Selfloos en sosiaal? :'n ontleding van Michael Welker se teologie van die gees

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is undertaken in the wake of an increase in publications on the work of the Holy Spirit, on the one hand, and Analphabetisierung, an inability to think and talk about the Spirit on the other. The study endeavours to find a theologically-responsible way of reflecting on the Spirit by specifically focussing on the German systematic theologian Michael Welker's theology of the Spirit and by offering an in-depth analysis of this theology.Chapter I shows that the relationship between the Spirit and the Word functions as the foundation of Welker's theology of the Spirit. At the same time the relationship between Spirit and Word serves as vital background to Welker's theology as this realistic theology best typifies Welker's methodology.In Chapter II, Welker's use of the concept of 'Selbstlosigkeit serves a key to understanding his theology of the Spirit: it is argued that the Spirit is selfless. The chapter offers a detailed description and analysis of Welker's views on the relationship between the Spirit and Chirst.In Chapter III the theologically-significant concepts 'sozial, 'soziale Sphäre, and 'öffentlich are used to further explain Welker's theology of the Spirit. It is the Spirit who establishes a social sphere in the world, which Welker also describes as the 'public person of the Spirit.Chapter IV investigates the unique nature of this selfless and social Spirit. While the interconnectedness between the Spirit and the Son and the Spirit and the Creator has been analysed in the previous chapters, this focus shifts to what Welker attributes to the Holy Spirit in particular. The Spirit is reflected upon in light of the confession of the church of all ages to show that the self in the sphere of the Spirit becomes known by social sensitivity and self- and social criticism.In conclusion the study indicates how Welker intentionally develops his theological frame of thought on the Spirit in the light of the relationship between the respective theological frames of thought of Schleiermacher and Barth.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University