Contribution: This article, based on the redemptive-historical reading of Genesis 38 as an exampl... more Contribution: This article, based on the redemptive-historical reading of Genesis 38 as an example, shows that the Old Testament, in its own right, is missionally relevant for the present Christian community of faith.
Introduction 1 This article proposed to read Genesis 38 within its direct literary context of Gen... more Introduction 1 This article proposed to read Genesis 38 within its direct literary context of Genesis 37-50, stressing its significance for the progress of the redemptive-historical narrative, as recounted in the canonical Bible book of Genesis. This shameful 2 episode in the patriarchal history of ancient Israel has been studied with missional interests in mind. The redemptive-historical context of Genesis 38 has been studied in analysing the 11 texts where the term toledōth appears in Genesis. 3 Genesis 38 has been included in the last section of Genesis, opening with a reference to the toledōth of Jacob (Gn 37:2). The 11 toledōth texts form the literary structure of the redemptive-historical narrative in the canonical book of Genesis. The question was how this context could help to clarify the editorial intention, by including Genesis 38 in the established Joseph narrative (Gn 37-50). The redemptive-historical analysis of Genesis 38 created space for looking for a divine intention with this inclusion as well. The much-debated issue of the date of the inclusion of Genesis 38 in the Joseph narrative could also be solved in the redemptive-historical context of Genesis 37-50. This article did not follow earlier historical-critical diachronous research that reached the negative conclusion that this narrative is an unexpected, unnecessary interruption in the flow of the Joseph narrative (Brueggemann 1982:308). More recently, this negative perception of Genesis 38 has been replaced with a much more positive one, using a canonical-synchronous 4 approach. It fits within its direct (Gn 37-50) and broader (Gn 1-36) literary context (
Bible reading in Africa: the shaping of a reformed perspective In this article I try to develop a... more Bible reading in Africa: the shaping of a reformed perspective In this article I try to develop a reformed perspective on Bible reading in Africa by ordinary readers. I explore the concept of ordinary readers in the context of recent hermeneutical discussions, and of the differences between their mode of reading and that of biblical scholars against the background of the reality of the oral or semi-literate cultures of Africa. A reformed perspective, with its emphasis on the church as locus for Bible reading under the operation of the Holy Spirit, opens up a way forward out of the dilemma between ordinary and professional Bible reading. A reformed perspective can also clear the way for a gender-sensitive reading of the Bible in a continent where most Bible readers are women. This requires from those who read the Bible together an attitude of humility.
Bible reading in Africa: the shaping of a reformed perspective In this article I try to develop a... more Bible reading in Africa: the shaping of a reformed perspective In this article I try to develop a reformed perspective on Bible reading in Africa by ordinary readers. I explore the concept of ordinary readers in the context of recent hermeneutical discussions, and of the differences between their mode of reading and that of biblical scholars against the background of the reality of the oral or semi-literate cultures of Africa. A reformed perspective, with its emphasis on the church as locus for Bible reading under the operation of the Holy Spirit, opens up a way forward out of the dilemma between ordinary and professional Bible reading. A reformed perspective can also clear the way for a gender-sensitive reading of the Bible in a continent where most Bible readers are women. This requires from those who read the Bible together an attitude of humility.
Daar is in die verlede dikwels 'n noue verband tussen kerk en volk gele, en so ook tussen die... more Daar is in die verlede dikwels 'n noue verband tussen kerk en volk gele, en so ook tussen die Afrikanervolk en die volk Israel. Pres. Paul Kruger het byvoorbeeld in sy toesprake graag die Afrikanervolk met Israel vergelyk. Die Redaksie het dr. Bob Wielenga gevra om sy gedagtes hieroor met ons te deel.
This study investigates the function of Malachi 3:22 in the context of prophetic eschatology as r... more This study investigates the function of Malachi 3:22 in the context of prophetic eschatology as reflected in Malachi's message about the delay of the expected Day of the Lord, which focuses on the charge to 'remember the law of my servant Moses (…) I gave him at Horeb for all Israel'. This article examines the question how this charge serves the purpose of awaiting in the interim time the advent of the Day of the Lord. Firstly, a textual analysis is given of Malachi 3:22 in the context of the body of the book. Secondly, an eschatological application of the text is attempted with the help of selected texts from Deuteronomy 12:5, 11 (on worship) and 24:1-4 (on the treatment of women), addressing the problems in Malachi 1:6-2:9 and 2:10-16. Thirdly, the missional inferences of Malachi 3:22 for the present time are condensed in a postscript.
In Richmond (KZN) het ds. Hans Vonkeman meer as 'n halfeeu gelede sy werk as sendeling onder ... more In Richmond (KZN) het ds. Hans Vonkeman meer as 'n halfeeu gelede sy werk as sendeling onder die Zoeloes begin. Hy het 'n sendingstasie, Groothoek, in die midddel van 'n digbegroeide en ontoeganklike gebied langs die Mkhomazi-rivier opgerig. Van daar af het hy te perd deur die omringende valleie gegaan om die mense met die evangelie van Jesus Christus te bereik. Oor die jare het 'n klompie gemeentes danksy hierdie werk ontstaan. Onlangs was die gemeente van Enkumane die laaste om ingestel te word - die gemeente waaronder die sendingstasie Groothoek ook val. Al vyf sendinggemeentes wat deur Hans Vonkeman begin is, maak deel uit van die GKSA se Klassis KwaZulu-Natal Suid.
... Luke, in the book of Acts, describes how the early church was persecuted and chased out of Je... more ... Luke, in the book of Acts, describes how the early church was persecuted and chased out of Jerusalem after the death of Stephen (Acts 7). The new remnant could not hold on to its place among Israel in Jerusalem. ... H., Duvekot, WS, & Geense, A., Vervulling en voleinding. ...
The purpose of this article is to contribute towards a theological reading of Malachi in the cont... more The purpose of this article is to contribute towards a theological reading of Malachi in the context of the metanarrative of the Old Testament (OT) Scriptures.
The suffering witness: a missiological reading of Lamentations This article explores the possibil... more The suffering witness: a missiological reading of Lamentations This article explores the possibilities of a missiological reading of the book of Lamentations. Based upon a historical understanding of Lamentations, Christological conclusions are drawn from it with a view on formulating some missiologically relevant guidelines for missionary praxis. This article contends that Lamentations was composed to be used pastorally in an unprecedented crisis in Jerusalem in 586 BCE. In a situation of utter powerlessness and otherlessness the lamenting population was shown a way to rebuild their shattered universe by, paradoxically, reaching out to their God who was not there for them anymore. The suffering witness of Lamentations 3 is used as a Christological model, which is applied to missionary praxis. In the fields of worship and liturgy, aid and assistance and prophetic analysis the church has to continue the witnessing ministry of her Lord, empowered by his Spirit. Opsomming Die lydende getuie: 'n missiologiese lesing van Klaagliedere The suffering witness: a missiological reading of Lamentations gebruik as 'n Christologiese model, wat toegepas word op die sendingpraktyk. Op die terreine van aanbidding en liturgie, materiële bystand en ondersteuning, en van profetiese analise sal die kerk die getuiende bediening van haar Here in die krag van die Heilige Gees moet voortsit.
Against this background, this article tries to understand how both 'codes' in conjunction have im... more Against this background, this article tries to understand how both 'codes' in conjunction have impacted the eschatological discourse as expressed in Ezekiel 47:22-23 and Malachi 3:5. As will be shown, the narrative of redemptive history (the Egypt-experience) is effectively used by the prophets as a 'powerful motive for practicing social justice' (Wright 2006:449). The origin of the 'law codes' as well as their implementation are embedded in the narrated history of redemption and its consequences.
Reformed missionary work at Richmond (KZN): A historical analysis of its Dutch roots In this arti... more Reformed missionary work at Richmond (KZN): A historical analysis of its Dutch roots In this article the Dutch roots of Reformed missionary work, based at Richmond (KZN) since 1960 are analysed. The following three aspects were investigated: the church-historical background of Dutch missionary work in KwaZulu-Natal; the political context within which the work was undertaken, the relationship between the Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika (GKSA) and the Dutch churches that sent missionaries to KwaZulu-Natal, the Netherlands Reformed Churches (Nederlands Gereformeerde Kerken). The investigation undertaken in this article attempts to contribute to a deeper understanding of the sometimes uneasy relationship between the GKSA and one of her missionary partners from abroad.
Reformed missionary work at Richmond (KZN): A historical analysis of its Dutch roots In this arti... more Reformed missionary work at Richmond (KZN): A historical analysis of its Dutch roots In this article the Dutch roots of Reformed missionary work, based at Richmond (KZN) since 1960 are analysed. The following three aspects were investigated: the church-historical background of Dutch missionary work in KwaZulu-Natal; the political context within which the work was undertaken, the relationship between the Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika (GKSA) and the Dutch churches that sent missionaries to KwaZulu-Natal, the Netherlands Reformed Churches (Nederlands Gereformeerde Kerken). The investigation undertaken in this article attempts to contribute to a deeper understanding of the sometimes uneasy relationship between the GKSA and one of her missionary partners from abroad.
Contribution: This article, based on the redemptive-historical reading of Genesis 38 as an exampl... more Contribution: This article, based on the redemptive-historical reading of Genesis 38 as an example, shows that the Old Testament, in its own right, is missionally relevant for the present Christian community of faith.
Introduction 1 This article proposed to read Genesis 38 within its direct literary context of Gen... more Introduction 1 This article proposed to read Genesis 38 within its direct literary context of Genesis 37-50, stressing its significance for the progress of the redemptive-historical narrative, as recounted in the canonical Bible book of Genesis. This shameful 2 episode in the patriarchal history of ancient Israel has been studied with missional interests in mind. The redemptive-historical context of Genesis 38 has been studied in analysing the 11 texts where the term toledōth appears in Genesis. 3 Genesis 38 has been included in the last section of Genesis, opening with a reference to the toledōth of Jacob (Gn 37:2). The 11 toledōth texts form the literary structure of the redemptive-historical narrative in the canonical book of Genesis. The question was how this context could help to clarify the editorial intention, by including Genesis 38 in the established Joseph narrative (Gn 37-50). The redemptive-historical analysis of Genesis 38 created space for looking for a divine intention with this inclusion as well. The much-debated issue of the date of the inclusion of Genesis 38 in the Joseph narrative could also be solved in the redemptive-historical context of Genesis 37-50. This article did not follow earlier historical-critical diachronous research that reached the negative conclusion that this narrative is an unexpected, unnecessary interruption in the flow of the Joseph narrative (Brueggemann 1982:308). More recently, this negative perception of Genesis 38 has been replaced with a much more positive one, using a canonical-synchronous 4 approach. It fits within its direct (Gn 37-50) and broader (Gn 1-36) literary context (
Bible reading in Africa: the shaping of a reformed perspective In this article I try to develop a... more Bible reading in Africa: the shaping of a reformed perspective In this article I try to develop a reformed perspective on Bible reading in Africa by ordinary readers. I explore the concept of ordinary readers in the context of recent hermeneutical discussions, and of the differences between their mode of reading and that of biblical scholars against the background of the reality of the oral or semi-literate cultures of Africa. A reformed perspective, with its emphasis on the church as locus for Bible reading under the operation of the Holy Spirit, opens up a way forward out of the dilemma between ordinary and professional Bible reading. A reformed perspective can also clear the way for a gender-sensitive reading of the Bible in a continent where most Bible readers are women. This requires from those who read the Bible together an attitude of humility.
Bible reading in Africa: the shaping of a reformed perspective In this article I try to develop a... more Bible reading in Africa: the shaping of a reformed perspective In this article I try to develop a reformed perspective on Bible reading in Africa by ordinary readers. I explore the concept of ordinary readers in the context of recent hermeneutical discussions, and of the differences between their mode of reading and that of biblical scholars against the background of the reality of the oral or semi-literate cultures of Africa. A reformed perspective, with its emphasis on the church as locus for Bible reading under the operation of the Holy Spirit, opens up a way forward out of the dilemma between ordinary and professional Bible reading. A reformed perspective can also clear the way for a gender-sensitive reading of the Bible in a continent where most Bible readers are women. This requires from those who read the Bible together an attitude of humility.
Daar is in die verlede dikwels 'n noue verband tussen kerk en volk gele, en so ook tussen die... more Daar is in die verlede dikwels 'n noue verband tussen kerk en volk gele, en so ook tussen die Afrikanervolk en die volk Israel. Pres. Paul Kruger het byvoorbeeld in sy toesprake graag die Afrikanervolk met Israel vergelyk. Die Redaksie het dr. Bob Wielenga gevra om sy gedagtes hieroor met ons te deel.
This study investigates the function of Malachi 3:22 in the context of prophetic eschatology as r... more This study investigates the function of Malachi 3:22 in the context of prophetic eschatology as reflected in Malachi's message about the delay of the expected Day of the Lord, which focuses on the charge to 'remember the law of my servant Moses (…) I gave him at Horeb for all Israel'. This article examines the question how this charge serves the purpose of awaiting in the interim time the advent of the Day of the Lord. Firstly, a textual analysis is given of Malachi 3:22 in the context of the body of the book. Secondly, an eschatological application of the text is attempted with the help of selected texts from Deuteronomy 12:5, 11 (on worship) and 24:1-4 (on the treatment of women), addressing the problems in Malachi 1:6-2:9 and 2:10-16. Thirdly, the missional inferences of Malachi 3:22 for the present time are condensed in a postscript.
In Richmond (KZN) het ds. Hans Vonkeman meer as 'n halfeeu gelede sy werk as sendeling onder ... more In Richmond (KZN) het ds. Hans Vonkeman meer as 'n halfeeu gelede sy werk as sendeling onder die Zoeloes begin. Hy het 'n sendingstasie, Groothoek, in die midddel van 'n digbegroeide en ontoeganklike gebied langs die Mkhomazi-rivier opgerig. Van daar af het hy te perd deur die omringende valleie gegaan om die mense met die evangelie van Jesus Christus te bereik. Oor die jare het 'n klompie gemeentes danksy hierdie werk ontstaan. Onlangs was die gemeente van Enkumane die laaste om ingestel te word - die gemeente waaronder die sendingstasie Groothoek ook val. Al vyf sendinggemeentes wat deur Hans Vonkeman begin is, maak deel uit van die GKSA se Klassis KwaZulu-Natal Suid.
... Luke, in the book of Acts, describes how the early church was persecuted and chased out of Je... more ... Luke, in the book of Acts, describes how the early church was persecuted and chased out of Jerusalem after the death of Stephen (Acts 7). The new remnant could not hold on to its place among Israel in Jerusalem. ... H., Duvekot, WS, & Geense, A., Vervulling en voleinding. ...
The purpose of this article is to contribute towards a theological reading of Malachi in the cont... more The purpose of this article is to contribute towards a theological reading of Malachi in the context of the metanarrative of the Old Testament (OT) Scriptures.
The suffering witness: a missiological reading of Lamentations This article explores the possibil... more The suffering witness: a missiological reading of Lamentations This article explores the possibilities of a missiological reading of the book of Lamentations. Based upon a historical understanding of Lamentations, Christological conclusions are drawn from it with a view on formulating some missiologically relevant guidelines for missionary praxis. This article contends that Lamentations was composed to be used pastorally in an unprecedented crisis in Jerusalem in 586 BCE. In a situation of utter powerlessness and otherlessness the lamenting population was shown a way to rebuild their shattered universe by, paradoxically, reaching out to their God who was not there for them anymore. The suffering witness of Lamentations 3 is used as a Christological model, which is applied to missionary praxis. In the fields of worship and liturgy, aid and assistance and prophetic analysis the church has to continue the witnessing ministry of her Lord, empowered by his Spirit. Opsomming Die lydende getuie: 'n missiologiese lesing van Klaagliedere The suffering witness: a missiological reading of Lamentations gebruik as 'n Christologiese model, wat toegepas word op die sendingpraktyk. Op die terreine van aanbidding en liturgie, materiële bystand en ondersteuning, en van profetiese analise sal die kerk die getuiende bediening van haar Here in die krag van die Heilige Gees moet voortsit.
Against this background, this article tries to understand how both 'codes' in conjunction have im... more Against this background, this article tries to understand how both 'codes' in conjunction have impacted the eschatological discourse as expressed in Ezekiel 47:22-23 and Malachi 3:5. As will be shown, the narrative of redemptive history (the Egypt-experience) is effectively used by the prophets as a 'powerful motive for practicing social justice' (Wright 2006:449). The origin of the 'law codes' as well as their implementation are embedded in the narrated history of redemption and its consequences.
Reformed missionary work at Richmond (KZN): A historical analysis of its Dutch roots In this arti... more Reformed missionary work at Richmond (KZN): A historical analysis of its Dutch roots In this article the Dutch roots of Reformed missionary work, based at Richmond (KZN) since 1960 are analysed. The following three aspects were investigated: the church-historical background of Dutch missionary work in KwaZulu-Natal; the political context within which the work was undertaken, the relationship between the Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika (GKSA) and the Dutch churches that sent missionaries to KwaZulu-Natal, the Netherlands Reformed Churches (Nederlands Gereformeerde Kerken). The investigation undertaken in this article attempts to contribute to a deeper understanding of the sometimes uneasy relationship between the GKSA and one of her missionary partners from abroad.
Reformed missionary work at Richmond (KZN): A historical analysis of its Dutch roots In this arti... more Reformed missionary work at Richmond (KZN): A historical analysis of its Dutch roots In this article the Dutch roots of Reformed missionary work, based at Richmond (KZN) since 1960 are analysed. The following three aspects were investigated: the church-historical background of Dutch missionary work in KwaZulu-Natal; the political context within which the work was undertaken, the relationship between the Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika (GKSA) and the Dutch churches that sent missionaries to KwaZulu-Natal, the Netherlands Reformed Churches (Nederlands Gereformeerde Kerken). The investigation undertaken in this article attempts to contribute to a deeper understanding of the sometimes uneasy relationship between the GKSA and one of her missionary partners from abroad.
A short discussion about the significance of worship for missions, based upon Deuteronomy 12:1-7 ... more A short discussion about the significance of worship for missions, based upon Deuteronomy 12:1-7 and Matthew 28:16-20.
Uploads
Papers by Bob Wielenga