Abstracts Category : Other

Cosmogonic presuppositions in Hebrews and its first-century philosophical context

by Yauri Benjamin Rojas

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation aims to consider the relationship between Hebrews cosmogonicpresuppositions and its first-century philosophical context. It is a multimethodologicalresearch focusing on the historic-grammatical, socio-rhetorical, andcontent analysis methodologies applied to biblical studies. In addition, this researchdevelops a methodology that allows the discovery of a documents position on topicsother than its main topic, i.e. a methodology that could be termed a Text-linguisticexclusion and which consists of four steps.This dissertation comprises eight chapters: Chapters IIII tackle the problem of someof the introductory issues pertaining to Hebrews and analyse the cosmogonicpresuppositions found in first-century philosophy. Chapters IV and V analyseHebrews text and provide the foundational analysis of the Greek text upon which thecosmogonic presuppositions in Hebrews were established, i.e. it displays themechanics of the Greek text, as well as its grammatical, textual, and literary issues.Chapter VI presents the cosmogonic presuppositions in Hebrews, and Chapter VIIcompares these with the cosmogonic presuppositions present in first-centuryphilosophy by focusing on four main aspects: 1) the literary component; 2) theCreator; 3) the procedure of creating; and 4) the creation itself. Chapter VIII followsas both a comprehensive summary and conclusion of this research.The main finding of this dissertation is that Hebrews embraces a new cosmogonicperspective for its time, built on coherent presuppositions developed mostly in itsreading of Jewish literature, among which the Old Testament, and particularlyGenesis 1-3, takes a predominant place. This new perspective stands apart from firstcentury cosmogonic presuppositions which were a plethoric mixture of thoughts. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie proefskrif het ten doel om die verhouding tussen Hebrers se kosmogoniesevooronderstellings en die eerste-eeuse filosofiese konteks te verreken. Dit is 'n multimetodologiese navorsingsprojek wat fokus op die histories-grammatikale, sosioretorieseen inhoudsanalise wat toegepas word op Bybelse studies. Daarbenewensontwikkel hierdie navorsing ook 'n metodologie wat die naspeur van 'n dokument seposisie op ander onderwerpe as sy hoofonderwerp toelaat, dit wil s 'n metodologiewat 'n "Teks-linguistiese uitsluiting" genoem kan word en wat bestaan uit vier stappe.Die verhandeling bestaan uit agt hoofstukke: Hoofstuk I-III pak die probleem vansommige van die algemene vraagstukke ten opsigte van Hebrers aan en ontleed diekosmogoniese vooronderstellings wat in die eerste-eeuse filosofie teenwoordig is.Hoofstukke IV en V analiseer Hebrers se teks en verskaf die grondliggende analisevan die Griekse teks waarop die kosmogoniese vooronderstellings in Hebrersgevestig is, dit wil s, dit vertoon die meganika van die Griekse teks, sowel asgepaardgaande grammatikale, tekstuele en literre kwessies. Hoofstuk VI bied diekosmogoniese vooronderstellingsAdvisors/Committee Members: Punt, Jeremy, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Old and New Testament..