Prominente motiewe in ’n seleksie preke voor, tydens en na die Anglo-Boereoorlog

Abstract

Prominent motifs in a selection of sermons delivered before, during and immediately after the Anglo-Boer War

This article investigates a selection (160) of sermons delivered before, during and after the Anglo-Boer war and published afterwards. The aim of the investigation is to indicate (possible) repetitive motifs used in these sermons. The initial hypothesis taken was that the motif of freedom probably would have functioned prominently within the context of the war. The investigation of the 160 selected sermons, however, proved that although the motif of freedom indeed occurs, it is applied in the broad Biblical sense of being liberated from sin. Freedom in God is stressed and not primarily freedom from British oppression. Several other motifs also function prominently in these sermons – motifs like redemption in Christ, hope, comfort in hardship and peace with God in Jesus Christ. Although these motifs are applied within the context of the Bible, it should be kept in mind that these sermons were delivered in the time of the Anglo-Boer War. These sermons should, therefore, be studied as embedded within a certain time frame: text and context should both be considered in the analysis of these sermons. The analysis, however, indicates that the parts from Scripture selected for these sermons were treated homiletically in a responsible way.