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1) Sing And Rejoice, O Daughter Of Zion (Zechariah 2:14)- Studies In Pesiqta Rabbati, Rivka Ulmer

Faculty Books

Chapters focusing on different aspects of Pesiqta Rabbati, a midrashic homiletic work, encompassing semiotic theories, prophesies, apocalypticism, halakhic issues, Chanukah, global theories of midrash, Hebrew manuscripts. messiah, scriptural quotations, mashal, historical issues, Greek loanwords, Parma, Casanata, JTS, Genizah, Vienna, and versions.

The Theological Tradition Of The Orthodox Church In The Aspect Of The Formation Of Military Leadership In Ukraine, Olga Dobrodum, Andrii S. Zborchyi, Tetyana Kondratyuk-Antonova, Oleksandr L. Kolomiiets

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Analysis of the Orthodox theological tradition as a moral foundation for military leadership in the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the full-scale war. The study moves beyond pragmatic managerial models, exploring Orthodox categories such as service (diakonia), sacrifice, and spiritual warfare. Drawing on patristic heritage and modern theologians, the authors examine leadership motivation, the role of faith in professional resilience, and the integration of Orthodox anthropology into military training. Special emphasis is placed on the Orthodox Church of Ukraine's chaplaincy as a key mechanism for actualizing these values while addressing challenges like secularism and multiconfessionalism.

The Heretical Church: A Comparative Analysis Between The Gospel Of Thomas And The Gospel Of John, Isabella R. Moore

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis uses a comparative analysis between the allegedly “heretical” Gospel of Thomas and its canonical counterpart, the Gospel of John, to conduct a critique of the contemporary Catholic Church. This analysis and critique also utilize evaluations of medieval and modern definitions of heresy within a religious context, as well as a comparison between bishop dissent of these “secret” or “gnostic” gospels in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th centuries and papal dissent in the 21st century. After conducting the comparative analysis between the two gospels, I posit that the Church’s charge of heresy toward the Gospel of Thomas is an …

Positive Cosmology: On The Good Creation Into Which Christ Incarnated, Jason Horstman

The Asbury Journal

This article argues that a positive cosmology has been the majority report in the Christian tradition, which is to say that creation is good. Evidence of this report is highlighted from scripture, from the contemplative tradition, and from the hospitality tradition. Sin as a complicating factor in understanding creation as good is engaged, and a solution to this complication from the Christian monastic tradition is considered.

Full Issue

Studia Antiqua

No abstract provided.

Pheonix Imagery In Early Christian Art, Annie Spach

Studia Antiqua

In Early Christianity, often Christians used popular symbols that would point back to greater truths taught in their new faith. This paper discusses how early Christians followed his council through the use of the imperial representation of the phoenix rather than the common representation, highlighting their belief in resurrection, the majesty of Christ and their hope for eternal life given to all believers, while also speaking to a greater tradition outside of Christianity. The continued use of the phoenix as a symbol of resurrection, renewal, immortality and eternal life in the paradise of God is discussed, as well as the …

Front Matter

Studia Antiqua

No abstract provided.

The Marriage Metaphor Of Jesus And The Samaritan Woman: A New Interpretative Reading Of John 4:1-45, Bao B. Vang

Liberty Theological Review

This paper explores the marriage metaphor in John 4:1–45, arguing that Jesus’s encounter with the Samaritan woman is a symbolic representation of the relationship between Christ and the Church. Through an exegetical analysis of the text, the study examines key elements such as the double entendre of the well motif, living water, and the concept of worship. The results of this study reveal the depth of John's narrative strategy in intentionally presenting Jesus as the Messianic Bridegroom, illustrated through his explicit use of Old Testament marriage motifs. The study concludes that the episode of Jesus and the Samaritan woman functions …

The Ever-Present Nature Of Christ In The Title Of Jehovah, Dan Belnap

Faculty Publications

In January 2000 the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bore testimony to the world of the reality, humanity, and divinity of Jesus Christ in a document titled “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles.” Among its many truths was the following: “He [Christ] was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament.”1 Though this was not the first time Church leadership had declared Christ to be Jehovah, the pronouncement does reemphasize this teaching. It also emphasizes the centrality of Christ in the Old Testament. In fact, the …

Records Of The American Society Of Missiology Arc2017-003 - Finding Aid, Ats Special Collections And Archives

Finding Aids

No abstract provided.

The Mythic Seeds Of Human Rights, Joshua Mackenzie Luna

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

In this thesis, I propose a causal relationship between ancient societies’ mythic corpuses and their law codes. I begin by presenting the histories and historiographies of ancient Israel and Mesopotamia to highlight important themes in their development. Then, I place their creation and flood myths side-by-side for comparison, yielding key differences in the way each group conceptualizes human form, value, and purpose. Once these key differences have been established, I compare each group’s set of slave laws to demonstrate how each law code remains philosophically consistent with its respective set of myths and diametrically opposed to the set from the …

The Concept Of Israel In The Old Testament And Its Divine Purpose: An Exegetical And Theological Analysis, Gregory Arutyunyan

Dissertations

The aim of this study is to undertake a fresh look into the concept of Israel in the Old Testament and its divine purpose in the context of the overarching theology of the Hebrew Bible. The working method used in this research is a theological and exegetical analysis of relevant Hebrew text along with incorporating historical and socio-archaeological background studies.

The conclusion that is reached is that Old Testament Israel was a cosmopolitan community of people connected through biological links, intermarriage relationships, and political alliances. In a spiritual sense, the term Israel served as a characterizing title granted to Jacob …

Origen Of Alexandria On Cancticles: Exegeses And Homilies As Forming Christian Identity, Annaline Bethany Cely

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on how Origen of Alexandria, through both homilies and exegetical commentary practice, presents Canticles as a piece of literature fittingly understood as Scripture. For Origen, Scripture is the source text by which Christians can engage with God and mold their lives upon Christ. This dissertation mimics Origen's own methodology by performing a line-by-line reading of his work, which allows the reader immediate access to Origen's work while also acting as a commentary of Origen's commentary. As of Fall 2025, there are no commentaries in English on any Church Father (only translations) which is concerning as the reading …

An House For The Lord: Solomon's Temple And Temple Worship In Ancient Israel, Dan Belnap

Faculty Publications

It would not be exaggeration to say that at the center of Old Testament history and theology is covenantal worship and the temple. From the Garden of Eden to the altars constructed by Abraham and the patriarchs, and the portable tabernacle of Moses, the concept of sacred space plays a fundamental role throughout biblical history and in the life of ancient Israel. But during the period of the monarchy, it became possible to construct a permanent house for the Lord. Thus, the construction and dedication of the temple are the primary subject within Solomon’s narrative arc. This chapter explores the …

Full Issue

Studia Antiqua

No abstract provided.

Full Issue

Studia Antiqua

No abstract provided.

Front Matter

Studia Antiqua

No abstract provided.

The Promise Of Scriptural Reasoning, David F. Ford

The Mahle Lectures Journal

Regius Professor of Divinity Emeritus in the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Selwyn College, Dr. David F. Ford OBE, one of the co-founders of Scriptural Resaoning, addresses ‘The Promise of Scriptural Reasoning’, in the context of 2024 Spring Mahle Lecture Series on ‘Interreligious Peacebuilding through Study.’ In what follows he does two things as part of this keynote lecture. First, he speaks about his experience of Scriptural Reasoning, its origins, its character, and its spread up to now. Second, he reflects on the future and promise of Scriptural Reasoning, culminating with an expansive vision of its potential.

Called: A Pentecostal Theology Of Vocation, Martin W. Mittelstadt

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

In this essay, I propose a Pentecostal theology of vocation that extends out of the Full Gospel and prophethood of all believers. Though Pentecostals devote considerable attention to church-related/religious vocations, Pentecostals must reimagine vocational implications for fullness of the Spirit on all believers. All Pentecostals are called to embody the dual impulses of the Fivefold Gospel. They are being saved, sanctified, baptized in the Spirit, healed, and living in eager anticipation of Jesus’ return. At the same time, all Pentecostals become saving agents with Christ; they perform holy love; they engage in Spirit-inspired witness; they offer healing balm for a …

Enraptured By Rapture: Production Context, Biblical Interpretation, And Evangelical Eschatology In The Rapture, Left Behind, And This Is The End, Robert G. Joseph, Laura M. Tringali, Meghan R. Henning

Journal of Religion & Film

The Book of Revelation's place in the popular imaginary has been fueled by both its popularity within evangelical eschatology and its endless evocations within mainstream film and TV. Both evangelicalism and popular culture frequently equate the events of John’s Apocalypse with the rapture, a selective reading of New Testament verses which envisions God’s faithful being called to heaven in advance of the Tribulation. This paper analyzes three distinct films which mediate on both the rapture and Revelation: The Rapture (1991), Left Behind: The Movie (2000), and This is the End (2013). Analyzing these films within their respective modes of production …

The Sudden Deluge: Parasite, Matthew 24:36-51, And Immanent Apocalyptic Imagery, Diana Abernethy

Journal of Religion & Film

Bong Joon Ho’s 2019 film Parasite shares significant imagery with the apocalyptic teachings in Matthew 24:36-51. Both feature oblivious carousers before a flood, sleeping homeowners, and domestic workers caught unaware by a returning homeowner. This article argues that this shared imagery gives Parasite an apocalyptic edge that intensifies the film’s warnings about potential consequences of extreme economic disparities in capitalism. This article develops this argument by (1) highlighting the apocalyptic features of Matthew 24:36-51; (2) describing the convergence of imagery between Parasite and Matthew 24:36-51; and (3) exploring how the film’s apocalyptic edge illuminates urgent and latent dangers of extreme …

Review Of The Return Of The Kingdom: A Biblical Theology Of God’S Reign By Stephen G. Dempster., Abigail Hamilton

Liberty Theological Review

Dempster, Stephen G. The Return of the Kingdom: A Biblical Theology of God’s Reign. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2023. 213 pages. $19.59. ISBN-13: 978-0830842919.

Review Of L. Ann Jervis' Paul And Time: Life In The Temporality Of Christ, Caleb Gordon

Liberty Theological Review

This review of Paul and Time offers a summary and critique of Dr. Jervis’ thought-provoking contribution to Pauline Studies concerning an alternative temporal approach to the undisputed Paul in place of the Jewish apocalyptic “two age” framework. This scholarly work is a necessary read for serious Pauline scholars and advanced students in New Testament scholarship.

New Paths In Jewish And Religious Studies: Essays In Honor Of Professor Elliot R. Wolfson, Glenn Dynner, Susannah Heschel, Shaul Magid

Purdue University Press Books

The work of Elliot R. Wolfson has profoundly influenced the fields of Jewish studies as well as philosophy and religion more broadly. His radically new approaches have created pioneering ways of analyzing texts and thinking about religion through the lens of gender, sexuality, and feminist theory. The contributors to New Paths in Jewish and Religious Studies: Essays in Honor of Professor Elliot R. Wolfson, many of whom are internationally renowned scholars, hearken from diverse fields. Each has learned from and collaborated with Wolfson as student or colleague, and each has expanded the new scholarly directions initiated by Wolfson’s groundbreaking …

Faith Seeking Understanding: A Comparative Study Of Herman Bavinck And Wolfhart Pannenberg On The Doctrine Of Revelation, Jin Li

CTS PhD Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation builds upon John Bolt’s suggestion that Wolfhart Pannenberg’s work can be utilized to extend and further elaborate upon Herman Bavinck’s efforts in outlining the fundamental contours of a philosophy of revelation. It focuses on various themes related to the doctrine of revelation to examine the theological and metaphysical frameworks of Bavinck and Pannenberg. Through a comparative analysis of their theoretical approaches, this study aims to offer a fresh, comprehensive perspective on the doctrine of revelation, highlighting their shared metaphysical foundations and the synthesis of orthodox and modern thought.

In this research, I explore the motifs and frameworks of …

Discerning God’S Foreknowledge In Genesis 18:16–33, Devin T. Morris

Harding School of Theology Dissertations and Theses

No abstract provided.

The New Testament Use Of Sacred, Cultic Imagery As A Foundation For Understanding Christian Worship: An Exegetical Analysis Of Extended Metaphor In 1 Peter 2:4-10, Eric Brandell

Harding School of Theology Dissertations and Theses

No abstract provided.

Evangelship: Mobilizing A Culture Of Discipleship That Leads To Evangelism In A Multiethnic Latino Context, Lawrence D. Perez

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Discipleship and evangelism in America today are eroding. Where traditionally the church sees discipleship and evangelism as separate entities, this research project argues for the unification of the two. This project explores “Evangelship,” the uniting of evangelism and discipleship, to see if the combined approach and perspective could offer a better way to engage the North American population. The driving question for this project is “Can the integration of evangelism and discipleship create a culture that accelerates and advances the Great Commission at U-Turn Covenant Church (U-Turn)?” To answer this question, the study aims to establish a discipleship framework that …

An Appeal To Mystery Without "Punting": Revisiting Molinism’S Biblical Problem In Light Of Ephesians 1:4–11 And Romans 11:33–36, Jeffrey S. Kennedy

Liberty Theological Review

Molinists maintain that middle knowledge is the best candidate for settling the historical debate on God’s sovereignty and man’s free will. The philosophical sophistication of the view can be alluring, and the efforts of Molinists to rationally defend it against criticisms have been impressive. But does Molinism still have a biblical problem? Proponents argue that the doctrine is compatible with the Bible's teaching on God's knowledge of counterfactuals, though admittedly, it is not explicitly taught in Scripture. But this claim is more problematic than advocates for the theory have alleged. The present study maintains that in the absence of a …

Extending חָ֑סֶד (Hesed) To The Poor As An Obligation In The Psalter And Matthew 25, Clement Chen

Liberty Theological Review

Psalter has much to contribute to the biblical theology of missions and the biblical theology of socio-economic justice. Through an examination of Psalm 109 and the Psalter, this paper will demonstrate that the theological motif of Yahweh caring for the poor, specifically showing חָ֑סֶד (hesed) to the poor, is found in the Psalter; furthermore, it will be argued that the Psalter also features a missiological aspect, in harmony with the prophets and the rest of the Psalter, exhorting and obligating Israel to participate in practicing חָ֑סֶד (hesed) towards the poor with the consequence of not practicing …