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Item Open Access St Joseph in early Christianity(University of the Free State, 2000) Lienhard, Joseph T.Item Open Access Kultuur, lewensvisie en ontwikkeling(University of the Free State, 2000) Van der Walt, B. J.Item Open Access Christianity and African gods: a method in theology(University of the Free State, 2000) Turaki, YusufuItem Open Access Die rol van die see in die Patmos-visioene(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2000) Du Preez, J.Older and newer commentaries on Revelation as well as other studies regarding this book, reveal virtually throughout a very negative view on the role of the sea in John's visions. The author of this article examines all the relevant sections in Revelation and concludes that, although in John's final vision of the new world there seems to be no place for the sea (21:1), the sea nevertheless virtually throughout Revelation plays a more positive than negative role and is, therefore, unjustly viewed in such a negative light. The theological-ecological implication of this is indicated.Item Open Access How God pays back - retributive concepts in the Book of Job(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2000) Fischer, S.Five Old Testament concepts of retribution are presented. Then the Book of Job is evaluated under the aspect of its retributive concepts. Because of the lack of compensation in Job's life-experience, Job as well as his friends are led co cancel individual elements of the retributive concept. While Job's friends stick to a rigid concept, Job undergoes different stages of development that finally lead him to the denial of retribution. By this he agrees with his wife, but both come to opposite conclusions in their reasoning. Job's wife argues in favour of a nihilistic approach while Job is a proponent of a faith-approach. Therefore he is an example of a New Testament believer.Item Open Access Ou metodes van die Satan in 'n moderne samelewing - met besondere verwysing na Openbaring 2 en 3(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2000) Grove, A. H.It is an unequivocal fact that Satan is at work in this world and especially in the church of Christ. At times his methods are crystal clear and at other times, inexplicable, they are not. It is because the devil appears in many guises. According to Matthew 7:15 and 2 Corinthians 11:14 it is not always possible to determine his modus operandi. The purpose of this article is 1. To identify methods used by and explain the way in which Satan operates in order to attack the Christian church in Asia Minor as described in Relevation 2 and 3. 2. To determine the mortal danger as it exist in this day and time. Satan's strategies and methods are diverse and include the following: 1. The lie. 2. The prosecution and oppression of the church. 3. The constant attempt to get the faithful to compromise their faith; to urge them with irresistible power in an insidious way to accept and follow false doctrine. 4. The strategy of violence, in which no compromise is acceptable. It is important to know that neither Satan's name nor his activities are always mentioned. Take for example such messages as those to Sardis and Laodicea. Yet it is clear that his modus operandi can be reconstructed because of the trials and evidence that he leaves behind. Satan is a master at camouflage and subtle covert operations. 5. He uses man's external circumstances such as his longing for earthly possessions and wealth, his self-satisfaction, his search for instant gratification, his smugness and frailty to gain the upper hand, in order to bring about the fall of a congregation.Item Open Access The World's Evangelical Alliance and the Spanish Civil War(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2000) Hale, F.British Christians reacted variously to the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and crossed verbal swords in the campaign for the hearts and minds of the public over this heated issue at a time when many people believed that Western civilisation and the future of Christianity in Europe were hanging in the balance. Generally speaking, Roman Catholics in the United Kingdom, alarmed at the violence which anticlerical mobs inflicted on religious personnel in parts of Spain and concerned about their denomination's loss of its privileged status, supported the insurgency of General Francisco Franco, leader of the ultimately victorious Nationalist forces. In the Church of England opinion was divided. In various Nonconformist circles, there was considerable support for Republican Spain. The interdenominational Evangelical Alliance, founded in England in 1846 inter alia to promote Protestant interests internationally at a time when the Roman Catholic Church was perceived as a threat to religious freedom in Europe and elsewhere, lent its voice to the Republican cause. This was by no means a matter of ideological sympathy for the socialism of the Madrid regime, but reflected the Evangelical Alliance's traditional support of the Protestant churches in Spain, whose hard-won freedom, it was believed, would be threatened by a Nationalist victory and the restoration of Roman Catholicism as the official religion of the realm.Item Open Access Command or petition? A speech act analysis of the parents' utterances in John 9:21cd(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2000) Ito, H.Although speech act theor}r has a great potential for a better understanding of biblical texts, as demonstrated by some excellent published monographs and articles, it has been only occasionally utilised since the introduction of this theory co New Testament scholarship. In this somewhat disappointing situation, the purpose of chis article is to continue to show the validity of chis approach and to develop it further in the reading of biblical texts. The utterances of the blind man's parents in John 9:2lcd are selected as an example for this purpose.Item Open Access In search of tradition material in Zephaniah 1:7-13(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2000) Snyman, S. D.The question investigated in this paper is a simple one: are there any indications of the use of tradition material in Zephaniah 1:7-13? Apart from the prominent theme of the ... this paper argues for allusions to at least two of the prominent traditions of salvation present in the Old Testament, i e the Sinai tradition and the tradition of the conquest of the land. The mentioning of a coming theophany, a sacrificial meal and a disregard for the first commandment point in the direction of the Sinai tradition. The threat of verse 13 points to the tradition of the land. The positive content of both these traditions are turned against the people. What once was beneficial to them is now a very real threat of doom and disaster.Item Open Access Die bemagtiging van die armes(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2000) Vester, P.The issue addressed in this article is whether the poor can be empowered to change their own situation without becoming revolutionary. Poverty comprises lack of the most basic life-sustaining goods. However, the poor as people before God, can be empowered to change their situation. Although poverty is an all-inclusive problem, the possibility of helping the poor to realise that they are called to take possession of their own destiny is important. In Jesus Christ a new way of hope and change is offered. With the realisation of their own situation comes the responsibility to become involved. By means of an important ministry the poor should be helped to regain self-respect and to act accordingly. Initiatives on the part of the poor are therefore of the utmost importance.Item Open Access Paulus se retoriese strategie in Galasiërs 1:1-10(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2000) Tolmie, D. F.The aim of this article is to demonstrate an approach to the rhetorical analysis of Paul's Letter to the Galatians that differs from the typical approach followed by researchers, namely the forcing of ancient rhetorical categories on the letter. Instead it is proposed that Paul's rhetorical strategy should be analysed in terms of a "grounded theoretical approach". This is demonstrated by a systematic analysis of the Paul's basic rhetorical strategy, as well as of all the supportive persuasive techniques, in these two pericopes.