Religion Commons^™

A Community Centered By Love: A Linguistic Approach To The Theology Of Paul's Instruction For The Corinthian Body, Cadence Moore

Honors Projects

This article appropriates elements of M.A.K. Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) to analyze the Apostle Paul’s communication with the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 12-14. The linguistic evidence of the text reveals that Paul’s instructions guide the Corinthians to order their community through love, imitating the Trinity’s nature of diversity and unity. The final section translates Paul’s teachings to a modern context using Richard B. Steele’s article, “Disability and the Beloved Community,” a reframing of how Christian communities interact with and not only include persons with disabilities but fully incorporate their diverse gifts into the church body.

Elementary New Testament Greek, Owen Ewald

Faculty Open Access Books

This open-access textbook helps students learn to read New Testament Greek at the elementary level. It includes clear, concise explanations of grammar and syntax, helpful examples, and essential vocabulary, with no assumption of previous language study, and it does not require accents for most forms. At the end of each of its twenty chapters, students will find short Greek-language episodes from the life of a fictional early Christian family of Jewish ancestry, short readings from the Greek New Testament and Septuagint, and review/homework exercises that can help reinforce new concepts and vocabulary. This book can help students prepare to read …

Thy Kingdom Come: A Biblical Theology Of Social Justice Movements, Chloe Guillot

Honors Projects

Over the course of the last century, there have been three identifiable social justice movements within America that have had implications for both broader society and the church: abolition and Civil Rights, feminism, and LGBTQ+ inclusion. The American church has often treated these societal shifts as cultural trends that are in opposition to the desires of God, however, these shifts can conversely be seen as evidence of the ways that the Holy Spirit is presently working within society to move the culture and the church toward God’s ultimate will for liberation and justice on Earth. These social justice movements that …

Address Of The Warrioress: Old Testament Warfare And Women's Role In Wartime Role In W, Madeline Ruby Nielsen

Seattle Pacific Seminary Theses

This thesis examines the manners and methods employed in the battles of Old Testament passages and what they reveal about the spiritual formation of God’s people in times of combat. Paralleled with this examination, this thesis analyzes certain female figures who have played a significant role in Old Testament narratives of combat and violence. Through this study, the analysis of female figures reveal how their character and/ or actions impacted the precipitation of warfare, participation in military victory, and finally establishing their own testimonies that challenge the implications and integrity of the Biblical master narratives.

Fear And Loathing In The Technological City, Michael Paulus

SPU Works

This presentation brings together three interpreters of the city—Jacques Ellul, Hunter S. Thompson, and John of the Apocalypse—to reflect on the future of our technological society. It contrasts rejections of the city, found in Ellul’s The Meaning of the City (1970) and Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1972), with an affirmation of the technological city found in the Apocalypse of John.

Evangelism - Sharing The Gospel At Work (Overview), Theology Of Work Project, Bill Peel, Leah Archibald, Randy Kilgore

Theology of Work Project

• The Mission of Sharing the Gospel
• We Are Called to Serve as Christ’s Ambassadors
  • Four Ways to Serve as Christ's Ambassador at Work
    • Sharing the Gospel Through Competence
    • Sharing the Gospel Through Character
    • Sharing the Gospel by Showing Concern
    • Sharing the Gospel Through Wise Conversation
  • A Final Encouragement for Ambassadors of Christ

Following The Guide: A Wilderness Theology Of Youth Ministry, Rachel M. Weisz

Honors Projects

Scripture offers readers a unique characterization of wilderness spaces and provides us with a great deal of information about what to expect. This discussion traces various scriptural narratives of encounter with God in the wilderness, offering the reader a model for what a wilderness experience of God may entail, and then turns to more current conversation about wilderness youth ministry. The project traces current research of fields that are tangentially related to wilderness youth ministry including wilderness therapy, outdoor adventure education, and camp ministry, and seeks to highlight the ways that they can enhance, alter, and confirm various practices within …

'We Were Hoping': The Emmaus Road Encounter As A Novel Approach To Faith-Science Dialogue, Harold A. Laurence V

Seattle Pacific Seminary Theses

This thesis proposes a novel paradigm for faith-science dialogue, drawing a Biblical analogy between two disciples’ Emmaus Road encounter with the risen Jesus (Luke 24:13-35) and contemporary faithful scientists wrestling with narrative conflict between the findings of science and the confession of faith. For science’s reading public, science serves as an alternative mythmaking discourse, whose narratives may indeed conflict with faith. This thesis proposes that theology ought to deploy Biblical preaching to resolve such narrative conflicts. To guide this process, this thesis proposes that Jesus’ two responses to the troubles of the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35) …

Competition And Work (Overview), Theology Of Work Project, Greg Forster

Theology of Work Project

• Competition Is Essential in Work
  • Competition Gives People the Choice That Empowers Economic Productivity
  • Competition Has a Place in the Bible
• Competition Can Hurt People and Societies
• Competition as Cooperation Is the Solution
  • Competition as Cooperation Serves Customers
  • Competition as Cooperation Serves Society
  • Competition as Cooperation Serves Competitors
  • Competition as Cooperation Sometimes Requires Self-Sacrifice
  • Competition as Cooperation Requires Formation
• Loving Our Neighbors Through Competition as Cooperation

Women Workers In The New Testament, Theology Of Work Project, Alice Matthews

Theology of Work Project

• Women Happily Accept Significant Work (Luke 1)
• Women Make Jesus’ Work Possible (Luke 4:14-19)
• Jesus' Teachings Include Women
• The Businesswoman Lydia (Acts 16)
• The Intellectual Damaris (Acts 17:17)
• The Businesswoman Phoebe (Romans 16:1-2)
• The Tentmaker Priscilla (Acts 18:2)
• The Jewish Palace Insider and Benefactor Junia (Romans 16:7)
• Conclusions About Women Workers in the New Testament

Women Workers In The Old Testament, Theology Of Work Project, Alice Matthews

Theology of Work Project

• God Created Woman as an Ezer Kind of Helper (Genesis 2:18)
• Genesis 3 and the Birth of Sin
• Shiphrah and Puah: Two Ezer Midwives Defy the King (Exodus 1:8-22)
• Rahab: Diverse Situations Require Ezer Work (Joshua 2)
• Deborah: An Ezer Woman Equipped to Lead (Judges 4-5)
• Ruth: The Ezer Daughter-in-Law
• Abigail: An Ezer Ranch Wife Saves Her Household From Disaster (1 Samuel 25)
• Huldah: A Prophet and Teacher (2 Kings 22)
• Esther: A Harem Girl Grows Into a Powerful Queen (Esther 4)
• Lady Wisdom and the "Beginning of Wisdom" (Proverbs 1:20-32; 9:10)
• Lady Wisdom in Street Clothes (Proverbs 31)

'What Do You Want Me To Do For You?': Request And Relinquishment In Mark 10:35-52, Rebeccah Kay Buell

Seattle Pacific Seminary Theses

The gospels are replete with examples of individuals who approach Jesus with a specific request. Not only are these requests welcomed, but Jesus also instructs his followers on the importance of asking (Matt. 7:7-11; Luke 11:9-13). However, we also see in the gospels that not every request that is brought to Jesus is answered affirmatively. Why, then, the emphasis on asking? Does making requests of Jesus play a larger role than simply receiving or not receiving that which has been requested?
This thesis examines two accounts from the gospel of Mark where Jesus is approached with a specific petition. One …

Jesus-Immanuel: Matthew's Narrative Christology Of Divine Presence, Jacob Michael Carlson

Seattle Pacific Seminary Theses

Many Christological studies of Matthew’s Gospel, while giving particular attention to titular analyses, fail to account for one of Matthew’s most ingenious and expansive literary devices. In the opening chapter of his narrative, Matthew tells of a messiah who will be called “Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” and also be called “Immanuel, which means God with us.” The entire gospel narrative comes to a close with Jesus-Immanuel standing in the presence of his disciples and saying to them “I am with you always.” That Matthew frames his entire narrative with this Immanuel motif of divine …

Gleaning As A Transformational Business Model For Solidarity With The Poor And Marginalized, Bruce D. Baker

SPU Works

“Gleaning” refers to the mandate within the Mosaic Law that harvesters should leave behind “gleanings” for the sake of the poor who subsist on the literal and figurative margins of society. Although this biblical mandate is generally neglected and considered irrelevant in modern business practice, it holds powerful lessons to help guide modern businesses into transformational solidarity with the poor and marginalized. This paper interprets the biblical significance of gleaning, to discern how the principles of gleaning, though rooted in ancient agrarian culture, might be applicable to modern business which is generally far removed from agriculture. The exegesis and analysis …

Balancing Rhythms Of Rest And Work (Overview), Theology Of Work Project, David Kim, Leah Archibald

Theology of Work Project

• Created to Rest: Entering Into Joyful Communion With God
• Commanded to Rest: The Impact of the Fall
• Why People Can’t Rest – Human Nature Revealed in the Hebrew Scriptures
• How Rest is Restored – Sabbath & Jesus’ Redemption in the New Testament
  • Is a Weekly Sabbath Observance Expected of Christians?
• How Christians Can Experience Deeper Rest
• Rest and Work: Conclusions

'The Pain Of Being Faithful To The Word Of The Lord': An Exegetical Study Of Jeremiah's Confessions, Rebekah J. Lindberg

Seattle Pacific Seminary Theses

The Confessions of Jeremiah are a collection of six first-person poems in the Book of Jeremiah: Jeremiah 11:18-23; 12:1-6, 15:10-21; 17:14-18; 18:19-23 and 20:7-13. This thesis is an exegetical study of all six Confessions, with a focus on the final form of the book of Jeremiah and the overarching narrative found within the final presentation of the text. Throughout the thesis I have argued that the Confessions fulfill a dual purpose: a communal purpose and an individual purpose. The communal purpose is to represent the pain of the remnant who remain faithful to word of the LORD despite persecution by …

'Who Are You?' Reading And Judging Character In Genesis 26:34-28:9, Nathaniel Q. Hoover

Theses and Dissertations

Genesis 27—the episode where Jacob is disguised as Esau in order to take his blessing—is a morally difficult text. But even though the blessing is gained by deception, no judgment is explicitly made by the characters, by God, or by the narrator. Because of this narrative “gap” of judgment, the reader is invited to participate in the task of judging the characters, either positively or negatively. Using narratological techniques to examine gaps and characterization, this thesis argues that each character—Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and Jacob—can be interpreted in both positive and negative ways. This means that if a reader leans toward …

Every Good Endeavor Author Katherine Alsdorf On Why Faith@Work Is Important, Katherine Leary Alsdorf

Theology of Work Project

More than ever before, humanity is in a crisis over work. People change jobs and careers 6 times or more in their lives. Robotics will threaten even professional level vocations over the next decade. Darwinian competition trumps teamwork and human dignity. Our work – our commitment to bring God’s truth, love, and human dignity to the work lives of all people – has never been so important! How can we better equip ourselves for our work, for our calling? How do we help others work in a world that is increasingly unaware of and even hostile to the hope of …

Why Do We Need To Know What The Bible Says About Work?, Theology Of Work Project, William Messenger

Theology of Work Project

by William Messenger

Executive Editor, Theology of Work Project

Adapted from a talk at the Faith@Work Summit, October 24, 2014

Probably everyone interested in faith and work knows some Bible passages related to work, but did you realize that those passages are not rare highlights, but representative samples of the Bible? To put it in biblical words, “The cattle on a thousand hills” are the Lord’s, not just the temple on the hill of Zion. Once I took off my church-polarized lenses, I saw that a lot of the Bible has to do with work. It’s impossible to summarize 859 …

Best Biblical Career Advice From Joseph, Bruce D. Baker

SPU Works

The biblical character whose story best illustrates what we might think of today as a “career” is Joseph. His story fills roughly nine chapters in Genesis (37 – 45), a very large portion of the history of the patriarchs. Joseph’s path is an epic story of rising from the bottom to the top. In terms of vision, management and public service, he must be considered a standout success. But is this an example of “career”? It depends what you mean by “career.” Although the Bible does not offer much by way of prescriptive career advice, we can glean practical wisdom …

Joshua & Judges And Work, Theology Of Work Project, Alice Camille, Sean Mcdonough

Theology of Work Project

1. Introduction to Joshua and Judges
2. Conquest (Joshua 1-12)
   • Joshua (Joshua 1)
   • The Land (Joshua 2-12)
     • Working the Land (Joshua 5)
     • Conquering the Land (Joshua 6-12)
     • Remembering God’s Presence in the Land (Joshua 4:1-9)
3. Coordination (Joshua 13-22)
4. Covenant (Joshua 23-24)
5. Chaos (Judges 1-21)
   • Failing the Driving (Out) Test (Judges 1-2)
   • The Judges (Judges 3-16)
     • Deborah (Judges 4-5)
     • The Economic Effects of War (Judges 6:1-11)
     • Gideon’s Ambivalent Leadership (Judges 6:12 – 8:35)
     • The Judges’ Failure of Leadership (Judges 9-16)
   • Israel Falls Apart (Judges 17-21)
     • The prosperity gospel unmasked in early form (Judges 17)
     • Human depravity and the complicity of religious authorities unveiled …

Psalms And Work, Theology Of Work Project, Duane Garrett, Lindsay Wilson, Russell Fuller

Theology of Work Project

1. Introduction to Psalms
2. Book 1 (Psalms 1–41)
   • Personal Integrity in Work (Psalm 1)
   • Obedience to God (Psalm 2)
   • Foes and opponents (Psalms 4, 6, 7, 17)
   • Authority (Psalm 8)
   • Business ethics (Psalms 15, 24, 34)
   • Trusting God in the face of institutional pressure (Psalm 20)
   • God’s presence in our struggles at work (Psalm 23)
   • God’s guidance in our work (Psalm 25)
3. Book 2 (Psalms 42–72)
   • God’s presence in the midst of disaster (Psalm 46)
   • Anxiety when unscrupulous people succeed (Psalms 49, 50, 52, 62)
4. Book 3 (Psalms 73–89)
   • The workplace consequences of personal failings (Psalm 73)
   • The economic consequences of …

Samuel, Kings & Chronicles And Work, Theology Of Work Project, Jill Baker, Brian Housman, Alice Matthews

Theology of Work Project

1. Introduction to Samuel, Kings and Chronicles
   • The historical background of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles
2. From Tribal Confederation to Monarchy: 1 Samuel
   • The perils of inherited authority (1 Samuel 1-3)
   • The perils of treating God like a good luck charm (1 Samuel 4)
   • The opportunities that arise from working faithfully (1 Samuel 5-7)
   • When children disappoint (1 Samuel 8:1-3)
   • The Israelites ask for a king (1 Samuel 8:4-22)
   • The Task of Choosing a King (1 Samuel 9-16)
   • David's rise to power (1 Samuel 17-30)
     • Abigail defuses a crisis between David and Nabal (1 Samuel 25)
3. The Golden Age of the Monarchy: …

Romans And Work, Theology Of Work Project, John Lewis, Jane Patterson

Theology of Work Project

1. Introduction to Romans
2. The Gospel of Salvation—Paul’s Vocation (Romans 1:1-17)
3. Our need for salvation in life and work (Romans 1:18-1:32)
4. All have sinned (Romans 2-3)
5. Judgment, justice and faith (Romans 3)
   • Judgment, the source of broken relationships (Romans 3:1-20)
   • God’s justice, the solution to our false judgments (Romans 3:21-26)
   • Faith/Faithfulness, the entry to God’s justice (Romans 3:27-31)
6. An exemplary faith: Abraham trusted God’s promises (Romans 4)
7. Grace reigns for eternal life through Jesus Christ (Romans 5)
   • Grace transforms suffering in our life in Christ (Romans 5:1-11)
   • Grace and righteousness lead to eternal life through Christ (Romans 5:12-21)
8. Walking in Newness …

The General Epistles And Work, Theology Of Work Project, Kelly Liebengood, Al Erisman

Theology of Work Project

1. Introduction to General Epistles
2. James - Faith Works
   • Depending on God (James 1:1-18)
   • Working for the Benefit of Others in Need (James 1:22-28)
   • Faith and Work(s) (James 2:14-26)
   • Discriminating Against the Poor and Currying Favor with the Rich (James 2:1-13)
   • Listening Well and Taming the Tongue (James 1:19-21 and 3:1-12)
   • Selfish Ambition and Investing in Others (James 3:13-4:12)
     • Selfish Ambition and Submission to God (James 3:13-4:12)
     • Investing In Others (James 4:1-12)
   • Business Forecasting (James 4:13-17)
   • Business Oppression (James 5:1-6)
   • Waiting for the Harvest (James 5:7-20)
3. 1 Peter - Serving the World as Resident Alien Priests
   • Resident Aliens and Priests (1 …

Interview: Katherine Leary Alsdorf, Katherine Leary Alsdorf, David W. Gill

Theology of Work Project

Katherine Leary Alsdorf is co-author with Timothy Keller of Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work (Dutton, 2012). She came to Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City in 2002 to establish the Center for Faith and Work to help people nurture a meaningful integration between their faith and their professional work. Prior to this ministry role at Redeemer, she spent 20 years in the high tech industry. In California, she served as CEO of Pensare, an online management education company, and CEO of One Touch Systems, a hardware/software products company. Before that, she was President of Private …

Finance Overview, Theology Of Work Project, Leonard D. Van Drunen

Theology of Work Project

1. What Finance Is
2. God’s Purposes for Finance
   • Finance Helps Reveal the Glory of God’s Creation
   • Finance Helps Us Fulfill the Creation Mandate to Be Good Stewards
   • Finance Can Be a Means of Justice and Love
3. The Foundations of Finance are Created by God
   • We are Timebound
   • We are Social
   • We are Heterogeneous
   • We Act as Agents
   • We Make Promises
   • We Are Not Omniscient
   • We Create Resources for a Future that We Do Not Know
   • We Are Risk Takers
   • Conclusion to the Foundations of Finance are Created by God
4. Financial Institutions
   • Currency
   • Intermediaries
     • Can we really love someone through intermediaries?
   • Instruments …

The Equipping Church Overview, Theology Of Work Project, Alistair Mackenzie

Theology of Work Project

1. What is God’s Mission in the World?
2. How does human work connect to God’s work?
3. What does this mean for people’s daily work?
4. How can we equip our people for God’s work in the world?
   • Equipping churches have a vision of God at work where their people work
   • Equipping churches actively hunt for examples and resources
   • Equipping churches connect daily work to worship
   • Equipping churches address the opportunities and challenges their people face at work
   • Equipping churches invest resources in equipping people for daily work
   • Equipping churches create structures to sustain this ministry
   • Equipping churches empower and collaborate with people …

A Foreign Text In A Foreign Land, Dylan A. Vernon

Honors Projects

The Bible has passed through different languages and cultures, and in the process the words of the text lose their original meaning and gain new meanings. This process influences the way that commentators interpret the biblical text. This study looks at the Hebrew verb פתה that appears in Hosea 2:16, the Greek verb πλανω that translates פתה in Hosea 2:16, and the Latin verb lacto that translates פתה in Hosea 2:16. This study then looks at the interpretations of Hosea 2:16 by three commentators, Rabbi Shlomo ben Issac (Rashi), Theodore of Mopsuestia, and Nicholas of Lyra. Rashi read the Hebrew …

'To Open Eyes That Are Blind . . . ' [Isa 42:7]: Senses, Idolatry, And Unity In Isaiah, Kelsie Job

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the theme of sense-lessness throughout Isaiah in connection with the sin of idolatry and prophetic expectation that Israel and Judah will one day be reunited. It explores Isaiah's use of a metaphorical trope to communicate the spiritual reality of Israel's insensibility and Isaiah's anticipation of YHWH's restorative action on their behalf. The restoration of Israel's senses portrays Israel's metaphorical features (eyes, ears, hearts) finally fulfilling their proper purpose before God (seeing, hearing, understanding), which are representative of the deeper spiritual reality that they at last will find their proper function as the people of God. Their senses …