This article deals with the history of the Department of New Testament Studies at the University of Pretoria from 1938 to 2008. The focus falls on the permanent staff members and their contributions during this period. The article begins with a discussion of the life and career of Prof. E.P. Groenewald. It then proceeds to the more difficult time of cultural boycotts, with Profs A.B.

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The term “anti-Semitism” is in fact a misnomer, since it implies antipathy towards all people of Semitic origin. Not all conflicts between Jews and non-Jews should be seen as due to anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism is still very alive today and needs to be constantly monitored and exposed. However, ancient anti-Semitism should not be studied through the lenses of our modern perceptions. Anti-Jewish trends seem to have originally developed in the Diaspora, more specifically in Egypt. In the period up to 150 B.C. an anti-Semitic attitude still manifested itself very sporadically. In the following period it increased considerably and gradually and became more internationalized. Evidence of anti-Semitic feelings and attitudes is found in Egypt, Babylonia, Palestine, Syria, Asia Minor and Rome.

The taceat mulier of 1 Cor 14:34-35 revisited. Discussions of the role of women in the church's ministry, as well as feminist attacks on Paul, require that the debate on 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 should continue. The latest attempt to solve the clash between 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 and 14:34-35 by text-critical means is discussed and various harmonizing efforts are criticized. Also the expedient of putting the taceat in the mouth of an opposing party is found unconvincing. Paul's theology and especially his view of women in the ministry, indicate that 1 Corinthians 14:33b-36 should be viewed as a post-Pauline interpolation. The development of the different textual traditions was quite complex and includes various kinds of redactional activity. Ironical as it may seem, the identification of 1 Corinthians 33b-36 as a post-Pauline insertion brings us nearer to the original Pauline text than mere external text-critical considerations. However, the always imminent danger of subjectivity requires that this procedure be applied with great circumspection and only as a last option.

The causes of anti-Semitism in ancient paganism in and around the New Testament period In this article the causes of ancient anti-Semitism are investigated. This is not a mere academic quest, since some of these factors may still be relevant today. After discussing some methodological pitfalls, various causes are identified, some of which were limited to specific areas. Where the balance of power was felt to be in jeopardy, groups reacted strongly. Ensuing clashes aggravated the resentment and caused anti-Semitism to become still more deeply engrained in the collective memory. In Alexandria economic rivalry probably was a factor. In Rome Jewish propagandistic zeal and Roman pride influenced attitudes. The Egyptian vilification implying that the Jewish nation originally was contaminated by a disease, further negativized attitudes. However, the main causes of anti-Semitism were of a sociological and religious nature. These two causes are related, but at its deepest level ancient anti-Semitism was the price the Jewish people paid for its refusal to compromise its religious convictions and unique identity. In how far the causes of modern anti-Semitism overlap with those of antiquity should be investigated on its own.