PhD Theses
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14194/2796
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Item Polity of the New Apostolic Movement in light of Biblical and Historical Precedents in the Christian Church.(South African Theological Seminary Johannesburg, 2022) Adams, Mark Allen; Harold, GodfreyThe New Apostolic Movement (NAM), also and originally known as the New Apostolic Reformation, is marked by two tenets: the legitimacy of the ministry of modern-day apostles and ‘theocratic single-headship’ of churches by apostolic leaders. While much has been written debating the legitimacy of a modern charismatic apostolate, there is a lack of specialized research regarding the polity of NAM networks and NAM churches. What is the polity of the New Apostolic Movement and how can that polity be evaluated in the light of biblical and historical precedents? In the identification of biblical and historical polity precedents of the Christian church, the simpler, more encompassing and less partisan categories of autocratic plurocratic and democratic have been favoured over the traditional categories of episcopal, presbyterian and congregational. Identification of polity precedents, exegesis of key texts and an examination of the ‘question of normativeness’ mark the New Testament survey. A fresh and comprehensive review of the major churches, movements and denominations—and their founders—is presented in the chapter regarding polity precedents in the historical Christian church. New research concerning New Apostolic Movement churches found that local-church polity in NAM churches is consistently autocratic but with enough plurocratic function to provide a measure of accountability and that there is little to no democratic function in NAM churches. Study of the largest and most influential trans-local apostolic networks found an absence of autocratic governance, contradicting previous assumptions in the literature. Biblical exegesis concluded that the primacy of apostolic ministry is given for building the church not for governing it, and that the governing role of New Testament apostles was conducted collegially, not autocratically.Item ΛΟΓΟΣ ΓΝΩΣΕΩΣ as a Prophetic Speech-Act: A Theological and Biblical Evaluation of the Gift of the Word of Knowledge(South African Theological Seminary) Goosen, Hugh Ralph; Asumang, AnnangThis systematic-theological study has sought to provide an account of the nature and purpose of λόγος γνώσεως (logos gnōseōs), the spiritual gift variously translated as a word, message, or utterance of knowledge in 1 Corinthians 12:8. It was shown that throughout history, there has never been a time where there has been a unified understanding of the gift. Broadly defined, it has been interpreted in one of three ways, namely, as a gift that provided either (1) academic insight into the Scriptures, (2) an ability to teach, or (3) supernatural knowledge that allowed the recipient to minister effectively within a particular context. The study argues that while this third understanding comes close to accounting for all the data in the text, it is not sufficiently distinctive to warrant classifying it as something separate from prophecy, a defining characteristic of which is the miraculous provision, and subsequent utterance of special knowledge. The study employs speech-act theory as an exegetical tool, examining the locutionary and illocutionary acts within three select biblical passages where prophecy features. It argues that there were three knowledge components common to prophecy–reception, comprehension, and transmission components–and that it is the transmission component where the spiritual gift of λόγος γνώσεως finds expression. More specifically, the study argues that λόγος γνώσεως is an informative-assertive component of the broader prophetic speech-act that articulates supernaturally revealed information about matters past, present,or future, for the purpose of edifying, or motivating the hearer(s) to conform or adhere to the will of God. This contribution is unique in that it provides a comprehensive account of how the gift has been understood and practiced throughout history, demonstrating not just its ongoing relevance, but also how varying contexts have affected the ways in which it has been interpreted. Furthermore, it is the first systematic and inter-disciplinary study into this elusive gift, employing speech-act theory to comprehensively define, analytically clarify, and theological exemplify its distinctive features, showing how it relates to the widely practised spiritual gift of prophecy, and demonstrating its continuing relevance for church praxis.Item Poder Pastoral E Função Paterna: Uma Análiseda Práxis Pentecostalà Luz Das Representações Depoder Em Jesus No Ambiente Joanino(South African Theological Seminary Johannesburg) Silvério, Luís Gonçalo 1957; de Lara Proença, WanderThis investigation analyzes the pastoral power and paternal function and its relationship with pastoral praxis in the light of representations of power in Jesus in the Johannine environment. The literature review on pastoral power and parental function in psychoanalysis by Michel Foucault, Sigmund Freud, Jaques Lacan, Donald Winnicott, and Pierre Bourdieu. The thesis makes historical notes on the origins and development of Pentecostalism in Brazil and in the city of Londrina (PR). It analyzes the practices of Pentecostal typologies in Brazil. Investigates, through semi-structured interviews, the paternal power and function in the religious field based on the Pentecostal pastoral praxis in the city of Londrina (PR). It addresses the concept of power in Jesus in the Johannine literature and environment, in the context of the power tensions in Palestine in the 1st Century. Discusses Jesus' relationship with the Father in Johannine literature, with special attention to theological aspects.Item Spirit and Mission: the Church of Pentecost as a Growing African Pentecostal Denomination(South African Theological Seminary Johannesburg) Markin, Amos Jimmy; Asamoah-Gyadu, J. KwabenaThere is an acknowledgement in the 21st century of Pentecostalism’s phenomenal growth and influence which has affected global Christian outreach and missions. African Pentecostalism, as part of global Pentecostalism is envisaged to have played an important role in this observation.The main focus of this thesis is that the experience and transformative factor of the Holy Spirit in the life of the individual adherents and the corporate church is the major factor among other religious, missiological and theological factors promoting this growth.This thesis has engaged a historical-theological analysis of the growth and missions of the Church of Pentecost, an African independent indigenous denomination, as a local version of African Pentecostalism to generate and discussthe factors which promote this growth. This has been done through using a qualitative research methodsuch as interviews and reliable literary works.The research has shown that in the CoPparticularly, the religious factorsaccuntingfor its global growth include its: Functional Ministries, Church Governance, Administration and Finance; Pneumatic Phenomena (Holy Spirit Baptism, Signs and Wonders and Prayer Camps), Indigenous Leadership, Manpower and human resource development, Training and Education, Social Services, Print and Electronic Media, Estates and Ecumenism. The CoP’s major strength and focus for growth has been on “conversional” growth through soul winning evangelization. The success of the CoP’s internationalmissions can be attributed partly to the conscientious supervisory role of the International Missions Director in terms of pastoral care, effective administrative and monetary. The pattern of CoP’s missions abroad is observed to go beyond “chaplaincy” and an intention for “reverse mission”. The trend suggests a deliberate intention for foreign mission. The CoP uses its presence in the Northern hemispheric locations as a platform to launch missions in other locations in the global divide.Theologically, the CoP bound up the experience and theology of the Spirit, with other Christological teachings expressed in its tenets of beliefs, practices and other characteristic ethos expressed as its spirituality to promote her growth.This thesis has drawn attention that in this era, Pentecostalism, such as is practiced by the CoP,is moving beyond translating the message into transmiting the Spirit in its global missionary endeavors