Doctoral Degrees (New Testament)

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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (New Testament) by Author "Tolmie, Donald Francois"

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    Die negative Konnotation des Heidenbegriffes: Fehldeutungen und Übersetzungsfehler im NT anhand der paulinischen Schriften
    (University of the Free State, 2007-04) Vindigni, Giovanni; Tolmie, Donald Francois
    English: The topic of this Doctor's thesis is “The negative connotation of the concept heathen/pagan”. Misinterpretations and translation errors in the NT illustrated by the Pauline writings”. It is an attempt to examine in a more differentiated fashion those parts of the New Testament, which have a long history of theological discussion, and protect them against one-sided and narrow interpretation. Upon closer examination of present academic research of the New Testament it can be noted that the German, French, Netherlands, Afrikaans and Anglo-American translations of the Greek term e;qnh are very irregular. Various commentaries ignore a full discussion of this term. The decision in favor of a specific translation appears to be made without careful consideration. Often non-Jews are labeled as heathen or pagan without considering the connotations of these terms under lexematic aspects, or the change in linguistic usage. The effects of the negligent rendering of the term e;qnh can be seen in the various fields of theology and its disciplines, particularly missiology and religious studies. The purpose of this doctor thesis is to provide a systematic, theological and hermeneutical contribution to this field of study. This is evident in the expression that is preferred in this study The Pauline understanding of non- Jewish non-Christians, which does not automatically bestow theological reflections on foreign religions. Besides the historical-philological consideration of the terminologies, which Paul uses to refer to non-Jewish non-Christians, the author analyzes basic theological concepts and semantic problems. The semantic examination of non-Jewish non-Christians can be divided into three main aspects. The terms Paul uses to determine this group of people, a;dikoj, a;pistoj and e;qnh have a negative connotation, i.e., lawlessness, unbelief, sin, idolatry, enmity with God and ethical demoralization. In analyzing the term a;dikoj, it can be determined that Paul himself disposes of certain patterns of judgement also known to the ekklesia, which he chooses. With avkrobusti,a Paul adopts the Jewish classification of humankind, which anticipates ethnic-religious collectives, and maintains the predestination of Jewish people symbolized by circumcision of the praeputium and the law corpora. However, Paul balances this polarity by Abrahamic sonship and the promises of salvation originally given to Israel as something which is available to all believers. This is based on Christ's death and resurrection for all humankind. It is no longer man's relationship to the law, i.e., the law-corpora, that distinguishes the sinners from the righteous, but man's position to the kerygma of the Kyrios1588 that determines salvation. Because the act of reconciliation through Christ includes and applies to non-Jewish non-Christians, Paul sees himself as an apostle to the non-Jews, the apostle of the Gentiles, who is committed to preach the gospel despite the imminent dangers of death. Unlike the rabbis, he no longer proclaims separation, but inclusion, for example instead of fearing defilement he sits at the table with non-Jews. The results of this doctor thesis offer a carefully analyzed modification of the traditional Jewish treatment of non-Jews in the context of mission. Paul himself being a Hellenist reflects the Hellenistic classification of humankind by using the terms ba,rbaroj and {Ellhn. He does not defame or polemize the hellenistic culture with his use of the term pagan. The presentation of Paul's view of the pagans would be incomplete without referring to the knowledge of God's law outside of the Thorah as seen in the context of Romans: “19 dio,ti to. gnwsto.n tou/ qeou/ fanero,n evstin evn auvtoi/j o` qeo.j ga.r auvtoi/ j evfane,rwsenÅ 20 ta. ga.r avo,rata auvtou/ avpo. kti,sewj ko,smou toi/j poih,masin noou,mena kaqora/tai( h[ te avi
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    Paul’s disinterest in the fulfilling of the law - a new reading of Pauline theology
    (Univesity of the Free State, 2015-01-31) Song, Jae Young; Tolmie, Donald Francois
    English: The most important purpose of any investigation of Paul’s theology of the law is to explain why Paul believes that the law cannot give life. An overview of such studies shows that the failure to fulfil (keep) the law has always been the answer given by Pauline scholars, even though there might be a difference of opinion amongst them as to the reason for such a failure. In this regard, even the New Perspective was not really new. If a failure to fulfil the law were the reason for Paul’s problems with the law, it would mean that his interest lies in showing such a failure or the impossibility of fulfilling the law, which would basically constitute an anthropological approach as the problem of the law would then be related to humankind. However, Paul never refers to the impossibility of fulfilling the law perfectly in any of his letters. Instead this study shows that the answer that Paul gave to this question did not focus on humankind but on the essential nature of the law. Paul was interested in revealing the identity of the law in redemptive history, an issue for which human failure to fulfil the law was not important. Accordingly, this study introduces the following two very important Pauline ideas that have not been considered adequately by scholars before, namely the personal nature of the law and the plural nature of the law. The first one implies that fulfilling the law in the sense of being obedient to the law is unavoidable, and failing to do so is impossible. Thus a failure to fulfil the law was not what Paul was interested in. The second one implies that life and death are not determined by human failure in fulfilling the law but by the identity of the particular law that is served. By means of an intertextual reading it is showed that, for Paul, Deut. 30 hints at Gen. 3. In Rom. 7, he presents this redemptive historical framework, hinting at the two texts (Gen. 3 and Deut. 30) in a circle of intertextuality in the following way: For Paul, the two trees of death and life in Eden and the two laws of curse and blessing on Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerizim overlap. Furthermore the Torah and the word of Christ overlap with the two laws of blessing and curse. The Torah is thus linked to the commandment of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, as well as to the law on Mt Ebal, whereas the word of Christ is linked to the lost commandment of the tree of life and to the lost law on Mt. Gerizim. This means that the Torah cannot give life regardless of one’s fulfilling of the law. Once again, it is clear that the fulfilling of the law as such is not what Paul is interested in. Lastly, the study shows that the fulfilling of the law that Paul refers to (Gal. 5:14, 6:2; Rom. 13:10) should not be regarded as his response to the issue of the failure to fulfil the law, either. In this instance, the focus does not fall on humankind, but on the divine side of things. It refers to the relationship between the Torah and (the word or the law of) Christ. The Torah is fulfilled (transformed) to become the law of Christ. Once again it is clear that Paul is not interested in the fulfilling of the law. This study focuses on texts that are generally interpreted by scholars as referring to the impossibility of fulfilling the law. In Part A, the study shows how scholars have interpreted texts in this way by means of a historical overview. The presuppositions and basic ideas in this regard are considered and a new approach is suggested. In Part B, the study focuses on Paul’s disinterest in the fulfilling of the law in Galatians, and highlights Paul’s views on the personal nature of the law in this letter. In Part C, the study focuses on the same issue in Romans, focusing on the plural nature of the law, as well as on its personal nature. The two opposing laws, the Torah and the law of God (mind and life) are discussed. Finally, in Part D, the study deals with the meaning of the expression ‘fulfilling the law’. T he study concludes that Paul is not interested in the fulfilling of the law and that current explanations of Paul’s views of the law focus on something that Paul was not interested in himself.