Authors:Kevin Smith Abstract: SATS launched Conspectus in 2006 with the goal of providing a platform for disseminating its faculty and student research. In 2011, Dr Zoltan Erdey took the reins as the Senior Editor. He has served faithfully in that capacity until April 2020. The release of Conspectus 29 marks the end of his tenure as the Editor. PubDate: 2020-03-01T00:00:00Z
Authors:Gerard Bernard; Dan Lioy Abstract: This essay is the first in a two-part series on the theme of creation in the Fourth Gospel. The essays are based on the author’s dissertation written under the supervision of Professor Dan Lioy. In this particular essay, the investigation focuses on the portrayal of Jesus as Creator in the miraculous signs, as proposed by some scholars. The traditionally accepted seven miraculous signs present several significant features which portray Jesus as Creator. The features depict Jesus as the Word incarnate, who utters words to effect creative transformation. He is sent by the Father to the world in order to accomplish the work of new creation, which is partly expressed in the miraculous signs. The depiction of Jesus as Creator in the miraculous signs corresponds with the ideas in Isaiah 55:11. The ‘sending’ of the Son in the miraculous signs (the Gospel) parallels the ‘going forth’ of Yahweh’s word from his mouth (Isa 55:11) and the efficacy of Jesus’s words corresponds with the efficacy of Yahweh’s word (dbr; LXX: rhēma). The efficacy of Yahweh’s word is witnessed in Jesus Christ. PubDate: 2020-03-01T00:00:00Z
Authors:Gerard Bernard; Dan Lioy Abstract: This essay is the second in a two-part series on the theme of creation in the Fourth Gospel. The essays are based on the author’s dissertation written under Professor Dan Lioy’s supervision. In this particular essay, the analysis focuses on the connection between Yahweh’s word (rhēma) in Isaiah 55:11 and his Servant as revealed in the person and works of Jesus Christ. In the redemptive sense of the new creation, Jesus fulfils the role of the Servant of the Lord in Isaiah while embodying Yahweh’s will contained in his (Yahweh’s) word. It seems that the efficacy of Yahweh’s word in Isaiah 55:11 to accomplish his will is witnessed in the fulfilment of the role of Yahweh’s Servant in the person and works of Jesus Christ. At the same time, Jesus also assumes the role of the Creator-God in Isaiah. PubDate: 2020-03-01T00:00:00Z
Authors:Clifford B. Kvidahl; Dan Lioy Abstract: The letter to the Hebrews is unique among its New Testament counterparts in that it is the only canonical writing to offer an in-depth explanation of the high priestly ministry of Christ within a detailed discussion of Israel’s cultic theology. The purpose of this article is twofold. First, the question of timing with respect to when Christ was installed as high priest is addressed, noting the various answers that have been proposed. It is argued that similar to the ministry of the high priest on Yom Kippur, Christ’s priestly offering is made not at the moment of his crucifixion, but instead his offering of atonement is made upon his entrance into the heavenly sanctuary. The second part of this article attempts to briefly situate Hebrews’ high priestly Christology within a broader biblical theology of the New Testament, specifically focusing on select passages from the Gospels and the writings of Paul that have been imbued with priestly connotations. It is argued that, while often other writings of the New Testament are appealed to for a proper understanding of the cultic theology of Hebrews, this same practice is not often reciprocated in return. If this were so, it would seem to be rather clear that Hebrews offers no support for an earthly Jesus functioning in priestly manner. PubDate: 2020-03-01T00:00:00Z
Authors:Marieke Venter; Willem Semmelink Abstract: How should Christians respond to the ever-growing international Keywords crime of human trafficking' This study seeks for an answer by holding up the current situation to the light of the mission of Jesus as expressed in Luke 4:16–21, and formulating the outline of a practical, workable model of response. It explores the international and South African situation surrounding modern-day slavery and human trafficking from a Salvation Army perspective by consulting several expert studies, illustrating this reality by telling the stories of five women who were trafficked. Using the mission statement of Jesus as a basis for Christian love in action and building on the unique strengths of the Church, this study suggests requirements and key areas for a response by which the Church as a whole, as well as individual congregations and Christians may have a positive impact as part of a modern abolition movement. PubDate: 2020-03-01T00:00:00Z
Authors:Clement Adjei-Brown; Annang Asumang Abstract: The general Christian tradition in Ghana has historically attracted local and cultural views to itself that have enriched its universal nature and strengthened it to address different doctrines in different cultural and religious contexts. This has, however, led to misconceptions in the interpretation of some Christian doctrines such as the doctrine of sin in 1 John. This study employs a tailored method for reception analysis to analyse the reception of 1 John’s hamartiology by a selection of Ghanaian charismatic preachers. It discovers that both for better and for worse, Akan Traditional Religious (ATR) concepts of sin influence the reception of the hamartiology of 1 John by charismatic preachers in Ghana. This finding is in itself not surprising. However, the precise manner and extent to which the influences flow have immense implications for the communication of the Gospel in Ghana. The reception-analytical method developed from the philosophical framework of reception theory enables the study to establish that ATR concepts create a horizon of expectations for Akan charismatic preachers in Ghana that influence their reception of the doctrine of sin in 1 John. From the comparison between the doctrine of sin in 1 John and the horizon of expectations of charismatic preachers in Ghana, it is apparent that to a large extent they have succeeded in contextualising the Christian message. In the process, however, traditional Akan cosmology, both for better and for worse, influences their reception of the doctrine of sin in 1 John. PubDate: 2020-03-01T00:00:00Z
Authors:Frederick Mawusi Amevenku; Isaac Boaheng Abstract: Amos is often considered one of the most important prophets, mainly for his uncompromising message about social justice and God’s righteousness. This article examines the theology and social ethics of the prophet Amos, who ministered to Israel during the reigns of King Jeroboam II of Israel and King Uzziah of Judah. In Amos’s time, materialism was prevalent, hedonism and selfishness increased, and social disparity intensified. This condition necessitated his theology of social justice and true worship of Yahweh.
This paper, through a critical analysis of data extracted from textbooks, theses/dissertations, and scholarly articles, compares the context in which the prophet prophesied with the Ghanaian context— intimately associated with poor governance, fraud and corruption, abuse of power, social injustice, religious hypocrisy, misallocation of resources and self-centredness. While admitting that Ghana’s current socio-religious climate is not wholly similar to that of ancient Israel, the paper identifies similarities between the present Ghanaian context and that of Israel of Amos’s time, and points out how Amos addressed the challenges. This then becomes a basis for drawing lessons for church and political leaders in addressing socioeconomic challenges in Ghana. PubDate: 2020-03-01T00:00:00Z
Authors:Dan Lioy Abstract: The role of regenerate men and women in the church remains Keywords an ongoing, intensely-debated subject within evangelical faith communities. The preceding also includes the narrower issue of church services involving the dynamic relational tension between the genders centred around ecclesial hierarchy and subordination. Pivotal to the preceding disputation is Paul’s discourse in 1 Corinthians 11:2–16 and 14:33b–36 regarding male and female believers in congregational gatherings. My disquisition takes a renewed look at these two passages to discern what they do and do not teach on the topic mentioned above. A key premise is that when these texts are examined within the context of their first-century AD, Greco-Roman setting, Paul taught Christians to observe common cultural conventions of the time regarding the practice of wearing head coverings and maintaining decorum within public worship. A corresponding premise is that the apostle was not mandating a corporate practice that is directly applicable to 21st-century believers, regardless of whether they reside in the global north or the majority world. PubDate: 2020-03-01T00:00:00Z
Authors:Batanayi I. Manyika; Cornelia van Deventer Abstract: Far from being formulaic, the Pauline letter opening serves as a dynamic rhetorical strategy that intertwines characters and themes to suit the objectives of each letter. In Philemon the person of Apphia appears in the opening, occupying the unique intersection between identity and rhetoric, where she is inscribed into a social group privileged with proximity to Paul. As the sole female to be included in a Pauline address, questions regarding the inclusion of her name, the seemingly vague appellation of sister (ἀδελφή), and Paul’s silence regarding her relationship to the other parties in the greeting, have led to an ongoing debate regarding this mysterious character. This paper traces and critically engages various renderings of Apphia in the Wirkungsgeschichte of Philemon. It explores the potential rhetorical effect of her inclusion in the Pauline corpus and what it means for Bible interpreters engaging her narrative from the Global South. It is, therefore, a central claim of this paper that tracing the many versions of Apphia retrieves history for contemporary audiences to appropriate meaning from Paul’s salutation to our sister. PubDate: 2020-03-01T00:00:00Z
Authors:Franklin Jabini Abstract: A review of this important work requires an introduction to the Brethren and the Studies in Brethren History series. Plymouth Brethren are known under different names such as Brethren, the Assemblies Movement, Christian Brethren, or New Testament Churches. According to a recent survey with data from 101 countries covering mostly Open Assemblies, there are more than 30,000 assemblies worldwide, with an estimate of more than 2 million adult attendees. Whereas the movement seems to be in decline in the North, there is growth in the South. More than 70% of the attendees live in the Global South (Jabini 2018). PubDate: 2020-03-01T00:00:00Z
Open Access journal
[185 journals]
