Theological Aspects Research Articles

Faith-Based Financial Accountability in Nigeria: A Theological Perspective on Stewardship in Religious Organizations

Faith-based organizations play a crucial role in the socio-cultural framework of Nigeria, providing spiritual support and economic aid. However, concerns regarding financial management and transparency have raised significant questions about their accountability, leading to a decline in trust among followers and the broader community. The paper addresses the question of how can faith-based organizations ensure financial accountability while remaining true to their spiritual objectives? This study explores the theological concept of stewardship as a viable framework for improving financial accountability within Nigerian religious institutions. The primary issue identified is the gap between biblical teachings on stewardship and the financial practices observed in many organizations. Against this background, the paper examines the theological foundations of financial stewardship, assesses the current challenges related to financial accountability in Nigerian faith-based organizations, and proposes strategies grounded in theological ethics. By emphasizing the theological aspects of accountability, the research highlights the necessity of ethical leadership, transparency, and the active involvement of congregants in financial governance. Utilizing a qualitative methodology, the study combines scriptural insights with modern theological scholarship, enabling a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between theology and financial practices in Nigeria. The findings contribute to the fields of theology and religious studies by offering a theological framework for financial accountability that is deeply rooted in biblical principles of stewardship. Furthermore, the study provides strategies and insight for religious organizations to enhance trust, credibility, and operational efficiency in their missions. By analyzing financial mismanagement through a theological lens, the study bridges the gap between faith and financial ethics, advocating for an accountability model that reflects both spiritual and societal values.

A critical analysis of Purnomo and colleagues’ interpretation in Matthew 6:9–13

The reinterpretation of the Lord’s Prayer (Mt 6:9–13) as a prayer of thanksgiving rather than petition, based on their argument that the aorist tense in imperative and/or subjunctive verbs signifies actions completed in the past, along with their critique of the Lembaga Alkitab Indonesia (LAI) translation as erroneous, sparked debates among Christians in Indonesia and was leveraged by non-Christian groups to question the Bible’s authenticity. This study aimed to evaluate the validity of Purnomo et al.’s research by focussing on their interpretation of the aorist tense in imperative and/or subjunctive verbs, research methodology, use of literature, critique of the LAI translation and theological implications. A comprehensive review of literature and exegesis was conducted to analyse the grammatical, linguistic, methodological and theological aspects of the text. Based on a detailed examination, this study found that their interpretation of the aorist tense in imperative and/or subjunctive verbs in the prayer was unsupported by linguistic evidence and contradicted the principles of biblical Greek grammar, where the aorist tense emphasises ‘aspect’ rather than ‘time’ (e.g., ‘past tense’) of actions. Consequently, the theology derived from their study was flawed. Moreover, the study affirmed that the LAI translation accurately reflects the original context of the text. This research concluded that Purnomo et al.’s interpretation of the Lord’s Prayer (Mt 6:9–13) contained significant theological and linguistic errors that require revision.Contribution: This research critically contributes to biblical theology by addressing interpretative challenges in Matthew 6:9–13, refuting claims that the Lord’s Prayer expresses gratitude based on the aorist tense. It reaffirms the prayer as a supplication, grounded in biblical Greek grammar and theology, while defending the accuracy of the LAI translation. Advancing critical exegesis, the study promotes rigorous theological discourse and a deeper understanding of Scripture.

PENDEKATAN TAFSIR A. HASAN: ANALISIS TEKS

This article examines the context and method of tafsir by A. Hasan Bandung (1887-1958) based on socio-cultural approaches and the essence of his juristic and hermeneutical views and epistemological postulate, which raises important aspects of socio-legal and ethical reform as its leading voice and proponent. This is highlighted from his interpretative work of Qur’anic exegesis such as Tafsir al-Furqan, Tafsir al-Hidayah, Tafsir Surah Yasin, al-Djawahir, as well as from his column in local magazine and journal such as Himayat al-Islam, Pembela Islam and etcetera. The research is qualitative in nature, of the type of literature/library research, and hermeneutical survey. The finding shows that A. Hasan has outlined an unprecedented method of contextual interpretation of the Qur’an that reflected his rational understanding of the text. This is manifested from his arguments that celebrated the views of classical and contemporary jurist on broad aspects of Islamic law, jurisprudence, speculative theology, philosophy, religious faith, spirituality and Shariah. His interpretation was intrinsically presented in the context of structural kalam in the form of question and answer that addresses and debates diverse communal issues. It reveals the strength of his views based on ijtihad (independent reasoning) that formulate the entire juristic opinion from broadly authoritative and argumentative construct of maslahah (the common good) dan maqasid syariah (the higher objective of Islamic law).

Autocephaly Reconsidered: Civil Authorities as Autocephaly-Making Factors

Contemporary scholars share a common vision of the phenomenon of autocephaly as a virtue empowering a local Orthodox church independently to elect its supreme hierarch and run its domestic affairs without the endorsement of another church leader. While the academic discussion on this subject is concentrated on the canonical and theological aspects of autocephaly, the presented study shifts the focus to the involvement of civil authorities in the promotion and abolishment of this ecclesiastical status. It challenges the conventional perception of such interventions as something incidental or a feature of particular political formations. It aims to reveal that civil authorities have been a constant factor in the establishment of new autocephalies since the recognition of Christianity as an official religion in the Roman Empire. For this purpose, the focus falls on the Chalcedonian Eastern Orthodox churches which have centuries-old traditions in autocephaly-related practices from the Edict of Milan (313) to the end of the Cold War. It also takes into account the different legal frameworks within which civil authorities used to validate new autocephalies. On the grounds of this analysis, the concluding remarks reflect on the impact of this experience on the autocephaly-building process in post-atheist areas.

Considerations on the Prohibition of Interfaith Greetings in Indonesia: Between Religion and Harmony

Religious tolerance is important in maintaining social harmony in Indonesia, which is rich in diversity of faiths. This research analyses the considerations behind the prohibition of interfaith greetings and its implications for interfaith relations. The method used is qualitative research with a desktop literature review research approach, collecting data from various sources of documents and related literature. The results show that the ban issued by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) is based on theological aspects and has significant social impacts. People with more inclusive views show a desire to maintain harmony despite differences of opinion regarding the ban. On the other hand, despite the influence of religious authorities, interfaith dialogue and tolerance must continue to be upheld to create balance and harmony in society. As a way forward, more intensive dialogue between religious leaders and the community is needed to find common ground to strengthen unity amid diversity.

Ideological and phonetic analysis of the Old Testament Christian and Jewish name of God יהוה

The article is devoted to the analysis of the historical, cultural, linguacultural and theological aspects of the tetragrammaton יהוה, used in the texts of the Jewish Tanakh and the Christian Bible as the name of God. The author examines the phonetic reconstruction, Masoretic vocalization and cultural and ideological semantics of the tetragrammaton in the context of Jewish and Christian hermeneutics. The research examines its phonetic reading, vocalizations and cultural and ideological significance in the context of Judaism and Christianity. The study focuses on the comparison of lexical and phonetic pronunciation variants of the tetragrammaton, such as "Jehovah" and "Yahweh", as well as on the analysis of their etymological origin. The study compares the pronunciation options of the name - "Jehovah" and "Yahweh", considers the reasons for their occurrence, and also, based on linguocultural factors, a conclusion is made about the more correct from theological point of view, pronunciation and spelling of the tetragrammaton in languages other than Hebrew. Particular attention is paid to the influence of biblical onomastics and translation strategies on the loss and transformation of the phonetic appearance of the name of God יהוה. The author analyzes the prohibitions on the pronunciation of the name in Judaism, their historical and theological roots, as well as the ways of replacing the tetragrammaton with titles ("Lord") in Christian texts and in later editions of the Tanakh. The article uses the methods of comparative-historical and contrastive linguistics, as well as the principles of biblical exegesis and linguistic hermeneutics. The originality of the work lies in the integration of linguacultural analysis with a historical-religious approach, which allows for a deeper understanding of the cultural and symbolic meaning of the tetragrammaton in the Jewish and Christian traditions.

The Dialectic of Philosophical and Literary Exegesis: Mary’s Prophetic Status from the Perspectives of Al-Tabari and Al-Qurthubi

This article aims to analyze the dialectic of Qur'anic argumentation regarding Maryam's prophethood from the perspective of two famous commentators, Al-Tabari and Al-Qurthubi, because some interpretations of Maryam's prophethood are considered misogynic by certain circles. Maryam's prophethood is an essential aspect of Islamic theology and has been described in the Qur'an with several verses that provide an overview of Maryam's prophetic role and status. This article aims to understand the interpretive approaches of Al-Tabari and Al-Qurthubi in exploring and explaining Qur'ānic verses related to Maryam's prophethood. The method of analysis used in this article involves a critical review of the commentaries of Al-Tabari and Al-Qurthubi regarding the verses that explain Maryam's prophethood. A comparative approach is used to compare the similarities and differences between the views of the two scholars. In addition, this article also analyzes the historical and cultural context of Al-Tabari and Al-Qurthubi's time to provide a deeper understanding of their interpretations. The analysis shows that Al-Tabari tends to adopt a more historical and linguistic approach in his interpretation. He explores the meanings of words in the relevant verses and relates them to the historical context of the time. On the other hand, Al-Qurthubi tends to adopt a more theological and moral approach in his interpretation. He emphasizes the moral and spiritual messages that can be taken from the prophetic story of Maryam. However, this study has a weak point that can be covered by further research by not exploring the arguments and evidence used by Al-Tabari and Al-Qurthubi in their interpretations critically or by using an approach that can uncover the ideological reasons behind their interpretations.

Analysis of the Rasulan Tradition in Christian Religious Education Perspektive and Its Implication for Evangelism

This article aims to examine the Rasulan tradition that developed specifically in the Gunung Kidul area of Yogyakarta Province – Indonesia from the perspective of Christian Religious Education and explore its implications, especially in the evangelism. The method of writing this article is through the analysis of literature studies and autoethnographic studies where the author is involved and has direct experience in it. This research seeks to explore the meaning, practice, and significance of the Rasulan tradition for the local community, which is then examined in the perspective of Christian Religious Education by focusing on theological aspects and values that are in line as a meeting point or separation point that has the potential to conflict with the principles of Christian Religious Education in which it talks about the Christian faith. The findings in this study show that this in-depth understanding of the Rasulan tradition has important implications as well as being an effective bridge for the contextualization of the Gospel and the development of effective and adaptive evangelism strategies to local cultures. Furthermore, this article also proposes practical approaches for local church members to integrate positive values from local traditions into church life, while of course maintaining the integrity of the Christian faith. The conclusion for this article is the need for the development and strategy of evangelism that is effective and adaptive to local culture, then it is hoped that there will be a continuous dialogue between the christian faith and local traditions such as the Rasulan and others local tradition, this is very important to create a harmonious relationship between the church and society, as well as to enrich cross-cultural understanding among Christians.

Politics and Religion in Communist Romania—Case Studies: André Scrima and Valeriu Anania

(1) Background: The present research aims to emphasize the interest of the Securitate in theological matters with the help of information provided by the Romanian Securitate Archives. To this end, we will focus on two important personalities of the Romanian theological space, namely André Scrima (1925–2000), who left Romania in 1956 and refused to go back, and Valeriu Bartolomeu Anania, who was imprisoned for political reasons and later sent to the USA between 1966 and 1977. Both were writers and theological and cultural personalities (Scrima was well known internationally, while Anania had made a name for himself within the borders of the country). Therefore, the question this research will try to answer is the following: What was the interest of the Romanian Securitate in terms of religious aspects and particularly in the Orthodox Church? (2) Results: This analysis of the documents from the Romanian Securitate Archives proves that, although such an interest existed, it was rather superficial and was mostly related to the potential relations between politics and theology. (3) Methods: This analysis is qualitative and consists of a case study based on the interpretation of primary sources. (4) Conclusions: The conclusion of this research is that the Romanian Securitate was interested in the personalities and the work of André Scrima and Valeriu Bartolomeu Anania and their relationships with various people. However, the theological aspect was only of secondary interest to the Romanian Securitate.

The Development of the Structure of Feeling in the Brazilian Liberation Theology Movement

Raymond Williams’s concept of the “structure of feeling” aims to describe the shared experiences, attitudes, and emotions of social groups at specific historical moments. However, this theory has been criticized for lacking a rigorous theoretical framework, clear definitions, and boundaries, as well as for failing to adequately explain its interaction with mainstream ideology. This paper attempts to address these issues through the lens of the Brazilian Liberation Theology movement. The “structure of feeling” established by Brazilian Liberation Theology departed from the traditional hierarchical system of the Church, aligning itself instead with emerging cultures and the practices of grassroots church communities. Under the repression of the military government, the mainstream Church began to accept certain aspects of Liberation Theology rather than viewing it solely as radical and threatening. Although Liberation Theology gradually waned after the fall of the military regime, its adjusted “structure of feeling”—devoid of its radical elements but still focused on social justice and poverty—profoundly impacted the global Catholic Church. The experience of the Brazilian Liberation Theology movement illustrates that a “structure of feeling” can transcend the dichotomy between consciousness and materiality and the crux lies in individuals discovering and asserting their own existence; such a “structure of feeling” can either emerge from within existing ideologies or challenge them directly; its relationship with mainstream ideology is significantly shaped by specific historical contexts; certain facets of emerging emotions are selectively incorporated into mainstream ideology, typically in ways that mitigate their more radical implications.

Neopatristics for the twenty-first century: neglected and new perspectives

This article is an editorial introduction to a special issue of Studies in East European Thought devoted to neopatristics. The circumstances of the creation of the neopatristic synthesis announced by Georges Florovsky during the First Orthodox Congress in Athens are considered. The main philosophical and theological aspects that are currently discussed in the context of patristic renewal are also addressed. In particular, it is shown that the sophiology of Sergius Bulgakov also fits into the patristic paradigm. Finally, the topics of the articles included in this special issue are presented.

Men Shall Be Lovers of Self, Money and Pleasure (II Timothy 3:2, 4): A Contemporary Discourse on the Apostle Paul's Prophecy of the End Times

<p><em>The present time in Nigeria and globally has been more perilous than ever, characterized with bizarre occurrences within the church and the larger society. This study explores the Pauline eschatological prediction of the perilous times when men will become lovers of self, lovers of money, and lovers of pleasure more than God (II Timothy 3:1, 2 & 5). Experiential and theological methodologies were adopted for generating qualitative primary and secondary data. The theological aspect of the research employed the tools of biblical exegesis, textual analysis, and literatures. The experiential aspect involved in-depth interviews (IDIs), observations, social media contents and Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) to access current events and personalized experiences of respondents who were purposively selected from within and outside the church. The results were discussed in the light of Christian theology, social ethics and Pastoral ministry. The Nigerian society is evidently witnessing the perilous times when love of self, money and pleasure will become the untoward defining features of human society and sadly too, of men that profess the faith. Transactional gospel, gimmickry, merchandize of holy things, and self-indulgent love of money are rife in the contemporary church. Ostentatious lifestyles, lack of support for the minister at the local church, and false messages on material blessings are what trap church ministers and laypersons in this end-time evil. The context and practice of ‘full time’ ministry when the local assembly is not able to support its minister is a challenge that predisposes some to ‘Simoniacal’ presentations, offering the gifts of God for monetary gain. Sound biblical teachings to protect the people of God and expose the mercenary spirit in sacred function is the local church most potent weaponry.</em></p><strong> </strong>

Theological aspects regarding D. cantemir’s panegyric dedicated to the holy great martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica

In the present article, it begins by providing some insights into the meaning and etymology of the word “panegyric” and its acceptance in Christianity. Subsequently, it presents information about the emergence of Dimitrie Cantemir’s panegyric dedicated to Saint Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki and describes the manuscript. The author then delves into the manuscript’s structure, including the introductory text, the mode of address, the introduction, the announcement of the theme, and the treatment of the theme. Simultaneously, an attempt is made to offer a theological approach to the content of the Panegyric and to restore and explain some of the terms used in the work. In conclusion, the author asserts that the panegyric was composed by an individual well-versed in the Bible and the writings of the Holy Fathers, and this person can be none other than Dimitrie Cantemir.

Contesting Power as Political Theology: Traditionalist Islamic Preaching and Post-Secularism in the West

Traditionalist Islamic preaching in the West is not limited to the normative aspects of theology, law, and ethics. In addition, it addresses the most pressing social and political issues that Muslims are currently confronting in the West; it also challenges Western modernity in general and secularism in particular. Two critical sermons of secularism delivered by two of the most well-known traditionalist Muslim preachers in their respective countries—Hamza Yusuf in the USA and Hani Ramadan in Switzerland—are analyzed in this study. First, I shall examine the arguments put up by these preachers against secularism and in support of post-secular society. Next, I will study the rhetorical strategies used in these two sermons. Finally, I will discuss the relevance of these two sermons to the contemporary debates in the West on contesting secularism and multiple secularisms. It is argued here that traditionalist Muslim preachers see secularism as an encroaching power that poses a danger to the figures of authority and norms that control gender, knowledge, and education within Muslim communities and societies.

Theological Aspects of Service in the Fire Brigade

Theological Aspects of Service in the Fire Brigade

The Shepherd-King Metaphor in the Light of Interdisciplinary Research

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The aim of the article is to analyze the sources of the shepherd-king metaphor, mainly from the perspective of social-political ideas, within a broad cultural and intellectual context. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The article focuses on identifying the intellectual sources of the shepherd-king metaphor in antiquity, their anthropological and cosmological context, and the metaphor’s fundamental message. Particular emphasis is placed on the socio-political aspect; thus, analyses of strictly theological significance are left aside. To achieve the research objective, the author makes use of interdisciplinary instruments, referring to archaeological, biological, and historical knowledge and especially to analyses from the field of the history of ideas. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The article’s line of argument reflects the fundamental problems that need to be solved in order to determine the essence and shape of the shepherd-king metaphor. Therefore, the issues analyzed include animal domestication; ancient anthropology understood as the divine domestication of humans; and the distinctions drawn in ancient thought between the essence of the nature of animals, humans, rulers, and gods. RESEARCH RESULTS: As a result of the analyses indicated above, it was possible to capture the main components of the shepherd-king metaphor, their structure and essence, as well as their direct reference to, and significance for both anthropology and socio-political thought. CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The article highlights the importance of the shepherd-king metaphor to the history of political ideas, outlining the impact of both its explicit theses and its more implicit, but no less important, elements. Attention was also drawn to the need for further research, which would enable the metaphor’s socio-political aspects analyzed in this article to be combined into one coherent interpretation with the religious and theological aspects.

Theological Values in Inter-religious Relation Verses : A Study on Tafsir Marah Labid

<p class="06IsiAbstrak"><span lang="EN-GB">Building interreligious relations was often viewed merely from social perspectives. It actually contains theological values. This research attempts to analyze the theological values in the tolerance and interreligious relation verses of the Qur’an that are interpreted by Syaikh Nawawi Al-Bantani. This descriptive-analytical study employs thematic methods by Al-Farmawi. The collected data are then analyzed in terms of its theological aspect. Marah Al-Labid is chosen for it’s written by an Indonesian scholar connecting classic and modern era. In addition, Marah Al-Labid is of Sufistic tafsir. Therefore, it is interesting to know how an Indonesian scholar viewed interreligious relation and its spiritual and theological values in the context of Indonesia. It can be concluded that having interreligious relation is lawful. Muslims are allowed to have social relation with Ahlul kitab or the people of books such as to get marry with them, to eat the meat of the animals they (Jews and Christians) slaughtered, and to have debate and discussion with them in the best way.</span></p><p class="07KatakunciKeywords"> </p>

Интеграция исламских философско-правовых аспектов в парадигму социально-экономического развития России

Introduction. The article examines the social transformation of state-confessional relations, its historical aspect, positive and negative trends of their evolution in the conditions of the formation of modern Russian society. The object of the study was the socio-philosophical aspects of some provisions of the economic model based on the principles of Islam as one of the traditional denominations of the Russian Federation. Theoretical analysis. The theoretical foundations of this issue in the paradigm of classical Muslim thought are given, as well as examples of their application in the modern socio-economic field of Russian regions. The philosophical justifications of the considered models of social relationships are analyzed from the standpoint of Islamic theology. Conclusion. The result of this work is the conclusion that the use of the potential and developments based on the socio-philosophical aspect of Islamic theology can serve as a positive experience of the inclusion of Islamic models in the all-Russian socio-economic field. This vector of development is designed to make progress in the spheres of life of the Russian society. And at the same time, the integration of the denominational aspect into the paradigm of socio-economic development of Russia has a special role to play.

VREMURI DE HAR, ASPECTE DIVINE ÎN TEOLOGIA LUI JONATHAN EDWARDS DESPRE TREZIREA SPIRITUALĂ

The purpose of this presentation is to show that Edwards' Calvinistic theology of spiritual awakening has not at all had the effect of para- lyzing and halting the progress of evangelistic work. What Edwards does is to put things in their true biblical perspective, first by showing the supreme place God occupies in arranging things pertaining to salvation in the life of the individual, and then by recognizing the role man has in managing the events and opportunities that arise with the beginning of a spiritual awaken- ing. These are times of grace in Edwards' biblical thinking. They must be recog- nized by man, accepted humbly, and handled in a way that brings glory to God. To analyze these two essential elements in Edwards' theology of spiritual awak- ening, namely God's sovereignty and man's responsibility, we have divided the material into two major parts. The first part deals with the divine aspects of Edwards' theology of spiritual awakening, and the second part, presented in an- other issue of this journal, will deal with the human aspects of his theology.

Aliran Ilmu Kalam dan Pokok-Pokok Pikirannya Masing-Masing

The school of Kalam science and its respective main points of thought. Kalam science, or Islamic theology, is a scientific discipline that discusses Islamic beliefs using rational methods and logical argumentation. This article discusses various schools in Kalam Science and their respective main points of thought. Some of the main schools in Kalam Science include:• Mu'tazilah: Mu'tazilah believed that the human mind is capable of understanding Islamic teachings rationally and that human actions are free. • Asy'ariyah: Asy'ariyah believes that human reason needs to be assisted by revelation to understand Islamic teachings and that human actions are not completely free. • Maturidiyah: Maturidiyah believes that human reason has an important role in understanding Islamic teachings, but revelation remains the main source knowledge.• Salafiyah: Salafiyah believes that the main source of Islamic knowledge is the Koran and Hadith, and that the use of reason in understanding religion must be limited. This article explains the differences in views between these schools in various theological aspects, such as the nature of God, free will, and destiny.