Journal index

Székely József7 -- 28

Die Apostelgeschichte ist eine Missionsgeschichte, die sich von Jerusalem ausgehend bis zur Hauptstadt des Römischen Reiches erstreckt. Der Rede des Paulus am Aeropag kommt eine besondere Stellung sowohl in Buch als auch in der Missionstätigkeit des Paulus zu. Es ist bemerkenswert, wie der Apostel auf seine Zuhörer achtet und sich ihnen bis zu einem gewissen Grad anpasst. Er sucht voller Phantasie und findet die Nische in der Denkwelt und Religion der griechischen Philosophie,durch welche das Licht des Evangeliums einziehen kann.

Református Szemle 107.1 (2014)Research articleNew Testament
Bardócz-Tódor András29 -- 35

The astronomical part of the Ethiopian Book of Enoch refers to an interesting phenomenon, namely the length of the longest day of the year. This data is particularly significant in localising this astronomical observation on the world map. Since the length of the year’s longest day depends on geographical latitude, this data could hint at the latitude of the place, i.e. the approximate geographical location where the Book of Enoch may have been composed. A closer analysis of this reference surprisingly reveals that this place should be looked for somewhere near to latitude 50○, that is far to the north from Palestine.

Református Szemle 107.1 (2014)Research articleOld Testament, Judaica
Adorjáni Zoltán36 -- 48

Amióta bekövetkezett az 1989-es fordulat és ezzel kétségtelenül elkezdődött erdélyi és királyhágómelléki egyházkerületünk történelmének újabb szakasza, azóta egyre többet beszélünk egyházi jövőképünk szükségességéről a jócskán megváltozott és gyors ütemben folyton változó politikai, gazdasági és szociológiai viszonyok láttán. De vajon mi ösztönöz egyházi jövőképünk megrajzolására? Ezt a kérdést azért kell feltennünk, mert egyházi jövőképünk aszerint rajzolódik meg, hogy mi az ösztönzés forrása.

Református Szemle 107.1 (2014)Research articlePractical theology
Magyar Balázs Dávid49 -- 78

In the early period of the Reformation, this multifaceted radical movement divided the Protestantism into two theological camps. To magisterial reformers (Zwingly, Luther, Calvin), the task of the reformation was not only to remove impurities but to maintain continuity. Anabaptist reformers, on the other hand, saw the task of the reformation as a necessity for a new church modelled not on Catholicism before Boniface (as Luther considered) but on the church before Constantine, or even on the New Testament.

Református Szemle 107.1 (2014)Research articleSystematic theology
Buzogány Dezső79 -- 83

The Communist Party has always been antagonistic to the Churches, having different ideology. The main purpose of the Communist regime after the Second World War was the complete annihilation of all kinds of Churches. This plan was to be carried out by the Secret Police, called the Securitate. In 1960, the two bishops of the two Hungarian Reformed Church Districts in Romania passed away. This was a major opportunity for the Securitate to unify the two Church Districts as a first step, and to waste away the Church, as the second step. They intended to carry out this plan by in-stalling their loyal informers in the highest church position of the unified church. The plan was abandoned after two new bishops were elected. In the Transylvanian Reformed Church District, Nagy Gyula became the bishop. He had had no contact at all with the Securitate before his nominalization; he considered himself a second rank person and not good enough in fulfilling the highest position.

Református Szemle 107.1 (2014)Research articleChurch history
Adorjáni Zoltán109 -- 116

25. Szegedi Nemzetközi Biblikus Konferencia, Coetus Theologorum, A Kolozsvári Protestáns Teológia konferenciája a Heidelbergi Káté 450 éves jubileuma alkalmából Díszdoktorkat avattak a Debreceni Református Hittudományi Egyetemen, A Kolozsvári Protestáns Teológia és a Gyulafehérvári Római Katolikus Kar és Papnevelő Intézet tanárainak szimpóziuma

Református Szemle 107.1 (2014)ReportVarious
Csűry István127 -- 128Református Szemle 107.2 (2014)AnnouncementSystematic theology, Church history, Spirituality
Pálfi József133 -- 148

Our chronological study reflects on how the Reformed typography of Nagyvárad, being affiliated with the Reformed Church, enriched our catechism bibliography. In this respect, there were four remarkable periods in the printing history of Nagyvárad city. This paper deals with (1) the Hoffhalter era in the mid-16th century, (2) the period of Ábrahám Szenczi Kertész, between 1640 and 1660, (3) the first half of the 20th century, the Károly Béres era, and (4) the period since 1990.

Református Szemle 107.2 (2014)Research articleChurch history
Lévai Attila149 -- 159

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the use of catechisms in the history of the Reformed Christian Church in Slovakia. On the occasion of the 450th jubilee of the Heidelberg Catechism, this paper describes – without aiming to completeness – how these writings have been used in teaching from 1920 to the present day.

Református Szemle 107.2 (2014)Research articleChurch history
Zalatnay István160 -- 168

The first from the altogether three parts essay offers an analysis of the structure and inner logical dynamism of the Heidelberg Catechism, the symbolic document of the Re-formed church. The analysis demonstrates in a series of four concentric circles, how each of these represents a certain historically verifiable perception of the Christian faith.The first and one represents an individualistic approach, understood as the key conceptof the then beginning modernity, based on the soteriological logic of my sin, my salvation and my gratefulness. The second one introduces the essence of the theological “correction” by the Reformation, emphasising grace and faith as the determining factors. The third one is the Apostolic Creed with its clear Trinitarian, ie. theological and ontological structure. The fourth one is a simple presentation of the core of the holy history, the Christ-event. The paper understands the Catechism as a grandiose attempt to lead the individually centred man back to God on a road beginning from the first and outermost circle to the last one, so to say to the feet of Christ.

Református Szemle 107.2 (2014)Research articleChurch history, Hymnology
Ballai Zoltán169 -- 193

The purpose of this paper is to present and to sum up the results of a historical and theological research into the use of the Heidelberg Catechism in Transylvania. It focuses on those commentaries on the Heidelberg Catechism which have never been printed because of various reasons, but are still in use for almost two centuries in the schools and pulpits of the Church. Most of the manuscripts mentioned in this study –mainly from 17th-18th century – have never been extensively researched. The current analysis aims to classify the various types of commentaries written in different historical circumstances and based on different argumentations. Moreover, it also gives a taste – as it serves as a basis for a broader research – of the colourful insights into the rightly appreciated Heidelberg Catechism and its explanations.

Református Szemle 107.2 (2014)Research articleChurch history
Hermán M. János194 -- 236

Anläßlich des 450. Jubiläums des Heidelberger Katechismus schreiben wir über den Katechetischen Hausschatz. Das deutsche Original, dessen Verfasser Christoph Staehelin war,wurde 1724 in Basel herausgegeben. Der Übersetzer Ferenc Tatai Csirke, der spätere Bischof von Debrecen, hat das Werk wahrscheinlich während seines Auslandsstudiums in Bern kennen- und schätzen gelernt. Sein Name wird allerdings in keiner der zwei Ausgaben genannt (Erstausgabe: 1752, Kolozsvár – Klausenburg und 1805 in Pest undPozsony – Pressburg), weil es in der Zeit der Gegenreformation nicht ratsam war, die Autorenschaft preiszugeben. Die Zulassung stammt sogar von János Lukács Borosnyai,dem reformierten Superintendenten von Siebenbürgen. Er empfiehlt es als das beste Lehrbuch zur Ausübung der Pietät. Nach ihm hätten auch die Autoren des Heidelberger Katechismus keine bessere Auslegung bieten können. Seit der Generalsynode zu Klausenburg 1774 ist er fester Teil der Liturgie geworden: während der nachmittäglichen Katechismus gottesdienste wurden Ausschnitte aus ihm vorgelesen.

Református Szemle 107.2 (2014)Research articleChurch history
Jenei Péter247 -- 262

In Israel’s theological understanding the idea that YHWH is a God, who makes promises, is a rather central element. Among the numerous promises of YHWH there is none as influential to Israel’s self-understanding as the promise of the occupation of the land of Canaan. The theme of the Promised Land is prominent from the beginning to the end of the Old Testament theological thought. The development of the theology of the Promised Land in the Old Testament – from promise to inheritance and from losing to regaining it – raises the relevant question: In what sense was the promise of the Land fulfilled in the Old Testament? Or to put it another way: In what sense did the ancient Israelites inherit the Promised Land? The purpose of this paper is to study the topic of the promise of the Land from a historical, source-critical point of view, in order to understand the development and changing theological perspectives in this central theological theme of the Old Testament.

Református Szemle 107.3 (2014)Research articleOld Testament
Makkai Péter263 -- 277

In the current study we present the conclusions of a research conducted in 2012 investigating the attitude of Reformed communities in Sf. Gheorghe towards people with disabilities. It is obvious that Reformed congregations are insufficiently informed about the situation and the possibilities of people living with disabilities. Disabled people are absent from the congregations and their integration into the community is still a problem to be solved. By presenting the current regrettable situation, we would like to sensitise the Reformed congregations and en-courage them to take initiatives for the amelioration of the situation.

Református Szemle 107.3 (2014)Research articlePractical theology
Magyar Balázs Dávid278 -- 302

This paper focuses on the early period of the reformer’s ministration, who was a very learned teacher, pastor and theologian at Geneva and Strasbourg. In these places he implemented his theological and ethical convictions against the destructive works of the Anabaptist radicals. Due to the persistently growing popularity of their heretical ideas concerning Christian baptism, church discipline, the Lord’s Supper, separation from the world, civil authority, and oaths, after the publication of his so called Psychopannychia (1534) and the Institutes (1536), Calvin had to continue his polemic fight against the left wing of the reformation. It is by no means surprising that Calvin’s works of 1537–1544 – for instance The Genevan Confession and Catechism,The Articles and the Brief Instruction for Arming all the Good Faithful against the Errors of the Common Sect of the Anabaptists – are full of religious and moral refutations opposing those whose beliefs were based on the “hated” articles of Confessio Schlattensis.

Református Szemle 107.3 (2014)Research articleSystematic theology
Hermán M. János303 -- 333

This sermon of the famous professor, based on the text of John 14:1, is hardly familiar for readers of Hungarian theological literature. However, it is known that a Hungarian summary was made at the time the sermon was held, and once published, an exact translation of the German text was made. Our aim is to review Barth’s visit to Oradea (Nagyvárad) on 7–8 October 1936, to revisit the above mentioned sermon, as well as the short interview with Barth that was published in one of the local newspapers at that time. This interview reflects Barth’s prophetic vision: Bolshevism and fascism must retreat at the sight of Christian faith. There is no trace of this conversation in the Barth-bibliographies, although this interview is still crucial,even after 78 years.

Református Szemle 107.3 (2014)Research articleSystematic theology, Church history
Graaf G. Henk van de334 -- 344

In the year 1859 the French Alphonse Esquiros made this remark in his itinerary: “Holland is one of the most religious countries of the earth; the Bible is really popular there.” In my lecture I outline the history of the personal and family reading of the Bible in the Netherlands during the last 5 centuries, including the current situation.Notable new research showed that in the Late Middle Ages in urban regions, in Holland as well, the Bible was spread in the national languages in wide circles of the society and was read among literate laymen. The Reformation built on this broadly recognisable interest or even hunger for the knowledge of the Bible. With the help of the newly discovered technique of printing and school teaching, and due to the fundamental reorientation of religious life through the Reformation – the Christian faith having only one source: the Bible – an intensive personal and family reading of the Bible began.

Református Szemle 107.3 (2014)Research articleChurch history
Deák Angéla-Vilma367 -- 388

Walter Jens, die hervorragende Gestalt des deutschen literarischen und kulturellen Lebens weist in seiner vielseitigen Tätigkeit eine reiche Verbindung zwischen Theologie und Literatur auf. In dieser Studie möchten wir ihn von einer speziellen Seite vorstellen und zwar anhand sei-ner Tätigkeit als Bibelübersetzer. Welchen Quellen, Methoden und welchem Stil folgt er in seiner Übersetzung und warum? Gelingt sein Anliegen, das Hörerlebnis der ersten Jesus-Anhänger authentisch durch seine Übersetzung uns heute zu vermitteln? Welche Verbindung hat er mit der Übersetzung von dem großen Vorfahren Luther?

Református Szemle 107.4 (2014)Research articleNew Testament
Buzogány Dezső389 -- 402

In our Church ecclesiastical elections are organised once every six year. At the level of church district the bishop, at the level of the dioceses the person and functionality of the dean are crucial. Therefore, not only the pastors and deacons should be given special training but also the ecclesiastical superiors. The leaders are often unsuitable for the position, which can have very damaging consequences. The temptation of power and money can be dangerous. We must seek to ensure that the Spirit of God guides the church elections.

Református Szemle 107.4 (2014)Research articlePractical theology
Papp Zsolt403 -- 413

Reinhold Niebuhr’s view about the ethics of Jesus is a classic presentation of the tension between the love ethic and the hard requirements of relative justice in the power conflicts of a sinful world. His theory could be a guide for Christians in our society today, tomorrow and for many years to come.

Református Szemle 107.4 (2014)Research articleSystematic theology
Simon János414 -- 430

After World War II many questions were raised by the „generation of sons” to their fathers regarding the war. There was an urgent need to cope with the past somehow. In this past elaboration the voice of the victims was worth to listen to and forgiveness of the aggressors became a major question of the society. This article was born from a study of western forgiveness-discussions and presents the Hungarian forgiveness-ethos after the end of the Great War and the big changes of 1989. More precisely it presents some of the reasons why the subject of forgiveness was lacking in Hungarian reformed theology. Shortly after the trauma of the Great War pax sovietica arrived. There was no time to distance oneself enough from the harms of the previous period and to raise and develop a public discussion on subjects like forgiveness and reconciliation because new traumas had to be faced.There was no time to cope with the past of the war, and there was no possibility (because it was not allowed) to speak out those harms until the end of the communist regime.Due to the special geopolitical situation of Eastern Europe, the isolation from western theology and with country-borders divided, Hungarian reformed theology has developed into two different directions. In Hungary the “theology of the serving church” became the unison voice of the church, while in Transylvania, building on the foundation of “new reformation theology”, a special Word-theology was born and developed into a pan-homiletic direction. Homiletics became the crown of theological studies, and every study of theology (historical, biblical, systematic and practical) had to offer some results for preaching.

Református Szemle 107.4 (2014)Research articleSystematic theology
Kolumbán Vilmos József432 -- 444

I am aware that József Benkő’s manifold and diversified work cannot be summarised in a few pages without omissions. I have presented only the events through which this son of Erdővidék, who had never studied at a foreign academy, became internationally famous as a domidoctus. He has proven that, if endowed with the necessary perseverance, respect for work and humility as a scientist, one can become a well-known scholar living even in areas as remote as Erdővidék.

Református Szemle 107.4 (2014)Research articleChurch history
Balogh Béla453 -- 455Református Szemle 107.4 (2014)ReviewOld Testament, New Testament
Makkai Péter481 -- 503

The integration of people with disabilities is one of the often emerging issues on various forums of the modern democratic society. Governments, local authorities, churches and civil society try to do their best in order to integrate people with disabilities within the educational system, cultural and social life, as well as employment. In the public opinion these efforts are linked with the modern concept of democratic values, equal opportunities and human dignity. It is interesting to see how important the role of disability was in the relationship with the Lord in the narratives about the patriarchs and the elected people of Israel. In the present study we follow the trace the stories of the patriarchs and prophets to find out how disability influenced their life and election.

Református Szemle 107.5 (2014)Research articleOld Testament, Spirituality
Tunyogi Lehel504 -- 512

This article presents some specific – mainly linguistic – challenges that a minister living and working in the Transylvanian Reformed diasporas has to face.

Református Szemle 107.5 (2014)Research articlePractical theology
Ledán M. István513 -- 531

In 1519 Erasmus of Rotterdam wrote in a letter to Jacob Hoogstraeten: “If to be a Christian is to hate Jews, then we are all thoroughly Christian.” Our aim is to examine whether this sentence is in any way relevant – evidently under the changed circumstances – in the Transylvanian (Hungarian) Reformed Church. We show that the main cause of occasional anti-Semitism is the anti-Semitic heritage of Christian Church, particularly the anti-Semitic heritage of Protestantism. After facing this heritage, we shape the theological, moral and psychological risks of anti-Semitism / anti-Judaism. We conclude with Walter Brueggemann’s suggestion that the Christian-Jewish relationship needs to be rethought from time to time.

Református Szemle 107.5 (2014)Research articleSystematic theology
Hermán M. János532 -- 569

This study discusses the connections between Kálmán Sass (1904–1958) and the Welti family during the communism in Romania. Kálmán Sass served as a Reformed pastor in Mezőtelegd (1933–1936) and Érmihályfalva (1936–1957). The recently discovered autobiography of Sass reveals the new circumstances from 1942 onwards, and helps to rethink misinterpreted turns in the life and oeuvre of the martyr pastor. During the communist dictatorship in Romania his books and essays were withdrawn from libraries, his name was not even allowed to be mentioned. The bibliography in this study includes various articles of Sass, which disclose his theological and political thinking as a representative of a generation that had had the opportunity to study in Basel, Strasburg and Zürich. The show trial of Kálmán Sass and other anti-communists throughout Partium, following the 1956 Revolution of Hungary is elaborated upon. Sass was executed at Szamosújvár (Gherla, Romania) on December 2, 1958. He has never been rehabilitated. Historian Zoltán Tófalvi concludes: “Of the assassinations, atrocities and wholesale reprisals – ordered by the communist party after the Second World War – we have only piecemeal knowledge in which there are large gaps even now. Many do not even believe that the dictatorship’s executioners carried all this out with such brutality and sadistic pleasure”. The Welti family in Basel and the theological relations in Switzerland between the two world wars were of great importance. In the famous book of Vilmos Balaskó, Life under the ground, we find some information about the Welti family. The discovery of the notebook of Bertha Welti provides us with new and valuable information regarding the church’s history in Eastern Europe.

Református Szemle 107.5 (2014)Research articleChurch history