Browsing by Author "Joubert, Lisel"

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    Covetousness and desire : the Tenth Commandment in Africa
    (Department of Old and New Testament, Stellenbosch University, 2002) Joubert, Lisel
    This article deals with a central question regarding the interpretation of the tenth commandment, namely “do the two verbs that are translated with covet/desire in the tenth commandment refer to a solely mental attitude or do they necessarily imply action to make the object of desire one's own?” The Decalogue forms part of the relationship between God and Israel where certain values regarding life and harmony in the covenant community is promoted. The proposal of this article is that desire as a mental attitude is the theme of this commandment because it already leads to disharmony in a society even without action to attain the object of one's desire. The same mode of thought can be recognised in African cultures. In reading proverbs from Africa no clear indication is found that they relate to both coveting and any actions resulting from coveting, as with the tenth commandment. The proverbs warn against desire or coveting as mental activities per se. “Be patient a burning desire is not a pain”
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    The growth of the holiness of Mary : from flat character to theological construct
    (Pieter de Waal Neethling Trust, 2017) Joubert, Lisel
    This article deals with how a flat character in a biblical narrative could grow and assume a life of its own that becomes the example par excellence of holiness for many believers throughout the ages. Inspired by the work of B. R. Gaventa and her narrative reading of the Gospel texts and exploration of the characterisation of Mary, I would like to explore the dynamic of reception history and the changing criteria for holiness. I will consider the phenomenon of characterisation in narratives, the blurring of lines in interpretation and how a character in a narrative, which is an artificial construct, is taken out of that context and placed in contexts determined, in a sense, by generations of ’new narrators’ with changing understandings of holiness.
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    John de Gruchy: A reformed mystic?
    (Pieter de Waal Neethling Trust, 2020-06-01) Joubert, Lisel
    In this essay the life and some of the writings of John de Gruchy are revisited in light of a retrieval of an understanding of mysticism rooted in the Early Church. In revisiting the concept of mysticism through the work of different scholars the question is posed whether the work of John de Gruchy reflects this understanding of mysticism and if he can be seen as a Reformed Mystic.
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    Narrative aggada, the Church Fathers and narrative theology : the transformative power of wisdom inspired by Old Testament narratives
    (Old Testament Society of South Africa, 2003) Joubert, Lisel
    This article explores the transformative power of narrative. In recent times scholars have explored the potential of narrative theology, including use of narrative in counselling, preaching and the formation of theological identity. In this article I do not focus on the narratives in the Hebrew Bible but the bulk of Jewish literature that drew its inspiration from Biblical stories. The wisdom character of narrative and its rhetorical function of transforming communities will be explored. In evaluating the role of the narrative aggada for today, I will plot how it was received and valued throughout the centuries by the church, especially the early Church Fathers. The main question concerns the possibility of using the narrative aggada in a positive way in the rhetoric of a Christian community?
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    Salvation according to the Heidelberg Catechism
    (University of the Free State, 2014) Joubert, Lisel
    The Heidelberg Catechism has been part of the Reformed Confessional tradition for over 400 years. It has helped to shape and form generations of Reformed believers. The question however can be raised if the model of salvation that features in the Catechism is still relevant today? In the light of different contexts this article looks at the questions in the Heidelberg Catechism concerning the explanation of our salvation and reads this judicial model against other Christian understandings in the Catholic, Baptist and Orthodox tradition. The dialogue continues with the work of Ellen Charry that reminds us of the formative role that theology had in the works of the Early Church fathers and asks what the content and role of catechism are today and if we can still use this document fruitfully in our formation of young people.