Theology at the University of Pretoria - 100 years: (1917-2017) Past, present and future

In this scholarly book, a century’s theology presented by the Faculty of Theology at the University of Pretoria, is celebrated. All authors are academics or research associates of the University of Pretoria. A historical and futuristic overview with perspectives from the past, present and future, are examined. The past is not only portrayed by means of societal and scientific contributions and achievements, but the authors also reflect on malfunctions, ill behaviour and disappointments of church and theology, presented at the University of Pretoria within the South African context over 100 years. The book commences with a chapter in which institutional transformation is discussed, as well as the changes that demonstrate the role of the Faculty of Theology within a secular state university. It includes an explanation of the importance of research impact, research productivity and research reputation. Among various discipline indicators, the category Theology and Religion Studies plays a significant role in the measurement of world university rankings of universities. With regard to scientific and encyclopaedic content, the book focuses on the theological disciplines presented in the academic curricula: first the biblical sciences (Old and New Testament Studies), then the historical disciplines (Systematic Theology, Church History and Church Polity), and finally the practical disciplines (Practical Theology, Science of Religion and Missiology). The role of Religion Studies in a newly established Faculty of Theology and Religion not only enhances the diversity of interreligious tolerance and an atmosphere of dialogue, but it serves as platform to interconnect with the fields of Humanities, Social and Natural Sciences and other academic disciplines. In the conclusive part of the book, contributions highlight the role of the centres in the Faculty (Centre for Contextual Ministry and Centre for Sustainable Communities), as well as the continental and international footprints of the two theological journals whose title ownership is attached to the Faculty of Theology of the University of Pretoria, namely HTS Theological Studies and Verbum et Ecclesia. The methodology comprised in all the chapters amounts to a literature and contextual study. Since the book describes the histories of formal academic departments, these texts are of a descriptive, interpretative and critical character. Reference is made in some chapters to exegetical methods, like the historical critical methods. The target audience of the book is academic scholars and theologians, who specialise in the different fields of Theology, the Humanities and other Social Sciences. The book is also accessible to scholars of other academic disciplines outside these disciplines. The book comprises original research by several authors and is not plagiarised from other scientific publications of this nature

Continuing the Protestant tradition in the Church of England : the influence of the continental magisterial reformation on the doctrine of justification in the early theology of Richard Hooker as reflected in his "A learned discourse of justification, workes, and how the foundation of faith is overthrown" (1586)

This dissertation demonstrates that Richard Hooker’s doctrine of justification, as reflected in his A learned Discourse of Justification, Workes, and How the Foundation of Faith is Overthrown,  continues the Protestant tradition of Lutheran and Reformed theology, in spite of various claims which associate Hooker with Catholicism and via media Anglicanism.  Though it stays in the line established by W. J. Torrance Kirby and Nigel Atkinson, who limited their arguments in favour of Hooker’s Reformed theology to Martin Luther and John Calvin, this thesis makes reference also to Philip Melanchthon, Ulrich Zwingli, Martin Bucer and Theodore Beza.  As a result of the fact that the vast majority of studies in Richard Hooker’s theology have concentrated on his later theology of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity, this dissertation is limited to his early theology and more specifically, to his A Learned Discourse of Justification.   The first chapter is an updated study in Richard Hooker scholarship, with comments on the most important works in the field.  The next three chapters present fundamental aspects of the doctrine of justification in Lutheran, Early Reformed, and Classical Reformed theology with special reference to the ideas which were taken over by Richard Hooker himself.  A chapter on the doctrine of justification in the time of Richard Hooker follows and introduces the debates which shaped his soteriology.  The last four chapters provide a detailed analysis and some concluding remarks on Richard Hooker’s understanding of justification and especially on his concept of righteousness as the essence of justification.  The righteousness of justification as objective faith centres on Hooker’s concern with the salvation of Catholics, which provides the starting point of his minute analysis of justification.  The practical implications of this doctrine are revealed in Hooker’s treatment of the righteousness of sanctification as subjective faith, which discloses his fundamental belief in the importance of Scripture for the salvation of humanity.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Theology at the University of Pretoria - 100 years: (1917-2017) Past, present and future

In this scholarly book, a century’s theology presented by the Faculty of Theology at the University of Pretoria, is celebrated. All authors are academics or research associates of the University of Pretoria. A historical and futuristic overview with perspectives from the past, present and future, are examined. The past is not only portrayed by means of societal and scientific contributions and achievements, but the authors also reflect on malfunctions, ill behaviour and disappointments of church and theology, presented at the University of Pretoria within the South African context over 100 years. The book commences with a chapter in which institutional transformation is discussed, as well as the changes that demonstrate the role of the Faculty of Theology within a secular state university. It includes an explanation of the importance of research impact, research productivity and research reputation. Among various discipline indicators, the category Theology and Religion Studies plays a significant role in the measurement of world university rankings of universities. With regard to scientific and encyclopaedic content, the book focuses on the theological disciplines presented in the academic curricula: first the biblical sciences (Old and New Testament Studies), then the historical disciplines (Systematic Theology, Church History and Church Polity), and finally the practical disciplines (Practical Theology, Science of Religion and Missiology). The role of Religion Studies in a newly established Faculty of Theology and Religion not only enhances the diversity of interreligious tolerance and an atmosphere of dialogue, but it serves as platform to interconnect with the fields of Humanities, Social and Natural Sciences and other academic disciplines. In the conclusive part of the book, contributions highlight the role of the centres in the Faculty (Centre for Contextual Ministry and Centre for Sustainable Communities), as well as the continental and international footprints of the two theological journals whose title ownership is attached to the Faculty of Theology of the University of Pretoria, namely HTS Theological Studies and Verbum et Ecclesia. The methodology comprised in all the chapters amounts to a literature and contextual study. Since the book describes the histories of formal academic departments, these texts are of a descriptive, interpretative and critical character. Reference is made in some chapters to exegetical methods, like the historical critical methods. The target audience of the book is academic scholars and theologians, who specialise in the different fields of Theology, the Humanities and other Social Sciences. The book is also accessible to scholars of other academic disciplines outside these disciplines. The book comprises original research by several authors and is not plagiarised from other scientific publications of this nature