Leiers Wat Dien en Bédien. ‘N Eksegetiese Ondersoek na Leierskap in die Pauliniese Briewe (Afrikaans)

Abstract

Hierdie navorsing behels beide die eksegese van bepaalde perikope, sowel as die eksegese van ‘n teologiese tema, naamlik die leierskap van die Pauliniese kerke. Hoofstuk een verskaf die motivering vir die navorsing (soos die fundamentele belang van leierskap; die voortgesette onsekerheid met betrekking tot die vorm en funksies van die vroeë kerk se leierskap), asook ‘n navorsingsoorsig met betrekking tot die onderwerp. Uit die navorsingsoorsig word sekere brandpunte geïdentifiseer, wat dan die basis vorm vir die multidimensionele probleemstelling en die spesifieke vrae wat aan die orde gestel word in die studie. Die kwessies wat ondersoek word behels:Die identifisering van die gestalte(s) van die Pauliniese kerke se leierskapstruktuur.Die identifisering van die kulturele antesedente wat as ‘genetiese poel’ vir die Pauliniese kerke se bedienings- en leierskapstrukture gedien het (Hellenisme en Judaïsme[s]).Die beskrywing van die verhouding tussen ‘charisma’ en ‘amp.’Die wesensaard van die Pauliniese bediening, asook Pauliniese, geestelike outoriteit.Die relevansie van die Pauliniese kerke se bedieningstrukture vir die hedendaagse kerk.

Die navorsingsmetodologie van hierdie studie sluit drie perspektiewe in waarmee gewerk word en wat op die betrokke perikope van toepassing gemaak word, naamlik:Die invloed van die sosio-kulturele sisteem waarbinne die eerste Christene geleef het (sosiale waardes; politieke strukture; die ‘oikos’);die teologiese tradisies waarin Christene (veral Paulus) opgegroei het (onder andere die Judaïsme en hellenistiese godsdienste) wat spontaan as verwysingsraamwerk gefunksioneer het in kerkleiers se denke ten opsigte van die ordening van die vroeë gemeentes;die dinamiese inspirasie van die Heilige Gees (pneumatologiese invloed), omdat die daar myns insiens ‘n definitiewe pneumatologiese plan aan die ontvou was in die vroeë kerk ten opsigte van vorm en leierskapstrukture.

Hierdie studie maak erns met die sosiaal-kulturele dimensies van die vroeë kerk (hoofstukke twee en drie) en spesifiek sy leierskap, aangesien daar in die verlede baie anakronisties gewerk is met die Nuwe Testament in dié verband - iets waaraan voorstanders van die sogenaamde kronologiese perspektief myns insiens skuldig is (asook die interpretasie van Nuwe-Testamentiese bedieninge in terme van ‘ampte’ in die moderne sin). Daarom word meer intens gefokus op die wêreld van die teks, en word daar deurgaans gepoog om die invloede van die kragtige sosio-kulturele faktore (sekulêr en godsdienstig) op die kerk te verreken.

Perikope wat aan die orde kom vanaf hoofstuk vier tot hoofstuk ses is 1 Korintiërs 12 tot 14; Efesiërs 4:11-13; 1 Timoteus 3:1-13, en Titus 1:5-10. Uit die navorsing word die bovermelde kulturele en godsdienstige invloede op die vroeë kerk bevestig, en word die aard daarvan van naderby ondersoek. Dit is duidelik dat daar nie werklik van ‘direct debts’ tussen die Pauliniese kerke en die ander samelewingsverbande gepraat kan word nie. Daar is eerder ‘n algemene en analogiese verband sigbaar.

Hoofstuk sewe bestaan uit ‘n samevatting van die gevolgtrekkings wat uit die studie afgelei is, asook die aanbied van riglyne (dimensies) ten opsigte van leierskap, gebaseer op die eksegese van die briewe en die ervaring van die Pauliniese kerke, wat moontlik as patroon kan dien vir die hedendaagse kerk en sy leierskap. Die hoofstuk sluit af met ‘n definisie van ‘n Pauliniese bedienaar/leier, asook slotopmerkings.

Alternate abstract:

This research is both an exegetical study of relevant pericopes, as well as the exegesis of a theological theme, viz, the leadership of the Pauline churches. Chapter one elucidates on the motivation for this research (like the fundamental importance of leadership, the continued lack of clarity with regard to the form and function of Pauline leadership), as well as giving a history of research done on the subject. Prominent issues come into focus from this history of the research done, which function as the basis for the questions asked in the remainder of the study. The main questions involve the following:The identification of the Pauline church’s leadership structure.The identification of cultural antecedents that functioned as a ‘gene-pool’ for the leadership and ministry structures of the Pauline churches.  The dynamic between charism and office.The unique essence of the Pauline ministry, as well as Pauline authority.The relevance of the Pauline leadership structures and ministries for today’s church.

The method of research includes three important perspectives that will be utilized to elucidate and interpret the relevant pericopes. These perspectives include the following:The influence of the world of the early Christians (viz, their social values, political structures and the ‘oikos’);the theological (religious) traditions in which Christians (especially Paul) grew up (viz, Judaism[s], ‘collegiae’ and hellenistic religions), and that exerted a conscious, as well as an unconscious influence upon early Christians and church leaders;the dynamic influence of the Holy Spirit (pneumatological factor), by virtue of the fact that the church is more than a social phenomenon - it is also a supernatural entity. For this reason, I am convinced that when we read the history of the church, we probably are witnesses of the unfolding of a pneumatological plan with regard to the form as well as the leadership of the Pauline churches, carefully executed by the Holy Spirit.

This research considers the social dimensions of the community that hosted the Pauline churches (chapters two and three) - a critical key towards gaining an understanding of the leadership structures of the Pauline churches. This aspect suffered neglect in the past, which resulted in anacronistic readings and conclusions which had little or no moorings in the texts themselves (eg the socalled chronological view, as well as interpreting New Testament ministries in terms of modern church offices). Because of this, there is a constant focus upon the world of the texts in this research, and the powerful influences exerted by cultural factors (both secular and religious) upon the Pauline churches.

The pericopes that come under scrutiny (chapters four to six) are 1 Corinthians 12-13; Ephesians 4:11-13; 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9. This research confirms the powerful influences of the above mentioned cultural forces and religious antecedents. Closer examination reveals the absence of so-called, ‘direct debts’ between the early church and it’s social and religious environment. It would probably be more correct to speak of a general analogical resemblance between the two.

Chapter seven presents a summary of the conclusions reached by way of the exegesis, as well as a presentation of principles (dimensions) that can serve as guidelines (directives) for modern church leadership. These guidelines are based upon the exegesis of Paul’s letters and the experience of the Pauline churches. The study concludes with a proposed definition of a Pauline leader that includes all these principles (dimensions), gleaned from the pericopes.