Theological Studies in Japan
Online ISSN : 2185-6044
Print ISSN : 0285-4848
ISSN-L : 0285-4848
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Volume 58
Displaying 1-25 of 25 articles from this issue
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Foreword
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Articles
  • An Old Priest, Seven Boys, and an Old Mother
    Philosophical Devices in the Martyrdom Narrative of 4 Maccabees
    Teppei Kato
    Article type: research-article
    2019 Volume 58 Pages 30-56
    Published: September 25, 2019
    Released on J-STAGE: August 25, 2021
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.5873/nihonnoshingaku.58.30
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
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    The Fourth Book of Maccabees is a treatise in which the anonymous author attempts to prove that pious reason can master the passions and that mastery of passions is attainable for everyone as long as one can observe the Law. In order to explain these theses, the author amplifies the martyrdom narrative in the second part of 4 Maccebees taken from 2 Maccabees and makes the conditions stricter, by emphasizing the youth of the seven brothers and the old age of their mother (as well as the old age of Eleazar the priest). The author demonstrates that theoretically everyone should be able to rule over their passions, for everyone is under easier conditions than these martyrs. In other words, 4 Maccabees is not only a funeral oration that reports the martyrdom narrative, but also a treatise in which the author utilizes some philosophical devises on purpose.

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  • The dynamic mechanism of revelation in the early Paul Tillich's Thought
    natural revelation and supernatural revelation
    Takahiro Hiraide
    Article type: research-article
    2019 Volume 58 Pages 57-79
    Published: September 25, 2019
    Released on J-STAGE: August 25, 2021
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.5873/nihonnoshingaku.58.57
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
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    The concept of revelation is one of the most important concepts for theologians; how they think about it determines the direction of their theology. After the First World War, German-born theologian and philosopher of religion Paul Tillich stood between two theological movements in terms of revelation: liberal theology, which considers revelation as a human possibility, and dialectical theology, which considers it as the word of God and stresses the "infinite qualitative distinction" between the human and the divine. Tillich was not satisfied with either interpretation of revelation, so he proposed a third alternative. He defined revelation as a “breakthrough (Durchbruch) of the unconditioned into the conditioned.” Here, we show how Tillich overcame both liberal and dialectical theology and we explore the meaning of his concept of “breakthrough” by analyzing his understanding of the dynamic mechanism of revelation (natural revelation and supernatural revelation). Our research clarifies that the revelation as “breakthrough” intends a conversion of our existence and, in that sense, Tillich’s interpretation has something in common with existential philosophy.

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