Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Many Healings Of The Woman With The Flow Of Blood, Ekaterina Lomperis

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

With the emergence of the modern quest for the historical Jesus, theologians began increasingly questioning traditional views of Jesus as a healer of human bodies. While a growing suspicion of Jesus’s role as a literal healer of the body is commonly traced to the influence of the Enlightenment, in this essay, I will suggest that the roots of this theological marginalization run deeper, in the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformations, when supernatural did not yet equal superstitious. The essay will examine two representative exegeses of the healing of the woman with the flow of blood in Mark 5:25–34, offered by Martin Luther …

Why On Earth Does “Tongue(S)” Become Ecstatic Speech?, Ekaputra Tupamahu

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

This chapter deals with the history of interpretation. Why is the phenomenon of “tongue(s)” in the New Testament understood today as ecstatic speech? In the history of interpretation, there are two major modes of reading the phenomenon of speaking in tongue(s) in the New Testament: the “missionary-expansionist” and the “romantic-nationalist” modes of reading. The earliest readers of the New Testament up until those of the mid-nineteenth century commonly understood the phenomenon of tongue(s) as a miraculous ability to speak in foreign languages—often called xenolalia—for the purpose of expanding Christianity and preaching the gospel. The shift in understanding began to …

“I Don’T Want To Hear Your Language!” White Social Imagination And The Demography Of Roman Corinth, Ekaputra Tupamahu

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

This article aims to deconstruct the hidden pervasive whiteness in biblical scholarship and to propose another way to reimagine the linguistic dynamic of Roman Corinth from an Asian American perspective. It highlights the legal and historical interconnectedness of whiteness and the dominance of English. English is a critical marker of whiteness in the United States. In this context, immigrants are expected to conform to and assimilate themselves with whiteness by performing English. This particular racialized context has influenced and resulted in a scholarly historical reconstruction of immigrants in Roman Corinth as “Greek speaking im/migrants.” Immigrants can come from many different …

The Synoptic Problem (Introduction And Chapter One Of A Beginner's Guide To New Testament Studies: Understanding Key Debates), Nijay K. Gupta

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Excerpt: "When I first entered theological education as a seminary student, I found myself completely lost in the world of biblical scholarship. Not only were there so many technical terms I couldn’t define and histories of interpretation with which I was not acquainted, but it seemed like there were two, or three, or ten views on various debated issues, and I had trouble keeping them straight. Oh, how I wished I had a map that could help me find my way through the maze of scholarship, or a guide to clue me into this view and that view!"

Text Of 1 Thessalonians (Chapter In 1 & 2 Thessalonians: Zondervan Critical Introductions To The New Testament), Nijay Gupta

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

The first port of call in this study is to identify the origins of 1 Thessalonians with a focus on the integrity of the text, authorship, and date, followed by an extended discussion of genre, style, and structure. Thereafter, I will discuss some of the possible sources behind 1 Thessalonians.

Now You See 'Em, Now You Don't: Perfect People In The Ot (Chapter Two Of God And Human Wholeness), Kent L. Yinger

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Excerpt: "Recent debates over perfection, or better, Judaism and perfect law-keeping, took off with the publication of E. P. Sanders's Paul and Palestinian Judaism. As mentioned in the introduction, for Luther and most of the Protestant theological traditions in his wake, one of the chief problems with salvation according to the OT law was that no one had kept, or could keep, its commandments sufficiently to be considered righteous. Nearly all were agreed this was because the law required flawless or perfect obedience to all its commands. Since all are sinners, such a demand for perfect obedience returns a …

Evangelicalism And Capitalism: A Reparative Account And Diagnosis Of Pathogeneses In The Relationship, Jason Paul Clark

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

No sustained examination and diagnosis of problems inherent to the relationship of Evangelicalism with capitalism currently exists. Where assessments of the relationship have been undertaken, they are often built upon a lack of understanding of Evangelicalism, and an uncritical reliance both on Max Weber’s Protestant Work Ethic and on David Bebbington’s Quadrilateral of Evangelical priorities. This then gives rise to misunderstandings and faulty prescriptions for the future of Evangelicalism. This thesis seeks to remedy this situation by providing a robust diagnostic, not to refute Evangelicalism, but as a reparative. This reparative attends to the faulty responses of either over-dichotomising capitalist …

Remember The Sabbath, A.J. Swoboda

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Excerpt: "Microwaves. Smart phones. Cars. Our culture has more time-saving devices, technological conveniences, and cheaper mobility than any point in history. We now live in a 24/7 world in which every good and service is available around the clock at the touch of a button. We have more information at our fingertips and more options at our disposal and yet we are ominously dissatisfied. The rhythms that mark the success-obsessed West have taken their toll on our minds, bodies, relationships, and environment."

On Scripture: Rise Up! (Micah 6:1-8), Roger S. Nam

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Excerpt: "The prophet Micah lived during a time of political turmoil and transition. Sound familiar?

For a large portion of the eighth century BC, the Assyrian Empire conducted a massive military conquest of Israel and Judah. During the time of Micah, Samaria had already fallen, and King Hezekiah was in the midst of fervent preparations of protecting Jerusalem for an inevitable Assyrian invasion. At the time, the Assyrian Empire was the largest empire the world had ever known. They were creators of a formidable army with advanced weaponry and military tactics, including psychological warfare. This military supported the empire's ambitions …

Lead Us Not Into Temptation, Deliver Us From Evil (Chapter In The Lord's Prayer, Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary), Nijay K. Gupta

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

I recall, as a young child, having a number of superstitious assumptions. I remember being afraid of the dark, and at night, as I stood in my doorway, I believed that when I turned off the light switch I had to jump to my bed (for some reason thinking that I would be gobbled up by evil if my feet touched the ground in the darkness). Over time, though, I became less concerned about the dark and also about "evil." Even today, as an adult, I do not think much about evil powers or spirits. I may make a one-off …

‘Perfect’ In Matt 5:48: A Case For Mandatory Retirement, Kent Yinger

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

The English gloss “perfect” is used less and less to translate Heb tam and Gk teleios in biblical texts referring to human beings (e.g., Noah, Job). Understandably so, since it strikes most readers (and exegetes) as out of place to refer to flawed human beings as “perfect.” In one place, however, this gloss stubbornly persists; namely, in Matt 5:48 (“be ye therefore perfect”). This paper will examine the interpretive background to this translation, possible reasons for its persistence in Matt 5:48, and will suggest alternatives for future translators.

Kinesthetic Language Learning: How An Accident Led To A Revelation, Travis West, Roger S. Nam, Amanda W. Benckhuysen

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

This essay analyzes a critical incident that took place in a hybrid distancelearning Hebrew language class that was adapting interactive, immersion-style, kinesthetic pedagogy during the week-long face-to-face intensive portion of the class – including Total Physical Response techniques in which students respond to the language with whole-body actions, entering into the world created by the language and the particular biblical text. Memorization, performance, interactive games, songs, and skits also contribute to the immersion-style learning environment. A snafu on the final day of the week led to a serendipitous solution that demonstrated Parker Palmer’s idea of subject centered pedagogy. A brief …

The Spirituality Of Faith In The Gospel Of Matthew (Chapter In Matthew And Mark Across Perspectives), Nijay Gupta

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Excerpt: "In this essay, I wish to pay respect to Dr. Barton's important contribution to the theological study of the Gospels by looking at the Gospel of Matthew with a similar interest in the First Gospel's spirituality. In his chapter on Matthew, Barton rightly notes Matthew's interest in discipleship, righteousness, purity/integrity, and radical love. To this we will add Matthew's interest in 'faith'. In the study of the Synoptic Gospels in particular, despite the ubiquity of the language of faith, there has been little study of this subject. When it comes to the spirituality of the Gospels, though, there can …

Book Review: Social And Economic Life In Second Temple Judea/The Wealth Of Nations: A Tradition-Historical Study/The Sacred Economy Of Ancient Israel., Roger S. Nam

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Excerpt: "The study of Israelite economies has seen a surge of interest in recent years. Each of the three volumes under review here covers a distinct aspect of the economic world of the Hebrew Bible.

Adams provides a broad overview of social and economic life in Second Temple Judea through four chapters of descriptive themes and a cumulative ethical assessment of wealth and poverty. The book includes a bibliography and multiple indexes. A. states his hope: “By taking up topics like marriage gifts, borrowing and lending, and taxation, our discussion will provide an overview of economic life, with fresh insights …

Book Review: Jacob’S Wealth: An Examination Into The Nature And Role Of Material Possessions In The Jacob-Cycle (Gen 25:19-35:29), Roger S. Nam

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Excerpt: "In a revised doctoral dissertation under Drs. Ernest Lucas and Gordon Wenham (Bristol, 2008), Paul Vrolijk explores the motif of wealth in the Jacob-cycle. By analyzing the multiple references to bless ing, narrations of economic exchange and prominent regard to "the land,” Vrolijk attempts to better understand the role of material blessing in the portrayal of Jacob in hopes that such understanding can provide new perspectives on the patriarchal narratives. Vrolijk intentionally restricts his parameters: "In this study, I will limit myself to investi- gating the Jacob-cycle (Gen 25:19-55:29) and in particular the role of wealth within it” (6). …

"They Are Not Gods!" Jewish And Christian Idol Polemic And Greco-Roman Use Of Cult Statues, Nijay K. Gupta

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Excerpt: "One set of trademark convictions of early Judaism and Christianity includes their aniconic tradition, monotheistic commitment, and polemic against idols. In the late second or early third century c .e ., for example, Christian apologist Minucius Felix mocked pagan idol worship with these words: “When does the god come into being? The image is cast, hammered, or sculpted; it is not yet a god. It is soldered, put together, and erected; it is still not a god. It is adorned, consecrated, prayed to—and now, finally, it is a god once man has willed it so and dedicated it” (see …

“Go Sell Your Oil And Pay Your Debt!” Economic Life In Ancient Israel, Roger S. Nam

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Ancient Israel did not know the economic concepts of banks, insurance, tuition, profit and retirement. Other economic terms such as taxes, labor, debt and even prices were all fundamentally different in meaning. When interpreting biblical texts, we must carefully consider the different settings of modern capitalism and ancient Israel’s economy.

“The Poorest Of The Land” Perception And Identity Of The Remnant In 2 Kings And Jeremiah, Roger S. Nam

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Excerpt: "In the broad historical spectrum of the Bible, the experience of the Babylonian exile presents a particularly unique context in which to consider poverty. The captures and destruction of Jerusalem transformed the political landscape of Judah. Accordingly, new economic crises arose and found expression throughout exilic and post-exilic biblical texts. Within the biblical narratives portraying this event, I will examine a specific phrase, “the poorest of the land” (Hebrew, dallat ha-’aretz), which emerges in this economic chaos of exile. It appears in only four passages in the entire Hebrew Bible:

2 Kings 24:14: “The poorest of the people of …

Did Jesus Or Custer Die For Our Sins? Exploring The Mission Of Covenant Among Non-Western Indigenous Cultures (Chapter Five Of Covenant-Making: The Fabric Of Relationship), Randy S. Woodley

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Excerpt: "Dr. Larry Shelton has become a good friend, close confidant and colleague. His interest in and promotion of North American Native theology has been clearly demonstrated over the past decade. Larry has attended most of our NAIITS (North American Institute for Indigenous Theological Studies) Symposia; created several important opportunities for dialogue; and somehow found a way to wrangle me into full-time academic work. I owe Larry a lot. I appreciate his keen theological mind, his irreverence for orthodoxy simply for orthodoxy’s sake, and his Southern mountain humor. Larry always brings out the good ol’ boy in me even when …

Book Review: The Yehud Stamp Impressions: A Corpus Of Inscribed Impressions From The Persian And Hellenistic Periods In Judah, Roger S. Nam

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Excerpt: "In the world of archaeology, excavators often parade their discoveries of grand architectural structures in hopes of attracting favorable publicity, volunteers, and, ultimately funding to support continued fieldwork. But what happens when, alongside these dramatic discoveries, excavation produces more mundane findings such as impressions on jars, often containing merely three letters: Hebrew yod, he, and dalet? In The Yehud Stamp Impressions: A Corpus of lnscribed Impressions from the Persian and Hellenistic Periods in Judah, Oded Lipschits and David s. Vanderhooft attempt to highlight the seemingly mundane as an opportune window to the social world of …

Book Review: The Surprising Election And Confirmation Of King David, Roger S. Nam

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Excerpt: "In this revised Th.D. dissertation (Harvard Divinity School, 2006), Randall Short challenges the interpretation of the History of David's Rise (1 Sam. 16-2 Sam. 5; hereafter = HDR) as political apology in the style of the "Hittite Apology of Hattusili." Instead, Short argues that both the wider literary context and individual elements support HDR as a testimony to the surprising and wondrous character of YHWH in the unlikely selection of David as his chosen one."

Economics And The Bible, Roger S. Nam

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

At its essence, economics is the study of how societies make decisions on the allocation of limited resources. Whether subsistence, capitalist, socialist, or totalitarian, each society faces complex choices regarding the distribution of goods and utilities. In making such choices, economics involves the study of the various allocation processes such as production, consumption, exchange, forecasting, scarcity, and risk. But in all of these activities, economics is observable only through human behavior. Consequently, efforts to isolate economic behavior from social spheres are heuristic at best, misleading at worst. Economic decisions reflect deeper ideological values, hierarchies, and positions of power, often revealed …

Exhortation To Persevere And Grow In Holiness, Love, And Integrity (1 Thess 4:1-12) (Chapter In 1 & 2 Thessalonians), Nijay K. Gupta

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Excerpt: "In the first three chapters of 1 Thessalonians, Paul's primary concern involved extending compassion and comfort to a suffering and troubled church. There is a gracious, warm, generous tone. He reminds them of how special they are, and how attentive God is to their plight. He reminds them of how God has worked among them in power in the past, he is at work in the present, and he will act again on their behalf through Messiah Jesus at his return. He confesses to them his longing to have close fellowship with them-they are loved and missed.

But Paul's …

New Life In Christ: Household Relationships Reoriented Under The Lordship Of Christ (Chapter In Colossians, Smyth & Helwys Biblical Commentary), Nijay Gupta

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Excerpt: "As noted above, Paul focuses on the implications of new life in Christ beginning in chapter 3. The first seventeen verses deal more broadly with what it means to be "raised with Christ" and to "seek the things that are above" (3: 1). That first section ends with emphasis falling on a communal life of generosity, love, and thanksgiving, as all activities and conversations are carried out under the lordship of Jesus Christ (3: 17)."

Martin's "Multiple Originals: New Approaches To Hebrew Bible Textual Criticism" - Book Review, Steve Delamarter

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

No abstract provided.

Economic Anthropology (Chapter Two Of Portrayals Of Economic Exchange In The Book Of Kings), Roger S. Nam

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Excerpt: "Before examining the biblical texts through the lens of Karl Polanyi’s paradigm of exchange, a review of the intellectual history of economic anthropology before the publication of The Great Transformation (1944) will help contextualize his methodological framework.1 Specifically, an awareness of two aspects of his theoretical development can facilitate its application to ancient Israel. First, Polanyi represents a seminal point in the midst of a long intellectual dialogue about political economy that goes back to Adam Smith. For over two centuries, this debate has been so spirited and intertwined that each scholar stands entangled with all of his or …

Leadership As Body And Environment: The Rider And The Horse (Chapter 17 Of The Gospel After Christendom: New Voices, New Cultures, New Expressions), Marykate Morse

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Excerpt: "Leadership is hard. Leading like Christ is even harder. Some fail. Many burn out. Most struggle with the people they are called to serve and lead. I myself feel that I make mistakes more often than I “get it right.” I want to be humble and lead well, but at times I feel threatened and frustrated. Sometimes the preaching is good and sometimes not so good. Sometimes people respond and lives are changed, but not as much as one would think, given all the resources, time, and talent poured out. Something crucial is missing from our understanding of servant …

Ruminating On The ‘Fruit Of The Spirit’ (Gal 5:22): Origins And Theological Significance Of A Pauline Phrase, Kent Yinger

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

No abstract provided.

Conference Participation And Publishing (Chapter Eight Of Prepare, Succeed, Advance: A Guidebook For Getting A Ph.D. In Biblical Studies And Beyond), Nijay K. Gupta

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Two clear marks of a good scholar or doctoral student are published pieces of research (articles, essays, reviews, etc.) and active participation in academic conferences (presenter, chair, respondent, etc.). Especially for graduate students, the research experience can be very isolated and have a minimal impact without attention to such avenues of dialogue and interaction. Also, practically speaking, when the time comes for the job search, a demonstration of such activity often shows that the prospective professor is a real participant of and contributor to the field of biblical studies. We will begin by discussing how to get involved in conferences.

Book Review: Tight Fists Or Open Hands: Wealth And Poverty In Old Testament Law, Roger S. Nam

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Excerpt: "David Baker fills a lacuna in scholarship with this theological interpretation of wealth and poverty in OT law. Under thematic categories, such as property rights and just lawsuits, Baker outlines the pertinent passages from biblical texts within the context of ancient Near Eastern legal collections. After a whirlwind survey, Baker acknowledges some commonalities between biblical and ancient law regarding economic concerns. But he emphasizes that the biblical law codes ultimately derive from the covenantal relationship with YHWH. Thus, biblical law collectively attests to higher standards of economic ethics than its ancient Near Eastern counterparts."