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Truth to power and power to truth : a contextual reading of Ezekiel 34:3-4 and Proverbs 30:24-28 in response to the SACC’s “The-South-Africa-We-Pray-For” campaign and unemployment as injustice
Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | en_ZA |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867614116670078976 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Ntshongwana, Msawenkosi |
| author2 | Cezula, Ntozakhe Simon |
| author_browse | Cezula, Ntozakhe Simon Ntshongwana, Msawenkosi |
| author_facet | Cezula, Ntozakhe Simon Ntshongwana, Msawenkosi |
| author_sort | Ntshongwana, Msawenkosi |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description |
Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132536 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | en_ZA |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:46:55.727Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132536 Truth to power and power to truth : a contextual reading of Ezekiel 34:3-4 and Proverbs 30:24-28 in response to the SACC’s “The-South-Africa-We-Pray-For” campaign and unemployment as injustice Ntshongwana, Msawenkosi Cezula, Ntozakhe Simon Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Old & New Testament. Bible -- Hermeneutics Bible -- Political aspects Church and social problems -- South Africa Social justice -- Religious aspects -- Christianity Justice -- Religious aspects -- Christianity Unemployment -- Religious aspects -- Christianity Liberation theology -- South Africa UCTD Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Ntshongwana, M. 2025. Truth to Power and Power to Truth: A Contextual Reading of Ezekiel 34:3-4 and Proverbs 30:24-28 in Response to the SACC’s “The-South-Africa-We-Pray-For” Campaign and Unemployment as Injustice. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/ed7afc91-15de-447f-936e-9590cf496772 ENGLISH SUMMARY: This study is concerned with how the rulers and their subjects hold themselves concerning the well-being of South African society. In its quest for responsibility and accountability for both parties, the study appeals to the Old Testament to evaluate their performance. To engage with the rulers, it evokes Ezekiel 34:3-4 which outlines the failures of the Israelite rulers during the pre-exilic era. The Lord charges them with having served themselves and neglected the ordinary Israelites. Because of their irresponsibility, the Lord punishes them by removing them from office. For the Lord, justice comes first. In the same spirit, the study employs Proverbs 30:24-28 to assess the behaviour of ordinary citizens. These verses demonstrate how small and vulnerable animals take care of their lives without depending on external help. Through wisdom, they ensure their survival and control their circumstances. These verses promote wisdom more than size and power for a self-fulfilling life. Responsibility for one’s life is the first step to success. The research problem of the study is the culture of entitlement that is discernible in the South African society. This culture leads the ordinary citizens, who are the victims of injustice, to unconsciously contribute to the perpetuation of the injustice that victimises them. To demonstrate this point, the study chooses unemployment as an example of injustice. It examines the behaviour of the authorities and that of the ordinary citizens to establish how they impact society in general and unemployment in particular. To grapple with this situation, the study undertakes a social analysis. Social analysis of South Africa today concerning the issue of unemployment shows that both the government and ordinary citizens are not doing enough to minimise the scourge of unemployment. The government, through corruption, has failed South African citizens. Ordinary citizens, through irresponsible behaviour that impacts very negatively on the economy, are also responsible for holding the economy back. Therefore, the study employs the theory of Personal Social Responsibility (PSR) to analyse society and suggest social responsibility for both the authorities and their subjects. Fascinated by the SACC’s prophetic public ministry, the study suggests that wisdom public ministry can supplement prophetic public ministry. The study is convinced that South Africa will never be where it should be without all stakeholders taking the necessary responsibility. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar. Masters 2025-06-10T13:58:20Z 2025-06-10T13:58:20Z 2025-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132536 en_ZA Stellenbosch University 114 pages application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Bible -- Hermeneutics Bible -- Political aspects Church and social problems -- South Africa Social justice -- Religious aspects -- Christianity Justice -- Religious aspects -- Christianity Unemployment -- Religious aspects -- Christianity Liberation theology -- South Africa UCTD Ntshongwana, Msawenkosi Truth to power and power to truth : a contextual reading of Ezekiel 34:3-4 and Proverbs 30:24-28 in response to the SACC’s “The-South-Africa-We-Pray-For” campaign and unemployment as injustice |
| title | Truth to power and power to truth : a contextual reading of Ezekiel 34:3-4 and Proverbs 30:24-28 in response to the SACC’s “The-South-Africa-We-Pray-For” campaign and unemployment as injustice |
| title_full | Truth to power and power to truth : a contextual reading of Ezekiel 34:3-4 and Proverbs 30:24-28 in response to the SACC’s “The-South-Africa-We-Pray-For” campaign and unemployment as injustice |
| title_fullStr | Truth to power and power to truth : a contextual reading of Ezekiel 34:3-4 and Proverbs 30:24-28 in response to the SACC’s “The-South-Africa-We-Pray-For” campaign and unemployment as injustice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Truth to power and power to truth : a contextual reading of Ezekiel 34:3-4 and Proverbs 30:24-28 in response to the SACC’s “The-South-Africa-We-Pray-For” campaign and unemployment as injustice |
| title_short | Truth to power and power to truth : a contextual reading of Ezekiel 34:3-4 and Proverbs 30:24-28 in response to the SACC’s “The-South-Africa-We-Pray-For” campaign and unemployment as injustice |
| title_sort | truth to power and power to truth a contextual reading of ezekiel 34 3 4 and proverbs 30 24 28 in response to the sacc s the south africa we pray for campaign and unemployment as injustice |
| topic | Bible -- Hermeneutics Bible -- Political aspects Church and social problems -- South Africa Social justice -- Religious aspects -- Christianity Justice -- Religious aspects -- Christianity Unemployment -- Religious aspects -- Christianity Liberation theology -- South Africa UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132536 |
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