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The Holy Spirit As The Undiminished Giver In The Early Church, Kyle Weeks

Grapho : Concordia Seminary Student Journal

At one time or another, virtually every churchgoing Christian is bound to hear the moniker of “Sanctifier” applied to the Holy Spirit. In this role, the Spirit is often described as dwelling within believers to make them holy, so that they might produce the “fruit of the spirit” as they lead good and godly lives.2 To that end, the Spirit is said to effect a complete “regeneration and renewal” of the individual, empowering them with the strength, grace, virtues, and other “spiritual gifts” requisite for Christian life.3 In denominations such as Lutheranism, faith itself is proclaimed to be impossible without …

The Psalms And The Good Life Of God’S People, Rachel Mccloskey

Grapho : Concordia Seminary Student Journal

We belong to Christ who speaks his word to us. As a creedal church body, we recognize that God’s word is not only a word to be received, but a word to be confessed back to him. As the Spirit works through the word, he forms and shapes us as God’s confessing people. It has a transformative effect. We belong to Christ and his word does not leave us unchanged.

Christ And American Culture- Some Biblical Reflections, Paul Raabe

Concordia Pages

Going beyond H. Richard Neibuhr’s famous paradox model on “Christ and Culture,” Dr. Paul Raabe contends for a biblical, dynamic tension that exists between the culture and the faith. Using the image of a house, Raabe explores four “rooms” : (1) Christianity affirms culture in some respects; (2) Christianity opposes culture in some respects; (3) Christianity leavens culture in some ways; and (4) Christianity uses cultural forms to communicate its message. Each of the four rooms needs to be lived in for maintaining the tension presented in the Scriptures as a faithful witness to the lordship of Christ.

“Daddy, Will Animals Be In Heaven?”- The Future New Earth, Paul Raabe

Concordia Pages

In this Concordia Pages Dr. Raabe has us focus on the earth as a new creation. He says “‘Daddy, will animals be in heaven?’ That is a common question and a good question. It gets at the big picture. What does the post-resurrection look like? What kind of eschatological future do you lay out before your people? What do you teach your people?”

Life With Yahweh After Death: How The Psalter’S References To Life After Death Cohere, Bill Tackmier

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

Tackmier, Bill J. “Life with Yahweh after Death: How the Psalter’s References to Life after Death Cohere.” Ph.D. diss., Concordia Seminary, 2020. 237 pp.

This dissertation demonstrates how seven Psalms passages that refer to life beyond death reflect a single, coherent view of postmortem existence held in ancient Israel. Although it has been argued by some over the past hundred years that four of the passages (Pss 6:6; 30:10; 88:10–12; and 115:17) reflect a time when Israel either did not believe in an afterlife or had a very limited view of postmortem existence, this dissertation argues that the seven passages …

“Visiting Iniquity Of Fathers Against Sons” In Exodus, Thomas Egger

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

Egger, Thomas J. “‘Visiting Iniquity of Fathers against Sons’ in Exodus.” Ph.D. diss., Concordia Seminary, 2018. 665 pp.

In two of the most important passages in Exodus (20:5 and 34:7), Yahweh describes himself as “visiting iniquity of fathers against sons, even against members of the third and fourth generations.” Missing in nearly every treatment of this phrase has been any sustained consideration of the phrase within the context of the Exodus narrative itself. Apart from such interpretive grounding, “visiting iniquity of fathers against sons” has shown itself susceptible to widely varied and contradictory readings and, especially, maximally problematizing readings which …

A Bible Study On Leviticus 19_1-2, 9-10, Joshua Ulm

Grapho : Concordia Seminary Student Journal

As he wrote, spoke, and marched in the name of civil rights, Martin Luther King Jr. constantly addressed the issue of poverty. It was his opinion that equal rights can never be fully realized until poverty and financial inequality are eliminated. Toward the end of his 1967 Southern Christian Leadership Conference Presidential Address, King said: “[L]et us go out with a divine dissatisfaction. Let us be dissatisfied until America will no longer have a high blood pressure of creeds and an anemia of deeds. Let us be dissatisfied until the tragic walls that separate the outer city of wealth and …

Lent 5 • Ezekiel 37:1–14 • April 6, 2014, Andrew Bartelt

Concordia Journal

The resurrection is coming: that is the goal, and it brings hope to a hopeless people, not just death but resurrection.

Proper 27 • Amos 5:18–24 • November 9, 2014, Richard Marrs

Concordia Journal

Through Amos, Yahweh roars judgment to the neighboring kingdoms around Judah and Israel.

Proper 24 • Isaiah 45:1–7 • October 19, 2014, William Carr Jr.

Concordia Journal

The clear point is that “God is God, and we are not,” nor is any human government. When we look at the world around us, watch or listen to the news, it is hard to find any truly righteous government at work, not even our own.

Proper 21 • Ezekiel 18:1–4, 25–32 • September 28, 2014, Kent Burreson

Concordia Journal

The preacher is encouraged to give attention to the rhetorical structure of the pericope that reconstructs a conversation between Yahweh and Israel through Ezekiel, although decidedly from God’s perspective.

Proper 20 • Isaiah 55:6–9 • September 21, 2014, Thomas Egger

Concordia Journal

God therefore calls all humanity to true repentance, that is, to abandon their own wicked thoughts and ways and to return to God in faith—for God’s ways include incomprehensible mercy toward sinners.

Covenant Relationships And The Editing Of The Hebrew Psalter : An Investigation Of The Relationship Between The Davidic Covenant And The Abrahamic And Mosaic Convenants As Reflected In The Editing Of The Psalter, Adam Daniel Hensley

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

Hensley, Adam, D. "Covenant Relationships and the Editing of the Hebrew Psalter: An Investigation of the Relationship between the Davidic Covenant and the Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants as Reflected in the Editing of the Psalter." Ph.D. diss., Concordia Seminary, 2015. 386 pp.

This dissertation examines the relationship between the Davidic covenant and Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants as it is reflected in the editorial shape and shaping of the Masoretic Psalter. It hypothesizes that editors understood these covenants as a theological unity, whose common fulfillment centers on the anticipated royal successor of David. The promises and obligations of the covenants would …

Honorable Shame: The Rhetorical Use Of Didactic Shame Discourse In Ezekiel 36:16-32, Ronald Mudge

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

Mudge, Ronald R. "Honorable Shame: The Rhetorical Use of Didactic Shame Discourse in Ezekiel 36:16-36" Ph.D. diss., Concordia Seminary, 2012.328 pp.

After promising Israel such wonderful gifts as a new heart and a return to the land, Ezek36:16-32 ends with a command for Israel to be ashamed. Biblical scholars have offered a number of different explanations for this unusual order without consensus.

A methodology that employs sociological interpretation and rhetorical analysis covers new ground and resolves the crux of Ezek 36:16-32. A basic word study demonstrates that primary shame lexemes in Ezekiel refer to low status as judged by an …

“Wait For Me”: Appreciating The Curious Juxtaposition Of Zephaniah 3:8 And 9, Bob Caldwell

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

When I started doctoral work, I had no intention of doing anything in the Latter Prophets. Perhaps it is my earlier accounting training, but wrestling with the details of the historical books and mining them for theological insights has always had my interest. The Latter Prophets involved the difficulties of understanding Hebrew poetry, searching for referents, and trying to make sense of a message that was delivered in a context to which I am barely connected. Unfortunately, one day I found myself without a dissertation topic (a previous topic idea proved to be unworkable). In the mercies of God, Dr. …

Beyond Justice: Death And The Retribution Principle In The Book Of Job, Varunaj Churnai

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

Churnai, Varunaj., “Beyond Justice: Death and the Retribution Principle in the Book of Job.” Ph.D. diss., Concordia Seminary, 2010. 232 pp.

In recent decades, scholars have tended to interpret what Job says about death either as part of the broader reading of the Old Testament about death, or by imposing ancient Near Eastern mythological concepts upon the text of Job, read apart from the Old Testament’s wisdom tradition. This dissertation attempts to redress the latter trend of interpretation by articulating that what Job says about death is related to Job’s struggle to understand his relationship to God in relation to …

My Son, Listen To The Instruction Of Your Father : An Analysis Of How The Father’S Rhetoric In Proverbs 1-7 Continues And Climaxes In Proverbs 8-9, Samuel Hsiao-Yung Liu

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

Liu, Hsiao-Yung (Samuel) "My Son, Listen to the Instruction of Your Father: An Analysis of How the Father Rhetoric in Proverbs 1-7 Continues and Climaxes in Proverbs 8-9." Ph.D. diss., Concordia Seminary, 2007. 200 pp.

This dissertation proposes the thesis that the father's rhetoric in Prov 1-7 continues and climaxes in Prov 8-9, thus supporting the unity of Prov 1-9. Although diverse voices and genres make the reading of Prov 1-9 difficult, there still exists the unifying perspective of the implied speaker in the text, which is the father's rhetoric,

Therefore, assuming that one single author or editor completed the …

Portraits Of Moses, John Sharp

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

What about different portraits of Moses? What can be said about how Moses is portrayed in the book of Exodus? How does that compare with modern retellings of the life of this great man of God? We will explore some of these issues here. We will begin with modern critical approaches to the text of Exodus. These approaches yield a certain picture or pictures of the man called Moses. Then the text of Exodus as it stands in the canon will be examined. It will yield its own portrayal of Moses. It will be argued here that the portrait of …

The Laments Of Integrity An Investigation Of Psalms 17, 101, And 26, Robert Gebel

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

Each Psalm states a basis for the Psalmist's appeal of integrity, i.e., a reason why he should have some sort of standing before Yahweh. Each appeal is constructed around one word that summarizes the appeal. Psalm 17 bases its appeal on righteousness, or that which Yahweh requires to be acceptable to him. Psalm101 is a song to integrity, or blamelessness, the lack of any transgression or impurity. In Psalm 26, the Psalmist addresses Yahweh the Judge and challenges him to find a verdict of innocence, or no basis for any charges of wrongdoing against him. These three appeals (righteousness, integrity, …

God's Power For The Believer, Andre Snavely

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

So the questions that will be examined in this paper include the following. Does God manifest His power in any way other than salvation, either through miracles to bring people to salvation or to bless those who are already saved? What is the purpose of God showing His power? What is the connection between God's power and faith and between His power and His righteousness? And finally, how does a biblical theology of God's power give an answer to those who demythologize His power into a social program? These and other questions are very much on the minds of Christians …

The Intercession Of The Prophet, Warren Graff

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The question brought to the forefront is this: Is intercession proper to the prophetic office? The thesis of this study is that intercession must be understood as proper to the prophetic office. Prophetic intercession on behalf of the people is to be understood with reference to the institution and nature of the prophetic office. This study will examine this subject by surveying particular accounts of prophetic intercession. This will be done by examining relevant texts, by critically considering relevant commentaries on these texts, and by drawing conclusions from these texts that might shed light on an understanding of the prophetic …

Isaiah's Oracle Against Philistia: An Exegetical And Historical Study Of Isaiah 14:28-32, Paul Wenz

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Isaiah's oracle against Philistia in 14:28-32 presents some unique problems to the exegete. Itis the only oracle with a chronological marker in Isaiah, i.e., it is dated at King Ahaz's death (v. 28), which raises questions of authorship for some. Chapter 1 introduces Isaiah's use of “Oracles against the Nations" (OAN) and specifically how Isaiah's oracle against Philistia is a good example of the genre, yet points out some of its unique characteristics. The translation of the pericope, with its exegetical details, is treated in chapter 2. Chapter 3 gives comments on the oracle and its setting, which is Isaiah's …

Remembrance And Worship In Israel-A Study Of Gerhard Von Rad's Theology Of Worship In The Old Testament, Brian Whittle

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

In this study we will attempt to establish a basis upon which these issues can properly be answered. The primary focus will be upon worship in the Old Testament, though to limit any study of worship to the time and writings before God incarnated Himself would be to answer inadequately any applicable question regarding worship in the modem context. Therefore, this study will also look to see how the analysis of worship in the Old Testament context is manifested in the New Testament. When the proper correlation is made, then one is ready to address the questions and concerns regarding …

O Come Our Wisdom From On High- An Introduction Into Wisdom Christology, Ralph Shorey

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

The purpose of this paper is not to tackle directly all the varying presuppositions held by Feminists in connection with Sophia Christology. Paul Wenz, in the Thanksgiving, 1994 issue of Concordia Student Journal has written an excellent article concerning this point.' Instead, this paper will deal with the following: (1) The general meaning of "wisdom" as it is commonly understood in Scripture, (2) an analytical study of Proverbs 8:22-35 in order to see how Scripture has appropriated the name of Wisdom to Christ, and (3) a brief survey of Early Church History up to the Nicene Creed of 325 A.D. …

The Enemies Of God's People-A Comparison Of Pauline And Jewish Exegesis, Charles Schulz

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

In light of the current re-evaluation of points of identity and divergence between Pauline Christianity and Judaism, this thesis presents a study of how each religion applied a single motif from the Psalter: the enemies of God's people. We start from the obvious common ground, the Old Testament shared by both Paul and the Jew as their sacred text. The work focuses on the unique opportunity afforded by the text of Romans 3:9-20, where Paul cites the Old Testament depiction of the wicked enemies. Next, we survey how apocalyptic and rabbinic Judaism developed and employed the enemy theme. Our conclusion …

Use Of Ek Πι∑Τεω∑ In Romans And Galatians: The Significance Of Paul’S Choice Of Prepositions With Πι∑Τει∑ As Object And Its Bearing Upon Justification By Faith, Andrew John Spallek

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

In addressing the current debate concerning Paul's explanation of justification by faith as it pertains to Jews and to gentiles, the present study will examine the meaning of ὲκ πίστεως in Paul and its bearing on justification by faith. The approach to this examination will be rather complex. In order to arrive at a precise meaning for ὲκ πίστεως, it is essential that the word πίστις be thoroughly examined, especially its connection to the Old Testament concept of faith (אכזד). In order to differentiate between ὲκ πίστεως and other prepositional phrases with πίστις it will be necessary to examine the …

Isaiah's Damascus Oracle: Responding To International Threats, Harald Schoubye

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

I propose the following theses: (1) since Isaiah 17-18 fit under the same superscription we therefore should and can interpret them as one unit;(2) and that Isaiah 1-16 supplies the reader with the necessary information to interpret Isaiah 17-18 sufficiently. I believe we will find a unity supported by the composition of Isaiah 17-18, by the themes and metaphors in Isaiah 17-18, and through the events that Isaiah 17-18 describe.

The method that I will use to prove this thesis will be to study the information both external to the text and internal to it. First, I will seek to …

The Priesthood Of All The Baptized:An Exegetical And Theological Investigation, Thomas Winger

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

For all the emphasis placed on the "priesthood of all believers" as an article of faith, very little critical research has been done into its exegetical, dogmatic, and historical foundations. In his monumental study, John Elliott notes that a detailed exegetical treatment of 1Peter 2 had never before been done in the history of Christianity. 2 Yet he declines any attempt to relate his conclusions to a "dogma" of priesthood. The most extensive historical study, undertaken in two volumes by Cyril Eastwood, attempts to trace the influence of this doctrine in the history of the church, but it fails to …

The Holiness Of Yahweh In Conflict With The Holiness Of Baal Vis-À-Vis Mount Zion And Mount Zaphon, Reed Lessing

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The purpose of this study is to define the holiness of Yahweh and the holiness of Baal as they are related to physical, tangible mountains. Qds is25 a holistic idea, which includes both physical and spiritual aspects Brevard Childs sums up this thesis with these words: The Old Testament understanding of space was eschatological, not mythical. It looked to the future, not to the past. However, it chose a mythical category to express the tensions within this new spatial reality. The new space had as its content God's holiness, but it was formed in the midst of a profane and …

A Study Of Isaiah's Use Of Kabod, David Worcester

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The purpose of this study is to discover the theological significance of the word פָבוֹ ד as used in the Book of Isaiah. פָבוֹ ד , most often translated into English as "glory," is a term which encompasses such meanings as honor, fame, wealth, reputation, brightness, brilliance or splendor, and, when used in reference to God, heavenly brilliance, sublimity or magnificence.) Throughout Isaiah, the term פָבוֹ ד is utilized frequently, with reference to God, as well as to men and nations. It is the thesis of this study that, as the term is used throughout Isaiah, the term- פָבוֹ דbecomes …