Digital Commons Network^™

John 1:9 In The Light Of Historical Interpretation, John Francis Niermann

Master of Divinity Thesis

The purpose of this investigation is to give the solutions of various commentators to the interpretive problems of John 1:9 and to propose an interpretation based on an exegetical study of this passage.

John 1:9 In The Light Of Historical Interpretation, John Francis Niermann

Bachelor of Divinity

The purpose of this investigation is to give the solutions of various commentators to the interpretive problems of John 1:9 and to propose an interpretation based on an exegetical study of this passage.

Luther Research In America 1900-1960, Walter Tillmanns

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

The objectives of this study are to present a detailed overview of the three types of Luther research in America, the Protestant, the Roman Catholic, and the Lutheran, and then to evaluate this research. A Lutheran evaluation of this research must of necessity be Lutheran, but an attempt will be made to be fair in this evaluation to all. In other words, the assumption is that there has been progress in Luther research in America and that in spite of the ups and downs, conditioned by two World Wars and religious and philosophical prejudices, there is a deeper understanding of …

Communism, The Deadly Enemy Of The Christian Church Today A Fulfillment Of Revelation, Robert Otto Maschke

Bachelor of Divinity

The thesis will show that Communism is the most vicious and destructive power against the Church today. This paper will not, however, enter into a detailed discussion of the economic proposals and principles of Marx, Engels, or Lenin, but shall restrict itself to the spiritual field, as St. Paul said, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. " (Eph. 6:12) This paper does not attempt to be a commentary on the whole of Revelation. It will concern itself with …

Of God And Of Gods A Critique Of Diety Teachings In The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, Paulus Ernest Voelzke

Bachelor of Divinity

This thesis limits itself to this one body of the six Mormon groups, known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are referred to as Utah Mormons, and whose inf1uence is being felt throughout our United States of America.

The History And Function Of Trailer Missions In The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, Roy A. Maack

Bachelor of Divinity

A hundred years ago our pioneer missionaries in Michigan used the speediest means at their disposal to spread the Gospel--the pony and the buckboard. Later our missionaries were among the first passengers pulled by the “iron horse” as it gradually blazed a trail westward over the Rockies and to the West Coast. During and for a few years after World War II, our Church preached that same Gospel in the same way, using the modem means of a trailer. The special purpose of open air evangelism by means of trailer missions was to bring the story of the love of …

The Validity Of Baptism Performed By The Little Flock, Delbert Williams Gremmels

Bachelor of Divinity

Although there are many errors in the teachings of the Little Flock, the baptism performed by the group should be accepted as valid and re-baptism should not be required before admittance for membership in the Lutheran Church.

The Role Of The Christian Pastor Today, William K. Hannusch

Bachelor of Divinity

The burden of everyday living has been made more pleasant and easier. So also, scientific research is having its effect on the role of the Christian pastor. It is giving him tools with which to work and to obtain better results. This is true not only in making use of machines and methods for the office, but especially in working with, and handling the human personality.

The Protestant Church And Segregration, Karl Thiele

Bachelor of Divinity

It is the purpose of this study to investigate the factors in our society, secular and religious that have contributed to and maintained the paradox and thus make it possible for us to better be able to eliminate this absurdity. Needless to say, it is impossible to discuss all the factors relating to this paradox, but those factors affecting and primarily related to the church are treated.

The Problem Of Christian And Church Fellowship, Ronald Frederick Blaess

Bachelor of Divinity

The history of the Christian Church from the first to the twentieth century could be written in terms of its struggle to maintain, to demonstrate, or to realise this fundamental unity between the Lord Jesus Christ and His body, the Christian Church, besought of God the Father by Him in His great high-priestly prayer, and declared above by St. Paul. But is this oneness an earthly or a spiritual oneness? Is it a oneness to be manifest in this life and world or only hereafter? Is it a oneness which can exist despite or inspite of divisions, frictions, and refusal …

St. Paul's Attitude Toward False Teaching According To The Pastoral Epistles, Ronald Halamka

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This thesis presumes that we can depend on the Pastoral epistles to furnish us with an excellent representation of St. Paul's approach in dealing with false teachings. Their contents are saturated with front-line conflicts with false teachers, and their author, according to the conviction of this writer as well as of many current theologians, is St. Paul.

Adapatation Of The Religious Dance And Similar Physical Movements In The Indigenous Church, Manfred Berndt

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This is just one example of a cultural problem that raises a painful question for the Western Christian: “Why is it that, while the Church, particularly in her worship, has done so much to use God's gifts of music, art, and. drama, it has almost completely ignored or condemned the one art that combines these three--the dance?" Can the dance be a vehicle to glorify God, not merely in recreation, but also in worship? It is to this problem that this study addresses itself. It intends to examine the reverent and irreverent use of the dance in the history of …

The Theological Basis For Adult Bible Study And Its Practical Aspects In The Adult Educational Program Of The Church, Marvin Mueller

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This thesis is concerned specifically with the theological basis of adult bible study within the program of the church. This concern is valid in as much as the word of God is basic for any program of adult Christian education in the church. The Bible as the word of God is the source and norm for the faith and life of all Christians who through Holy Baptism and the work of the Holy Spirit have been placed under this word of God. It is the purpose of this thesis to show in what way man is brought under the Word …

The Basis For Distinguising Moral Law From Ceremonial And Political Law In The Old Testament, George Loose

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The purpose of this study is to attempt to find an answer to the question, and in doing so, to examine the bases which have been used in the Lutheran Church. Some attention will be given to the attitude toward the laws in Old Testament times, but this is just for the sake of background. It would provide material for another study. Some attention will be given also to the position of other Christian churches, but again only to clarify the position of the Lutheran Church.

He Who Came By Water And By Blood - A Summary And Critique Of The Majo Interpretations Of 1 John 5:6, F Peter Brinkman

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

It has been said that 1 John 5:6 is "the most perplexing passage in the Epistle and one of the most perplexing in the New Testament." It is perplexing, if for no other reason, for the variety of interpretations that have been offered. This variety, in turn, hinges on many factors beyond the text itself.

The Doctrine Of The Universal Priesthood Of Believers And Its Exemplification In Pre-Reformation And Reformation Hymnody, Fred Precht

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

It is the task of this paper to trace the history and development of this universal priesthood as it is reflected in Christian hymnody and, to a certain degree, in the related liturgical materials and practices. In the pursuit of this task it has been our method, at least with respect to the hymnody, to take especial note of certain expressions and key words which express the concepts of sacrifice and priestly functions such as offer, bring, sacrifice, gift, altar, victim. Not dismissed were also such corporate expressions as "we" and its cognates.

Reflections Of New Testament Passages Found In The Apostolic Fathers, Kieth Gerberding

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This paper will attempt to determine the attitude of the Apostolic Fathers toward the canonical New Testament writings on the basis of their references to and use of passages and phrases from those writings. Answers will be sought to the following questions. Which books of the New Testament are used by the Apostolic Fathers? Are these books used in a comparatively equal degree by all of the Fathers? Do the Fathers quote the New Testament writings and refer to them directly? If not, how do they introduce the New Testament material which they use? Do they copy passages from the …

Ezra And Nehemiah: A Review Of The Return And Reform, Martin Leeseberg

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

In this study the question of the relationship of these two men is approached on the basis th.at the Scriptures are the inspired Word of God. This proposition is accepted as true whether the author of a particular book is known or not. At the same time it is assumed that misunderstandings of later scribes may have rearranged the text or that simple errors of dittography and haplography may have occurred. Aside from the possibilities of such textual errors, the original writer is given credit for knowing what he was trying to write. The attempt will be to understand the …

The Historical Development Of The Sunday School Movement In The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, Martin Haendschke

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

This investigation was concerned primarily with the problem of change and growth. From a tremendous mass of historical materials it was necessary to select those events, experiences, statements, essays and papers which in proper historical setting could be considered as causative factors to bring about changes, both in attitude and in structure.

The Kingship Of Yahweh As A Motif For The Universal Savior In The Old Testament, Pyeng Seh Oh

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

The aim of this dissertation is, however, to establish the peculiar function of the Kingship of Yahweh as found in His Universal Saviorship.

In order to understand the Kingship of Yahweh, we shall first examine kingship in the Near East, particularly in Egypt and Mesopotamia. This study is made possible by the discovery, deciphering, and publication of Near Eastern texts. As the reader will notice, the cited data in the Second Chapter are mainly from Ancient~ Eastern Texts Relating to Old Testament, edited by James B. Pritchard.

The Development Of Th Meaning Of Faith In The Understanding And Experience Of John Wesley, 1703-1791, Byron Osborn Jr

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

The aim of this thesis is to determine the concept of faith which Wesley developed during a life principally devoted to the understanding and significance of Christian experience. Since this life touched every decade in the eighteenth century, this thesis bas been necessarily extensive.

August Crull: His Contributionsto The Missouri Synod, Glen Johnson

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The definition and scope of this subject cannot be more clearly stated than in terms of the title--"August Crull: His Contribution to the Missouri Synod." It is the intent of this study, insofar as source material will allow, to examine each facet of his life and work to determine the exact nature of his contribution to the Missouri Synod. Although some space will be given in the examination of August Crull as theologian and educator, the main emphasis will center upon August Crull as hymnologist and the wider implications of his work in general.

The Spirit Baptism Relationship In Acts, Jakob Heckert

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This thesis, therefore, is an attempt at an exegetical investigation of the relationship which exists between baptism and the Holy Spirit in Acts.

Requirements For A Confessional Lutheran Dogmatics For Use In Training Filipino Pastors, Robert Mcamis

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Our Lutheran Church was late in beginning work in the Philippines. We do not have much time as American missionaries to work in this field. We have a real challenge before us in building an indigenous Lutheran Church in a short time. This paper is concerned with the doctrinal aapect of the indigenous church. · If a strong, evangelical Lutheran Church is to take root and grow in the Philippines, it must be built upon the right foundation. This must be done in the training of students for the ministry who can better translate these theological concepts to their own …

Baptism In The Intertestamental Period With Special Emphasis On The Qumram Community, Walter Wifall

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

It will be the purpose of this paper to examine in particular the water lustrations practiced by this eschatologically- oriented group to see to what extent these washings were considered as a medium of God's grace and forgiveness. We shall also note whether one washing in particular took preference over the others as a means of induction into the life of the community.

The Eschatological Elements Of The Lord's Supper, Albert Buelow

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

It would rather seem that the stress on the Real Presence would tend to increase the Christian's longing for the end of time since "this presence is itself already the beginning of the end of time" and the body and blood of Christ received in the Lord's Supper are a pledge of what is coming--a foretaste of eternity in time.

The exact cause of this lack of an eschatological emphasis is difficult to determine. Nor is it the purpose of this thesis to attempt to determine the cause. The purpose of this thesis is to articulate a Scriptural basis for …

Shalom In The Old Testament, Howard Tepker

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Thus from the outset one is impressed with the breadth and the significance of this versatile word. It shall be the purpose of this dissertation to study the noun shalom, the verb shalam, and the adjective shalem in order to discover the various shades of meaning that attach themselves to this rather complex concept. Our attention will be centered primarily on the use of the noun. We shall treat the verb and adjective only briefly.

Waiting On The Lord In St. Paul's Epistle To The Philippians, Kenneth Ballas

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This study, therefore, intends to provide an evaluation of this aspect of eschatology. It arose out of a reading of the Scriptures which revealed that more than occasional references to this need for waiting are made in both the Old and New Testaments. A concordance study soon indicated a wide range of interesting Hebrew and Greek terms which occurred in passages that were generally of considerable theological significance. This fact coupled with personal feelings about the ministry, especially in the light of existing world conditions, is responsible for an interest in a Biblical study of the concept of waiting on …

The Personal Union In The Theology Of Barth, Brunner And Berkouwer, George Lobien

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The problem about to be investigated is whether or not G. C. Berkouwer, Karl Barth and .Emil Brunner teach a personal union or the two natures 1n our Lord Jesus Christ. Or, to state it more comprehensibly, it they claim to teach a personal union of the two natures, we then propose to uncover exactly what they mean by the use of this term. Furthermore, throughout the study we shall attempt to indicate to the reader the areas of agreement and disagreement among these three outstanding Reformed theologians. Lastly, it must be admitted in all candor that our appraisal of …

The Significance Of The Baptism Of Jesus, Carl Zahrte

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The idea for this study was not original with the author, but came £rom a suggestion made by Dr. Paul M. Bretscher, whose help and guidance as faculty adviser are also herewith acknowledged. At first glance, it might not appear that the subject is broad enough to warrant the time and the effort necessary for the preparation of a thesis. There are limitations, of course, not only because Scriptural references to the baptism of Jesus are quite brief, but also because theological studies on baptism have generally been more concerned about the nature and meaning of baptism as a sacrament …