19 research outputs found
Bybelvertalers en Bybelvertalings die afgelope honderd jaar, in besonder vanuit die Fakulteit Teologie van die Universiteit van Pretoria
With the 500 year celebration of the Reformation, it is necessary that Bible translation be
reviewed again. The year 2017 is not only the year of Reformation celebration, but also the year
of centenary celebration of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Pretoria (UP). The
article attempts to briefly refer to the roots of Bible translation, which is anchored in the
Reformation; but also to look at Bible translation in South Africa over the last hundred years,
as well as the contribution made especially by the Faculty of Theology at the University of
Pretoria (UP) in this regard.http://www.hts.org.zaam2018Old Testament Studie
1 and 2 Chronicles as a discourse of power
This research is part of the research project âSecond Temple Literature and Qumranâ directed by Prof. Dr Ananda Geyser-FouchĂŠ, Department of Old Testament and Hebrew Scriptures, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria.DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT: Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analysed in this study.This article reflected a comparison of 1 and 2 Chronicles with its source documents. It transpires that the history of Israel and Judah is selectively retold by the authors of Chronicles with deliberate omissions and additions reflecting a certain emphasis. While the northern kingdom is negatively portrayed, the southern kingdom is positively evaluated. David is idealised as the perfect king. He is credited with founding the religious cult, which is contradicting the view in Exodus. The Jerusalem temple cult is legitimised and asserted as representing the only accurate religion. Chronicles 1 and 2 secured the temple eliteâs position by legitimising their actions, functioning in this community as a discourse of power for as long as the (second) temple existed. Being a discourse of power, it set margins and excluded various groups usually considered part of the people of YHWH. The destruction of the (second) temple led to the disempowerment of this text, opening the way for it to be included in the Hebrew canon. The key insights of this article were that 1 and 2 Chronicles were used as a discourse of power, but
the power block was lifted once the second temple was destroyed.http://www.hts.org.zaOld Testament Studie
Exclusive language : the tool to empower and create identity
This article used some postmodern literary theories of philosophers such as Jean-François
Lyotard, Michel Foucault, Jacques Derrida and Julia Kristeva to scrutinise a selection of texts
from the post-exilic period with regard to the exclusive language employed in these texts.
Lyotardâs insights relate to and complement Foucaultâs concept of âcounter-memoryâ. Foucault
also focuses on the network of discursive powers that operate behind texts and reproduce
them, arguing that it is important to have a look from behind so as to see which voices were
silenced by the specific powers behind texts. The author briefly looked at different post-exilic
texts within identity-finding contexts, focusing especially on Chronicles and a few Qumran
texts, to examine the way in which they used language to create identity and to empower the
community in their different contexts. It is generally accepted that both the author(s) of 1 & 2
Chronicles and the Qumran community used texts selectively, with their own nuances,
omissions and additions. This study scrutinised the way the author(s) of Chronicles and the
Qumran community used documents selectively, focusing on the way in which they used
exclusive language. It is clear that all communities used such language in certain circumstances
to strengthen a certain groupâs identity, to empower them and to legitimise this groupâs
conduct, behaviour and claims â and thereby exclude other groups.
INTRADISCIPLINARY AND/OR INTERDISCIPLINARY IMPLICATIONS : Based on postmodern literary
theories, this article compares the exclusive language used in Chronicles and in the texts of the
Qumran community, pointing to the practice of creating identity and empowering through
discourse. In conclusion, the article reflects on what is necessary in a South African context,
post-1994, to be a truly democratic country.This article is a revision of a paper that I delivered at the OTSSA conference in 2014. The theme of the conference was âStudying
the Old Testament in South Africa from 1994 to 2014 and beyondâ.http://www.ve.org.zaam2016Old Testament Studie
Discernment ( ××× ) in the Old Testament
Discernment is one of the concepts that urge
each and everyone to think critically and anew. The concept of a never-ending spiral of
thinking is very familiar in the circles of reformed churches. This concept is also known
from the wisdom literature in the Old Testament. The realisation that you do not know,
means approaching the ability to grasp something of wisdom. In order to find out what the
Old Testament is saying about âdiscernâ, I did a textual research on the two Hebrew words:
××× and ××× . I apply the results of this research to the context of the church (with specific
reference to the âNederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrikaâ [NH Church]) attempting to
find out what the churchâs responsibility is with regards to what is really important (i.e.
discernment).This article was initially a
paper delivered in June
at the VTT (Voortgesette
Teologiese Toerusting) with
the theme: âOnderskei
oor dit waarop dit werklik
aankomâ.http://www.hts.org.zaam201
Crucifixion at Qumran
When the last texts of Qumran cave 4 were published, another text that refers to
crucifixion came to the fore, namely 4Q524 14:1â6, part of which is verbatim the same as
11QTÂŞ 64:6â13. Both texts add to the Pentateuchal text by giving the reason why persons
were hanged. Therefore I will compare these two texts with each other, but also with
their Pentateuchal parallels Deuteronomy 21:18â23, 22:1â2 and 22:11. I will attempt to
explain the differences against the social text, by studying the crucifixion and/or hanging
practices of neighbouring cultures (social text) and by reading these two texts against
the fragmented text of 4QpNahum 3â4 I:7â8, which is a Qumran text that deals with
execution.http://www.hts.org.zaam201
A love triangle between God, Sophia, and the righteous interwoven in the retelling of the Pentateuchal stories in Wisdom 10
In the Wisdom of Solomon, with special reference to chapters 6 to 10, wisdom is personified as a woman. This image is quite often found, especially in the wisdom literature. In the Wisdom of Solomon, Sophia is portrayed as a person who can speak, act, and feel, but most of all someone who can be loved and desired. She is portrayed as someone that is loved alternately by God and by the righteous. In Wisdom 10 Sophia is interwoven in the retelling of the Pentateuchal stories. She is the reason the righteous forefathers made the correct decisions, she protected and preserved them and gave them power, while the unrighteous are portrayed as leaving her and consequently making the wrong decisions. It is also interesting to notice the development in the concept of both wisdom and retribution from the traditional perspectives.This article is a reworked version of a part of a PhD (Semitic Languages) thesis, which was completed under the supervision of Prof. G.T.M. Prinsloo in the Department of Ancient and Modern Languages and Cultures at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Pretoria, with the title âThe Ideological Necessity for the Transformation of the Lady Metaphors in Judaic Wisdom Literature.â (http://hdl.handle.net/2263/80209)https://upjournals.co.za/index.php/JSEMam2022Old Testament Studie
Jots and tittles have meaning : the critical exegetical and theological contribution of Andries Breytenbach as Bible translator
The article is a
reworked version of a
paper presented at a
commemoration ceremony
by the Department of
Old Testament Studies,
University of Pretoria and
the South African Bible
Society in honour of two
emeritus professors of
the Department of Old
Testament Studies for
their contributions to Bible
translation. This contribution
focuses on Prof. Dr Andries
P.B. Breytenbachâs role,
especially in the translation
of the Old Testament into
isiNdebele. This article is
published as part of the
tribute towards an alumnus
of the Faculty of Theology,
Professor James Alfred
Loader, who retires in 2013
as Old Testament scholar
from the University of
Vienna.The article is a reworked version of a paper presented at
a commemoration ceremony in honour of the retired Reformed exegetes of the Department
of Old Testament Studies of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Pretoria who have
contributed immensely to translation projects of the South African Bible Society. In this article,
the author focuses on the theological and exegetical relevance of Professor A.P.B. Breytenbach.
The article shows Breytenbachâs critical presuppositions in hermeneutics, especially his
contribution towards the understanding of diversity in the message of the Old Testament and
the âsecond naivetĂŠâ which constitutes a critical lens through which the Old Testament should
be interpreted by the Christian faith community.http://www.hts.org.zaam2013mn201
Heaven and hell
Any conversation on âheaven and hellâ is nothing else but a conversation
about âlife after deathâ. To understand the concept of heaven, earth and hell as described in
the biblical context and surrounding cultures, it is important to understand their concept of
the cosmos and creation. Different perspectives of the universe lead to different ideas about
life after death. Apocalyptic thoughts brought new perspectives to the understanding of life
after death. All these different views can only be understood within the context in which they
developed. Due to scientific results, the perception of the cosmos changed, urging us today to
interpret ancient models metaphorically.http://www.hts.org.zaam201
The debate on the sectarian movement in the Dead Sea Scrolls continues
This article reviews the debate concerning the sectarian movement in the Dead
Sea Scrolls. The consensus that the movement described in the Damascus
Document and Community Rule originated in a dispute over the high priesthood
in the mid-second century BCE has broken down in the last two decades since
the unveiling of more texts, especially those from Cave 4. The scope of this
debate and the ensuing developments are vast; therefore, the article only briefly
discusses the main arguments and the more contemporary discourses, focusing
on the five main aspects with their associated topics. These aspects are the
Righteous Teacher, the Wicked Priest, the possible schism, the socio-historical
context, and the sectarian movement.https://unisapressjournals.co.za/index.php/JSEMhj2023Old Testament Studie
The deuteronomic view of history in second temple Judaism
The Babylonian Exile was a historical catalyst compelling Jewish authors of the Second
Temple period to deal with their respective situations in the course of history according to â
or against â various predicaments from which they suffered in an unprecedented manner.
Second Temple Jews were faced with the most fundamental uneasiness: it seemed that God
abandoned his people owing to their breaking of the covenant. Therefore, it was important
to reconceptualise their worldview into which creation, history, and covenant could be
incorporated and which could vouchsafe the ongoing relationship with God to their
respective situations.
Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: In this article, the worldview of
Second Temple Judaism is reflected on by observing how different communities in Second
Temple Judaism engaged the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 31â32. This article focusses on
the interpretations of this passage in Second Temple Judaism, with specific reference to selected
texts from Qumran, Tobit, the Testament of Moses, Philo, Josephus and Sifre Deuteronomy.
Implicated disciplines are Old Testament studies, Apocryphal studies, Dead Sea Scroll studies
and New Testament studies.https://verbumetecclesia.org.zapm2020Old Testament Studie