Nadenke oor 500 jaar se Reformatoriese teologie is an open-access book published by AOSIS.
In this book, classical texts of the reformers, such as Luther and Calvin, are researched, analysed (within their original historic setting), hermeneutically actualised for present-day church matters and made accessible to the Afrikaans readership. It explores the valuable contributions of Reformation theology (coming from the recent past) and its helpful implications in bringing depth to our contextual debates within South Africa.
Copyright (c) 2017 Ignatius (Natie) W.C. van Wyk
This book deals with the central themes in Reformed theology, for example Luther’s views on justification, the wrath of God, and good works. Translations into Afrikaans of Luther’s primary works from the Latin and late-Medieval German texts are given. Luther is portrayed as the theologian who rediscovered the mercy of God and urged believers to distinguish between faith and good deeds. Luther’s understanding of the notion ‘freedom’ is likened to that of Calvin. The prominence given in this work to Calvin’s first three publications provides a distinctive contribution to the quincentenary anniversary of the legacy of the Reformation. Chapters 1-4 pertain to biblical interpretation. A variety of methods are discussed and employed. Chapters 5-9 discuss various historical and systematic-theological themes. Classical texts from the Reformation, specifically works by Calvin and Luther, are examined, contemporary theological literature is analysed, compared and evaluated, and innovative ideas are proposed. The reception history of Luther and Calvin is itemised by assessing the significance of Karl Barth and Jürgen Moltmann in the European theological environment, and Adrianus van Selms in the South African theological environment. From the perspective of a hermeneutics of suspicion the influence of Luther, the ‘reformer of marriage’, is traced. Consequences of the heritage of the 16th century’s Reformers for interfaith relations are pointed out.
Professor Andries G. van Aarde, Chief Editor,
AOSIS Scholarly Books