Digital Commons Network^™

Mashiah: Messianism In Jewish Apocalyptic Literature Of The Second Temple Period, Fred R. De Leon

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This Thesis challenges notions that have dominated biblical scholarship for more than a hundred years. Up until the end of the twentieth century scholars uniformly believed that the concept of a suffering Messiah was not part of early first century CE Judaism. It was believed to a be a Christian creation. There is however startling evidence of messianic precursors to Jesus, including one who is introduced as the 'Prince of the Congregation' in recently published fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls. This is not surprising since the authors of the Tanakh lay the groundwork for an evolving and malleable concept …

Archbishop Denis Hurley: ‘Ecclesiastical Che Guevara’ Or ‘Guardian Of The Light’?, Anthony Egan

The Journal of Social Encounters

Archbishop Denis Hurley, OMI (1915-2004) was a major figure in mobilising the Catholic Church’s struggle against apartheid in South Africa. Rooted in Catholic Social Thought and an active participant and implementer of Vatican II, he led by example, moving the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) into one of the foremost religious defenders of human rights. His theological skills and personal courage translated in ecumenical and interfaith activities that served justice and peace. He supported conscientious objectors and faced prosecution for exposing state atrocities in Namibia.

Small Group Participant Perceptions Of Discipleship Development In Multisite Churches: A Mixed Methods Study, Risha D. Bailey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Researchers indicated a clear and steady decline in discipleship development within the Body of Christ (Baldwin, 2016; Lynn, 2014; Saunders, 2009). However, the vision for the church, outlined within the Great Commission, remains the same; it warrants the conversion, production, and reproduction of Christ’s disciples in all nations. The small group ministry and multisite churches are at the intersection of discipleship development, leading to effective disciple making. While small groups have been endorsed by many as the premier vehicle that helps the church fulfill its mission, multisite churches are heralded as those experiencing rapid growth with strong communities of faith …

Reading Igor Stravinsky's Poetics Of Music In Christian Higher Education, John Macinnis, Mark Peters

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

This article presents the composer Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971) as an historical educator in the context of the Charles Eliot Norton Lectures on Poetry at Harvard University (1939–1940), published as The Poetics of Music in the Form of Six Lessons. As music professors at North American institutions of Christian Higher Education, the authors each read Stravinsky’s Poetics with students in music classes. We describe here our different pedagogical methods and how we employ Stravinsky’s Poetics to form students with Christian approaches to culture-making.

Secrets And Watchers: A Markan Demonology, Christopher W. Peters

Liberty Theological Review

Mark’s use of a secrecy motif is well known to commentators. This article explores the messianic secret by analyzing its most common violators, the demons of the Gospel of Mark. Mark’s various exorcism accounts function to provide a working demonology of the Evangelist, and this biblical theology is correlated with other extant Second Temple Period Jewish literature, primarily 1 Enoch and its Watchers tradition. Mark relies upon both Leviticus and the Book of Watchers to describe the function and identity of demons, explaining their own supernatural knowledge of the identity of Christ, knowledge which necessitates his commands to keep silent. …

An Examination Of Biblical Archaeology’S Impact On Exegetical And Theological Method With Attendant Case Study, Donald C. Mcintyre

Liberty Theological Review

The chief concern of this paper is to examine how one can integrate archaeological data into the exegetical and theological processes so that one might profitably learn how to understand and rightly apply the text. This paper will argue that archaeology informs the exegetical process through providing historical and literary context to the study of the Bible when properly understood, and that it can also be useful in the theological process as one seeks to rightly integrate illumination from other sources. After an analysis of how archaeology can be rightly integrated in the exegetical and theological processes the paper will …

Three Reasons To Praise The Creator From Psalm 8: A Biblical Theology With Attention To Intertextuality, Donald Mcintyre

Liberty Theological Review

Psalm 8 serves as the first creation hymn of the Psalter, and as such is worthy of an exegetical and theological analysis. This analysis will begin with an exegesis of the text, since exegesis rightfully precedes theologizing.[1] The exegesis will include a translation, examination of the historical and literary contexts, the genre classification, structure, and discussion of the literary features with special attention given to parallelism and conclude with a brief exposition. After the requisite exegetical analysis has been completed, a theological synthesis will be commenced progressing from the psalms location in its microstructural setting to its use in …

Transitions In Collegiate Church Music Pedagogy: Developing A Pedagogy For Undergraduate Modern Worship Curriculum, Christopher Andrew Brown

Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning for Christians in Higher Education

Church music pedagogy has a rich history dating back to the 9^th century and is rooted in scripture and ancient traditions. Changes over the centuries have been gradual with incremental transitions; however, since the introduction of pop and rock musical stylings to church settings almost sixty years ago, changes have been swift and dramatic. The advent of modern worship has left Christian higher learning institutions scrambling to find a place where the curriculum would be useful and relevant to the modern 21^st century Church. This paper seeks to examine the historical background of Christian church music pedagogy while …

A Theological Framework For Reflection On Artificial Intelligence, Michael D. Langford

SPU Works

The theological questions before us in a digital age are pressing. What does God think of AI? Is AI good or evil? Will AI save us? What sort of future will AI give us? In what follows, I want to briefly introduce a few theological concepts that will hopefully help equip us for theological reflection on AI. We will begin with the question of epistemology, or how it is that we come by knowledge; in the realm of theology, this centers on revelation. We will then touch on the doctrine of creation, including the understanding of what it means to …

Biblical Literacy: An Expositional Christ-Centered Approach To Bible Study, Paula K. Offutt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This action research aimed to examine biblical literacy from an expositional Christ-centered approach to Bible study. Using a triangular curriculum design focusing on scriptural theology, Bible study methodology, and a transformative approach to Christ-centered learning, the action research results revealed that an expositional Christ-centered approach increases biblical literacy. The researcher garnered data by hosting four bi-weekly Bible study sessions employing pre-and-post assessments to capture participants' current and post-state of biblical literacy. The validity and reliability of the pre-and-post assessments were determined by a focus group that reviewed the measurement tools and provided feedback confirming the trustworthiness and dependability of the …

The Reception Of Isaiah's Suffering Servant In Thomas Aquinas' Theology Of The Cross, Daniel Waldow

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is a quantitative and qualitative analysis of Thomas Aquinas' reception of Isaiah 53 throughout his major works of theology.

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 …

Educating Church Leaders About Moral Injury To Provide Support To Military Veterans In Their Congregations, James R. Taylor

College of Theology and Ministry Dissertations, Projects, & Theses

Scope and Method of Study: This study sought to enhance the awareness and knowledge of pastors and congregational leaders concerning moral injury in military veterans within their congregations. Ideally, this would reduce the leaders’ anxiety and would promote a stronger willingness to be involved in offering support to military veterans in their congregations. This project focused on enhancing the knowledge of pastors. The project tested the understanding of pastors of a local denomination, offered education to enhance their awareness of veterans’ issues (specifically moral injuries), provided insight into Scriptures that offered examples of moral injury, and recommended what could be …

Metaphor And Atonement : A Conceptual Metaphor Study Of The Sacrificial Prescriptions In Lev 1-16, Bradley James Haggard

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Standardized Approach To Analyzing Multi-Cultural Presentations Of Christian Worship, Kevin Michael Segner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

With the growth of the internet, worship pastors can share fine art presentations of the gospel message from cultures worldwide. Since all cultures belong in the kingdom of God, pastors may struggle to validate fine arts performances according to scriptural standards. One of the concerns is the range of interpretations that come from a lack of formal analysis in the literature. Some critics write about fine arts performances based on their own experience and opinion. This may indicate a gap in literature where there is no uniform standard for evaluating those works. Rather than take time to research presentations, a …

Growing A Megachurch Staff's Discipleship Understanding, Michael A. Wooton

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Mystagogical Catechesis Of Narsai Of Nisibis: Mēmrē 39 And 38 In Their Syriac Context, Jordan Ryan Turney

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a study of Narsai of Nisibis’s mēmrē on the sacraments of the baptismal liturgy that situates these mēmrē in their Syriac theological context and presents them as an important witness to Late Antique Christian mystagogy. Narsai is a significant figure in the Syriac Christian tradition, yet he has received comparatively little scholarly attention, especially in the West. However, an increase in editions and studies of Narsai’s work over the last century has led to a further awareness of his influence on Syriac Christianity. Several scholars have pointed out that these mēmrē bear a resemblance to other Late …

The Five-Fold Paradigm : Effects Of The Five-Fold Experimential Course Equip, Nathaniel Dean Mcwherter

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Shallow Well Church: A Biblical Direction, Eric Paul Burmahl

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The author of this thesis project aims to address the need for the deacons of Shallow Well Church to be trained in first-order doctrines of the Christian faith and the biblical church leadership model prescribed in Acts 6. With the development and implementation of the Deacon Training Manual, the deacons of Shallow Well Church will increase in the knowledge of God and rightly understand the roles of elders and deacons in the local church. Ultimately, through the training and help from God, the church will move from its current denomination which differs in doctrinal beliefs from Shallow Well Church. In …

A Reader’S Guide To Worship And Liturgical Studies, David Kneip

Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry

The history of writing about worship in the Christian tradition is almost as old as the tradition itself, and it shows no sign of abating anytime soon. As a result, readers may find it difficult to know where to begin reading, and how to evaluate books that are popular or otherwise available to them. This annotated bibliography aims to assist readers in navigating the huge field of Christian publishing in worship studies, both by offering specific book recommendations and by demonstrating some of the different sub-categories that one might examine in attempting to choose what to read or study. The …

Songs Of The Son: Exegetical Method, Christology, And Piety In Reformation And Post-Reformation Interpretations Of Select Messianic Psalms, Maarten Kuivenhoven

CTS PhD Doctoral Dissertations

The case for continuity between the Reformation and Reformed Orthodoxy receives a significant contribution from the examination of select Messianic Psalms in the commentaries of Wolfgang Musculus, William Ames, Johannes Cocceius, and Matthew Henry. This contribution is found through the examination of three lines of thought— exegetical method, Christological development, and the formulation of piety.

The consistent employment of prophecy in order to understand the sensus literalis as the Christological reading of the text seems to indicate continuity. The usage of typology also furthers this argument as these interpreters identified various persons or objects as types of Christ. By using …

The Polyphonic Voices Of Suffering In The Book Of Job: A Dialogue On God’S Relation To The Suffering, Rebecca R. Clark

Masters of Theological Studies

Suffering is an experience that can lead one to question the goodness of God. Such an experience is exemplified in the narrative of Job. It is the argument of this thesis that the dialogue in Job ultimately reveals God’s character as good even in the midst of one’s suffering. This argument is supported through an examination of the polyphonic voices of the book of Job. The voice of Job demonstrates the tension of the sufferer, as a perceived absence of God seems contrary to His character. And yet, Job affirms God’s goodness. The voice of “the satan” demonstrates an awareness …

Debunking The Curse Of Ham And Its Generational Impact On The Black Race, Fraendy Clervaud

Masters Theses

The so-called curse of Ham became a major issue for Christian Theology and apologetics. The false interpretation claimed that the Black race were to be enslaved. Therefore, these individuals were subjected to inhuman treatment through the institution of slavery for generations. Many believed that those from Africa did not receive Christianity until after they were kidnapped from their homeland. The false narrative that slavery introduced them to Christ is disingenuous. That is because Christianity prevailed in Africa even before it did in Europe. Individuals from African contributed immensely to the history and theology of Christianity. Three of the major Christian …

Peter, The Apostle To The Gentiles? First Peter’S New Covenant Missional Strategy To Bless The Nations, Cole Victor Laing

Masters Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to further develop the message of First Peter within the context of the Apostle Peter’s life and witness. The majority of modern scholars suggest that First Peter is written to a predominantly Gentile audience. This begs the question as to why the apostle to the circumcised (Gal. 2:7) writes to a group of Gentile believers. The study aims to show that Peter, in fact, played a significant role in the earliest church’s mission to the Gentiles. Peter’s exhortation in his first epistle is to a group of believers who are suffering because of their …

The Old Testament’S Contribution To The Baptism Of Jesus In The Gospel Of Matthew, Andrew James Herbst

Masters Theses

The Baptism of Jesus is an often overlooked or misunderstood event. There are numerous interpretations of what the Baptism of Jesus reveals, some of which alternate between Christ’s work and ministry as a man or a revelation of His deity. A clearer understanding of the Baptism event may be discovered through examining the Gospel of Matthew and relevant OT texts. Matthew depicts Jesus, God manifest in the flesh, as the Son of David who would fulfill OT prophecies and become the messianic King and Servant of Yahweh. The voice from heaven, the dove, and the anointing of the Spirit may …

Service And Subversion In The Court Of The King: An Analysis Of Resistance And Accomodation To Foreign Imperial Rule In Daniel 2, Luke Wagner

College of Theology and Ministry Dissertations, Projects, & Theses

Many scholars and laypersons alike turn to the book of Daniel because of its political message. Yet, there exist a number of mutually exclusive interpretations of the stories in Daniel, particularly in regard to how these stories interact with and depict foreign imperial rule. This thesis will focus on one Daniel story in particular, Daniel 2; and will seek to answer the following question: Is the political stance toward foreign imperial rule in Daniel 2 primarily one of accommodation to the empire, one of resistance, or a hybridization of the two?

This thesis will begin in chapter 1 with an …

Calvin Theological Journal (Vol 57 No 1 - April 2022), Calvin Theological Seminary

Calvin Theological Journal

From the Editor: Karin Maag - 1 / Articles: Permaculture for Ecotheology: An Innovative Experiment by Troy W. Bierma - 3 / The Beatitudes and the Life of the Church by Gerard M. Cisar - 43 / Theological Interpretation of Key Biblical Passages Underpinning the Prosperity Gospel in Nigeria by Samuel O. Okanlawon - 75 / Sign or Seal? Baptism in the Christian Reformed Church by Ryan Faber - 101 / Sermon: Bridegroom of Blood: A Sermon on Exodus 4:24–26 by Betsy DeVries - 127 / Review Essays: The Covenant of Works by John Bolt - 135 / The …

Biblical Pastoral Counseling: An Integrative Approach To Healing, Sonya Cook

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Biblical Pastoral Counseling: An Integrative Approach to Healing, seeks to address the gap in the current biblical counseling service offered at Calvary Baptist Church. The problem with the current biblical counseling service is the lack of a holistic approach to the congregates presenting problem. This current approach takes a strictly biblical approach excluding the mental/behavioral health component from the therapeutic process. The purpose of this study is to provide justification and support of an integrative approach in bridging the gap between biblical counseling and pastoral counseling. This integrative approach would serve to broaden the scope of the current counseling service, …

Discipleship Mentoring Program For Emerging Adults That Have Abandoned Church, Acquenetta Thompson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There has been and continues to be a mass exodus of emerging adults that have stopped attending church services after they graduate high school. Many emerging adults have abandoned church and other religious institutions, abandoned their affiliation with the title of Christianity or religion, their religious beliefs that they once held, or have participated in other worldview religions or atheism. The purpose of this research study focuses on the similarities and differences between the current generation of emerging adults and earlier generation of young adults, other reasons why emerging adults have abandoned church, and how effective discipleship mentoring can be …

To Stay Or Step Down: Assessing The Pastoral Qualifications Of Pastors With Prodigal Children, P. Kevin Garber

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The pastor’s home life is a reflection of his ability to effectively lead Christ’s church. Two seminal New Testament passages (I Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9) address, among other qualifications, the behavior and testimony of the pastor’s children. This vital aspect of a pastor’s leadership within the home must be given important emphasis and due consideration. With an examination of the nuances of these two seminal passages, exploration of published literature relevant to this topic, and an in-depth investigation of three pastoral case studies, the writer will offer a resource for pastors and parishioners who are facing the dilemma of whether …