Alexandru Lazăr, Dasein and the Understanding of Culture: a Hermeneutic Analysis of Ecclesial Spaces, Jurnal teologic Vol 24, Nr 1 (2025): 5-17.
Abstract
This study explores the relationship between the individual, culture, and civilization, using a hermeneutic approach to understand the implications of culture in the history of mankind’s becoming. It begins with the notion that the individual is a product of both culture and contingency, and in order to comprehend culture, it is necessary for the subject to step outside the cultural determinations that shape them. Drawing on Heidegger’s concept of Dasein, the study emphasizes the importance of viewing culture from an external perspective, where the individual can engage in an authentic encounter with otherness and establish a relationship with the world independent of their subjective interiority. The distinction between culture and civilization is also explored, highlighting how civilization is driven by survival imperatives, while culture is a dynamic, cumulative force that shapes individual and collective identity. Furthermore, the study examines the significance of culture in human development, emphasizing the role of Dasein in transcending contingency and understanding culture as a phenomenon beyond local boundaries. The paper also touches on the hermeneutics of culture within the Romanian context, incorporating cultural anthropology and the contributions of key hermeneutic theorists to offer a comprehensive approach to understanding the cultural dimensions of human existence. Finally, the study sheds light on the ongoing development of cultural hermeneutics and its intersection with ecclesial perspectives, inculturation, and acculturation.
Keywords: hermeneutics, cultural anthropology, inculturation, acculturation, dasein.
Adrian-Daniel Stupar, Evaluarea rolului Scripturii în consilierea pastorală: fundamente teologice și implicații metodologice / Evaluating the Role of Scripture in Pastoral Counseling: Theological Foundations and Methodological Implications, Jurnal teologic Vol 24, Nr 1 (2025): 18-30.
Abstract
This article analyzes the role of Scripture in pastoral counseling, aiming to outline the theological foundations and methodological implications essential for a practice faithful to the Christian faith. Beginning with an assessment of the authority of the Bible, it is emphasized that the sacred text is not merely a source of spiritual inspiration but serves as the epistemological foundation for understanding human nature, soul-related problems, and the restoration solutions offered within counseling. The issue of the sufficiency of Scripture is also discussed, specifically to what extent the Bible, through its content, provides adequate perspectives for addressing the psychological complexity of human beings, without excluding the need for a critical and evaluative dialogue with data from the social sciences. Special attention is given to the concept of the primacy of Scripture, which involves recognizing its supremacy over any other source of knowledge and orienting the entire counseling endeavor from the perspective of divine revelation. Within this framework, the tensions between exclusively biblical approaches and integrative models are highlighted, along with the methodological risks associated with each orientation. The article advocates for a model of pastoral counseling that, while attentive to the complexity of the contemporary world, remains firmly rooted in the authority, sufficiency, and primacy of Scripture, utilizing other resources only in a filtered manner and subordinated to revealed truth. In this way, pastoral counseling can offer authentic, holistic, and transformational support to individuals in need.
Keywords: pastoral counseling, Scripture authority, biblical sufficiency, primacy of Scripture, integration
Emanuel Dobrin, „Hebel” în opera Qohelet a lui Gianfranco Ravasi / „Hebel” in the Qohelet Work of Gianfranco Ravasi, Jurnal teologic Vol 24, Nr 1 (2025): 31-44.
Abstract
This text analyzes the concept of hebel (emptiness, vanity) in ”Qohelet” as interpreted by Gianfranco Ravasi. Its aim is to transform hebel from a burdensome observation into a starting point for deep wisdom. Qohelet, the central figure and possible author of the book, explores existential reality in all its complexity—from foolishness to wisdom—while lucidly confronting the absurdity, inconsistency, and ephemerality of life under the sun. Everything is hebel. Beauty, knowledge, pleasure, wisdom, morality, luxury, extravagance—nothing escapes the verdict of vanity. Nevertheless, the conclusion of the book is neither nihilistic nor hopeless, but rather theological and ethical: “Fear God and keep His commandments” (12:13). Thus, hebel is not the end of thought, but a catalyst for mature reflection, shifting the focus from life’s immanent meaning to a vertical relationship with God. In the midst of this universe, man is not called to understand everything, but to live with reverence, embracing his condition and accepting mystery. The divine judgment, evoked at the end, offers an eschatological perspective meant to restore significance to human actions. Qohelet does not abandon the idea of meaning, but redefines it within a spiritual and moral framework that transcends direct experience. The journey from recognizing hebel to developing an ethic of reverence reveals a deep inner movement: from apparent despair arises a hope nourished by trust in a sovereign, enigmatic, and yet present God.
Keywords: hebel, experiență, gol, realitate, existențial, semnificație, înțelepciune
Octavian D. Baban, Hans Lietzmann and his reconstruction of Paul’s life and theology in the History of the Early Church, Jurnal teologic Vol 24, Nr 1 (2025): 45-65.
Abstract
This article aims to present in a condensed form H. Lietzmann’s reconstruction of Paul’s life and theological portrait starting from his well-known book, The History of the Church. In Lietzmann’s studies, Paul comes out as a challenging and bold hero-like figure, caught between two cultures, Jewish and Gentile, and a major personal experience of revelation from the Lord. According to Lietzmann’s views, Paul took a revolutionary stand and contested many of the theological ideas of his time. He is seen as a major apostle and evangelist, battling against his opponents and winning people to faith in Christ. However, Lietzmann might have over stated the importance of Hellenism in Paul’s theology, the magnitude of the opposition between Paul and Peter, and the specific features of Paul’s newly found theology.
Keywords: Paul, Lietzmann, Pauline theology, Paul’s historical portrait.
Ioan Szasz, Noua Reformă Apostolică: Teologie și influență New Age / The New Apostolic Reformation: Theology and New Age Influence, Jurnal teologic Vol 24, Nr 1 (2025): 66-87.
Abstract
This study analyzes the movement known as the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), placing it within the broader context of the hyper-charismatic movement and investigating the ideological influences of New Age spirituality upon it. The study focuses on the work The Physics of Heaven (2012), in which several NAR leaders promote a synthesis between charismatic theology and concepts such as energy, vibration, frequency, and sound—resemanticized from quantum physics in a mystical key. The study highlights the risks of theological syncretism, the tendency toward doctrinal relativism, and the drift toward a self-referential spirituality that holds the potential to substitute biblical revelation with speculative epistemologies. The ultimate goals of this research are to delineate the boundaries of evangelical orthodoxy and to identify the possible ideological influences of the NAR on the contemporary evangelical landscape.
Keywords: New Apostolic Reformation, hyper-charismatic, New Age, The Physics of Heaven, theological syncretism, revelation, quantum mysticism, doctrine.
Samuiel Bâlc, Christian Identity: Between assumption and affirmation in the context of religious pluralism, Jurnal teologic Vol 24, Nr 1 (2025): 88-96.
Abstract
In a global context marked by religious pluralism, Christian identity is in a dynamic balance between assumption and affirmation. Assumption of Christian identity presumes a deep interiorization of faith, manifested through firm convictions, religious practices and a life lived in accordance with the values of Scripture. This implies not only a formal adherence to a religious tradition, but also an authentic commitment to the spiritual dimension of existence.
Affirmation of Christian identity, on the other hand, concerns the way in which faith is expressed in the public space and in relation to other confessions and religions. In a diverse society, Christians are called to confess their values without imposing, to dialogue without relativizing and to actively contribute to the common good without compromising their beliefs. Affirmation of Christian identity must not lead to exclusivism, but to a responsible and open presence in society.
This balance brings both challenges and opportunities. On the one hand, secularization, religious syncretism and the pressure to adapt faith to new social realities can generate confusion and doctrinal dilution. On the other hand, pluralism offers opportunities for authentic interreligious dialogue, for a rediscovery of the depth of faith and for a more vivid witness to the Gospel. Thus, Christian identity in the context of religious pluralism is not a simple choice between isolation and conformism, but a call to a conscious assumption and a balanced affirmation, based on authenticity, dialogue and fidelity to the Christian tradition.
Keywords: identity, assumption, affirmation, dialogue, opportunity, responsibility.
Jani Kardos, Perspectiva apostolului Pavel asupra muncii, conform Coloseni 3:22-4:1 / Paul’s Perspective on Work in Colossians 3:22-4:1, Jurnal teologic Vol 24, Nr 1 (2025): 97-106.
Abstract
This paper examines Apostle Paul’s theology of work, focusing on Colossians 3:22–4:1. It explores how Paul redefines work not as punishment, but as a divine calling rooted in creation and restored through Christ. Through exegetical analysis, the study highlights key Pauline principles: work as worship, a service to God, and a space for spiritual testimony—even in oppressive contexts like slavery. Paul’s teachings challenge the division between sacred and secular by affirming that all work done “for the Lord” carries eternal value. This perspective invites believers today to live out their faith through integrity and dedication in every workplace setting.
Keywords: Work, biblical theology, the Apostle Paul, worship, slavery, spiritual gifts, professional life, ministry
Constantin Bărbulescu, A history of baptism in France. O recenzie a studiului lui Vincent Gourdon, Histoire du baptême. Du Moyen Âge à nos jours, Paris, Passés Composés/Humensis, 2024, 398 pp. Jurnal teologic Vol 24, Nr 1 (2025): 107-114.
Abstract
This article explores the paradoxical reception of Vincent Gourdon’s historical scholarship in Romania, where his work remains largely unknown despite his established reputation in French and Italian academic circles. The absence of his books in Romania’s major libraries highlights systemic issues such as the decline of French as a language of scholarly communication and chronic underfunding of university book acquisitions. Yet, within small circles of francophone Romanian historians, Gourdon is recognized through conferences and his publications. The article offers a detailed overview of Gourdon’s scholarly contributions, focusing on his pioneering role in the social history of religious sacraments—particularly baptism, marriage, confirmation, and perinatal death. Emphasis is placed on his recent monograph, Histoire du baptême, which ambitiously traces the evolution of baptismal practices in France from the Middle Ages to the present. By integrating perspectives from historical demography, religious sociology, anthropology, and economic history, Gourdon constructs a relational and community-centered narrative of how families negotiated religious rituals with ecclesiastical authority over five centuries. The volume is praised for its methodological richness, historiographical sophistication, and literary quality—an exemplar of contemporary French historiography. This article advocates for a broader recognition of Gourdon’s work in Romanian academia and underscores the importance of accessible scholarly exchange beyond the dominance of English-language publication.
Keywords: sacrament, baptism, history of sacraments, Christianity, France, Catholic church
