"The congregational way" : an historical study of the congregational doctrine of the church
- Authors: De Gruchy, John Wesley
- Date: 1961
- Subjects: Congregational churches , Congregationalism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Bachelor , BDiv
- Identifier: vital:1276 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013317
- Description: From Preface: In this Ecumenical Age it is necessary that each Christian Communion consider again its particular doctrine of the Church, and restate it for the benefit of the whole Body of Christ. This Thesis is an attempt to show some historical and theological facets of the traditional Congregational doctrine of the Church. However, it must be stated that a full exposition of Congregational ecclesiology is an impossible task for any thesis. Firstly, inherent within Congregationalism is the fear of dogmatizing about matters of faith and practice. It has expressed itself in Statements and Declarations but always with the qualification that these things are 'commonly believed amongst us' Therefore, Congregationalism, while it has a characteristic ecclesiology, has never formulated a rigid pattern of Churchmanship which has to be adhered to by all the Churches. Secondly, a full study of Congregational ecclesiology would entail the study of the practices of every Congregational Church through the ages. That is an impossible task. Therefore, we have been confined to available material; but material which nevertheless expresses what we would regard as traditional congregationalism. Thirdly, a study of this nature must be content merely to state, however critically, what Congregationalists have believed about the Church at various times in the history of Congregationalism. It is impossible to convey the pulse and feeling of the life of a Congregational Church, for it is very important in seeking to understand any Churchmanship, not only to understand its theological form and structure, but also to experience its ' koinonia ' in its common life and worship.
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The origin and development of the liturgy in Geneva under Calvin to the present day with special reference to the Sunday morning service and Holy communion and their doctrinal significance
- Authors: Kaltenrieder, André E
- Date: 1961
- Subjects: Liturgics Reformed Church -- Liturgy Reformation -- Switzerland
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Bachelor , BDiv
- Identifier: vital:1261 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012616
- Description: The first section of this chapter sets out the rise of civil government in Geneva and how the stage was set for the take-over of ecclesiastical authority by the civil powers. The second section outlines the growing discontent of the Genevans with episcopal authority since their bishop had become dangerously favourable to the house of Savoy. Farel's forceful preaching drew many sympathisers and these, added to those who sought political freedom, soon found themselves in a position to proclaim the Reformation of Geneva. Chapter II: In this chapter, we examine the structure of the Church in the later middle ages. The examination of a sixteenth century Missal sets the norm by which Reformation liturgies may be judged. Chapter III: Will attempt to date Farel's Maniero et Fasson is made in the light of his reforming activities. The origin of his thought is traced to Lefèvre d'Etaples. This thought is brought out in the liturgy which must be considered as the first Genevan reformed liturgy. Chapter IV The origins of Calvin's liturgy are to be found in Strasburg. Diebold Schwartz was the first to translate the Mass into German, reforming its contents, and is found to have been the first to celebrate this German Mass in Strasburg. This Mass is examined for the tendencies which it represents of a break away from many of the more blatant distortions of late Medieval worship. Bucer's ascendency at Strasburg is outlined because of the changes which he brought about in the liturgy. Chapter V: Calvin' s Strasburg liturgy is examined in relation to Bucer's and its distinguishing tendencies are brought to light. The rise of the first French Psalter, and the origin of its tunes is taken into account. Calvin's return to Geneva resulted in the publication of another liturgy derived from that of Strasburg, but this liturgy did not fulfil Calvin's aspirations for it was limited by the prevailing religious opinion which Calvin was forced to take into account. As against this, Calvin's ideal of worship is exanined, as well as the place given by Geneva to the adherence to the Christian Year. Chapter VI: The eighteenth century in Geneva witnessed the rise of rationalism and the rejection of the oversystemtised Calvinisn which followed the Reformer's death. But at the same time, the prevalent ecumenical concern brought about a new consciousness of the traditional forms of worship. The effect of these two currents of thought is traced in the 1724 Genevan liturgy. Chapter VII: In the nineteenth century we are faced with a more thoroughgoing rationalism, with revivalist pietism and with a new spirit of liberalism which has sprung out of the changing political outlook. These elements are expressed in the liturgies of the time. When the 1875 liturgy was drawn up, liberal opinion had gained such a strong hold that a dual liturgy was deemed necessary, in which alternative forms were prescribed for those who disagreed with the orthodox doctrines. The separation of Church and State government resulted in a revision of the liturgy. But the only exanple of this thought is contained in the forms for the morning service published in 1921. Chapter VIII: The liturgy of the twentieth century is a witness to the vitality of the movement towards liturgical renewal. But it appears to lack solid doctrinal foundation in the multitude of texts provided to cater for all ranges of opinion. Nevertheless, it contains many traditional elements as well as a number of reformation forms, though the latter are usually presented as they appeared in the seventeenth century revision. This liturgy, therefore, is a sign that a new consciousness of worship has entered the Genrvan Church and bears, within it, the promise of possible further developments. C0NCLUSION: In conclusion, we take note of the movements which have influenced the liturgy throughout this study, finding that with the exception of Calvin, there has never been a proper theological approach to thi liturgy. It is just such a theological approach that is necessary if the Genevan liturgy is to reap the benefits of the present air of liturgical renewal. Summary, p. ii-iii.
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The Resurrection and early eucharistic liturgy : an investigation into the influence of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the eucharistic liturgy of the early Christian church
- Authors: Harris, Vivian W
- Date: 1961
- Subjects: Liturgics Jesus Christ in the liturgy Lord's Supper Resurrection
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Bachelor , BDiv
- Identifier: vital:1256 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012153
- Description: The Christian Church has always found the origin of the Eucharist to be the Last Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ with His disciples. So firmly rooted has this idea of the origin of the Eucharist become that it is commonly referred to as "The Lord's Supper"- a title with obvious reference to the Last Supper. J.H. Srawley says, "The fact that Jesus suffered at the Paschal season, that He had the Passover in mind at the Supper (Luke 22 : 15) and that He had come to be thought of as 'our Passover' (I Cor. 5 : 7) would naturally lead to the conception of the solemn memorial of His death as a Christian Passover, and this influence may have affected the Synoptists' account of the actual setting of the Supper". This tradition has persisted until the present, so that it is now generally accepted that the origin of the Eucharist is the Jewish Passover. If this is true, then the Eucharist is associated chiefly with the sacrifice and death of Jesus Christ, and there are only tenuous and indirect connections with the Resurrection of the Lord. In that case, the subject of this study would need to be abandoned. If, however, there is proof that the Eucharist is closely related to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ in origin, then it is natural to look for the influence of the Resurrection on eucharistic liturgy. Cahp. 1, p. 1.
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The servant of Yahweh : a critical and exegetical study of the Servant Songs in Deutero-Isaiah
- Authors: Dijkman, Jan Hendrik Leonard
- Date: 1961
- Subjects: Bible -- Criticism, interpretation, etc. , Servant songs
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Bachelor , BDiv
- Identifier: vital:1293 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1014812
- Description: For more than two thousand years the question of tbe identity of the Servant of Yahweh in Is. 40 - 55, and especially in the so-called "Servant Songs", has exercised the minds of students of the Old Testament. The first answer which we may trace with any certainty is that of the translator of this particular section in the Septuagint, who adds the words "Jacob" and "Israel" to the text. This is closely followed in the New Testament by the answer which Philip gave to the Ethiopian eunuch's query, "Of whom speaketh the prophet this ? of himself, or of some other ?" ( Acts 8:34f,). These two answers are typical of the two possible extremes in solving the problem. The first sees the Servant as a collective entity, the people Israel, while the second sees him as an individual figure, namely, Jesus Christ. The second answer explains why the interpretation of the Servant figure has been such a live issue throughout the entire history of Christendom. In it Christians have seen a prophecy of Jesus Christ - and more particularly in the suffering of the Servant, a prophecy of the facts which form the basis of the Christian Salvation, the death and resurrection of Jesus. Until the close of the eighteenth century, the generally accepted interpretation of the figure of the Suffering Servant among Christians was to identify him completely with Christ. With the development of the scientific study of the Old Testament during the last two centuries, every generation has raised the question afresh and sought to answer it. There is hardly an Old Testament scholar who has not laboured over it, and many have published their attempts at a solution. Hence the literature on the subject is enormous. In the present study no attempt has been made to give an exhaustive survey of all the interpretations of the Servant figure, but the text of the Servant Songs has been examined before an interpretation of the Servant figure was attempted. It is to be hoped that the final interpretation here given will reflect the thought of the prophet rather than that of the interpreter.
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