Otniel Ioan BUNACIU, David Andrei BUNACIU, Secularizarea din perspectiva secularităților multiple: Cazul României și al Cehiei / Secularization from the Perspective of Multiple Secularities: The Cases of Romania and Czech Republic, Jurnal teologic Vol 23, Nr 2 (2024): 5-20.
Abstract
This paper examines how the understanding of secularization, traditionally viewed as a consequence of modernity, has evolved through the adoption of new perspectives that account for the diverse cultural contexts in which this process unfolds. The conceptualization of modernity as successive and multiple modernities, shaped by the reflexivity inherent to the phenomenon, implicitly suggests the existence of multiple secularization processes. Recent studies indicating a global revival of religion further underscore the need to reassess secularization, making it a pressing topic for sociological and theological inquiry. The cases of the Czech Republic and Romania serve as illustrative examples of these dynamics.
Keywords: secularization, secularism, modernity, multiple modernities, society, religion, faith, process.
Ioan BRIE, Semnificația metaforelor „botezați într-un singur Duh“ și „adăpați dintr-un singur Duh“ în 1 Corinteni 12:13 / The Meaning of the Metaphors of ‘Baptized in One Spirit’ and ‘Made to Drink of One Spirit’, Jurnal teologic Vol 23, Nr 2 (2024): 21-42.
Abstract
The metaphors “baptized in one Spirit” and “made to drink of one Spirit”, used by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:13 to describe the Holy Spirit’s role in shaping and supporting God’s people, have sparked intense debates among Christian theologians, often shaped by dogmatic and confessional perspectives. Recognizing the importance of 1 Corinthians 12:13 as an argument for the unity of the church, this article examines and evaluates the three most significant interpretations of the passage. It contends that the metaphors “baptized in one Spirit” and “made to drink of one Spirit” are not synonymous. The first phrase (1 Cor. 12:13a) refers to the new birth—a transformative experience in which believers are incorporated into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit at the moment of conversion. The second phrase (1 Cor. 12:13c) is understood as a reference to the charismatic empowerment that follows the new birth, akin to the baptism in the Holy Spirit as described in the book of Acts.
Keywords: baptism in the Holy Spirit, indwelt by the Spirit, conversion, born again, body, church.
Benjamin COCAR, Holy Spirit Baptism, Jurnal teologic Vol 23, Nr 2 (2024): 43-60.
Abstract
Holy Spirit baptism is that unique ministry of the Spirit for the dispensation of grace, more specifically, for the Church age. From the passages examined it is clear that the agent of Spirit baptism is Jesus Christ, and that He does this work of baptizing by the means or personal agency of the Holy Spirit. This activity began at Pentecost, not in the Old Testament, and has been repeated since then at every conversion. It is not an experiential event but a judicial act by which the believer is united with the Body of Christ, the “body” that represents the believers of this dispensation. The believer is united with Christ Himself, and with all believers. Although the Spirit baptism is not an endowment of power, it brings the believer in a position in Christ which enables him to receive power to serve God and other believers.
Keywords: Holy Spirit, Spirit baptism, Progressive Dispensationalism, experience, Church
Samuiel BÂLC, Importanța cunoașterii provocărilor în comunicarea interreligioasa și soluțiile pentru o comunicare eficientă / The Importance of Knowing the Challenges in Inter-religious Communications and the Solutions for An Efficient Communication, Jurnal teologic Vol 23, Nr 2 (2024): 61-83.
Abstract
Inter-religious communication is crucial for fostering harmony and mutual understanding among diverse religious communities in today’s increasingly globalized and interconnected world. However, this form of communication is fraught with challenges, including cultural and language barriers, personal prejudices and stereotypes, and doctrinal and theological tensions. This article emphasizes the importance of recognizing these challenges to facilitate meaningful interfaith dialogue and proposes solutions for effective communication. These include understanding one’s own culture, appreciating the culture of the audience, adopting appropriate communication strategies, and identifying with the individuals being addressed. Addressing these issues can help reduce tensions and contribute to stronger, deeper and more peaceful interfaith relations.
Keywords: communication, barriers, society, culture, challenges.
Sorin Ioan LOGHIN, Centralitatea legământului în modelarea identității israelite postexilice în scrierile Ezra-Neemia / The Centrality of the Covenant în Building a Post-exilic Jewish Identity in Ezra-Neemiah, Jurnal teologic Vol 23, Nr 2 (2024): 84-103.
Abstract
This paper examines the repatriated community’s identity following the Babylonian Exile. It is widely recognized that the identity of pre-exilic Israel was grounded in the covenantal relationship established at Mount Sinai. Despite the Israelite’s previous unfaithfulness, God extended an opportunity for renewal through their repatriation from Babylon. This article investigates how the covenant remained the cornerstone of Israel’s identity, requiring the returnee generation to consciously and willingly embrace it. The first indication of the repatriated community’s commitment to upholding the covenant is their response to the issue of mixed marriages, which threatened the purity of Israelite identity. Secondly, the repatriated community initiated the renewal of the covenant. Lastly, their determination to adhere to the Law is evident in their commitment to studying it and keeping the sacred calendar.
Keywords: Ezra-Nehemiah, Babylonian exile, identity, covenant renewal, mixed marriages.
Thomas SEARS, Toward a Theology of Weakness: An Ethnographic Case Study of Diploma-Level Pastoral Education in Nairobi, Kenya, Jurnal teologic Vol 23, Nr 2 (2024): 104-120.
Abstract
In 2016, religious leaders across Kenya were threatened by a potential law inhibiting any leader from serving in a senior leadership role in a religious community. This heightened the demand for an already outpaced supply of credentialed Christian leaders in Kenya’s rapidly growing Christian landscape. This paper is a story of a Kenyan man named Jabari, a man with a burden to train pastors in the urban poor of Nairobi who are unable to attend or cannot afford one of Kenya’s traditional theological institutes. Utilizing the research results from ethnographic interviews and participatory observation, this article describes the challenges Jabari faces operating his theological training institute. It observes the unique challenges created by the influence of western educational models that colonial-era missionaries brought to the country. Then, this article reflects on the theology of weakness as seen in Paul’s two letters to the Corinthians and compares it with the challenges seen in this ethnographic case study. Paul’s theme shows how human vulnerability allows space for divine intervention and spiritual flourishing. Moving towards a theology of weakness, educators and administrators can be drawn into deeper reliance on God and establish new models of pastoral education that produce credentialed leaders who mirror Paul’s posture divine strength through human vulnerability.
Keywords: Theological Education, Ethnography, Theology of Weakness, Nairobi, Kenya.
