Luminătorul (octombrie - noiembrie, 2013)

Jurnal teologic Vol 12, Nr 2 (2013)

BUNACIU, Otniel Ioan. "Understanding atonement and the work of the Holy Spirit in relation to the teachings of the prosperity Gospel." Jurnal teologic Vol 12, Nr 2 (2013): 5-23.

School of Baptist Theology, University of Bucharest

Abstract

I have been trying to argue the well known fact that the context often defines the understanding and in Christian theology it often becomes part of the way we read Scripture and also of how we develop theology. I also try to argue that in order to understand the Scriptures adequately we need first of all to be able to gain a critical distance from our context but maybe even more important to gain a more nuanced understanding of God. This is possible only if some openness is maintained so that God who is free can address us. 

Keywords: atonement, Holy Spirit, Gospel, prosperity

SABOU, Sorin. "Snippets of Ancient Wisdom - from the Milesian School to Augustine." Jurnal teologic Vol 12, Nr 2 (2013): 24-36.

Baptist Theological Institute of Bucharest; Liberty University

Abstract

These snippets of ancient wisdom are intended to offer an overview of major themes, methods, and contributions to knowledge in the areas of metaphysics, piety, ethics, knowledge and time. The masters like Thales, Anaximenes, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus, and Augustine taught about these issues and here is a snapshot of their views. 

Keywords: Milesian School, Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus, Augustine, metaphysics, piety, ethics, time

LITTLE, Bruce A. "God and Gratuitous Evil." Jurnal teologic Vol 12, Nr 2 (2013): 37-58.

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Abstract

In view of God and his creation in light of the biblical record it seems that affirm gratuitous evil would not count against the moral perfections of God and would as Ronald Nash said, tip the debate on evil in favor of theism.

Keywords: God, Evil, theism, creation

PATTERSON, James A. "Superficial Views of Evil in the Era of the Early Church: Two Persistent Heresies." Jurnal teologic Vol 12, Nr 2 (2013): 59-77.

Union University

Abstract

Gnosticism and Pelagianism were two rather different heresies that emerged in dissimilar contexts and set forth widely divergent teachings.  Gnosticism’s convoluted, dualistic narrative of the origins of the world and evil strayed so far from mainstream Christian orthodoxy that it entirely appalled the Church Fathers; it undeniably represented a false gospel.  Pelagianism, on the other hand, sought unsuccessfully to gain approval from the “Catholic” leadership of the fifth century.

Keywords: Gnosticism, Pelagianism, Evil, Church Fathers

FODOREAN, Daniel. "Eclezia contemporană între supraviețuire și reînnoire / Contemporary Ecclesia Between Survival and Renewal."  Jurnal teologic Vol 12, Nr 2 (2013): 79-94.

Baptist Theological Insitute of Bucharest; Liberty University

Abstract

Why do some churches are in a period of stagnation and decay? Ecclesiology's current crisis can not be solved by a behavioristic theology or a managerial leadership, but returning to a theology of the cross, a theology of the heart. Behavioristic theology will produce a activistic, fleshly and legalistic ecclesiology. Changing in a local Christian community begins with changing personal life of each of the members. Visibility of this changes and spiritual profile of the church will be dictated by the percentage of those who had such an experience. In terms of the New Testament this experience is called continuous renewal. The purpose of this article is to provoke a change of perspective about the answer  we give to the current crisis of the church. 

Keywords: church, leadership, behavioristic theology, spiritual maturity, ecclesiological crisis

BÂLC, Samuiel. "Paradigma trinitară a relațiilor eclesiale / The Trinitarian Paradigm of the Ecclesial Relations." Jurnal teologic Vol 12, Nr 2 (2013): 95-112.

Baptist Theological Institute of Bucharest

Abstract

Biblical history of creation shows that the human being was created by God with the ability to communicate.What has hampered human and divine communion was disobedience to the laws established by God. The fact that man is a speaking being   is an indicator that we were ment to relate to each other. This way, communication gives man the possiblity to constantly upgrade/improve the ability to speak. Thus human being is deliberately linked to others by communicated words hence finds fulfillment in relationship with others. Trinitarian paradigm with respect/with regards to relations is therefore a reper that should not only be looked at but also followed as a role model.

Keywords: God, man, relationship, communication, personality, self-image.

RUSU, Timotei. "Teocrația ca principiu al conducerii spirituale / Theocracy as the Principle of Spiritual Leadership." Jurnal teologic Vol 12, Nr 2 (2013): 113-130.

Baptist Theological Institute of Bucharest

Abstract

In our culture, leadership and leadership styles are controversial. The Church of Jesus Christ exists in the secular society with a variety of religious as well as secular leadership models. This article suggests that the best and the oldest leadership style is Theocracy. The author study the authority of God in creation of man and of Israel, especially in the formation of the Hebrew nation: delivery from Egypt, Covenant at Sinai and the human leadership under God’s direct guidance. He advocated that Theocracy is not only possible, but it is the only way to govern the individual lives of believers and Christ’s Church.

Keywords: Leadership, Theocracy, Church, Believer

COLDA, Teodor-Ioan. "Utopia libertății religioase în România postbelică. Baptiștii din România în perioada de tranziție de la Monarhie la Republică între 1944-1953 (I) / The Utopia of Religious Freedom in Postbelic Romania. Romanian Baptists in Transition from Monarchy to Republic between 1944-1953 (I)." Jurnal teologic Vol 12, Nr 2 (2013): 133-170.

Academic Visitor attached to Ballioll College, University of Oxford

Abstract

In this paper the author tries to give a fair description and interpretation of the life of Baptist Churches in the period of transition from Monarchy to Republic in postbellic Romania, based on many unprecedented archive documents. The main focus of the paper is the problem of religious freedom in this very shifty period. Because of the persecution endured between the two world wars and during the nationalist and fascist regime of Antonescu, the self proclaimed absolute leader of Romania between 1940 and 1944, the Romanian Baptists tried to cope with the new situation established in their country at the end of the war, which seemed to be far better than before. Religious freedom was granted for all, first by His Royal Majesty King Michael and afterwards by the communists who managed to force the King into exile and transformed Romania into a republic. Though the communists were granting religious freedom through a new constitution they weren’t really committed to the idea of freedom, because of their proletarian revolutionary believes. This reluctance to offer religious freedom was encouraged by historical precedents in which the Orthodox Church managed to drive the state into a sinister partnership of persecuting those who were considered sects, dangerous for an Orthodox nation. In these circumstances, and tired from being persecuted, Baptist leaders and Baptist churches were forced into an unusual relationship with the communists. First it seemed that there couldn’t be any wrong or any danger in having a relationship with the state which is willing to grant religious freedom even for religious minorities. But in an atheistic and communist state religious freedom becomes a utopia.

Keywords: Baptist, Orthodox, Church, State, Persecution, Communism, Second World War

GHERMAN, Daniel. "Relațiile dintre Testamente: o abordare istorică de la perioada apostolică până la cea postmodernă / The Relationships between Testaments: a Historical Approach from the Apostolic Era to Postmodernity." Jurnal teologic Vol 12, Nr 2 (2013): 169-188.

Baptist Theological Institute of Bucharest

Abstract

The paper contains a historic presentation of the relationships between the Old and New Testaments along the time.  It begins with the apostolic period and ends with the postmodern time period.  Although, within the English speaking world, there are some studies on this subject, in Romanian there are not.  The article is following Rodney Petersen’s historical study to which it is added a discussion about the way the relationship between the Old and New Testaments in postmodernism is perceived.  The study presents, in the end, some conclusions regarding the development of the issue of the relationships between the two Testaments.  

Keywords: Old Testament, New Testament