Alphonso Groenewald
Biographic Data
| ID | 6297443 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Alphonso Groenewald |
| GIVEN NAMES | Alphonso |
| FAMILY NAME | Groenewald |
| SIGNATURE | GROENEWALD A |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Pretoria |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-4953-2230 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 14 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 11 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 14 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2003 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2024 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Unveiling the depths of trauma and the profound impact of rape and shaming on the Babylonian women in Isaiah 13
The book of Isaiah is one of the world’s oldest surviving resistance literature. Isaiah 13 describes God who collects an army for the battle against Babylon which will lead to Babylon’s utter desolation and destruction. Isaiah 13:16 deeply shocks the reader when it states that the wives of the Babylonians shall be raped and ravished by the men of this marching army. A literary, contextual, and historical methodology will be applied. Integrated in…
A Trauma Reading of Isaiah 1–12 from the “Unity Movement” Perspective
In this contribution we focus firstly on the “unity movement” which has changed the face of Isaianic studies over the last 30 or more years, having been characterised by the Duhmian interpretation of three separate books for nearly 100 years. The unity movement focusses on the book of Isaiah as a literary unity, but it does not deny the historical growth of this literary masterpiece which took place over centuries. Secondly, we give a brief overv…
‘And it shall come to pass on that day, the Lord will whistle for the fly which is at the end of the water channels of Egypt, and for the bee which is in the land of Assyria’ (Is 7
In this article the impact of the Covid-19 virus will be used as a lens to read this Isaianic text. The collective threat of the corona-virus causes trauma on societies and communities on different levels: psychological, physical, existential and communal trauma. Isaiah 7:18–25 also tells us of an historic event which caused extreme trauma to its audience. Verse 18 describes the arrival of the Assyrian army. The prophet compares the Assyrian host…
Towards a Theology of Migration
The aim of this paper is to turn the lens towards the pre-migration and resilience processes within the context of the imminent forced migration as found in Isaiah 1-12. The article addresses not only the matter of pre-migration and collective trauma but also the ensuing resilience and hope that is embedded in the text. Understanding the concepts that underpin premigration to trauma and hope, the authors have engaged Isaiah 1-12, which present su…
Old Testament Studies at the University of Pretoria
In a short historical overview of the academic and social contributions of the Department of OTS at the UP over the past century (1917–2017), this chapter provides a limited picture of how the department has contributed to academia, church and society. In this year of the Faculty of Theology’s centenary celebrations, this chapter contemplates selected highlights of the past and intends to discover the avenues of future vistas through current acad…
Antithesis between יִרְאֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה and רְשׁעָ֔יִם
This article demonstrates the vindictive tone of Malachi s final sermon by highlighting the amazing reversal of fortunes of the righteous and shocking end of the wicked. Such a reversal or antithesis this article proposes, serves as a climax to the literary motif and artistic brilliance of reversal noticeable in the book of Malachi. The substance of Malachi s message is that of triumph of Yahweh s justice over obvious inequalities of life. Malach…
Marriage and divorce in Malachi 2
The family is the bedrock that forms the indispensable foundation for discipleship. It was instituted by the Creator as his primary setting for human development and nurture (Gn 2:18 25; Ps 68:5, 6). Thus the crisis involving marriage and the family is indeed a cultural crisis of the first order. Social life quite simply cannot function effectively without the family. Whilst according to Flowers and Flowers: Christian families face the challenge …
An exegetical analysis of the vision of peace in the Book of Isaiah (2
The vision in Isaiah 2:1 5 of nations streaming to Zion in the days to come to receive Yahweh s Torah is one of the best-known texts in the entire Book of Isaiah. The chapter begins with the description of Yahweh, the universal Judge, who issues effective decrees and exercises authority over the earth from atop Mount Zion. The standards for the nations relationships amongst themselves are set by Yahweh. The nations will learn peace and practice p…
Die een wat sal kom
The one who is to come: Messianic texts in the Old Testament and other Jewish writingsAccording to the New-Testament authors, the life of Jesus, as Christ, should be seen in light of the Old-Testament texts. It seems that all the messianic texts in the Old Testament had been fulfilled in Jesus. The Messiah, who had been expected for a long time, was born in Bethlehem. This interpretation by the New-Testament authors has caused the church and Chri…
Some notes on writing a commentary
I was requested by the editors of the Historical Commentary on the Old Testament (HCOT) to contribute two volumes on Isaiah in this series. This present article, however, focuses only on volume I: Isaiah 1-12. The aim of this article can be summarised in six points. Some introductory remarks are made with regard to the genre of commentary writing. Secondly, the viewpoint of the HCOT series is outlined; in other words its methodological and episte…
Psalms 69
The Psalter has very often been regarded as the prayer book of the poor. In the Psalms God is portrayed as the saviour of the poor, their hope, their stronghold and liberator – whether these are prayers of an individual or prayers of the community. The high concentration of the term(s) for the “poor” in the Psalter, in relation to the rest of the books of the Old Testament (OT), indeed indicates a profound affinity for the “poor” in the Psalter ,…
Drink met vreugde uit die liefdesfontein! - ’n Ou-Testamentiese perspektief op menslike seksualiteit
In this article the author discusses the fact that being sexual is part of being human. The Old Testament quite frankly acknowledges this important aspect of our humanity. It unapologetically depicts men and women as physical and sexual creatures – not only as spiritual, rational and moral beings. Surveying what the Old Testament says about human sexuality can remind us that the more things change (and they certainly have changed a lot!), the mor…
Theology chronicle
This theology chronicle proceeds from the Marcionite idea of the cruel God of the Old Testament. This idea today is still well and alive with church members, and even with students of Biblical Studies and Theology. The author then takes the reader on a short journey through some of the most sublime love texts in the Old Testament, portraying Yahweh (the God of Israel) as a loving father and even as a loving mother/wife. The article concludes with…
The “book of life” (Psalm 69
The image “book of life” is mentioned expressis verbis in Psalm 69:29a. The supplicant appeals to God to erase his enemies from the “book of life”. The aim of this paper is to elaborate on this image. Quite varied notions can be distinguished in this regard: firstly, the idea of the lists of the citizenry and secondly, the image of the heavenly book. Furthermore, three types of “heavenly books” can be distinguished, namely (1) the book of fate; (…
An exegetical analysis of the vision of peace in the Book of Isaiah (2
The vision in Isaiah 2:1 5 of nations streaming to Zion in the days to come to receive Yahweh s Torah is one of the best-known texts in the entire Book of Isaiah. The chapter begins with the description of Yahweh, the universal Judge, who issues effective decrees and exercises authority over the earth from atop Mount Zion. The standards for the nations relationships amongst themselves are set by Yahweh. The nations will learn peace and practice p…
Antithesis between יִרְאֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה and רְשׁעָ֔יִם
This article demonstrates the vindictive tone of Malachi s final sermon by highlighting the amazing reversal of fortunes of the righteous and shocking end of the wicked. Such a reversal or antithesis this article proposes, serves as a climax to the literary motif and artistic brilliance of reversal noticeable in the book of Malachi. The substance of Malachi s message is that of triumph of Yahweh s justice over obvious inequalities of life. Malach…
Some notes on writing a commentary
I was requested by the editors of the Historical Commentary on the Old Testament (HCOT) to contribute two volumes on Isaiah in this series. This present article, however, focuses only on volume I: Isaiah 1-12. The aim of this article can be summarised in six points. Some introductory remarks are made with regard to the genre of commentary writing. Secondly, the viewpoint of the HCOT series is outlined; in other words its methodological and episte…
The “book of life” (Psalm 69
The image “book of life” is mentioned expressis verbis in Psalm 69:29a. The supplicant appeals to God to erase his enemies from the “book of life”. The aim of this paper is to elaborate on this image. Quite varied notions can be distinguished in this regard: firstly, the idea of the lists of the citizenry and secondly, the image of the heavenly book. Furthermore, three types of “heavenly books” can be distinguished, namely (1) the book of fate; (…
Drink met vreugde uit die liefdesfontein! - ’n Ou-Testamentiese perspektief op menslike seksualiteit
In this article the author discusses the fact that being sexual is part of being human. The Old Testament quite frankly acknowledges this important aspect of our humanity. It unapologetically depicts men and women as physical and sexual creatures – not only as spiritual, rational and moral beings. Surveying what the Old Testament says about human sexuality can remind us that the more things change (and they certainly have changed a lot!), the mor…
Theology chronicle
This theology chronicle proceeds from the Marcionite idea of the cruel God of the Old Testament. This idea today is still well and alive with church members, and even with students of Biblical Studies and Theology. The author then takes the reader on a short journey through some of the most sublime love texts in the Old Testament, portraying Yahweh (the God of Israel) as a loving father and even as a loving mother/wife. The article concludes with…
Psalms 69
The Psalter has very often been regarded as the prayer book of the poor. In the Psalms God is portrayed as the saviour of the poor, their hope, their stronghold and liberator – whether these are prayers of an individual or prayers of the community. The high concentration of the term(s) for the “poor” in the Psalter, in relation to the rest of the books of the Old Testament (OT), indeed indicates a profound affinity for the “poor” in the Psalter ,…
Some notes on writing a commentary
I was requested by the editors of the Historical Commentary on the Old Testament (HCOT) to contribute two volumes on Isaiah in this series. This present article, however, focuses only on volume I: Isaiah 1-12. The aim of this article can be summarised in six points. Some introductory remarks are made with regard to the genre of commentary writing. Secondly, the viewpoint of the HCOT series is outlined; in other words its methodological and episte…
Die een wat sal kom
The one who is to come: Messianic texts in the Old Testament and other Jewish writingsAccording to the New-Testament authors, the life of Jesus, as Christ, should be seen in light of the Old-Testament texts. It seems that all the messianic texts in the Old Testament had been fulfilled in Jesus. The Messiah, who had been expected for a long time, was born in Bethlehem. This interpretation by the New-Testament authors has caused the church and Chri…
An exegetical analysis of the vision of peace in the Book of Isaiah (2
The vision in Isaiah 2:1 5 of nations streaming to Zion in the days to come to receive Yahweh s Torah is one of the best-known texts in the entire Book of Isaiah. The chapter begins with the description of Yahweh, the universal Judge, who issues effective decrees and exercises authority over the earth from atop Mount Zion. The standards for the nations relationships amongst themselves are set by Yahweh. The nations will learn peace and practice p…
Marriage and divorce in Malachi 2
The family is the bedrock that forms the indispensable foundation for discipleship. It was instituted by the Creator as his primary setting for human development and nurture (Gn 2:18 25; Ps 68:5, 6). Thus the crisis involving marriage and the family is indeed a cultural crisis of the first order. Social life quite simply cannot function effectively without the family. Whilst according to Flowers and Flowers: Christian families face the challenge …
Antithesis between יִרְאֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה and רְשׁעָ֔יִם
This article demonstrates the vindictive tone of Malachi s final sermon by highlighting the amazing reversal of fortunes of the righteous and shocking end of the wicked. Such a reversal or antithesis this article proposes, serves as a climax to the literary motif and artistic brilliance of reversal noticeable in the book of Malachi. The substance of Malachi s message is that of triumph of Yahweh s justice over obvious inequalities of life. Malach…
Old Testament Studies at the University of Pretoria
In a short historical overview of the academic and social contributions of the Department of OTS at the UP over the past century (1917–2017), this chapter provides a limited picture of how the department has contributed to academia, church and society. In this year of the Faculty of Theology’s centenary celebrations, this chapter contemplates selected highlights of the past and intends to discover the avenues of future vistas through current acad…
‘And it shall come to pass on that day, the Lord will whistle for the fly which is at the end of the water channels of Egypt, and for the bee which is in the land of Assyria’ (Is 7
In this article the impact of the Covid-19 virus will be used as a lens to read this Isaianic text. The collective threat of the corona-virus causes trauma on societies and communities on different levels: psychological, physical, existential and communal trauma. Isaiah 7:18–25 also tells us of an historic event which caused extreme trauma to its audience. Verse 18 describes the arrival of the Assyrian army. The prophet compares the Assyrian host…
Towards a Theology of Migration
The aim of this paper is to turn the lens towards the pre-migration and resilience processes within the context of the imminent forced migration as found in Isaiah 1-12. The article addresses not only the matter of pre-migration and collective trauma but also the ensuing resilience and hope that is embedded in the text. Understanding the concepts that underpin premigration to trauma and hope, the authors have engaged Isaiah 1-12, which present su…
A Trauma Reading of Isaiah 1–12 from the “Unity Movement” Perspective
In this contribution we focus firstly on the “unity movement” which has changed the face of Isaianic studies over the last 30 or more years, having been characterised by the Duhmian interpretation of three separate books for nearly 100 years. The unity movement focusses on the book of Isaiah as a literary unity, but it does not deny the historical growth of this literary masterpiece which took place over centuries. Secondly, we give a brief overv…
Unveiling the depths of trauma and the profound impact of rape and shaming on the Babylonian women in Isaiah 13
The book of Isaiah is one of the world’s oldest surviving resistance literature. Isaiah 13 describes God who collects an army for the battle against Babylon which will lead to Babylon’s utter desolation and destruction. Isaiah 13:16 deeply shocks the reader when it states that the wives of the Babylonians shall be raped and ravished by the men of this marching army. A literary, contextual, and historical methodology will be applied. Integrated in…
Biblical Studies and Interpretation (13 works) · Philosophy (12 works) · Philosophy (10 works) · Art (9 works) · Theology (9 works) · History (8 works) · Law (8 works) · Law (8 works) · Literature (8 works) · Old Testament (7 works)