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Eschatological Emphases In 1 Thessalonians And Galatians: Distinct Argumentative Strategies Related To External Conflict And Audience Response, John Anthony Dunne

Seminary Faculty Publications

1 Thessalonians is generally believed to be Paul’s earliest extant letter. Depending on the methodology employed for reconstructing a chronology of Paul’s life and letters, 1 Thessalonians is dated from the late 30s to the early 50s of the first century CE.

The Problem With Wesley’S Postmillennialism: An Exegetical Case For Historic Premillennialism In 21st Century Wesleyan Theology And Missions, Timothy J. Christian

The Asbury Journal

This article presents an exegesis of Revelation 20:1-10 followed by a critical assessment of Wesley’s interpretation of Revelation 20:1-10. Overall, Wesley’s postmillennial interpretation of Revelation 20:1-10 is not supported by an exegetical reading of Revelation 20:1-10 (Scripture); it is not rooted in the early church (tradition); and it is based largely upon the optimism of the 18th century which was shattered by the 20th century (experience). Historic premillennialism, however, does exegetical justice to Revelation 20:1-10 (Scripture), takes seriously the early church’s view (tradition), and accords with our reason and experience in the 21st century (reason and experience). As such, Wesleyans …

The Nature Of The Church's Mission In Light Of The Biblical Origin Of Social Holiness, Ban Seok Cho

The Asbury Journal

This paper intends to find missiological implications that the biblical origin of social holiness has for the church’s mission. In order to accomplish this purpose, this paper, first, identifies the biblical origin of social holiness in the Old Testament narrative and its development in the New Testament narrative. Then, the relationship between the image of God in Genesis 1 and the development of social holiness in the biblical narrative will be discussed. Lastly, in light of the biblical origin of social holiness, missiological implications for the church’s mission are suggested. The thesis of this paper is that social holiness- as …

The Context And Effects Of The Spirit Filled Seventy Elders, David Abbott

Masters Theses

The passage of Numbers 11:16-17, 24-29 is an important passage in understanding the work, role and gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. It also is a passage that sends ripple effects throughout the rest of the Bible, most notably through Joel 2:28-32, Acts 2, 10, and 19, and in Paul’s teachings in Galatians 3:28 and 1 Corinthians 12:31 and 14:1. Although this work does not settle any theological debate about speaking in tongues, it does look into the gifts of the Spirit from an Old Testament perspective. The resting of the Spirit that appears in the Old …

Book Reviews, Shawn P. Behan, Rabbi David J. Zucker, Bud Simon, Zachariah S. Motts, Matthew Haugen, J. R. Wright, Michael Whitcomb-Tavey

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

Servants And Friends: A Biblical Theology Of Leadership, Erich Baumgartner

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"In this groundbreaking volume published by andrews University Press, some 20 scholars examine the sacred text of the Old and New testaments, as well as a selection of six biblical leadership narratives, to lay the foundation for a biblical theology of leadership. Each of the first three sections is composed of six chapters, providing an array of fascinating studies of leadership in the Bible. the fourth section attempts to integrate the multiple facets of leadership insight unearthed throughout the various contributions into what the editor, Skip Bell, claims to be “the most complete biblical theology of leadership available.”

Benefaction In Galatians: An Analysis Of Paul's Language Of God's Favor In Its Greco-Roman Context, Ferdinand Okorie

Dissertations

The Letter to the Galatians is the first letter where Paul mentions χάρις not only in the opening (Gal 1:3) and closing (Gal 6:18) of the letter but also in the body (Gal 1:6; 2:9; 3:18; 5:4) of the letter. The term χάρις will be defined in this dissertation as a favor or goodwill freely given by a benefactor to a beneficiary. Also, χάρις is whatever a beneficiary does to return favor or thanks to a benefactor. Therefore, on one hand, whatever goodwill a benefactor extends to a beneficiary is generally designated as χάρις. On the other hand, whatever a …

The Time Of The Second Coming And The Members Of The Sanhedrin, Alina Roxana Lupu

Master's Theses

Problems

The aspects related to the time of the Second Coming of Jesus were a constant concern of the believers and Bible’s scholars. There are many challenging verses in the Scripture that are talking about the Parousia in temporal terms. This present study was to determine to what extend Jesus’ answer before the Sanhedrin (Matt 26:64) was related to the time of the Parousia and with that generation of his accusers.

Method

An historical perspective over the process of date setting for the Parousia and over the eschatological theology create the framework for understanding the problem of Parousia’s time. The …

The Motif Of The Messiah In Zechariah 9-14, Caroline Stanke

Master's Theses

Topic

Zechariah 9-14 is full of prophecies regarding the coming of the messiah. The Jews at the time of Jesus awaited a messiah different from the one that came but how so? Did they misunderstand the prophecies or, by any chance, were the prophecies not clear enough?

Purpose

Firstly, it will be given an overview of the Book of Zechariah. Then, the messianic prophecies in Zechariah 9-14 will be examined closer and how they fit into the context of the prophets, the book of Zechariah, and the different chapters. An analysis of the similarities and differences will be written afterwards. …

Why Did Daniel And His Friends Refuse The King's Food And Wine, Sung Jae Park

Master's Theses

Problem

The first chapter of Daniel contains a well-known story of Daniel and his three friends' refusal to eat the king's food and wine. To the casual reader, this story may not solicit any probing questions as to the rationale for their decision. However, commentators of the book of Daniel have long been puzzled over this. The purpose of this study is to raise this question and propose a rationale for Daniel and his three friends' refusal of the king's food and wine.

Method

This study will encompass the entire first chapter of Daniel. Although the entire chapter will be …

The Relational Character Of Wesley’S Theology And Its Implications For An Ecclesiology For The Other: A Latino Pentecostal Testimony, Wilmer Estrada-Carrasquillo

The Asbury Journal

This article assesses the impact of John Welsey’s theology on relationship, both between human beings and God and between human beings within community. This theology of relationality is then used as a framework for reading the Christological hymn in Philippians. Finally the implications of our understanding of a theology of relationality are explored in the light of missiological and ecclesiological lenses. All of this is done through the added lens of the author’s experience as a Latino Pentecostal.

Book Reviews, Michael Whitcomb-Tavey, Russell J. Frazier, Scott R. Smith, Zachariah S. Motts, Bud Simon, Scott Donahue-Martens, Brian W. Shelton, David Nonnenmacher Jr., Stanley Cung

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

Books Received

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

Books Received

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

Reading As A Disclosure Of The Thoughts Of The Heart: Proto-Halakhic Reuse And Appropriation Between Torah And The Prophets, Kenneth Bergland

Dissertations

How should we then live? This has been the guiding question throughout the study. In a world that offers a myriad of answers to this one question, I have sought the answer in the Bible, more specifically in the Hebrew part of the Bible. Instead of asking the straightforward question as to how the Bible can function as norm for contemporary ethics, the following discussion is based on the assumption that an authentic reading and appropriation of the text needs both to understand and to emulate the ways in which the biblical authors read the Bible. While scholars have examined …

Justin Martyr, Irenaeus Of Lyons, And Cyprian Of Carthage On Suffering: A Comparative And Critical Study Of Their Works That Concern The Apologetic Uses Of Suffering In Early Christianity, Aaron Kilbourn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Suffering in Early Christianity has often been highlighted in martyrdom and the stories surrounding the persecution of the Early Church. The biblical idea of redemptive suffering was not an afterthought to the Christian community or part of what Joyce Salisbury calls, “the unintended consequences of ancient violence,” but it appears to be part and parcel of the Early Christian community as they sought to live faithfully to Christ’s teachings. As the Early Church lived out redemptive suffering, it became apparent to the surrounding culture and critics of Christianity that their suffering was different and it pointed to something else. Through …

Justification By Faith According To The Old Testament: In The Footsteps Of The Reformers, Richard M. Davidson

Faculty Publications

Martin Luther asserted that “if we lose the doctrine of justification, we lose simply everything.” Luther believed that justification is “the article with and by which the church stands, without which it falls.” In the preface to his Forty-Five Theses drawn up in 1537, Luther makes this impassioned plea: “The article of justification is the master and prince, the lord, the ruler, and the judge over all kinds of doctrines; it preserves and governs all Church doctrine and raises up our conscience before God. Without this article the world is utter death and darkness.” John Calvin considered the doctrine of …

Exodus As New Creation, Israel As Foundling: Stories In The History Of An Idea, Christopher Evangelos John Brenna

Dissertations (1934 -)

This study surveys the development of two literary phenomena in early Jewish and Christian tradition. The first is the birth story of a portentous child, exemplified by the birth stories of Moses, Noah, Melchizedek, and Jesus in biblical and Second Temple period literature. The second is the mythical expansion of the exodus tradition, which interprets the crossing of the Red Sea as a recreation of the people of Israel. I examine the appropriation of these two phenomena in the late antique Hellenistic story, Joseph and Aseneth. I contend that (1) the early Jewish birth story paradigm is influenced by the …

The Moral World(S) Of Malachi, Robert Alan Cope

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Transparency In Leadership: The Divine Governance Challenge From The Apocalypse, Sigve K. Tonstad

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

this chapter has explored the leadership implications of the word that gives the last book of the Bible its title. the principle discovered in the nature of the book of revelation is transparent leadership. this ideology is announced in the opening word. revelation corrects religious, political, and other institutions that thrive on secrecy and concealment. “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it; for the time is near,” says the narrator in revelation (1:3). Blessed, too, is the leader who takes revelation’s …

The New Testament And The Future Of The Cosmos, Ryan P. Juza

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Tragedy Of Spirit-Empowered Heroes: A Close Look At Samson And Saul, Wonsuk Ma

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

This study is motivated by the ongoing dilemma of the ethical failures among well-known leaders of the modern Pentecostal/Charismatic movements. Through a close look at Saul and Samson, the two charismatic leaders of the Old Testament who have the most frequent references to the Spirit of God, the study probes the internal and private layers of their experience with the Spirit of God. The intention of the Spirit’s presence includes both an internal transformation as well as external tasks. The scriptural evidence demonstrates that there is no less work of the Spirit for the internal working of the recipients than …

Pentecost Journal Of Theology And Mission, Vol.2, No.1, August 2017, J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, Kirsteen Kim, William Kay, Andrew Davies, Emmanuel Anim, Ruth Wall, Amos Yong

Pentecost Journal of Theology and Mission

We are pleased to share with you the second edition of the Pentecost Journal of Theology and Mission (PJTM). We are indeed delighted and encouraged by the enthusiastic uptake of our frst issue, July 2016, on Pentecostalism, Migration and World Christianity. An aim of the PJTM is to provide a space for critical reflection on contemporary issues of theology and mission from Pentecostal perspectives that will have practical and transformative impact on the life of the individual, the church and society. The Editors have discovered that such a “space” does not exist without its creation, and the work of creation …

Toward Just Hospitality, Ron Bruner

Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry

The ministry of Jesus moved through times of seeking justice, sharing hospitality, and withdrawing for prayer. Though inescapably “other” because of his divine identity, he sought solidarity with humans by becoming human and interacting with humanity through hospitable practices. The Ancient Mediterranean customs of hospitality were well-defined, but Jesus took this powerful cultural framework and changed its practice so that it produced reconciliation and justice.

This work briefly reviews the practice of hospitality in the time of Jesus. It also presents the work of scholars identifying linguistic markers that would have cued readers in the Ancient Mediterranean to recognize a …

“Bone Of My Bones And Flesh Of My Flesh”: A Feminist Analysis Of Christianity, Evolutionary Theory, And The Provenance Of Patriarchy, Heather Bishop

Dialogue & Nexus

While perceived by many as conflicting in nearly every sphere, science and religion both play an important role in the promotion of patriarchal ideologies. My research has found that neither Christianity nor evolutionary theory are inherently patriarchal, neither do they justify patriarchy. Instead, it is the misinterpretation and misuse of these subjects that contribute to the justification of patriarchy for the deep-seated goal of reproductive power. I will show this by analyzing theological themes present throughout the Christian scriptures, as well as investigating findings of evolutionary psychology and hominid ancestry. The implication of this study is that there is no …

The Characterization Of Tobit In The Light Of Tobit 1:1-2, Emmanuel Nshimbi

Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations

In Hebrew –el means ‘God,’ and the reader or hearer of the Book of Tobit learns that, Tobit, the character after whom the narrative is named, lacks that –el ending in his name. He remains faithful to Jewish religious practice when the rest of his tribe secedes from the temple in Jerusalem, but he experiences exile. He risks execution by burying corpses of fellow Israelites in exile, whom the king of Assyria murders. He loses his sight after sparrows excrete onto his eyes in his courtyard at night after burying the dead.

This dissertation characterizes Tobit in the light of …

The Metaphorical Use Of Marriage In Scripture: A Pentecostal Exploration, Stetson Glass

Masters of Theological Studies

The biblical writers utilize the metaphor of marriage to describe the relationship between God and humanity. Within this imagery, the people of God are often depicted as a bride. This thesis contributes to an understanding of the metaphor of marriage in Scripture by analyzing the socio-historical wedding practices of ancient Judaism. The use of the metaphor in both Old and New Testaments is examined, followed by an analysis of bridal language in early Pentecostal periodical literature. It concludes with a constructive Pentecostal ecclesiology structured on the characters and the stages found within the typical Jewish wedding.

Calvin Theological Journal (Vol 52 No 1 - April 2017), Calvin Theological Seminary

Calvin Theological Journal

From the Editor: Karin Maag - 7 / Articles: The Self-Revelation of God in Jesus by Daniel Boerman - 9 / The Heart and Soul of Abraham Kuyper: Reflections on His Meditations by James A. De Jong - 37 / A Grotesque Attack: Reading Ezekiel 16 as Satire to Address Feminist Critiques by Erin Risch Zoutendam - 63 / Sermon: “Live!”—A Sermon on Ezekiel 16 by Scott Hoezee - 85 / Book Reviews - Scripture and Interpretation: Allen, Michael, and Jonathan A. Linebaugh, eds., Reformation Readings of Paul: Explorations in History and Exegesis, reviewed by …

The Critical Role Of Mentoring For Pastoral Formation, Kenley Hall

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

Denominational leaders view the M.Div. as the gold standard in preparing young men and women for ministry. however, academic training alone does not prepare someone for ministry. It must be paired with mentoring, defined as the intentional relationship between an experienced pastoral mentor and a young pastoral mentee for the purpose of pastoral formation. this paper explores the mentoring relationships between Barnabas and Paul, and Paul and timothy as instructive examples of the importance, process and impact of mentoring for pastoral formation. It concludes that Barnabas and Paul played a crucial role in the pastoral formation of their mentees.

Understanding The Abrahamic Covenant Through The Book Of Mormon, Noel B. Reynolds

Faculty Publications

Interpretation of God's covenant to Abrahamic and its promised fulfillment varies across scholarly and religious writings. The Book of Mormon emphasizes this covenant and the promise that through Abraham all the kindreds of the earth will be blessed. It also features a unique interpretation--that the covenant will be fulfilled as the Book of Mormon itself, a record of the seed of Joseph, is given first to the Gentiles, and then to house of Israel.