Authors & Affiliations: Hsieh L.-C.L., Holy Light Theological Seminary, Taiwan

Pages: 7 - 34

Abstract: This paper argues that Phil 2:6 is best understood-within the context of Greco-Roman political discourse, which is concerned, above all, with the sustainment of friendship and the elimination of greed. In Phil 2:6, Paul depicts Christ as one who refuses to overreach, but instead honors the equality between him and God. To have more than an equal share is an act of greed. To honor equality is an act of friendship. Philippians 2:6 thus depicts Christ as advocating friendship against greed. Paul's depiction of Christ fits well into the overall argument of Paul's Letter to the Philippians, through which he intends to promote friendship and concord against greed and stasis ("internal conflict"). Copyright © Chung Yuan Christian University.

Keywords: Concord; Equality; Friendship; Greed; Philippians

Authors & Affiliations: Tseng S.K., China Evangelical Seminary, Taiwan

Pages: 35 - 64

Abstract: This article examines Karl Barth's treatment of the theodicy problem in Church Dogmatics III/3, §50 ('God and nothingness'). By demonstrating how Barth develops his understanding of sin, evil, and death as "nothingness" on the basis of his Christocentric doctrine of election, this article contends that this term, often misunderstood as a meontological notion, is in fact a Christological-predestinarian notion that engages deeply and yet critically with Reformation and post-Reformation Reformed theology. For Barth, the term "nothingness" is his insistence on God's gracious election in Christ, part and parcel of which is God's absolute non-willing and rejection of the negative element that assails God's covenant-creature. With this term, he makes a concerted effort to avoid metaphysical rationalisation or explanation of nothingness. For this reason, he not only defies the theodicy problem with a Christus Victor, "Mozartean" attitude, but also he rejects theodicy projects as altogether unable to avoid natural-theological speculation about God's sovereignty and graciousness in abstract terms. Barth insists that true knowledge of nothingness is possible only in light of Christ's eternal and a priori triumph over it, as manifested in the event of the birth, death, and resurrection of the Son of God. It remains open to question, of course, whether Barth is always true to his fundamental conviction that nothingness has absolutely nothing to do with God, and to his avowed rejection of rational explanations of nothingness. Whatever the case, Barth's intention in treating sin, evil, and death as "nothingness" is to utter a metaphysical "I don't know" about the dark mystery, and, more importantly, a Christological "I know" about God's sovereign graciousness to the covenant-partner in Jesus Christ, thereby replacing theodicy with the category of witness. Copyright © Chung Yuan Christian University.

Keywords: Doctrine of election; Karl Barth; Nothingness; Problem of evil; Theodicy

Authors & Affiliations: Ka-Fu K.C., Department of Religion and Philosophy, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Pages: 65 - 96

Abstract: This paper, firstly, demonstrates the internal problem of Paul Tillich's theology in general and theological method in particular in shifting his logos Christology to Spirit-Christology. The motif "particularity-universality" as a key notion is not well-balance through the theological development. Secondly, this paper proposes that the doctrine of Trinity, well-articulated in Tillich's 1913 work and finds little attention in his mature work, provides a more fruitful and embracing symbol to release the tension and keep it in a dialectical way. Copyright © Chung Yuan Christian University.

Keywords: Method of correlation; Paul Tillich; Spirit-Christology; Theological circle; Trinity

Authors & Affiliations: Rouyan G., Department of Cultural and Religious Studies, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Pages: 97 - 122

Abstract: Keenan's The Gospel of Mark: A Mahāyāna Reading is an interreligious biblical interpretation with a comparative theological approach. The author presents a Buddhist contribution to Christian biblical hermeneutics from a perspective of Buddhist-Christian dialogue and proffers an attempt at integrating these two religious traditions. After presenting how Keenan conducts his Mahāyāna interpretation of the Gospel of Mark within the framework of two principal Indian Mahāyāna schools, namely Madhyamika and Yogācāra, this article attempts to give a critique and evaluation of Keenan's work. While there are some problems and limitations within Keenan's interpretations, future scholarship in Asian biblical studies and hermeneutics will be enriched by the inspiration of Keenan's Mahāyāna reading of Mark's Gospel. Copyright © Chung Yuan Christian University.

Keywords: Buddhist-Chtistian dialogue; Interreligious biblical interpretation; John keenan; Mahāyāna Buddhism; The Gospel of Mark

Authors & Affiliations: Li N., Department of Cultural and Religious Studies, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Pages: 123 - 160

Abstract: Adele M. Fielde (1839-1916), at one time an unmarried missionary of the American Baptist Mission Union (ABMU), was known in her old age as a writer, a social activist, a scientist and a champion of women's rights. She was famous for her work in training "Bible-women" (or female evangelists) between 1873-89 in Chaozhou prefecture in northeast Guangdong, South China. After laboring as a missionary teacher in the Orient for almost twenty-five years, Fielde resigned from missionary service in November 1889, insisting that her connection with the ABMU be ended permanently before her return to America. Current research looking at her final "divorce" from her missionary career offers an inadequate explanation for her actions. This paper seeks to revisit this question by focusing on the cultural and social difficulties Fielde encountered in Chaozhou. An examination of Fielde's diary, her personal correspondence (letters to and from the ABMU and friends), books, articles and pamphlets, along with her co-workers' correspondence and the records of the ABMU, reveal that the public reason Fielde gave for her resignation-heart disease-was solely for the public record; whereas in fact it was her changed religious beliefs and disappointment with mission work that were the two decisive factors prompting her resignation, in which there were also some clear gender inequality issues involved as well. Copyright © Chung Yuan Christian University.

Keywords: Adele M. Fielde; Bible-women; Chaozhou; Gender; Mission

Authors & Affiliations: Quan L., Centre for Chinese Public Administration Research, School of Government, Sun Yat-sen University, China; Yan Y., Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities, Boya (Liberal Arts) College, Sun Yat-sen University, China

Pages: 161 - 188

Abstract: This article explores the origin of the political idea of American federalism. By reviewing the distinctive approaches of Liberalism, Republicanism, and contemporary Federalism, we argued that the first two cannot offer a sufficient account While the third approach propedy identifies the kinship between federalism and the Judaeo-Christian tradition, it neglects the political dimension of the Puritans' covenant theory. This article thus proposes to refine the third approach in order to explore the religious origin of federalism. It is argued that, in term of individuals, since a believer was convinced of his covenantal identity as the chosen people, he could pursue self-improvement and responsibility which is the presupposition of personal autonomy. In terms of community, believers' identity within the covenantal relationship with God requires them to follow Jesus' Sermon on the Mount with the core command to 'love your neighbor as yourself," and to serve people with various gifts from God. It is on such bases a functionally cooperative Christian community could be established. In brief, a combination of self-governance and joint-governance becomes the real origin of the political idea of federalism. Copyright © Chung Yuan Christian University.

Keywords: Covenant theology; Federalism; Liberalism; Political idea; Republicanism