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Item Open Access 'n (N.G.) gemeente in "het kamp te Bloemfontein" gedurende die Anglo-Boereoorlog 1900-1903(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2003) Britz, R. MEnglish: The two previous editions of Acta Theologica published the stories of the well-known “Tweetoringkerk” and the Dutch Reformed Mission Church of Waaihoek at the time of the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902). The present article focuses on the third Bloemfontein Dutch Reformed congregation during that war. This congregation came into existence in the concentration camp on the outskirts of the city. It was ministered to by a number of Dutch Reformed clergymen appointed by the new colonial government. The two Lutheran pastors of Bloemfontein (Grosskopf and Arndt) also served the church in the camp. The congregation was structured along the traditional lines of the Dutch Reformed Church: there was a church council, a Sunday school, prayer meetings, a Christian Endeavour Society, and from time to time special evangelisation meetings. Both Baptism and Holy Communion were administered. The available sources reveal that the theological convictions and approach of the ministers who served in the camp relate to the 19th century (Arminian) evangelicalism (and revivals) that were so popular in America and Great Britain. When the war ended and the camp was demolished in January 1903, this first “macro-church” of Bloemfontein also ceased to exist. The article gives an interesting perspective on the religious ministry in a concentration camp during the Anglo-Boer War. Die Anglo-Boereoorlog (1899-1902) het die drie Bloemfonteinse N.G.gemeentes diepgrypend geraak. Hoedat die oorlog op twee hiervan, die Tweetoringkerk en die Sendinggemeente van Waaihoek, ingekom het, is in die vorige uitgawes van Acta Theologica aan die orde gestel.2 Hierdie artikelItem Open Access Narratologiese ondersoek na Daniël 1: God beloon getrouheid(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2003) Nel, M.English: The hypothesis of this article is that a narratological analysis of Daniel 1 may be useful in understanding it. Daniel 1 is a narrative without historical foundation and should be read and interpreted as literature. Whereas the tales in the Daniel book pretend to be about historical figures, they are literary tales that encourage people in a historical crisis situation. In the narratological synthesis the following elements are investigated in terms of their contribution to the tale: the narrator and his/her theological outlook; the temporal, spatial and social settings of the tale; the characters in the tale, and the plot which is a plot within a plot. The narratological discussion implies that Daniel 1 conveys the message: God is in control of what is happening with His people. His reign is sovereign. He is where His children are. His children are there because He put them there. His people have the responsibility to serve and honour Him even in the strange country of exile. He uses them in that country. and He blesses them there. He is the great God.Item Open Access Die betekenis en funksie van die himnes in Openbaring 4-11(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2003) Viljoen, F. P.The plotted actions in Revelation 4-11 could be actualised in the strict sense without the hymns, but the total communicative and esthetic effect could not be achieved without them. The plot develops in a strong liturgical context. The hymns summon the implied readers not to play a passive role, but rather an active one. The hymns are reassuring, constantly representing a scenario of final victory, one in which the implied reader plays an active role. The hymns are thus therapeutic throughout. They revolve around the theme of the sovereignity of God and the Lamb, his coming in judgement and the establishment of the kingdom of the saints. The hymns comment on the plot of the Apocalypse and provide important information which helps the reader to decipher the ensuing events. The hymns in Revelation provide useful guidelines for the use of songs in the liturgy.Item Open Access Law, religion and the covenanted community: the impact of the Zurich Reformation on the early Cape settlement, 1652-1708(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2003) Raath, A. W. G.The Zurich Reformation was actively supported by the Dutch East India Company in its care for the religious, political and legal needs of the early Cape settlement. Not only the promotion of the Reformed religion by the Classis of Amsterdam but also the political and legal interests of the settlement were advanced on the basis of the Zurich reformation and its emphasis on the covenant. It was Huldrych Zwingli and his successor Heinrich Bullinger whose idea of the covenanted community served as the blueprint for the activities of the Sick Comforters, the proceedings of the Council of Justice and the decisions of the Council of Policy, rather than the influence of the Genevan reformer John Calvin. The so-called Calvinistic roots of the early settlement at the Cape, flowing from Calvin’s doctrine of predestination, must therefore, be thoroughly revisited.Item Open Access The Great Trek as exodus in J.D. Kestell's and N. Hofmeyr's De Voortrekkers of Het Dagboek van Izak van der Merwe(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2003) Hale, F.English: Both before and after the end of the nineteenth century the Great Trek of the 1830s and 1840s was a recurrent theme in historical fiction. Not only in many of the novels written in Dutch and Afrikaans, but also in some which appeared in English, the bravery of the Voortrekkers was a pivotal theme. Often merged with this heroic motif was an identification of the Voortrekkers with the Israelites of the Old Testament. This thematic dualism reached its zenith in De Voortrekkers of Het Dagboek van Izak van der Merwe, whose authors, John Daniel Kestell en Nico Hofmeyr, both of whom were Dutch Reformed ministers, constructed the Great Trek as a post-figurative Exodus.Item Open Access Vernuwing in die kerklied: die Liedboek van die Kerk (2001)(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2003) Kloppers, E. C.English: Renewal in hymnody and an “explosion” of hymns are taking place world-wide. Many new hymnals were published in the past decades. A new hymnal in Afrikaans, Liedboek van die Kerk, was also taken into use during 2001. In this article certain aspects of renewal reflected in this hymnal are discussed and related to world-wide tendencies. Aspects discussed are liturgical forms and hymns handed down from the early history of the church; forms promoting more active participation; ecumenicity; diversity and plurality to accommodate various groups and generations; the versification of the Psalter; the rubrication; and the formation of liturgists. It is shown which aspects were addressed successfully and which should receive more attention in future.Item Open Access Die geheim van die prediking: om mondig te word(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2003) Cilliers, J.English: This article contends that preaching is a speech-act in which the voice of the preacher – symbol of his or her personality and spirituality - has an important role to play. It argues that the voice of the preacher is a factor not to be overlooked in the dynamic structure of communication, and should be cultivated in a theologically responsible manner. The function of the voice of the preacher should, however, not be understood as a new, homiletical moralism, but in its relationship to (a) the salvation works of God, (b) the relational integrity of the preacher, (c) the integration of prayer within the framework of the preacher's theology, and (d) a life of virtue before God. The main thrust of the argument is that preaching is constituted simultaneously by a deeply human and profoundly divine activity in the life of the church.Item Open Access Faith, hope and love — a missionary perspective on three seminal motifs in 1 Thessalonians 1:3(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2003) De Villiers, P. G. R.English: Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians is often regarded as providing pastoral support to them in a time of anxiety and stress. Focussing on the introductory part of the thanksgiving in 1 Thessalonians 1:2-5, this article investigates facets of the text that are neglected because of this reading. It analyses certain qualities ascribed to the Thessalonian believers in the first part of the thanksgiving. The qualities are first of all investigated in their general religious sense and, secondly, in terms of their results. In a concluding section the function of this portrait is spelled out.Item Open Access "Beset", "besete" of "beserk"?: besinning oor enkele begrippe binne die kerklike diens van bevryding van bose magte(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2003) Theron, J. P. J.Concepts used in literature with regard to the church’s ministry of deliverance from evil spirits are discussed. The inadequacies of the terms “demon-possessed” and “possession” and its Afrikaans equivalents in this context, insofar as they sometimes denote “ownership” or “heavy manifestation”, are pointed out. The ways in which Bible translators have dealt with these problems are scrutinised. Alternative terms are offered as part of the development of a relevant practical theological theory.Item Open Access Die 1983 Afrikaanse Bybelvertaling in die lig van huidige tendense en behoeftes(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2003) Snyman, A. H.At a symposium on current trends in Bible translation held in August 2001 it became clear that linguistic-based theories, which dominated translation work when the 1983 Afrikaans translation came on the scene, have been replaced by functionalist approaches and descriptive translation studies (DTS). The difference between these approaches lies in their relation to the source text: linguistic theorists regard the source text as a norm and evaluate any translation in terms of its equivalence to the source text. In contrast, the functionalist theorists regard a translation as a new communicative act that must be purposeful with respect to the translator’s clients and readership, while DTS views a text as a translation if it functions as such in the receiving culture and literary system. A recent investigation into the need for a new Afrikaans translation reveals that there is a need for various types of translation. The majority of respondents are satisfied with the 1983 translation and do not want a new one. It has also become apparent, however, that the 1983 translation is not suitable for liturgical use in all Afrikaans-speaking churches. In line with the experience of the new Dutch translation project, there is a specific need for a translation that reflects the literary forms and structures of the source texts and retains as much as possible imagery and metaphor, if functional, in contemporary Afrikaans. The Church Advisory Committee: Afrikaans Translations recommended to churches that a new translation should not be undertaken at this stage, but that research continue and proof translations be published in order to reach consensus on the type of translation needed. This recommendation is strongly supported in this article, due to the trends and needs outlined above. Once consensus has been reached, a thorough translation brief should guide the translation process.Item Open Access Vergifnis in die gebed van Daniël (Dan. 9:4-19)(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2003) O’Kennedy, D. F.Daniel 9:4-19 is one of the important penitential prayers in the Old Testament. This prayer has been investigated from different perspectives, but the theological dimension of forgiveness is often neglected. In this article the understanding of divine forgiveness is studied and the following important elements are emphasised: (1) Forgiveness cannot be limited to one specific historical context; (2) The motivation for forgiveness does not lie in the people’s obedience, but in God’s grace and mercy; (3) The structure and content of the prayer implies that confession of guilt is an important element in the process of forgiveness. Everyone is guilty — the guilt is not placed on a certain person or king (cf. v. 7); (4) Forgiveness is meant for the “international” Israel and not limited to a specific geographical area.Item Open Access Psalm 1-50 in Afrikaans.'n korpusgebaseerde vertaalkundige analise(University of the Free State, 2003) Naudé, J. A.English: Corpus-based research in translation involves using computerised corpora to study translated text and is concerned with revealing both the universal and the specific features of translation. A corpus of Bible translations and religious literature is in a process of being established at the University of the Free State. The purpose of this paper is to examine the nature of the vocabulary of the translation of Psalms 1-50 in various Afrikaans Bible translations within corpus-based translation studies. The way in which corpus processing techniques could be utilised to investigate the vocabulary of the translation of Psalms 1-50 will be discussed.