Scriptural Texts Research Articles

John’s realised eschatology as an expression of the wisdom of God

Wisdom has often been assigned as an attribute of God and links to Wisdom theology in the fourth Gospel that are well presented in scholarship by the works of Sharon Ringe, Elizabeth Johnson, Jörg Frey and Mary Coloe. Yet, John’s Gospel never uses the term Wisdom. So, what scriptural evidence can demonstrate that a Wisdom theology can be found in the fourth Gospel? What is clear in John’s Gospel is that there has been a move from an apocalyptic eschatology to one that is realised and sapiential. Hence, this article attempts to show that this change in eschatological outlook can be linked to the first century understanding of the figure of Wisdom, who had emerged as a divine figure that brought the heavenly into the earthly realm. This article uses a literary critical approach, utilising the Bible as the primary source along with key Johannine biblical scholars, to show that through the use of the attributes of Wisdom, the Johannine evangelist and the Johannine community have appropriated the key aspects of the female divine Sophia onto the notion of the divine Logos, who is in John synonymous with Jesus, the Nazarene. Using scriptural texts from both the First and Second Testaments about the notion of Wisdom and the work of key Johannine scholars, this article shows how John’s use of the concept of Logos, also ascribed to Wisdom in Wisdom 18:15, strongly parallels the attributes of divine Wisdom. This article argues that although John’s Gospel does not explicitly use the term Wisdom, the parallels between the biblical concept of divine Wisdom and divine Logos are numerous. Eternal life is a central concept in John’s Gospel and only found in the biblical Wisdom literature in association with divine Wisdom (Wis 5:5). This notion of immortality or eternal life in the book of Wisdom was the quality of life that Sophia offered the righteous (Wis 6:18; 8:17, 21) and became a central theme in the Johannine narrative, considering their experience of Jesus’ resurrection being now, rather than in the future (Jn 4:23; 5:25). The centrality of the wisdom of God was reflected in the figure of divine Wisdom, who was named in the First Testament literature as God’s incarnated envoy. However, in the Second Testament in the person of Jesus, John’s Gospel showed that the divine Logos is a manifestation of divine Wisdom’s all-powerful Word, finding a resting place in human history, imbuing its eschatology with a realised focus rather than a futuristic focus.Contribution: This article deals with the attribute of Wisdom as it is associated with the understanding of who God is. God has revealed God’s self in creation and through scripture, by the figure of divine Wisdom and the figure of the divine Logos. These two figures share many common attributes, of which one central feature is that of providing human beings with the opportunity to enter eternal life with the Divine One.

Women, Leadership, and Ordination in the Anglican Church in Nigeria

Paul’s injunction in 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 has often been used to restrict women from holding certain leadership positions in the Church. This paper examines 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 in light of the female ordination debate in the Anglican Church in Nigeria. Through an exegetical study of the text, Paul’s perspective on women is demystified. To understand the place of women in the Church using scriptural texts, this article examines the perspectives of egalitarian theory, complemen­tar­ian theory, and liberation theology. The latter is included because it aims at interpreting biblical texts in a liberational way — Scripture is meant to deliver humans from all kinds of bondage and not to enslave. Exegesis is accompanyied by an examination of leadership roles of women in Igbo Traditional Religion, in which women are recognized as priestesses. The place of women in leadership in Igbo Traditional religion is pertinent to this work. Biblical texts are necessarily interpreted from the perspectives of human experience — including African women’s experiences. This article discovers through exegetical study of 1 Corinthians 14:26–40 that Paul was correcting a problem in the Corinthian church rather than hindering women from participating in the worship service or serving as leaders in the church. The Church should thus stop using the text to silence women or restrict them from holding certain leadership positions.

One Text in Two Bodies

Reading scriptural texts aloud to congregations is a common practice in many religious traditions, yet receives little scholarly attention. This article encourages more scholarship on this phenomenon by focusing on the ritual manipulation of books of scriptures while reading. It analyses the social force of this religious practice by combining a theory of ritualizing scriptures in three dimensions with studies of oral readings by literacy scholars. Reading visible scriptures aloud to congregations mixes expressive and iconic ritualization, which makes it both inspiring and legitimizing. It also combines the divine voice of scripture and the community’s voice in the reader, whose voice speaks for both. Religious communities use scriptural expression as a means to include more people into congregational leadership. Literacy studies document how group reading experiences cast oral readers as representing the audience as much as the author. In reading aloud to a group, the reader expresses the group’s voice. Oral readings of visible scriptures can therefore inspire people and foster a sense of congregational unity through the ritual acceptance of scriptural authority.

Beyond Conversational Dialogue: Constructing a Catholic Dialogical Ethical Model for Multi-Religious Nigeria

This article argues that the Catholic Church in Nigeria needs to move beyond interreligious dialogue that dwells more on Councils’ interactions and discourses to develop a dialogical ethical framework that engages religious multiplicity in a more active capacity. Although Nigeria’s religious diversity necessitates interreligious dialogue, that alone is insufficient for constructing concrete ethics of dialogue. The article thus argued for an ethical framework tagged one family, many flavours. The theological sense of the proposal is rooted in Catholic social teachings but open to engagement with other religious traditions for mutual respect and social justice. The religious scope of the article is on Roman Catholicism and the Nigeria Muslim Ummah. The article addressed related ethical challenges confronting Nigeria’s interreligious landscape as a diverse religious community. Primary and secondary sources were used in gathering information for the article; thus, scriptural texts and traditions in Islam, as well as sources in Roman Catholicism, were theologically engaged. The suggested model acknowledges the importance of retaining one’s religious identity while also recognising the importance of interreligious dialogue and the right of the religious other in ethical matters. The article is envisioned to promote conversations about translating dialogical frameworks into practice.

Levirate Marriage & Theo-doctrinal Embargo a Kenyan Experience

African scholars have found themselves in a theo-doctrinal embargo, especially after the 19 th and 20 th century European missionary explosion, that ushered a vibrant protestant Christianity in East Africa that was largely dismissive of cultural dialogues with Christianity. One of the most contested subject, that went beyond the missionary era, and reverberates across the twenty-first century, is the levirate marriage (hereafter, levirate marriage). Outside the missionary armpits, African scholars have continued to debate its efficacy to the christian teachings. In view of this, the theo-doctrinal embargo that has evidently persisted across the mainstream churches and some African Instituted churches (AIC) in Kenya motivated the eventual research and publication of this article. Whereas the mainstream churches maintain that wife inheritance, especially where the male inheritor has another wife is sin, some AICs have tended to support the levirate marriage even where the male inheritor has another wife. They do this by quoting some Old Testament texts, as their reference point. The mainstream churches have insisted that wife inheritance narratives was permitted in the Old Testament in cases where the male inheritor was single and the deceased was childless. This article seeks to examine the biblical understanding of levirate marriage and its place in the Kenyan context. Overall, the article analyzed Scriptural texts dealing with the subject of Levirate marriages and reflected it from an African Christian perspective. The materials in this article were gathered through extensive reading of published works, interviews and via general observation of the practices therein.

References to Scripture in the Old Polish History of the Three Kings. Quotations, Allusions, Echoes

The article analyzes the references to Scripture in Historyja trzech kroli (History of the Three Kings), an Old Polish apocryphal work preserved in a copy from 1544. The references to the Bible are divided into quotations, allusions and echoes. Quotations were introduced either by reference to a particular location or author of the biblical text, or to an unspecified “prophet” or “evangelist.” Sometimes they were not signaled in any way. Then the quotation could only be identified by recognizing the passage to which it refers. Allusions to the Old and New Testaments mostly consisted of references to characters, places, and events, without quoting the text of Scripture itself. The featured echoes most often consisted of narrative parallelisms between the story of the Wise Men from the East and the first Church. References to Scripture in the apocryphal work served to emphasize typology and create parallelisms between biblical history and the story of the three kings. The text emphasizes the role of the Gentiles in salvation history while belittling the role of Israelites.

AN ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF EARLY BAPTISM ON FAITHFULNESS IN THE CHURCH IN THE SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH MORIA HILL CHURCH BASED ON MARK 16:16

This study aims to analyze the effect of early baptism on church faithfulness in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, especially in the Moria Hill Congregation, with reference to Mark 16:16. The research method used is a qualitative method with a case study approach. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with congregation members who have experienced baptism, as well as analysis of Scripture texts and related literature. The results showed that baptism too early can negatively impact faithfulness in the church, as in some cases, individuals who are baptized too soon may not have fully understood their commitment to their faith. The implication of this finding is the importance of a careful approach in the baptismal process, by providing a deep understanding of faith commitment before one is baptized. This research is expected to contribute to the development of more effective and sustainable baptismal practices in the context of the Seventh-day Adventist church

Performers and Sites of the Ashwamedha Yagya in Medieval India

India has a very rich cultural history. The Ashwamedh Yagya, an important ritual and experiment from Vedic times, aimed to refine consciousness. Since the Vedic era, many Ashwamedha Yagyas have been performed. In light of scriptural texts and archaeological findings, the present study aimed to retrospectively analyze the performers and sites of the Ashwamedha Yagya in medieval India. The study found that 27 kings from 18 dynasties had performed a total of 81 documented Ashwamedha Yagyas from the 1st century BCE to the 18th century CE. Although the study tried to comprehensively identify all instances of Ashwamedha performed in medieval India, there may be more awaiting further study. The study observed that these findings were based on archaeological evidence, including copper plate inscriptions, stone inscriptions, brick and pillar inscriptions, yagya kunds, and coins. Ashwamedha sites were present throughout present-day India. An interdisciplinary approach combining archaeological, inscriptional, scriptural, and sociological findings, along with expertise from ritualistic scholars, could unveil new research directions on the rich history of Ashwamedha Yagya in Indian culture.

A Reappropriation of the Joseph Story in Genesis 39 and Surah 12 for Contemporary Race-Discourse

The death of George Floyd at the hands of law enforcement agents in 2020 and the racial tensions that followed it have again reignited the contentious debate about racism and society’s inability to find an enduring solution. This article is a novel effort to situate the debate in an interreligious context and contribute meaningfully to the search for a solution. Drawing from the Joseph and Potiphar’s wife story in Genesis 39 and Surah 12 of the holy Qur’an, the article shows the intersections of this patriarchal material with the axes of identity and marginality. Drawing from the multiple junctures of this intersectionality that include race, ethnicity, identity, and microaggressions, the article identifies in the scriptural texts seven resonances of contemporary racism that are often ignored or poorly understood in race discourse. Taking into consideration some meaningful solutions suggested by legal luminaries and behavioral scientists in their respective fields, the article augments these with a religious solution, pointing in the direction of a true penitential spirit, like the one demonstrated by Potiphar’s wife in the Qur’an. The suggestion is that a genuine turnaround (conversion) is also in the spirit of the ecclesial repentance that was practiced in the early church before some medieval abuses crept in. The article concludes that human agencies aside, ultimately it is God’s ability to bring good out of evil, the way God did with Joseph, that can bring an enduring solution to victims of racism.

Adventist Young People's Perceptions of Missionaries in The Adventist Church Environment Seventh Day Based on Mark 10:29-30

This study explores the perceptions of young people in the Seventh-day Adventist Church regarding the missionary task and contribution. The main focus of this research is the Adventist young people's views on mission endeavors in relation to the teachings from Mark 10:29-30. To conduct this research, the methods used include qualitative methods, and analysis of scriptural texts. The results of this study show the different ways Adventist young people see the importance of missions, the difficulties missionaries face, and how the teachings from Mark 10:29-30 influence their perception of sacrifice and reward in the context of ecclesiastical missions. The findings may help to increase young people's understanding and participation in ecclesial mission activities.

Art on Mission with the Tabernacle Builders

How does art contribute to mission? How might Scripture shape the claims that Christians make about art and mission? This article addresses these questions. It argues, first, that there is a need for fresh work in this area, because existing literature on the biblical theology of mission dedicates scarce attention to art and beauty, also because such literature centers scriptural texts that lack an aesthetic dimension. Second, it provides exegetical setup for its biblical-theological proposal: it observes that Genesis 1 foregrounds beauty and the production of art, and it observes that Genesis 1 belongs integrally together with the Tabernacle texts at the end of Exodus. Third, it interprets the Tabernacle builders as a template for art on mission. Their artistry evidences faithfulness and freedom; and their practice shows the generosity of art.

Mempertanyakan Teodisi: Teodisi Yahudi Sesudah Auschwitz dalam Telaah Zachary Braiterman

The 20th century holocaust against Jews in Auschwitz, Buchenwald, and other concentration camps was the starting point for the change in modern Jewish theology towards contemporary theology. Contemporary Jewish theologians, rabbis, and philosophers have revisited their theodicy by critically reading scriptural texts and traditions (Midrash). The substance debated in theodicy is about God’s goodness which is in conflict with God’s omnipotence so that evil and suffering occur. The problem of Jewish theodicy after Auschwitz was studied by Zachary Braiterman by explaining the split between the hegemony of Jewish theodicy with a religious discourse and anti-theodicy with a pagan discourse. Braiterman uses a postmodern approach to map the criticism of Jewish theologians and philosophers towards the universal truth of theodicy before Auschwitz. This new discourse is useful for transforming the cultural changes of modern Jewish society from its marginal position in the text to becoming the main figure (anthropodicy). It seems that Braiterman is supporting the anti-theodicy movement to move beyond the nightmare of the holocaust in order to free the Jewish people from suffering by critically rereading texts and tradition.

Hermeneutiek in de preekvoorbereiding

This article examines the relationship between preaching and from the perspective of sermon preparation. It proposes three layers of hermeneutical processes: ‘biblical hermeneutics’, ‘theological hermeneutics’, and ‘hermeneutics as resonance’. On a deeper level, resonance, an alternative to what Reformed homiletics called ‘application’, can process the insights of modernity and postmodernity. Dealing with the scriptural text during sermon preparation, resonance enables the preacher to focus upon a lived spirituality.

Dostoevsky’s Ethical and Aesthetical Conception and the Problem of Russian National Identity in A. Ponizovsky’s novel <i>Turning into a Listening Ear</i>

Purpose. The aim of the article is to investigate the influence of the F. M. Dostoevsky's creative heritage on the ideological and artistic originality of A. Ponizovsky's novel Turning into a Listening Ear (2013).Results. Ponizovsky's interpretation of Dostoevsky related to the theme of the Russian world and Russian identity. Two plotlines, social (ordinary Russians’ stories) and philosophical (controversy around them), create a conflict field typical for Dostoevsky's works: meaning of life and absurdity of existence, cruelty and compassion, Russian people and Russia. Dostoevsky's intertext is found at all levels of text organization. A deep philosophical understanding of the Russian life’s problems is achieved due to a set of Dostoevsky's intertexts, which have acquired the status of metanarratives in Russian culture (Grushenka's legend about the saving onion, devil's anecdote about a quadrillion kilometers on the way to paradise, Svidrigailov's image of eternity as a bathhouse with spiders). Following Dostoevsky's stylistic strategies includes the usage of a polyphonic novel resources, and reproducing individual techniques of the writer's poetics (anachronism, coexistence of fiction and non-fiction, using of Holy Scripture's text). The very person of Dostoevsky becomes an object of controversy for Ponizovsky. Colliding two concepts of the classic’s image – Freudian and Christian-oriented, the modern author creates a portrait of Dostoevsky’s conflicting personality.Conclusion. The perception of F. M. Dostoevsky's work by A. Ponizovsky is not only reminiscent, but also “genetic” by its nature due to the worldview commonality of these Russian writers.

Moral Theology

“Moral Theology” is theology in this narrower sense. It proceeds in the light of faith, with constant reference to Scripture and other authoritative expressions of the Church’s faith. “Interpretation” refers to systematic efforts to facilitate communication and overcome misunderstandings. This is where theology as we commonly understand it begins. The theological interpreter tries to find and state the true and full meaning of texts of Scripture and other authoritative expressions of the Church’s faith. This is the task of the part of theology called “positive theology”.

Building Nationalities within Christians Virtues

Background. Reflecting Pancasila in research world not necessarily discussing Indonesian citizenship as a civil society, these discourses widened to theological settings, particularly scriptural texts that are often used as sermons in pulpits. Indonesian ideological issues encountering Christianity have flowed and led to the entanglement of structural issues. Purpose. The aim of research was to explore the threads of nationalism in Pancasila, specifically crossing over with Christian values. Method. Based on qualitative research, researchers searched data through previous writings relevant to Pancasila, education, scriptural texts and their history. Results. Results showed that Christianity has brought goodness news not just limited to Christians, but also brought light for the world as reflections of socialist human beings. It must be understood that Indonesian nationalism is nationalism that rejects all forms of discrimination, oppression, injustice, and denial of divine values, as contained in Pancasila. Conclusion. Citizens have four main roles in the nation and state, namely as iron stock, social by control, agent of change, and also moral force. Those four main roles in running the life of the state are certainly not at all contradictory to Christianity. By performing these four roles, Christians show the quality of their Christian faith by becoming good citizens.

Subject and Scripture: Exploring Existential Moments in the Ordinary Reading of Scripture

Scripture reading is not only a means of extracting meaning from sacred texts, but also a way to attain certain spiritual experiences. In the Islamic tradition, reading the scriptural text, such as the holy Quran, can lead readers to certain spiritual experiences that may fundamentally alter their awareness and understanding of reality. These experiences are accessible not only to readers with certain modalities but also to ordinary readers. This study analyses how ordinary readers can experience these existential moments. Data was collected through a literature review and documentation of the experiences of ordinary readers who have had spiritual-existential moments while reading scripture (the holy Quran). Data was analysed using Heidegger’s phenomenological hermeneutics. The results of the study indicate that readers of scripture, such as the holy Quran, have the same potential to experience existential moments that can alter their awareness and perspective on the meaning of life. These existential moments are moments of revelation of the meaning and divine guidance within oneself, allowing the reader to gain spiritual experience. The nature of scripture and the role of God as the author who is continuously present throughout the reading process allows even ordinary readers to experience existential moments that can alter their awareness and their way of being in the world.

Comparing Islam with other Late Antique Religions: Examining Theological Parallels with Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Manichaeism

This article argues that Islamic theological doctrines emerged out of broad late antique religious trends. Such trends were reflected in Judaism and Christianity, but also transcended them. In support of this view, the article systematically examines parallels between Islamic theological doctrines, and those found in the late antique religions of Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Manichaeism. It is argued that all of these religions share six basic doctrines: (1) belief in one morally-concerned Supreme Being (2) belief in lesser spirit beings that are good or bad (3) belief in prophets (4) belief in scriptural texts (5) belief in an afterlife (6) belief that the world will end with the triumph of good over evil. It is argued that the preceding six doctrines coherently fit together into a larger perspective on the universe. The article explains how this perspective is central to late antique religions, including Islam.

Post-Sentence Mediation – Its Rationale and Importance in the Light of the Teaching of the Roman Catholic Church. A Look from the Perspective of a Catholic Country

Victim-offender mediation in enforcement proceedings is a new challenge for the justice system in Poland and many countries around the world. The number of such mediations is currently very small. The lack of appropriate regulations and enthusiasm among representatives of the studies and its practitioners make it difficult to search for a way to popularize a conciliatory attitude in enforcement proceedings. The authors of this publication seek arguments in favour of post-sentence mediation in the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church. The importance of faith and religion in the lives of many people (including convicts) and an analysis of the texts of Sacred Scripture and statements of clergymen on forgiveness and satisfaction allow us to be optimistic about the Church’s efforts to encourage the implementation of principles so important to restorative justice.

Sources of influence on rendering biblical geographical names into Ukrainian. Part 2.

The article examines the coincidences and discrepancies in the rendering of geographical names in the most common translations of the Bible into Ukrainian. The material of the study comprised 172 geographical names from the text of the Old Testament (Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) in translations from the Hebrew original, as well as from the Synodical and English-language intermediary texts. For the purpose of this analysis, all 172 names were divided into six categories, depending on the degree of coincidence of their spelling in Ukrainian, where in category 1 the rendering of the proper name coincides in all versions of the translation, and in category 6 it does not coincide in any of its six versions. The other categories differed in the proportion of such matches. This article discusses the results of the analysis of the latter two categories, which allow to draw a preliminary conclusion that some of the studied translators were guided mainly by the Ukrainian tradition (initiated in the translations of I. Ohienko and I. Khomenko), even when they did not translate from the Hebrew original but from other intermediary texts, in particular, from the English-language (New World Bible). Filaret was mainly influenced by the synodal translation, only occasionally switching over to the Ukrainian tradition. On the other hand, O. Hyzha even translating from the synodal text, has a distinctly Ukrainian orientation, relying on the long tradition of national translation. Turkoniak’s translation stands apart, as he adheres to his own principles of rendering proper names, making his translation unlike any other tradition in this respect. Given the undoubted erudition and qualifications of this translator, it can be assumed that his innovations are the most valuable ones in the modern interpretation of the texts of Scripture.