Religion Commons^™

Use Of Sources In Ancient Compositions, James W. Barker

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

This essay contextualizes the Synoptic Gospels in terms of ancient writing materials and processes. Greco-Roman writers predominantly used waxed tablets and bookrolls, although codices emerged in the first century CE. Authors could recall texts from memory, but writers could also maintain visual contact when studying, collating, copying, quoting, or paraphrasing sources. Previous scholarship has highlighted the difficulties of interweaving multiple sources and rearranging their sayings and narratives. However, neither operation was unprecedented or overly complicated, as evinced by Septuagint recensions, Josephus’s Antiquities, and Tatian’s Diatessaron. Some writing processes were more complicated than others, but ancient authors did not always work …

Bibliography, James W. Barker

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Bibliography of publications by James W. Barker.

Wku Course Evaluations, James W. Barker

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Course evaluations for James W. Barker between Fall 2015 and Spring 2022.

Curriculum Vitae, James W. Barker

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Curriculum vitae of James W. Barker.

Eusebian Canon Ten In Codex Fuldensis, James W. Barker

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Eusebius of Caesarea innovated a system for locating Gospel parallels by sorting hundreds of sections into ten canons. Two centuries later, Victor of Capua produced Codex Fuldensis, a Vulgate New Testament replacing the separate Gospels with a harmony and the Eusebian apparatus. Whereas Eusebius’s Canon X demarcated unparalleled material, Victor’s scribe repeatedly wrote Canon X within episodes occurring in other Gospels. I argue that these paratextual solecisms illuminate the production of the codex. Victor occasionally wrote a single section number in the margin of his Vorlage to direct his scribe. The scribe then mislabeled the passage as Canon X. In …

Historical-Critical Methods, James W. Barker

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Historical criticism attempts to understand NT texts in their original contexts, free of later dogmatic presuppositions. This essay describes its traditional inquiries and methods as well as recent trends. The discussion divides into four sections: textual criticism, the Gospels and Jesus, Paul and his letters, and the limits of canon.

The Acts Of John Within The Johannine Corpus, James W. Barker

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

This essay reassesses the place of the Acts of John among other Johannine literature. Although the Gospel, three epistles, and Apocalypse were eventually deemed canonical, contemporary scholarship typically treats Revelation separately. Based on patristic testimony and manuscript materiality, I contend that not only the Apocalypse but also the Acts of John should be (re)incorporated alongside the Gospel and Epistles. Charles E. Hill has argued persuasively that the proto-orthodox were unafraid of the Fourth Gospel, despite its popularity among heterodox and heretical groups. I extend the same argument to the Acts of John.

Narrative Chronology Of Tatian's Diatessaron, James W. Barker

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

The Synoptics narrate a single Passover during Jesus’ ministry, whereas John’s Gospel spans three Passovers. The Diatessaron harmonized the Four Gospels, but previous scholarship has misapprehended Tatian’s chronology of Jesus’ ministry. The Diatessaron included all the Johannine festivals, but Tatian rearranged the order of events. Distinctively resolving a significant disagreement between John and the Synoptics, Tatian innovated a narrative sequence wherein Jesus’ temple disruption occurs at the second of three Passovers.

Tatian's Diatessaron And The Proliferation Of Gospels, James W. Barker

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Previous scholarship on the Diatessaron has asked whether Tatian intended to supplement or replace the fourfold gospel. This essay reconsiders the question by sketching a general theory of Gospel proliferation. Greek, Roman, and Jewish comparanda show that the proliferation and collection of similar works were common reading and writing practices. Accordingly, Gospel writers would not likely discard their sources, and Gospel readers would likely collect and compare multiple texts. On the supposition that ancient writers were attuned to their contemporary reading practices, Tatian likely would have expected the Diatessaron to be read alongside—not instead of—the fourfold gospel, as was the …

Teaching The Bible As A ̶S̶U̶P̶E̶R̶Natural Book, James W. Barker

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

This article addresses pedagogical practices concerning manuscript materiality in introductory biblical studies courses taught in the “Bible Belt.” A preponderance of these students reify the Bible by presuming its divine origins, and such deep reverence for the text can paradoxically preclude deep engagement with it. To emphasize the human manipulation of texts and writing materials, I present a confounding example of textual criticism to cultivate active reading and critical thinking as well as an understanding of ancient and medieval book culture.

Equivalence Of Kaige And Quinta In The Dodekapropheton, James W. Barker

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

The essay divides into four parts. First, I give examples of lesser and greater extents of kaige’s revision of the OG. Second, I discuss Justin Martyr’s use of kaige for the Minor Prophets. Sometimes Justin quoted kaige verbatim, but at other times he conflated it with the OG. Third, I reexamine the relationship between kaige and Quinta. Based on the extant evidence from Justin, Origen, and Jerome, one can reasonably conclude that kaige and Quinta were the same in the Dodekapropheton. The prevailing counterargument contends that kaige influenced Quinta no more than kaige also influenced Justin, the Coptic versions, Codex …

Ancient Compositional Practices And The Gospels: A Reassessment, James W. Barker

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Recent studies of ancient compositional practices and the Synoptic Problem have validated the Two-Source Hypothesis and challenged the “Augustinian,” Farrer–Goulder, and Griesbach Hypotheses. These studies conclude that, according to the Two-Source Hypothesis, subsequent evangelists would have adhered to the Greco-Roman conventions of working with one source at a time and not working backward through a text. The present essay adduces counterexamples such as the Greek Minor Prophets Scroll from Naḥal Ḥever, which predates the Gospels, and Tatian’s Diatessaron, which postdates the Gospels. Upon further examination, simultaneously accessing multiple sources and reordering those sources were established compositional practices in the first …

Written Gospel Or Oral Tradition? (John 3:3, 5), James W. Barker

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

It is widely assumed that the “born again” and “born of water and spirit” sayings in the Gospel of John, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Hippolytus, the Pseudo-Clementines, and the Apostolic Constitutions derive independently via oral tradition. This article demonstrates that the patristic sayings are based on the written Gospel of John.

Your Faith Has Saved You: A Literary Understanding Of The Relationship Between Physical Healings, Faith, And Salvation In Luke-Acts, James Benjamin Hussung

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The two-volume first-century work, Luke-Acts, presumably written by Paul’s sometime companion, Luke the physician, follows the story of Jesus’s birth, earthly ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension in the first volume and then the spread of Christianity from Jerusalem to Rome by the apostles in the second. Within this story lies a recurring motif of physical healings from various diseases and even death. These healings are predominantly performed by Jesus; however, in Acts especially, the apostles also perform healings similar to those of Jesus. Often, these physical healings are accompanied by faith, forgiveness of sins, and salvation. This thesis has two …

Reconstruction Of Kaige-Quinta Zechariah 9,9, James W. Barker

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Some of the non-LXX quotations of the Dodekapropheton in Justin Martyr’s Dialogue with Trypho match the kaige recension exactly. On that basis, the kaige has long been presumed the source behind Justin’s quotation of Zach 9,9 in Dial.53,3. This note clarifies that in Dial. 53,3 Justin was actually conflating the Old Greek and the kaige. By removing Justin’s redactions, the reconstructed kaige Zach 9,9 is identical to Origen’s quinta.

Looking Back: A Heavenly Library In Rural Butler County, Jonathan Jeffrey

SCL Faculty and Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

The Delay Of The Parousia As Reflected In 2 Thessalonians 2 With A Focus On Reexamining The Referential Meaning Of The Two Greek Participles, Τό Kαtεxov & Ό Kαtεxwv, Lonnie Darnell Ii

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This thesis examines the composition of 2 Thessalonians 2 and focuses specifically on the relationship of the participles Τό Kαtεxov and Ό Kαtεxwv to the chapter's main theme, the Parousia of Jesus Christ. The study begins with a discussion of the various interpretations given to solve the referential meanings of the participles (chapter one). This exploration of the various attempts of scholars to account for the participles concludes with the challenge to seek answers elsewhere.

To help situate and evaluate what the writer says in regard to the participles, it was necessary to reassess the role of 2 Thessalonians 2 …

A Study Of The Biblical Narrative Of Saul, Including Investigation Of The Folktale & Proverb As Genres Of Folk Narrative, Ervin Mason Jr.

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

A biblical passage from the Old Testament book of I Samuel is studied from the perspective of narrative, folktale, and proverb. The narrative account of Saul's becoming the first king of Israel, as depicted in I Sam. 9:1-10:16, is examined and found to be an example of traditional folk narrative. Using the work of Stith Thompson and Axel Olrik, the Saul narrative yields evidence indicating it is composed of traditional motifs and arranged in a manner reflecting traditional interpretation. Within the larger Hebrew narrative of the I Sam. 9:1-10:16 passage there is lodged a folktale. The folktale is found interspersed …

Literary Portraits Of The Pharisees In The Gospels Of Mark And Matthew, Michael R. Cosby

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Due to the often inadequate methodology employed by scholars studying the pre-A.D. 70 Pharisees, new approaches are needed for analyzing the primary sources. Careful attention must be given to the literary genres of the four ancient sources of information on the Pharisees: the Psalms of Solomon, the New Testament, the writings of Josephus, and the rabbinic literature. As an example of such sensitivity to the ancient authors’ purposes in writing and to the literary genres they employed in conveying their information, this study uses the Gospels of Mark and Matthew as test cases.

Careful analysis of authorial purpose, as revealed …

Narrative-Rhetorical Structures In Revelation: Developing A Thematic Model, J. Webb Mealy

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The rhetoric of narration employed by John in the composition of Revelation was analyzed as a key to interpretation. This analysis was carried out in the context of two test passages, 20:11-21:10 and 6:1-8:5. in the first passage, the single vision-scenes of the Last Judgment (20: 11-15) and the descent of the New Jerusalem (21:1-10) were examined for internal structure and mode of narration, and each was found to be structured in a relatively static, pictorial and descriptive mode rather than a temporal, event-oriented mode. Certain commonly alleged anomalies in the order of the text and other exegetical problems were …

The Influence Of Jewish Apocalyptic Literature On The Book Of Hebrews, Paul Schmidgall

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The Book of Hebrews has been interpreted from at least three religion historical angles: the Gnostic interpretation, the platonic/Philonic interpretation, and the apocalyptic interpretation. Since 1970, however, the apocalyptic interpretation is strongly favored. A study of the understanding of the writer of the book of Hebrews as pertaining to history (timo, the unity of history, the emphasis on the eschaton, the two-age motif), the concept of rest (katapausis), alleged Platonic dualism, Messianism, and angelology literature is the primary extra-biblical locus from which the writer of the Book of Hebrews draws.

The Tradition Of Qoheleth: A Study Of The Background To The Book Of Ecclesiastes, John Orndorff

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The book of Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes) is perhaps the most intriguing book in the Old Testament. Readers of every age can appreciate its theme, dealing with the futility of seeking to uncover life’s mystery. Yet Qoheleth has been interpreted in many different ways. The interpretations have ranged from tragic pessimism to a triumph of piety over skepticism. It is the contention of this thesis that a proper perspective on Qoheleth’s intention can best be gained in terms of the author’s use of tradition.

Qoheleth displays an awareness of such Hebrew traditions as Wisdom, the Pentateuch, Israelite history and the prophets. Though …

The Inheritance Of Israel The Influence Of The Synagogue Liturgy On The Worship Of The Early Church, Marjorie Matney

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In this paper I will undertake a study of the worship practices of two major religions, Judaism and Christianity, as they existed during the early days of the Christian Church. Through an examination of specific aspects of worship, historical developments, and especially the prayers of the two communities, I wish to demonstrate that the worship of the Synagogue community had a definite influence upon the liturgy and theology of the church.

Ua77/1 Western Alumnus, Vol. 45, No. 1, Wku Alumni Relations

WKU Archives Records

WKU alumni magazine. Features the following articles:

• Relevance - Western Environmental Programs
• The Environmental Sciences & Technology Building
• Snodgrass, Jim. Environmental Education
• Hurst, Teri. Carpooling - The Energy Saver
• Henderson, Ray. A Piece of the Rock - Football
• Mud, Rice and Camellias
• Conlin, Bill. Hilltoppers Classy Club - Football
• Feix, Jimmy. Western Pays Its Tribute to This Dear & Gentle Man - Nick Denes
• Bruce, Don. Teacher of the Year - Paula Morgan
• Ward, Robert. Letters from Ireland
• Conway, Sheila. A Dream Come True - Randy Yeager
• Remember When? - Faculty Photograph
• Governor Julian Carroll Honors Dr. L.Y. Lancaster for …

Literary Models In Biblical Hermeneutics, Robert Drake

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In this paper we will examine, in survey fashion the hermeneutical programs formulated by supernatural orthodoxy,¹ the natural religion school,² and the attempts to find an alternative to these in the post-Enlightenment period of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. A preliminary overview is in order to map out the direction of the discussion and to suggest a common uncritical assumption held by all major programs, viz, the use of non-biblical literary models for interpreting the immanent character of the Scriptures.

1. Orthodoxy has reference to the Protestant interpretation of the Bible which accepted the possibility of divine intervention …

Ua3/3 Hearing, Believing, Doing & Being, Kelly Thompson

WKU Archives Records

Memo from Dero Downing to Kelly Thompson regarding Thompson's speaking engagement at the State Street Methodist Church. The memo includes Liberty Men's Bible Class membership list. Speech delivered to the Liberty Men's Bible Class.

Ua37/23 Whas Broadcast No. 63, Whas, Western Kentucky University, Earl Moore

WKU Archives Records

Script for weekly WKU broadcast on WHAS radio. This show included Earl Moore, Paul Garrett, Horace McMurtry, Finley Grise, John Vincent, Franz Strahm and Helen Hancock.

Ua3/1/3 Scrapbook, Wku President's Office - Cherry

WKU Archives Records

Scrapbook created by Southern Normal School president Henry Cherry regarding anti-cigarette league, manufacturing in the South and education.

• A Beautiful Thought, p. 63
• A Divided Heart, Hosea 10:2, p. 63
• A Fickle Life, p. 42
• Anti-Cigarette League, p. 49
• As a Beacon Light – Vitae-ore, p. 89
• Awarding Business College Diplomas, p. 47
• Awarding November College Diplomas, p. 37
• Be Ready Pa, p. 2
• Bogus Advertising, p. 60
• Brilliant Sayings of Robert Ingersoll, p. 71
• Capital Turning to the South, p. 85
• Carnegie, Andrew, p. 65
• Charge to the Pastor, p. 64
• Cherry, Henry. The Balancing Pole, p. 253
• Cigarette …

Ua3/1/4 Speeches & Ideas Book, Henry Cherry

WKU Archives Records

Notebook created by Henry Cherry entitled Talks Made at Morning Exercises. It contains handwritten speeches, clippings of sermons, poetry, cartoons and illustrations. Many pages were blank, those pages were not digitized. Page numbers match pdf file.

• A Dream Dreamed Over 37
• A Proposition from Epictetus 58
• A Railroad Man’s Prayer 2
• A Scientific Demonstration 54
• A Valuable Reminder, Ram’s Horn, nd 90
• A Vision, np, nd 37
• A Wasted Life 55
• An Important Question, Ram’s Horn, nd 86
• Bab’s Liberal Sermon – Worship in Church & In Green Fields Compared, np, 7/30/1896 7
• Baptist & Reflector, Vol. X, No. 9, …

Western Predestinarian Baptist, Kentucky Library Research Collections

Research Collections

Newsletter for the Western Predestinarian Baptist; issued from Charleston, IL and edited and published by R. M. Newport, with sermons and letters addressing the issues of sovereign grace, election, predestination, reprobation, justification, sanctification, perseverance and preservation and judgment. Agents for Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri, Tennessee, Ohio and other states are listed.