Religion Commons^™

God Is His Own Interpreter, And He Will Make It Plain, Barry Fike

Barry D. Fike

Religion, in its mystical, emotional or practical expression is, to me at any rate, of little value if divorced from intellectual integrity. I think that the reason “many believers” are so repulsive is that they don’t really have faith but a kind of false security. They operate by the slide rule, and the Church for them is not the body of Christ but the poor man’s insurance system. It’s never hard for them to believe because actually they never think about it. Unfortunately the reality is simply that it is not easy to get vast masses of men to think …

Prophetic Conflict And Yahwistic Tradition : A Synthetic Study Of True And False Prophecy (Jeremiah 26-29), M. Sashi Jamir

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Walking With God Or The Devil,...Which? And The King's Gold Mine, Bud Robinson

Heritage Material

No abstract provided.

Old Testament Costume Resource Guide, Rory R. Scanlon

Faculty Publications

This report offers visual costume research support for artists working on Old Testament Bible projects, with an historical overview of Mesopotamia and how to understand its historical clothing pieces, an annotated listing of the best research sources, a list of garment and fabric terms for the 4000 BC to 0 AD period, and sample sketches from historical artifacts to suggest how to interpret the original research images the artist will encounter.

A Gadamerian Analysis Of Roman Catholic Hermeneutics: A Diachronic Analysis Of Interpretations Of Romans 1:17-2:17, Steven Floyd Surrency

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Catholic exegesis of scriptural and dogmatic statements has become rigid in the period following the Enlightenment. Gadamer’s account of philosophical hermeneutics, when applied to the Catholic situation, elaborates how Catholic exegesis might return to its premodern, freer form. Following Gadamer, I hold that to understand is to fuse the horizon of the old with today’s horizon using the preunderstandings that have been provided by the tradition while at the same time bringing the questions of today into dialogue with the text.

Examples of how Romans 1 and 2 have been interpreted historically serve to support this thesis. Origen reads Romans …

Covenant, Kingship, Grace, Sacrifice, And Prophetism In The Old Testament, Rickie S. Scott

The Kabod

This essay examines the major themes of covenant, kingship, grace, sacrifice, and prophetism that reoccur throughout the Old Testament and contribute to a proper understanding of the ancient biblical text. Through covenant, God reveals his divine nature and relates to his people. Through kingship, God reveals his plan for Israel. Through grace, God loves his chosen people and shows them mercy, and through sacrifice, God cleanses and sanctifies the Israelites. Finally, through prophetism, God discloses his divine calling for the Israelites. Each of these themes exposes God’s self-revelation and contributes to an enhanced understanding of the Old Testament.

The Five Main Themes Of The Old Testament, Laura E. Mumme

The Kabod

Definition and history of the Old Testament themes of covenant, kingship, grace, sacrifice, and prophetism.

Luke's Legato Historiography : Remembering The Continuity Of Salvation History Through Rhetorical Transitions, David Brack

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Bible Stories No One Talks About, Mark Verbruggen

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"These are real people, messed up and sinful people, and yet they are the ones used by God to advance his Kingdom of grace and truth in Jesus Christ."

Posting about dealing with ­­­­­­­­the unpleasant narratives in the Bible from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/bible-stories-no-one-talks-about/

As It Was In The Beginning: An Intertextual Analysis Of New Creation In Galatians, 2 Corinthians, And Ephesians, Mark D. Owens

Faculty Books

Paul's comments regarding the new creation in 2 Cor 5:17 and Gal 6:15 have tended to be understood somewhat myopically. Some argue the phrase "new creation" solely refers to the inward transformation believers have experienced through faith in Jesus Christ. Others argue this phrase should be understood cosmologically and linked with Isaiah's "new heavens and new earth" Still others advocate an ecclesiological interpretation of this phrase that views Paul referring to the new community formed around Jesus Christ. In As It Was in the Beginning, Mark Owens argues that the concept of "new creation" should be understood (like the gospel) …

How Should We Read The Bible?, Benjamin J. Lappenga

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Embrace the fact that passages have a range of valid interpretations."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­ways to read the Bible from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/how-should-we-read-the-bible/?

Cultivating A Biblical Imagination, Jason Lief

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"There are parts of the Bible that are puzzling, difficult, and downright mysterious."

Posting about being open to God's Word in new ways from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/cultivating-a-biblical-imagination/

Why Christians Don't Read The Bible, Aaron Baart

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"How we imagine God will also determine another key aspect of the life of the Christian--how and how much we read our Bible."

Posting about ways to reinvigorate Bible reading from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/why-christians-dont-read-the-bible/

Objectivity, Story, And The Bible, Neal Deroo

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"The power of these stories comes from the unique way they plug into human living."

Posting about the truth of Christianity from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/objectivity-story-and-the-bible/

Book Review: Deuteronomy And Exhortation In Hebrews, Ched E. Spellman

Biblical and Theological Studies Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Answering Your Question: Creeds And Confessions, Wayne A. Kobes

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"The church could well benefit from a clear, contemporary statement of the essentials of the Christian faith in language that speaks to 21st century people."

Posting about the value of new creeds and confessions in the church from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/answering-your-question-creeds-and-confessions/

Life, Name, Identity, Jeff Ploegstra

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Being pro-life means taking seriously that God intended blessing on all 'that has the breath of life in it.'"

Posting about the value of human life from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/life-name-identity/

Learning From The Giants : Life And Leadership Lessons From The Bible, By John C. Maxwell, Paul Wilmot

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

LEARNING FROM THE GIANTS: LIFE AND LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM THE BIBLE, By John C. Maxwell. New York, NY: Hachette Book Group (2014) Paperback, 160 pages

"Direct scriptural support is provided to facilitate ongoing personal study of these leaders, allowing for extended exploration of the lives of these mentors to see tangible examples of where the lessons were learned. Working from the assumption that we still experience similar challenges and therefore will benefit from applying these lessons today, Maxwell helps us to explore a combination of life and leadership lessons. As we learn, we recognize that the life lessons we learn …

The Real Presence Of Christ In The Eucharist, Samuel French

Aristos

The dogmatic constitution Lumen Gentium describes the Eucharist as “the source and summit of the Christian life.” It is not hard to imagine then, that this subject of principal importance is still being debated two millennia after its institution. Even when it was taught from the lips of Jesus himself, there were many disciples who grumbled saying: “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” (Jn 6:60) Unfortunately, this is still the case today. There are some among the faithful who no longer believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and others who simply misunderstand …

Book Review: Hebrews And Divine Speech, Ched E. Spellman

Biblical and Theological Studies Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Bible, Same-Sex Sexual Activity, And The Parameters For Flourishing (Part 3), A. Thornhill

A. Chadwick Thornhill

No abstract provided.

The Bible, Same-Sex Sexual Activity, And The Parameters For Flourishing (Part 2), A. Thornhill

A. Chadwick Thornhill

No abstract provided.

The Bible, Same-Sex Sexual Activity, And The Parameters For Flourishing (Part 1), A. Thornhill

A. Chadwick Thornhill

No abstract provided.

Dismantling A Clobber Text: An Engaged Critique Of Romans 1:26–27, Matthew Michels

Masters Essays

This paper grapples with the traditional anti-queer reading of Rom 1:26–27, which purportedly forbids Christians from entering lesbian and gay relationships in some real sense, if not entirely. I begin by sketching this traditional reading by referring to antiqueer interpretations of Rom 1:26–27 that are top hits in today’s online world; subsequently, I suggest the direction for a standard historical critique of the traditional reading by arguing for the fundamental incongruence of ancient Greco-Roman and modern Western categories of gender and sexuality. Finally, instead of establishing my own historical-critical exegesis of the text, I discuss the necessity of engaged exegesis. …

Divorce And A Broken Home, Jeff Ploegstra

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Reflections on the encyclical letter "Laudato Si" of the Holy Father Francis on care for our common home."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­reframing all of creation to bring glory to God from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/divorce-and-a-broken-home/

How To Read The Book Of Revelation In The Local Church: Overcoming Obstacles And Revealing Messages, Daljin Kim

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Way Forward: An Alternative Way For Understanding What The Bible Is And How It Is Understood, Joshua Scott

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Christianity in America is in decline. Millennials are leaving the evangelical churches of their youth in droves, but they aren’t leaving the idea of God or spirituality. Statistics show that the theology of the fundamentalist/conservative evangelical church is contributing to this exodus of Millennials, particularly when it comes to issues of environment, sexuality, and violence. This thesis explores the roots of fundamentalist theology—particularly their understanding of what the Bible is, and how it is to be understood—and how this theology is practically worked out in their approach to the three issues mentioned above. Finally, I offer an alternative framework for …

Swinging Bridge - April 16, 2015, Joel Hoover

Student Newspapers & Magazines

No abstract provided.

Establishing A Solid Foundation Through An Identity In Christ, Matthew S. Pedersen

Senior Honors Theses

An identity in Christ is the only solid foundation on which adolescents or adults can build their life. Identity is a major building block in a person’s life. Individuals with an unhealthy identity as a result of the culture will need to make many changes to this foundation in order to keep an accurate view of their lives. The definition of identity can show examples of negative consequences of an unhealthy identity. An identity based on the views of culture can show areas of weakness. Examining what the Bible says about man before and after a relationship with Christ will …

The Form And Function Of Mark 1:1-15, Bradley T. Johnson

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.