This accessible guide to the Gospel and Letters of John introduces readers to key issues arising from historical, literary, and theological approaches to the Johannine literature, also discussing the methodological rationale underlying each of these approaches. After introducing the reader to the development of the narrative structure of the book, the message (theology) is discussed in detail, with the aim of introducing the reader to the interrelatedness of the multiple theological ideas in this Gospel. Similarities, but also differences between the Gospel and Letters are constantly considered. Familiar with the content of the Gospel, readers are then confronted with questions about the origin, development and socio-cultural nature of the Gospel and letters. In each case the scholarly field is briefly reviewed and major solutions are discussed. Thorough discussions on different issues are presented in different chapters, each time referring to the relevant methodological approaches. How do the Gospel and Letters relate to the synoptics, or the Old Testament? Do we have a Gospel composed of multiple sources or is it a seamless document. How was this influential document written and where do the ideas found in the Gospel come from? Since the aim of this book is to form a solid and comprehensive basis for future study of the Johannine literature, readers are placed firmly within the scholarly currents and streams of the Johannine literature. In terms of a metaphor: after reading the book, explorers will know what is out there and why. Now they can start to dig deeper for themselves without feeling lost in an uncharted land.

No annotated bibliography on the research on Johannine literature in Africa exists. This means that no proper overview of Johannine research in Africa is available. This article (as part 2 of a broader analysis) fills that lacunae by presenting a comprehensive bibliography of research done on John in Africa (combined with a proper analysis in part 1). It classifies the available research according to major topics and presents the publications in chronological order under each topic.Johannese navorsing in Afrika, deel 2: ’n Geannoteerde bibliografie. Daar bestaan geen geannoteerde bibliografie van die Johanneïese navorsing in Afrika niewat beteken dat Johannese navorsers geen behoorlike oorsig met betrekking tot bestaande navorsing het nie. Hierdie artikel (as die tweede aflewering van ’n meer omvattende analise) wil daardie leemte vul deur ’n omvattende bibliografie van die Johannese navorsing in Afrika aan te bied (gekombineer met ’n deeglike analise in deel 1). Die navorsing word volgens hooftemas geklassifiseer en chronologies onder elke tema aangebied.

The relation between the Old Testament and the New Testament salvation historically considered
The way in which the early Christians approached the Old Testament in the light of the Christ event is first investigated. On theological, soteriological and historical level a strong relationship between the two Testaments was acknowledged. This relationship can be defined further in terms of fulfilment, continuity and discontinuity. As the coming of Christ was soteriologically determinative, the status of modern man in this respect is the same as that of the early Christians. In continuity with the early Christians who today can also read the Old Testament in the light of fulfilment, continuity and discontinuity which characterises the theological, soteriological and historical relationship between the Testaments

Vanaf die volksplanting in 1652 vir meer as tweehonderd jaar sou daar net één kerk onder die Hollands- en later die Afrikaanssprekende deel van die Suid-Afrikaanse bevoIking wees. Net na die helfte van die negentiende eeu verskyn daar egter 'n diversiteit op die Afrikaner se kerklike kaart: daar bestaan voortaan drie Afrikaanse kerke te wete, die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk, die Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika en die Gereformeerde Kerk in Suid-Afrika.

Actuality? The Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa in the light of the situation in Germany
The social and religious developments in Germany show certain clear tendencies. Secularism as well as the resulting focus on human and individual rights have influenced the relevance of the church in a specific way. These developments also had a profound influence on the morality of society. Since the same type of developments are currently taking place in South Africa, certain suggestions are made regarding the relevance of the Dutch Reformed Church in such a changing society in the light of what can be learnt from the situation in Germany