Die noodsaaklikheid van kerklike belydenisskrifte

English: The central issue in this study is the question of the necessity of ecclesiastical articles of faith in the light of modem circumstances, with particular reference to Post - modernism. While the point of departure of this thesis is based upon Reformation convictions, the premiss is also postulated that the need exists for the Church to reconsider the need and relevance of articles of faith in the light of the contemporary tendency towards a receding recognition of the validity of articles of faith, which have evolved in an earlier historical time-frame, are binding for later believers. In the PROLEGOMENA an introductory analysis is attempted of the various theological and socio-eccliastical functions of articles of faith as well as terminology such as "faith," "confession of faith", and "articles of faith." SECTION 1 considers dogma - historical indications within the early Church, during the Reformation and in modem times from which deductions can be made by which the necessity of articles of faith can be determined. The specific circumstances within which articles of faith evolved are considered and it is considered whether such circumstances have continued to exist into present times. Particular examples of articles of faith are chosen for consideration, not because of the theological or other importance of such articles, but because the chosen articles of faith are representative of a broad spectrum of Church history. SECTION 2 attemps an exegetical evaluation of a Biblical foundation for the necessity of articles of faith in Old and New Testament texts. A conclusion that there is a Biblical foundation for articles of faith would be a strong confirmation of the hypothesis of this thesis that articles of faith were supposed as an integral part of Church practise in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. SECTION 3 considers the general credal tendencies of modem times, and analyses specifically such phenomena as secularisation, metaphor, ecumenism, and globalization. The historical approach of this thesis is aimed at evaluating the degree of relevancy and clarity of the message of the Church for modem man who is today faced with cultural, political and other societal problems which did not exist in earlier times. SECTION 2 attemps an exegetical evaluation of a Biblical foundation for the necessity of articles of faith in Old and New Testament texts. A conclusion that there is a Biblical foundation for articles of faith would be a strong confirmation of the hypothesis of this thesis that articles of faith were supposed as an integral part of Church practise in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. SECTION 4 consists of the formulation of the conclusion based upon this research, namely that articles of faith, today as in the past, have an indespensible function. It is also concluded that articles of faith should not be stagnantly absolutised, but should rather be continously and dynamically formulated within a socio - historical time - frame, without, however, destroying the original credal core.