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Sanctification As Confessed By Luther In His Catechisms, Ernest Bernet

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The problem with the doctrine of sanctification is multifaceted. However, Senkbeil, in the above material, has identified for us two main facets in the problem: 1) speaking of justification without properly addressing sanctification, and 2) speaking of sanctification without properly addressing justification. The respective results of these problems are: 1) the whole matter seems to be God’s doing, or 2) the whole matter seems to be our doing.

In order to sift through these issues in sanctification which Senkbeil identifies, I propose for this study that we begin with a semantic method rather than speaking immediately in the traditional doctrinal …

The Missiological Significance Of The Doctrine Of Justification In The Lutheran Confessions, Klaus Schulz

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

Generally the Lutheran Confessions are understood in the traditional sense as the normative sources for Lutheran doctrine; in addition, they are also documents which offer valuable missiological insights. To support the latter observation the following study attempts to read the Lutheran Confessions with a heightened missiological perspective. Such a reading takes up the interests and concerns frequently raised by Lutheran theologians who in light of the increasing changes in mission see the theological integrity of Lutheran mission endangered. Consequently, they plea for a return to the Book of Concord from which guiding principles for Lutheran mission m Confessions, though, should …

The Bursting Of Old Wineskins: An Investigation Into Luther's Withdrawal From Augustine And The Scholastics As Evidenced In His Treatment Of Opus Operatum And Opus Operantis, Joel Brondos

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

In the Heidelberg Theses, we are confronted with the Augustinian Martin Luther who touted Augustine as Paul's most faithful interpreter. Later, however, we come to know a Luther who withdrew from Augustine: "At first I devoured, not merely read, Augustine. But when the door was opened for me in Paul, so that I understood what justification by faith is, it was all over with Augustine. This paper hopes to sail forward with Luther in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, steering cleanly between the Scylla and Charybdis of synergism and determinism, a way which neither Occam nor Augustine had …

Κοινo͂Nia: The Biblical Proclamation Of Κοινo͂Nia And Its Relationship To The Proclamation And Celebration Of The Lord's Supper, Gregory Seltz

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

"Fellowship." What does it mean? How is one to “achieve" it? Or, does one achieve it at all? What are the modern views concerning koin ͂οnia and do they parallel Paul’s use of the term in his writings? Where is the koin ͂οnia hall in the church? Pastors, theologians and lay people alike are challenged to answer these questions, either overtly or subtly, for true faith looks to root itself on solid, common, KOINON, ground. The task of this study is to pursue clarity regarding koin ͂οnia which may help in recognizing when it is spoken of in lesser, other, …

The Eusebian Canons: An Early Catholic Approach To Gospel Harmony, Edward Engelbrecht

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This paper focuses on one approach in this debate, that taken by Eusebius of Caesarea. The thesis is that the Eusebian Canons met exegetical, theological, and practical needs of Catholic Christianity by providing a sophisticated system of Gospel harmony. Eusebius' approach was designed to satisfy philosophical expectations as well as the rigors of classical, literary criticism. As a result of its many uses, the system became embedded in the manuscript traditions of virtually every language into which the four Gospels were translated in Late Antiquity.

Ordination Liturgies, The Call Process, And The Office Of The Ministry In The Landeskirche Of Braunschweig-Wolfenbuttel, 1569-1815, Kent Burreson

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Therefore this study intends to examine the rites on their own merit as historical evidence of the theological understanding of church and ministry that arose in a specific context—a contextual-historical study of rites concerned with forming pastors. As Smith asserts, "Liturgical events such as ordination do not occur in a vacuum. They are supported by an attendant structure which influences the way in which they are experienced and understood. The political, cultural, theological, and ecclesiastical context will be considered in order to determine the milieu and mindset in which the rites were framed and celebrated." Having determined the context, its …