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The Priesthood of Believers: a Critical Analysis

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View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Stellenbosch University SUNScholar Repository THE PRIESTHOOD OF BELIEVERS: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ECCLESIOLOGY OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH by Mxolisi Michael Sokupa Dissertation Presented for the Degree of Doctor of Theology at the University of Stellenbosch Promoter: Prof P. Coertzen March 2011 DECLARATION I the undersigned, hereby declare that the work contained in this dissertation is my own original work and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it at any university for a degree Signature……………………………………….. Date…………………………………………….. Copyright © 2011 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved i ABSTRACT This dissertation is a critical analysis and evaluation of the teaching of the priesthood of believers and the development of ecclesiology in the Seventh-day Adventist church. The study analyses this development in Seventh-day Adventist ecclesiology by evaluating how the doctrine of the priesthood of believers has been viewed in biblical, historical, and theological contexts. The comparative analysis of (mainly, though not exclusively) the Free church ecclesiology with the aim of contributing towards the understanding of the development of the Seventh-day Adventist ecclesiology is key. The importance of the development of ecclesiology in general and more specifically within the Seventh-day Adventist church is reflected in the discussions on the priesthood of believers by Free Churches and Seventh-day Adventist church historians and theologians. This research demonstrates that the development of ecclesiology cannot be studied in isolation. Therefore the development of ecclesiology in the Seventh-day Adventist church should be viewed with the history of the Christian church in view. For the purposes of this study this implies that the reflection of the Christian church on the priesthood of believers should have an impact on the development of the history of ecclesiology within the Seventh-day Adventist church. The critical analysis and assessment of the development of Seventh-day Adventist ecclesiology highlights the importance of biblical, historical, theological and ecclesiological contexts combined, on the priesthood of believers. Therefore this highlights the importance of the doctrine of priesthood of believers in the development of ecclesiology. ii OPSOMMING Hierdie werkstuk is ‘n kritieke analisering en evaluering van die leer van die priesterskap van gelowiges en die ontwikkeling van ekklesiologie in die Seventh-day Adventist Kerk. Die studie analiseer die ontwikkeling in die Seventh-day Adventist ekklesiologie deur te evalueer hoe die doktriene van die priesterskap van gelowiges gesien word in bybelse, historiese, en teologiese konteks. Die vergelykende analisering van (hoofsaaklik, tog nie alleenlik nie) die Vrye kerkse ekklesiologie met die doel om by te dra tot die begrip van die ontwikkeling van die Sewendedagse Adventiste ekklesiologie is opperste. Die belangrikheid van die ontwikkeling van ekklesiologie in die algemeen, meer spesifiek in die Seventh-day Adventist Kerk, word gereflekteer in die gesprek oor die priesterdom van gelowiges deur die Vrye Kerke en die Sewendedagse Adventiste geskiedkundiges en teoloë. Hierdie navorsing demonstreer dat die ontwikkeling van ekklesiologie nie in isolasie bestudeer kan word nie. Daarom moet die ontwikkeling van ekklesiologie in die Sewendedagse Adventiste kerk gesien word met die geskiedenis van die Christen kerk in sig. Vir die doel van hierdie studie impliseer dit dat die refleksie van die Christen Kerk op die priesterskap van gelowiges, ‘n impak moet hê op die ontwikkeling van die geskeidenis van ekklesiologie in die Seventh-day Adventist kerk. Die kritieke analisering en assesering van die ontwikkeling van die Seventh-day Adventist ekklesiologie beklemtoon die belangrikheid van die bybelse, geskiedkundige, teologiese en ekklesiologiese konteks saamgebind om die priesterskap van gelowiges. Daarom word die belangrikheid van die doktriene van priesterskap van gelowiges in die ontwikkeling van ekklesiologie beklemtoon. iii DEDICATION I dedicate this work to my wife Ntombizanele, and my children Sibabalo, Sinedinga and Saneliso, who have supported me through the challenges of writing. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I thank God for sustaining me through this research, by giving me good health and a supportive family. My wife and children contributed immensely to this achievement through their support. I am grateful to everyone who has given me encouragement and support during the past six years, while I was writing this dissertation. There were times when I had to put it off and I was encouraged through the support of colleagues, friends and family to resume the work. I thank the Stellenbosch university study bursary office and the NRF office for providing funding during the early stages of my research. Helderberg College graciously picked up the support in the past few months and provided funding toward finishing the research project. I am indebted to my advisor Prof. Pieter Coertzen for his tireless efforts to keep me focused. There were times when I felt overwhelmed by the mammoth task, but under the able hand of Prof. Coertzen, I was able to surmount those hurdles. Finally I want to thank the library staff of Stellenbosch university, for an excellent service during the time of my research. v TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ................................................................................................................. i ABSTRACT........................................................................................................................ ii OPSOMMING ................................................................................................................... iii DEDICATION................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGMENT......................................................................................................v TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................................................... vi CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Problem Statement.........................................................................................................1 1.2 Research Hypothesis......................................................................................................4 1.3 The Introductory Overview of the Ecclesiological Heritage of the Free Churches.......7 1.3.1 The Baptist Church................................................................................................13 1.3.2 The Methodist Church...........................................................................................14 1.3.3 The Seventh-day Adventist Church ......................................................................14 1.4 The Motivation.............................................................................................................15 1.4.1 Various Views and Spheres of Influence On the Priesthood of Believers............16 1.4.2 A Gap in Literature on the Priesthood of Believers ..............................................18 1.4.3 The Priesthood of Believers As Very Important in Ecclesiology .........................20 1.4.4 Priesthood of Believers and Its importance for the 21 st Century ..........................21 1.5 Literature Review.........................................................................................................22 1.5.1 Political..................................................................................................................22 1.5.2 Hermeneutical .......................................................................................................24 1.5.3 Church Polity.........................................................................................................24 1.5.4 Pragmatic...............................................................................................................25 1.6 Research Methodology and Design ............................................................................26 1.7 Delimitation .................................................................................................................27 1.8 A Summary of Each Chapter .......................................................................................28 1.8.1 Chapter 1: Introduction .........................................................................................28 1.8.2 Chapter 2: Scripture on the Priesthood of Believers .............................................29 vi 1.8.3 Chapter 3: Priesthood of Believers in History ......................................................29 1.8.4 Chapter 4: Priesthood of Believers in Seventh-day Adventist Theology..............29 1.8.5 Chapter 5: Priesthood of Believers in Ecclesiology..............................................30 1.8.6 Conclusion.............................................................................................................30 1.9 Definition of Key Terms..............................................................................................30 CHAPTER 2 SCRIPTURE ON THE PRIESTHOOD OF BELIEVERS 2.1 Introduction..................................................................................................................32 2.1.1 Methodology .........................................................................................................33
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