Theological Context Research Articles

The role of Ondofolo to maintain religious harmony: A study in a Christian perspective

Local wisdom refers to the cultural heritage of a community, which is derived from its cultural origins and includes a wide range of values, rituals and traditions. Ondofolo is the current paramount chief of the Sentani community in Papua province, a position that remains in effect at the moment. The local community holds Ondofolo’s leadership in high esteem and places substantial trust in it. The research aims to investigate the function of Ondofolo within religious congregations using a qualitative phenomenological design approach. Data were gathered via participatory observations, interviews with Ondofolo, leaders of prayer rooms and Islamic boarding schools and a review of literature and research conducted in the indigenous area of Sentani. The local knowledge of Sentani ‘Ondofolo’ plays a crucial role in fostering the religious community by embodying the fundamental qualities of leadership, peace, love and brotherhood found in the Bible. The preservation of wisdom in all its manifestations is imperative, as it represents an irreplaceable cultural legacy.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This study applies the interdisciplinary characteristics of contextual theology to Ondofolo’s leadership of the religious congregation in Papua, drawing on Christian wisdom. The findings positively impact the formation of religious communities in Sentani, Papua. They also present a viable leadership model specific to the local context and can be used as an option for guiding the faithful community in Indonesia.

Metaphor and Symbolism: possiblity of iconic theology

In language and literature, metaphors and symbolism are both used to communicate complex ideas and emotions that are more than what is seen on the surface. Metaphors create connections between seemingly unrelated concepts, while as well as how they can be used to analyse theological contexts and apply them to society. The term “metaphor” comes from the ancient Greek word metapherein, where meta means “beyond,” and pherein means “to transfer” or “to carry over.” Essentially, a metaphor is a linguistic process by which one thing is “transferred” or “carried over” to another thing. This means that one thing is described as another to reveal certain characteristics of the first thing. Aristotle explicitly defined it in Poetics as “using a word that signifies one thing to refer to another; this word then becomes a metaphorical word.” Metaphor is not just a linguistic process but also a fundamental way of thinking about and understanding things.

Kajian Teologis tentang Mazmur 23:1-6 dan Penerapannya dalam Pelayanan Gereja Masa Kini

Psalm 23:1-6 is one of the most well-known passages in the Christian tradition, portraying the intimate relationship between God as the Shepherd and His people as the sheep. In the context of contemporary church ministry, a deep understanding of these verses is crucial, as they offer theological and practical guidance for the faith community in overcoming various spiritual and emotional challenges. This study aims to explore the theological relevance of Psalm 23 in the context of modern church ministry. The primary objective of this research is to conduct a theological analysis of Psalm 23:1-6 and to explore its application in today's church ministry context. This study also seeks to identify how the principles contained in this Psalm can serve as a foundation for pastoral care, spiritual strengthening, and congregation development in the modern church. The research employs a qualitative approach, using literature review and textual analysis methods. The primary sources used include the Hebrew text of Psalm 23:1-6 and modern translations, while secondary sources comprise various theological literature, Bible commentaries, and writings from related theological experts. This research also utilizes hermeneutical methods to delve deeper into the meaning of the text and its interpretation in various historical and theological contexts. The results indicate that Psalm 23 portrays God as a Shepherd who nourishes, protects, and guides His people, creating a sense of security and trust for those who follow Him. These attributes are relevant to contemporary church ministry, particularly in the context of pastoral care and spiritual support for congregants facing life crises. The findings also suggest that the application of the values contained in Psalm 23 can strengthen church ministry strategies in providing comfort, trust, and hope to its members. This study concludes that Psalm 23 holds strong and practical relevance for modern church ministry, as it offers an ideal depiction of divine care that can be applied in pastoral ministry. The church can use the principles from this Psalm to build trust and hope among congregants, as well as to provide more effective spiritual support in addressing the challenges of modern times.

Obiajulu’s Children and the Wicked Sons of Eli (1 Sam 2:11–17)

The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas (1 Sam 2:11-36), served along with their father as priests at Shiloh in the tabernacle, where the ark of the covenant was housed (11am 1:3). While in service, Eli’s children became sons of worthlessness (bənȇ-bəliyyaʿal), dishonest, wicked and corrupt, as well as refused to know the Lord (lō’ yāḏə‘û ՚eṯ-ʾădōnāi) and his teachings. They were unrighteous, greedy, intimidating, immoral, and abusive to women at the entrance of the temple (vv. 12-22). Eli did little to correct them, leading to God’s punishment. Some scholars have examined this narrative with Western historical models, lacking African stories, cultures, customs, and experiences, where there are similar incidences of children’s misbehaviors and challenges of their upbringing in the African context. Using an African Biblical Hermeneutical approach with illustrative stories from Zain E. Asher’s memoir, “Where the Children Take Us: How One Family Achieved the Unimaginable,” this work contextually examines 1 Sam 2:11-17, within the theological contexts of the Books of Samuel and Deuteronomistic History (Josh–2 Kings). It compares Obiajulu’s disciplined and trained children (Obinze, Chiwetel, Zain, Kandibe) and the obedient boy, Samuel (vv. 18-22), with the consequences of the blasphemies and corruption of Eli’s children (vv. 11-17). It proposes lessons that no matter how we perform our duties in the church, schools and families, sadness may still come if we neglect to train our children responsibly in righteousness, integrity, hard work, and in the fear of the Lord.

Meningkatkan Kemampuan Berpikir Kritis pada PAKBP dengan Model PBL Berbantuan Media Audio-Visual Materi Allah Membimbing Umat Israel Fase B SDN 071096 Mandrehe

This study aims to improve students' critical thinking skills in Catholic Religious Education through the implementation of Project-Based Learning (PBL) models assisted by audio-visual media. The focus of this research is the material "God Leads the People of Israel" for Phase B at SDN 071096 Mandrehe. PBL was chosen for its ability to build 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, and communication, as stated by Bell (2010). Audio-visual media was used to facilitate students' understanding of the historical and theological context of the material, supporting Mayer's (2009) assertion that this media helps students construct better knowledge. The research results show a significant improvement in students' critical thinking skills. These findings are expected to serve as a basis for developing teaching methods in religious education.

Metaphors Realized in Narrative: A New Direction for Biblical Metaphor

ABSTRACTAn insight of Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) is that metaphor is more than a mere literary device; it influences readers through cognitive connections. Yet biblical metaphors have most often been studied in poetic, theological contexts and within linguistic rhetorical devices like “YHWH is my shepherd.” In contrast, some of the most ideologically powerful metaphors are those that shape the Hebrew Bible's prose stories. These metaphors reify cultural constructs and experiences, making them seem “natural.” The study of realized metaphor—metaphor embodied as a literal narrative feature—offers a new pathway for applying CMT to narrative texts, even those without overt linguistic metaphors. This article surveys the history of realized metaphors in literary theory, then provides some brief examples of biblical texts where a CMT approach reveals metaphors embedded in the fabric of the narrative. It concludes with a challenge: how can we extend metaphor theory to the full range of biblical texts, poetry and prose alike, in order to understand how metaphor shapes human perception in the past and the present?

Проблема дара: теологический и онтологический контексты современной мысли

Introduction. At the very beginning, the problematic field of the article is outlined: we will not talk about the problem of the gift, but about why the gift becomes a problem. To do this, it is necessary to consider several contexts in which this problem arises. We propose to dwell on two of them: theological and ontological. Theoretical analysis. In a theological context, two currents of twentieth-century thought are examined in connection with their influence on the problem of the gift. Firstly, this is political theology, which agreed that in the era of secularization we inherit Christian meanings, and one of them is the phenomenon of a gift. Secondly, this is theoesthetics, which proposes to consider the position of the secularization of our era as a private and, in fact, already closed project. In the ontological context, it is pointed out that the gift becomes a problem where violence and exchange assert themselves as the norm for understanding being. Conclusion. As a result, the article draws conclusions and poses key questions for further research on the problem of the gift.

Balkan Contextual Theology: An Introduction, edited by Stipe Odak and Zoran Grozdanov

Balkan Contextual Theology: An Introduction, edited by Stipe Odak and Zoran Grozdanov

Revelation and Communion: A Contextual Theological Approach to Diversity and Dialogue in World Christianity

Abstract Theology in world Christianity not only features theological discourse that scrutinizes the colonial legacy of Christianity, pointing out the ways in which Christian doctrines are cast in colonial power, but also presents theology from the indigenous concerns to appropriate the Christian faith. Nonetheless, the present challenge to doing theology in world Christianity extends to not only making Christianity a dialogic-livable faith but also sustaining the relationship between universality and indigeneity. This article grapples with the task of decolonizing revelation, salvation, and dialogue in world Christianity using the insights from Ecclesiam Suam (1964) and Elochukwu Uzukwu’s wholeness-oriented approach to revelation and diversity. Particularly, it reexamines the meaning of salvation in the context of a narrative and proposes that the indigenous approaches could overcome the hurdles—not reinscribe highly problematic relations between the so-called center and margins through inculturation and contextual theology—taking note that theological discourse on revelation and salvation stands in need of scrutiny.

HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF ISLAMIC THEOLOGY

This study aims to trace the historical development of theology in Islam and identify the factors that influence the emergence of various theological schools in Islam. This research also aims to understand how different theological views affect the way of thinking and lifestyle of Muslims. The research method used is the historical method which includes four stages: heuristics, verification, interpretation, and historiography. The results show that the development of Islamic theology can be divided into three main periods: classical, medieval, and modern. In the classical period, the rational and scientific Sunnatullah theology flourished, resulting in high productivity in various fields. However, in the medieval period, the fatalistic theology of Jabariyah dominated, causing a decline in theological thought. In the modern period, Islamic thinkers such as Sayyid Ahmad Khan, Ismail Raji Al-Faruqi, Muhammad Abduh, and Hasan Hanafi tried to adapt Islamic teachings to the changing times through a rational and contextual approach. They emphasized the importance of ijtihad and reassessment of the language and historical context of classical theology to answer the challenges of modernity. This research contributes to enriching contemporary Islamic studies with in-depth insights into the evolution of theological thought in Islam.

Menggali Hikmah: Urgensi Memahami I’jazul Qur’an dalam Suroh Lukman Ayat 16

The delivery of the moral message in the case study of Suroh Lukman verse 16 discusses the importance of understanding miracles and wisdom in Islam. In this study, researchers focus on the importance of understanding miracles and wisdom in Islam. Miracles in the Al-Qur'an can be interpreted as philosophical activity, social reinforcement, and control of power. The method of research used is a method is qualitative which uses an interpretive approach to the Al-Qur'an to explore the wisdom and miracles contained therein. in this research using textual analysis of suroh lukman verse 16, this research discusses the importance of understanding miracles and wisdom in Islam and discusses how the verses contained in suroh lukman can be integrated into moral and character education in the Islamic education environment, in this research also allows researchers to explore it in terms of historical, linguistic and theological context. The understanding of this verse is s follows: first,certainty and knowledge and power of allah. second, advice to children. Third, moral and ethical awareness. Fourth, motivation to do good.

The Gospel's Seeds in Massuru Culture

Awareness of the unfair treatment of local cultural contexts in the Christian mission movement during the colonial era is increasing in many communities. This is influenced by the church's increasing awareness of the richness of local culture itself. The Gereja Toraja is also part of that reality. For this reason, the Gereja Toraja has made various breakthroughs to give more place to local culture in carrying out the mission of the church. A number of activities and documents produced clearly show the face of The Gereja Toraja with a more friendly paradigm to local culture. However, this excellent breakthrough still needs to be shifted to the realm of practice and concreteness. This is because the paradigm in question is still dominated by theoretical matters. Through this paper, the author raises Massuru's culture as a case study. Through the efforts of contextual theology with an anthropological model, the author found that in the Massuru's culture, the gospel value contained in Matthew 5:23–24 is reconciliation before performing religious rites. Based on this result, the effort to shift the new paradigm in a more concrete direction within the Gereja Toraja will be more interesting and passionate. In turn, Torajan Christians will hopefully be more encouraged to put the message of the Bible into practice and enjoy their faith within the framework of their own culture.

Генезис науки XVII века: опыты по «приручению» бесконечности

The author of the article considers the problem of actual infinity to be the meta-basis of the genesis of New European science. The author shows the advantages of this approach to identify the internal logic of the genesis of science of the XVII century, as well as to clarify the prospects of modern science, experiencing a crisis of its foundations. The author shows that Nikolai Kuzansky’s ontological project reveals the conditions necessary for the mathematization of nature for the transformation of the finite into the actually infinite, which overcomes the hopelessness of Zeno’s similar attempts. Zeno showed that there is no transition from the finite to the actually infinite. To transform the fi nite into the actually infi nite, the latter must already be given. This kind of presence is revealed by Kuzansky in the apophatic idea of the divine minimum coinciding with the maximum. But at the same time, Kuzansky speaks only about the imaginary, and not the real possibility of transforming nature on the basis of actual infinity. And in order to turn ‘scientific ignorance’ into ‘scientific knowledge’, it was necessary to present, outside the theological context, the possibility of transforming nature on the basis of actual infinity, discovered by Kuzansky. This task was set by the founders of the New European science. The author of the article analyzes and compares the attempts of Galileo and Descartes to ‘tame’ the actual infinity. The author shows that the difference in their positions on the question of the achievability of reliable knowledge, which laid important milestones in the history of the genesis of New European science (the transition from the scholastic tradition to probabilistic epistemology), is due to the awareness of the complexity of the problem of actual infinity. As a result, the author shows that neither the theoretical speculations of the founders of science, nor the attraction of modern additional resources unknown to antiquity or the Middle Ages (experiment, pinhole camera) were unable to change anything in the ratio of the finite and the infinite.

Early Christian prophetesses in the New Testament

This article presents a characterization of several women identified explicitly in the New Testament as prophetesses: (1) Philip’s daughters in Acts 21:9; and (2) the prophetesses in the community in Corinth mentioned in 1 Corinthians 11:5 and 14:34-35. The article highlights the historical and theological context of their activity and defines the content and object of Christian prophecy. The presentation of these two groups of prophetesses points out the major exegetical problems presented by the text, and contemporary attempts to resolve them.

Orthodox Perspectives on the Church as an Evangelizing, Eucharistic Community

This article presents a case study of the Orthodox parish of St John of Kronstadt in Bath, UK, an Orthodox Christian lay community founded in 1980 in response to the inspiration of St John of Kronstadt and Fr Alexander Schmemann. Based on interviews withparishioners and the author’s own experience of the community, the article delineates the main features of the parish’s communal life of liturgical prayer, hospitality and witness in the wider community. The second part of the article explores the broader contribution of St John and Fr Alexander to the development of Orthodox ecclesial and missional understandings and practices in the contemporary world. It delineates the historical, ecclesial and theological contexts in which their teachings and practices originated and argues that amidst these contexts we can trace the origins of the Eucharistic ecclesiology and understandings of human personhood and community which have pervaded Orthodox theology in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. These have laid the groundwork for the perspective that Christian mission and witness are a continuation of the Eucharistic community’s experience of the Kingdom of God, the ‘liturgy after the liturgy’. The article concludes with a plea for greater dialogue based on the common ground between Western missiological discourse on the nature of post-Christendom evangelism and the ecclesial experience of Orthodox diaspora communities.

Berteologi Kontekstual Ditengah Jemaat Yang Merindukan Kehadiran Anak Ditengah-Tengah Keluarga Dan Hubungannya Dengan 1Korintus 7 : 40

The presence of a child is a blessing in the midst of a Christian family, having children is a very great joy. But there are many brothers and sisters around us who have been building a household for a long time but don't yet have anam, this is a big struggle for them, and has invited a lot of views from various parties. Therefore, the author is interested in using this title to provide contextual theology in the midst of the congregation by completing the 4 stages of Frans Witjen's circle.

ANALYSIS OF THE MATERIALS OF ISLAMIC RELIGION EDUCATION THROUGH THEOLOGICAL APPROACHES: STUDY OF THE ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND CHARACTER TEXTBOOK FOR GRADE 1 OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

This research is qualitative research with a literature review approach by examining PAI content in PAI textbooks and Class 1 Elementary School Characters in a theological context. The objectives include: 1) carrying out theological categorization of the content of Islamic Religious Education in the textbook Islamic Religious Education and Character Class 1, 2) classifying the material in the book based on a theological approach, and 3) exploring its relevance. PAI content in the book is aimed at contemporary Islamic education. The primary data source for this research is the PAI and Character Class 1 Elementary School Textbook written by Nurzakun & Santoso (2021). The analysis technique used is content analysis. The findings of this research indicate that: 1) the content of PAI in the PAI and Character textbooks for Grade 1 Elementary School can be considered comprehensive and presented in simple language to facilitate students' understanding; 2) The contents of the book cover theological themes, with the main focus on theocentric themes; 3) Holistically, the PAI content in this book can be seen as relevant and significantly contributing in a theological context. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of PAI content about theological aspects, thereby increasing understanding in this academic domain. The implications of this research are: 1) Relevance of learning, 2) Development of character textbooks, 3) Development of professional teachers, 4) Curriculum development, 5) Increasing understanding of Islam, 6) Involvement of parents and the community in the implementation of education.

Perspektif Pendeta GMI Manna Balige Tentang Pernikahan Beda Agama Dalam 2 Korintus 6:14

This article discusses the perspective of GMI pastor Manna Balige regarding interfaith marriage in 2 Corinthians 6:14. Interfaith marriage is a complex topic in the Indonesian context, involving differences in views between religions such as Islam and Christianity. Value conflicts between different religious teachings and laws are also a major concern. In a theological context, understanding Bible verses, especially 2 Corinthians 6:14, influences views on interfaith marriages. This article provides in-depth insight into the challenges and considerations in understanding and handling interfaith marriages from the perspective of GMI pastor Manna Balige.

Divine Roots: The Etymology of Thoth

Summary The names of gods are an important expression of the Egyptian experience of the divine. Understanding the etymology of divine names can give us insights into the conceptions of the oldest adherents of religious cults, allowing us to appreciate of the essence of the original deity. This analysis will propose an etymology for the name of the god Thoth and situate the god’s name in its proper lexical and theological context, relating the divine name Ḏḥw.ty to an Old Egyptian root for ‘bright’ or ‘white’ and thus lunar concepts. This etymology not only satisfactorily explains the lexical root and theology of Thoth but is also consistent with other patterns in Egyptian divine epithets and names. Using cognates from Afroasiatic languages, the analysis proves that there once existed an ancient lexical root ḏḥ(w) in Old Egyptian or ‘Pre-Old Egyptian’. This root also explains various other nouns in Egyptian such as a type of linen (ḏḥ), the metallic substances of tin (ḏḥ) and lead (ḏḥ.ty), as well as a word for ‘teeth’ (nḏḥ.yt). This analysis demonstrates that some gods’ names are to be found in lexical roots which become unproductive in later stages of the Egyptian lexicon.

Exploring the Theological Context to Domestic and Family Violence.

This article explores the theological drivers of domestic and family violence (DFV)-specifically intimate partner violence-by engaging with ecclesiastical beliefs and practices of the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA). Key theological, policy, and public documents were analyzed to understand gender relations, gender roles, marriage, ordination, ethical behavior, and responses to DFV. Findings from the document analysis demonstrate church practice and policy reforms underway in addressing violence against women and supporting safety. Simultaneously, the documents show contested and troubled positions regarding gender relations, the theological context to gender roles and responsibilities and the church's journey of debating (re)configuration of its organizational structure and responsibilities.