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Item Open Access Religieuse pluraliteit en waarheid: die hoofstroom Christelike respons(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2005) Louw, D. J.English: Our shrinking world confronts us with a plurality of religion of which all claim to be "true". How should we evaluate these claims? The mainstreean Christian response to this question oscillates beween exclusism and inclusivism. These responses are explained and evaluated with references to Karl Barth (conservative exclusivism), Hendrik Kraemer and Emil Brunner (liberal exclusivism) and Karl Rahner (inclusivism). It is concluded that the responses of both the exclusivist and inclusivist boil down to the very subjective arbitrariness that they wish to avoid.Item Open Access Maleagi 1: 9 — 'n crux interpretum(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2005) Snyman, S. D.English: Malachi 1:9 presents the interpreter or exegete with unexpected difficulties. A number of these difficulties are treated in this article: problems pertaining to the translation of the text in Afrikaans, text-critical problems, the problem of the identity of the speaker(s); the question of whether the text should be interpreted as ironic or not. The investigation resulted in the following: The weaknesses of current translations of the text are pointed out and a new translation in Afrikaans is proposed. Text-critical questions are treated and it is found that there is no compelling reason to alter the text. The speaker is identified as the prophet and not the priests or the people. Finally, it is indicated that there is no need to understand the text ironically; it is rather a serious appeal by the prophet directed to the priests.Item Open Access Twentieth-century English Bible translations(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2005) Naudé, J. A.English: The twentieth century has emerged as a major period of Bible translations and publications. The article explores both the cultural and social circumstances under which the English Bible translations of the twentieth century were produced and aspects relating to the translation process and reception. It offers insights into the underlying objectives and qualities of translations as well as the tradition from which they stem. The primary concern for meaning and readability has influenced the nature of Bible translation of this period, breaking down the socio-cultural distance between modern readers and the original contexts of the Bible.Item Open Access “You are my rock and fortress”. Refuge metaphors in Psalm 31. A perspective from cognitive metaphor theory(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2006) Basson, A.English: The psalms of lamentation are prayers of a beleaguered individual or nation. The one under constant attack of the enemy has no other option but to implore the deity to intervene on his behalf. Yahweh is invoked to save the supplicant and to destroy the adversaries. Apart from this recurrent plea, Yahweh is often depicted as one providing refuge to those in need. Psalm 31 is no exception. The competent reader will identify various refuge metaphors being employed by the psalmist. Through the application of images from the natural world, the poet accentuates the notion that Yahweh acts as a refuge to his people. By taking recourse to the cognitive theory of metaphor, this study endeavours to explicate the cognitive world underlying the use of the refuge metaphors is Psalm 31.Item Open Access Opening the trinity: developing the "open theism" debate(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2005) Williams, D. TEnglish: The reconciliation of the omniscience of God with the free choices of humanity is a problem whic has taced christian thinkers for centuries. Reently the issue has become prominent with the emergence of support for " open theism:, the belief that free will is such tha God cannot know the future, simply because it has not yet happened. this idea has produced considerable opposition largely based on the pereived insecurity with which it leave Christians, and the feeling that it deminished God. A further solution to the problem can be based on the concept of god's kenosis, that God has freely chosen to think t limit himself, specifically his knowledge. As this is a freely chosen action of God, so not an inherent limitation, and is temporaty, it meets the fundamental objection to open theism. At the same time, kenosis was done for the sake of enabling a relationship with God, in which Christians do find ultimate security.Item Open Access Mission among the Jews(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2005) Van de Beek, A.Enlish: The author discusses whether the issue of mission among the Jews deals with the basic question of mission or whether it is the core of the Christian faith. Although both Jews and Christians reject the idea and (more so) mission among the Jews, the author strongly argues for its need, for mission is not the expansion of ideas or cultures, but the telling of the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection. Religion is not based on a doctrine but on an event that must be communicated to all and, first, to the people of God. The first people to do so were Jewish Christians. When Gentile Christians are called to proclaim the gospel to the Jews, they can do so only on the common ground of the Scriptures: the Old Testament. This requires knowledge of the Old Testament that is compatible with the Jewish knowledge of the Scriptures, which must be living letters of Christ as a result of the fullness of the gospel in their lives.Item Open Access Baptist ethics of conscientious objection to military service in South Africa: the watershed case of Richard Steele(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2005) Hale, F.English: Although the Baptist Union of Southern Africa included relatively few outspoken critics of the apartheid system, during the 1970s and 1980s a small number of its younger members confronted the military system which supported that system of social engineering by refusing to comply with military conscription. Particularly noteworthy among these dissenters was Richard Steele, who had been influenced by the Anabaptist tradition of pacifism in the United States of America. Like his cousin and fellow Baptist, Peter Moll, he countered prevailing sentiments and practices within his denomination by going to prison rather than serve in the South African Defence Force. Steele’s action met with little support in the Baptist Union. During the last two decades of the twentieth century international scholarship shed light on the history of conscription and conscientious objection thereto in the Republic of South Africa as that country’s apartheid policy and the military apparatus which supported it came under severe critical fire. Such works as Jacklyn Cock’s and Laurie Nathan’s War and society: The militarisation of South Africa2 and the anthology War and resistance: Southern African reports which Gavin Cawthra, Gerald Kraak, and Gerald O’Sullivan edited3 thus illuminated previously tenebrous corners of this subject. Others, however, remained in the shadows. Almost completely overlooked in the pertinent scholarly literature, despite theItem Open Access 'n Pastoraal-narratiewe groepsontwikkelingsmodel vir vrywilligers van die Kankervereniging(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2005) Steyn, J.; Van den Berg, J-A.English: The caregivers of the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), Bloemfontein expressed their need to develop lay-counselling skills in order to assist the patient to cope with life during illness. Ten out of twelve caregivers indicated that they had a nursing background whilst two previously attended courses in lay-counselling. In order to offer assistance to a person acquiring coping skills, a caregiver should have a clear perspective on his/her own life story. Guiding the caregivers in achieving lay-counselling skills in caring for the sick, the group method was chosen. The first aim was to facilitate growth in understanding that every person was born in the “Narrative of God” (Ps. 139) and baptised in the name of God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). Each person therefore has value in Jesus Christ. A second aim was to facilitate the developing of lay-counselling skills by means of sharing narratives. Group dynamics underpinned the developing of these skills by interaction. The achievement resulted in an enriching spiritual capacity of acknowledging the work of the Holy Spirit in the life and work of the caregivers.Item Open Access Reformed theology for the 21st century: confessional, contextual and ecumenical(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2005) Strauss, S. A.English: This article scrutinises two important, recently published books on the identity of Reformed theology. These books serve as a springboard for the formation of ideas concerning the way in which Reformed theology should be practised in the 21st century. The article tests the hypothesis that the correct connection and relationship between confession, context and ecumenicity guarantees the practising of meaningful, thorough and useful Reformed theology.