seminary Johannesburg South Africa) Adasi-Bekoe, Joseph; Asumang, Annang
This study was conducted against a background of severe challenges of urbanization on the traditional social protective systems. The absence of formal social support, amidst severe social welfare challenge has led to the springing up of several mutual, self-help societies providing social welfare services to their members on their own terms. One of such groups providing social welfare services to its poor members is the Ghana Baptist Convention churches in the Ashanti Region. As a church group, its methods and approaches to organizing social welfare was expected to be distinctly different from the others but was found to be using similar methods as the mutual self-help groups. The aim of the study was to seek for a theologically sound, biblically grounded and sociologically appropriate means of organizing social care in these churches. Using the Zebrass (1974) practical theological model as a primary tool for the study, data was collected from twenty churches to give a thick description of the current situation. The research showed that the current system of the church lacks distinctive Christian identity. It relies on social insurance principles to guide its operations just like most other mutual support groups. Relying on an exegesis of four anchor texts (Lev. 25:35-39;Matt. 25: 31-46; Acts 2:42-47and4:32-37) to discover the standards of God, the study made proposals to address the identified deficiencies of social welfare in the churches. The proposal, a synthesis of ideas and examples from the teachings of Jesus and the best practices of both biblical Israel and the New Testament Church, are practical steps to primarily, give the social welfare system of the church a biblical character. It seeks to enhance the pro-poor nature of the church’s social welfare system and highlight the key role spiritually matured managers could play in shaping the outcome of social welfare provision in the churches. It also recommends steps to secure the needed funding and involvement of all church members to make the benefits of the system relevant and appropriate to the needs of its members. vi Implementing the new proposal, will not only ensure that the church’s social welfare system is in tune with sociologically accepted best practice of social care but crucially meets God’s standards of care for the poor among His people.
A Pastoral Strategy for Addressing Spousal Violence in Northern Accra Diocese of the Methodist Church, Ghana
(South African Theological Seminary) Spaine, Randulph Akuna Dennis; Asumang, Annang
A Practical Theological Exploration into the Methodist Church Ghana’s Use of Social Media
(South African Theological Seminary, 2022) Atuahene, Joseph Owusu 1968–; Tucker, Roger
Digital communication, particularly social media platforms, have had a significant influence both within and outside the church. Social media platforms, specifically Zoom and WhatsApp, became the major tools that were employed to maintain and continue online services and other church- related activities amidst COVID-19 which prohibited traditional in-person meetings among churches, including the Methodist Church Ghana (MCG). However, its adoption and effective use may have been influenced by several factors, including church doctrine, cultural perception, technical capabilities, etc. The church’s ability to understand this influence and deliberate effort to commit and use these technologies effectively will be essential in enhancing its relevance and ability to reach out with the good news of Jesus Christ. This study, therefore, employed Osmer’s approach, a four-step theological model adopted to evaluate the causalities, forms and effect of theological practices understanding the current usage of Zoom and WhatsApp online platforms and assessing how they have been accepted. It also sought to discuss biblical, normative and theological principles to examine social understanding, and finally developed strategies to ensure the smooth and effective adoption of Zoom and WhatsApp in services, bible studies, bible classes, information dissemination and other activities in the MCG. A survey was conducted through questionnaire and focus group discussions which focused on collecting data from congregants and clergy on the level of inclusion of social media platforms in their church activities, membership indulgence, complaints associated, positive impacts on the growth and how traditional and cultural norms affect their usage. From the survey, there was an overall positive response regarding Zoom and WhatsApp pertaining to their popularity, accessibility, reliability, and how informative and trustworthy they were. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was used to ascertain the critical factors for acceptance. The results showed that conducting activities and teachings using Zoom and WhatsApp helps to bridge the gap between cultural, traditional and religious beliefs, known as subjective norms, and technology acceptance by the congregants. This strategic reflection must be contextually informed, theologically grounded, and biblically supported. Social media is undoubtedly another channel to disseminate the gospel and share church activities globally, but it must be used carefully and always be guided by the teachings and guidelines of the church. The major pragmatic strategies identified to help the easy implementation and smooth transition to more integrative church-related activities and technology included team building, training, a specified target audience, and creating a clear social media presence and policymaking goals. It is recommended that the church continues to be engaged in applying the suggested strategies by organizing seminars at the different levels of the church structure to communicate these methods to all congregations and congregants fully. Further research could repeat this study with different churches and Christian bodies as well as different social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube, amongst others.