Tihomirov A. V.

Oscillations of love. Relationship of Law and Gospel in the context of the theology of the process (on the example of the theology of Katherine Keller)

Anton Vladimirovich Tihomirov Doctor in theology, Theological seminary of the Evangelical-Lutheran hurch (derevnya Novosaratovka, 140, Leningradskaya oblast’, Russia, 193149)
tikhomirov@live.com

Tihomirov A. V. Oscillations of love. Relationship of Law and Gospel in the context of the theology of the process (on the example of the theology of Katherine Keller), Religiya. Tserkov’. Obshchestvo. Issledovaniya i publikatsii po teologii i religii [Religion. Church. Society: Research and publications in the field of theology and religious studies], Saint-Petersburg, 2018, vol. 7, pp. 18–43.

doi: 10.24411/2308-0698-2018-00002

Language: Russian

The author examines the basic principles of the modern theology of the process inspired by the philosophy of the process of Alfred Whitehead. It is studied on the example of theology of a prominent representative of this trend, our contemporary Katherine Keller. In process theology, the world and God are understood as being in constant interaction that finally remains open. It openly denies the omnipotence of God. In relations with the world, He can act as a suffering and receiving power. The main focus of Keller’s analysis of creativity is the consideration of the dialectic of Eros, as the inspiring and impelling power of God, and Agape, as God’s saving mercy. At the same time, the author analyzes this pair of concepts in the context of the relationship between Law and Gospel in classical Lutheran theology. The author shows that, although some representatives of the theology of the process understand the relationship of Eros and Agape as a reflection of Luther’s distinction between Law and Gospel, it is still difficult to find a direct correspondence between these pairs of concepts. In Luther’s understanding, Law is opposed to Gospel, while Eros and Agape in the theology of the process complement each other and strive to complete fusion. It is noted, however, that Keller does not openly refer to Luther and does not argue with him, focusing her criticism on the teachings of Jean Calvin. Nevertheless, the author emphasizes that the ideas developed in the framework of the theology of the process can have a consoling character in the face of questions and doubts of a modern man, i.e. under certain conditions, to fulfill a purpose similar to the aime of the Martin Luther’s distinction between Law and Gospel.

Key words: Calvin, Luther, Agape, Eros, Theology, God

URL: http://rcs-almanac.ru/tihomirov-2018-en/

The lost treasure? Notes on history of Evangelical Lutheran Church hymnography

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Anton Vladimirovich Tihomirov, Doctor in theology, Theological seminary of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church (derevnya Novosaratovka, 140, Leningradskaya oblast’, Russia, 193149)
tikhomirov@live.com

Tikhomirov A. V. The lost treasure? Notes on history of Evangelical Lutheran Church hymnography, Religiya. Tserkov’. Obshchestvo. Issledovaniya i publikatsii po teologii i religii [Religion. Church. Society: Research and publications in the field of theology and religious studies], Saint-Petersburg, 2013, vol. 2, pp. 100–114.

DOI: 10.24411/2308-0698-2013-00010

Language: Russian

The article gives an overview over the history of hymn-books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (of Russia) from the 16–17 centuries to our time. It is referring both to hymn-books in German and to the attempts to establish a tradition of Lutheran hymns in Russian, which started even before the end of the 19th century and were cut off by the persecution in Soviet times. Special attention is given to the new stage of this development starting after Perestroika, and to the «Collection of hymns of the Evangelical Lutheran Church» of 2009, which is, for the moment, the culmination of this stage. The history of its creation and reception allows the author to make critical observations on the present condition of congregational singing in the parishes of ELC.

Key words: Evangelical Luteran Church, hymnography, songbooks, music

Permanent link: http://rcs-almanac.ru/tihomirov-2013-en/

Fake pearl: Chants of Paul Gerhardt in Russian translation

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Anton Vladimirovich Tihomirov, Doctor in theology, Theological seminary of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church (derevnya Novosaratovka, 140, Leningrad region, Russia, 193149) tikhomirov@live.com

Tihomirov A. V. Fake pearl: Chants of Paul Gerhardt in Russian translation, Religiya. Tserkov’. Obshchestvo. Issledovaniya i publikatsii po teologii i religii [Religion. Church. Society: Research and publications in the field of theology and religious studies], Saint-Petersburg, 2016, vol. 5, pp. 298–313.

doi: 10.24411/2308-0698-2016-00015

Language: Russian

The article is a cut Russian translation of the report, read 05. 27. 2016 in Lübeck at the conference «Paul Gerhard in the Baltic area». The text examines the translations of the Gerhardt’s hymns exclusively within the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Paul Gerhard (1607–1676) was the greatest poet in the history of Lutheranism, who wrote a variety of traditional Lutheran hymns, which latterly inspired work of J. S. Bach. Many Paul Gerhard’s chants sound today on worship of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia both in the original language and in the Russian translation. This publication analyzes the texts of Russian translations of hymns, which were included in the official collection of hymns of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Despite their quantity, translations of chorales don’t correspond much with the German original. This is partly because of poor language knowledge (especially in 1990s, when within the period of revival of the Lutheran liturgical life translations were prepared in a hurry) and partly because of the lack of theologically educated compilers. Trying to give more «spiritual depth», translators actually changed specific terms or even whole lines that distorted texts and vulgarized their meaning. The author notes, that the intentional desire to replace complicated poetics by banal pious rythms, is an attempt to make chants more understandable and simple for broad audience. The author comes to the conclusion that, although without hymns of Paul Gerhardt it is impossible to imagine the Lutheran service in Russia, translations do not correspond to the original texts. The great German poet and spiritual Church leader still awaits his translator.

Key words: hymns, psalms, German, theology, vulgarization, spirituality

URL: http://rcs-almanac.ru/tihomirov-a-v-2016-en/