Die ‘Duisternis’ as Mag in die Nuwe Testament

HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Die ‘Duisternis’ as Mag in die Nuwe Testament
 
Creator Steyn, Gert J.
 
Subject New Testament Studies Darkness; Power; Dualistic worldview; Apocalyptic worldview; Death; Evil
Description The purpose of this contribution is to present a general survey of darkness as power in the New Testament. It is generally accepted that darkness functions on a symbolic-metaphorical level on the one hand and on a literal level on the other hand. The former receives attention in this study where darkness is almost exclusively connected with the domain of power of the evil. The issue of darkness is investigated from four dimensions (1) as an opposing power to light in a dualistic worldview, (2) as a ruling power with a grip on death and the grave, (3) as a power of the evil and the struggle for liberation and (4) as a symbol and instrument of judgement of God in an apocalyptic worldview, with darkness eventually becoming the condemned. It is concluded that there seems to be at least two New Testament perceptions regarding the position of darkness as power: The domain of evil’s darkness is located in the ‘underworld’, but gradually this view changed to also include a space in the layers of heaven above the earth. Earthlings found themselves in the midst of the struggle between Belial and Christ – the latter who finally conquers the power of darkness and now rules above the dark forces of evil.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor
Date 2012-05-11
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — Historical study; Symbolic and metaphoric approach
Format text/html application/octet-stream text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/hts.v68i1.1075
 
Source HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies; Vol 68, No 1 (2012); 8 pages 2072-8050 0259-9422
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/1075/2341 https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/1075/2345 https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/1075/2343 https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/1075/2271
 
Coverage Worldview Antiquity; Hellenistic Period Darkness as Power
Rights Copyright (c) 2012 Gert J. Steyn https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ADVERTISEMENT