The text of Ezra-Nehemiah relects a severe conlict situaion in post-exilic Judaean society. However, the text is unclear about crucial issues such as the identity of the parties involved, the aims of the different parties, and even the roots of the conlict. A close analysis of the text reveals that what is portrayed as an external conlict clearly has a serious internal dimension too. The heart of the conlict lies not so much in disputes over land and building rights, but rather in the central issue of access to the community of returned exiles.

Professor Adrianus van Seims An eulogy in honour of the late Professor A van Seims (1906-1984), who filled the chair of Semitic Languages at the University of Pretoria from 1948 to 1971. It is an introduction to Volume 41, 2 (1985) of the Hervormie Teologiese Studies?, journal of the Faculty of Theology (Section A) at the University of Pretoria. The specific Number is entitled Dedicata Adrianus van Seims. The articles concerned are contributions of some of his postgraduated students who lecture Semitic Languages or Old and New Testament at South African universities. The eulogy contains a review of the life and work of Professor Van Seims as well as a complete list of his publications.

This article investigates the way Christian norms and values can be realised in the context of education and training. The article starts with a survey of the ways in which, in the previous political dispensation, Christian norms and values were incorporated in career training, in tertiary education and in the programmes of primary and secondary schools. Education and training, however, now have to operate in a new environment, which will be greatly determined by the Bill of Human Rights in the new constitution, the Reconstruction and Development Plan and the White Paper on Education and Training. After examining the implications of this new environment the article concludes by identifying opportunities for actively furthering Christian norms and values within the new environment of education and training in South Africa.

The contribution that Professor Pieter M. Venter has made to the study of the Old Testament during his academic and ecclesiastic career is reviewed. After a brief biographical introduction, the article surveys the development of his research interests, focusing specifically on his contributions to the study of wisdom literature, narratives and narratology, second temple literature, the formation of the canon, and Old Testament Theology. The review concludes with reference to his way of practising critical theology, taking full cognisance of research into the linguistic, historical critical, narratological and ideological aspects of Old Testament texts, but always with a sensitivity for the needs of the church as interpretive community.

<strong>The current debate on Biblical interpretation – a short review and application</strong><br />The article offers a review of important aspects of Biblical interpretation discussed in four recent books published in Afrikaans by prominent theologians Dirkie Smit, Gerrie Snyman, Gert Malan and Klaus Nürnberger. In the light of challenges to the traditional dogmas of the church and new ethical questions posed by a changing world, factors giving rise to conflict over Biblical interpretation are discussed. A number of untenable approaches to modern day Biblical interpretation are outlined, followed by a discussion of aspects of Biblical interpretation that have become more and more important. These insights are then applied to the current debate on Biblical interpretation within the Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa. The article is concluded with a plea for continued concerted efforts to search for valid Biblical interpretation.<p><strong>How to cite this article:</strong> Van Wyk, W.C., 2011, ‘Aktuele Bybelinterpretasie in Suid-Afrika – ’n kort oorsig en toepassing’, <em>HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies</em> 67(3), Art. #1161, 7 pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/hts.v67i3.1161</p>