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Narrative Tension And Theological Memory As Pedagogy In Three Select Samuel–Kings–Chronicles Parallels: A Textual–Literary–Theological Analysis, Mike Prah

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines the function of narrative tension in selected passages of Samuel–Kings and Chronicles and argues that such tension operates as theological pedagogy rather than as narrative difficulty or compositional residue. While modern scholarship often explains divergences between these historiographic corpora through redactional development or ideological reshaping, this study investigates how preserved tensions function within the narrative itself. Focusing on three representative case studies—the Ark sanctity narrative (2 Sam 6:1–19; 1 Chron 13–15), the census–altar episode (2 Sam 24; 1 Chron 21), and the succession complex (1 Kings 1–2; 1 Chron 28–29)—the dissertation demonstrates that narrative tension is intentionally …

Nature’S Sovereign: Environmental Archetypes In Isaiah’S Kingship Polemic, Christopher Ryan Sandel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines how Isaiah employs environmental archetypes to advance a comprehensive kingship polemic that asserts Yahweh’s unrivaled sovereignty over all creation. The study addresses a gap in scholarship by offering the first systematic analysis of Isaiah’s environmental imagery within a unified rhetorical and theological framework. Drawing on historical, literary, and comparative ancient Near Eastern backgrounds, the study argues that Isaiah’s civilizational, cosmic, and terrestrial archetypes function as strategic instruments that dismantle rival claims to power and reorient the audience toward covenantal fidelity. Civilizational archetypes reveal the fragility of human empires and the futility of political trust. Entities such as …

From Apathy To Apostasy: The Danger Of Dullness In Hearing God’S Word, Daniel D. Mann

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation contends that the issue of apathetic hearing among some of the audience in the book of Hebrews is a pivotal aspect in the threat of apostasy. The central theme of Hebrews is that God has spoken in the last days by his Son (Heb. 1:2). Thus, God speaking (1:1–2, 5, 13; 2:3; 3:10; 4:3, 4, 8; 5:5; 10:15, 30; 12:25; 13:5) and man hearing (2:1, 3; 3:7, 15, 16; 4:2, 7; 5:11; 12:25) emerge as twin pillars of emphasis throughout Hebrews. The author’s overarching emphasis is that God has spoken definitively in His Son and that Word deserves …

The Symphony Of Justice: An Intertextual Study Of Social Justice Material Between The Torah And The Psalms, Daniel Gordan

Dissertations

Do passages dealing with social justice in the Torah and the Psalms together comprise an intentionally composed grand symphony, or do they merely form an ad hoc patchwork quilt in which their echoes of similarity are mere coincidences?1 Literary interactions between the Torah and the Prophets of the Hebrew Bible have been a focus of biblical scholarship, but the intertextual connections between the legal corpus of the Torah and poetry in Psalms have not received sufficient attention. Scholars have noticed some thematic similarities, but there are no systematic studies that analyze these interactions to determine whether they involve reuse and, …

Racism And The African American Church: The Impact That Racial Discrimination Has On The Theology Of African American Churches, Naeem J. Bourne

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The theology of the earlier evangelicals (white theology) has influenced the African American church. More to the point, the theology of the white evangelicals (The Puritans) has had both positive and negative impacts on the African American church, which birthed black theology in the United States. The influence continues today in more subtle ways (e.g., an image of a European blue-eyed man imposter posing as Jesus) and not-so-subtle forms (e.g., Kenneth Copeland’s video of making light of slavery in America). The “Protestant icon” of the blue-eyed Jesus was born in the 1940s and has entered African American homes nationwide. The …

"Restoration Under The Davidic Shepherd-King": An Exposition Of Ezekiel 37:15–28, Angela Gloria Erum

Liberty Theological Review

Considering what is happening to Israel in the Middle East these days, this exposition of Ezekiel 37:15–28 provides hope for the people of Israel as well as the Gentile believers in Christ. Ezekiel 37:15–28 exhibits Yahweh’s covenantal promise to gather His people (the people of Israel) from other nations, restore them to their land, and reunify them (both northern and southern kingdoms) as one nation under one king, the Davidic shepherd-king; thus, other nations would realize that Yahweh is God. By examining Ezekiel 37:15–28, this paper will attempt to demonstrate the exegesis and the theological implications of the passage through …

Verbal Punctuation In The Book Of Mormon Iii—Behold, John Gee

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

As an ancient book, the Book of Mormon employed verbal punctuation rather than typographical punctuation. An example of this verbal punctuation is the word behold, which is used in the Book of Mormon to point things out, to highlight unexpected effects of situations, and to modify a previously expressed proposition. This corresponds to ancient Hebrew usage. Joseph Smith’s usage from the time the Book of Mormon was produced, however, differs in both its frequency and how it was used, even when Joseph Smith was consciously trying to imitate the Book of Mormon.

Joseph Smith Jr. As A Translator: The Book Of Abraham As A Case Study, Stephen O. Smoot

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

This paper examines Joseph Smith’s approach to translation, using the Book of Abraham as a case study to explore the interplay between divine revelation and human participation in scriptural production. While the Book of Abraham incorporates both ancient and modern elements, its unique synthesis resists simple categorization as either an unblemished Abrahamic autograph or a purely nineteenth-century pseudepigraphon. Drawing on historical evidence and textual analysis, this paper aims to illuminate Joseph Smith’s role as both translator and revelator, offering insights into how Latter-day Saints might understand the complex process of producing sacred texts.

Wisdom City: Towards A Political Reading Of The Wisdom Genre, James E. Golec Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The contemporary conversation surrounding the wisdom genre shows a lack of consensus regarding the origin, nature, and biblical use of wisdom. This situation can be improved through reading the biblical wisdom genre politically, revealing the principles that create and sustain a God-fearing society. The hermeneutical key to accomplish this task begins with the claim that the book of Proverbs presents itself as a ‘city in a book.’ The outline of Proverbs, especially via the first nine chapters, introduces coherence between the concept of wisdom and an archetypal city. Second, the book provides a transformative engine, which can be found in …

The Implications Of A Post-Supersessionist Hermeneutic Applied To James’S Use Of Amos 9:11–12 In Acts 15:16–18, Mary Kathleen Yarbrough

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Jerusalem Council of Acts 15 marks one of the most critical moments in the life and development of the New Testament church as James set forth a scriptural response to the debate surrounding Gentile inclusion into the kingdom of God. The importance of James’s response is encapsulated in his appellation and adaptation of Amos 9:11–12 which both brought closure to the Council’s debate and clarified the identity and mission of the New Testament community. It is of note, however, that James did not directly quote Amos 9:11–12 but instead adapted its structure so that, in agreement with that set …

Salvation Of The Nations In Isaiah, Isaiah M. Gillette

NEXUS: The Liberty Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies

In the book of Isaiah, a key theme that is present is the salvation of the nations. This salvation is in the form of peace on earth, peace in the millennium, and salvation of the soul through the Messiah Jesus Christ. Articles are looked at that discuss specific passages about the salvation of the nations in Isaiah. The passages themselves are also studied to determine what they say about the salvation of the nations. Some authors of the articles argue for different views on certain passages, like that it is of judgment of the nations instead of salvation of the …

["At That Time"] In The Hebrew Bible And Its Role In Daniel 12:1: A Diachronic And Synchronic Study On Semantics Of Narrative And Prophetic Temporality, Roger David Ruiz Araica

Dissertations

Problem

The expression ["at that time"] in Dan 12:1 is the last temporal expression of the predictive discourse of Dan 11:2–12:3. There is no consensus about the temporality of this expression. Thus, this dissertation seeks to answer the following question: What is the temporal frame of the phrase ["at that time"] is in Dan 12:1 according to the temporal indicators provided in the context of the predictive discourse of Dan 11:40–12:3?

Methodology

The methodology of this dissertation combines diachronic and synchronic approaches. First, as a diachronic procedure, it analyzes ["at that time"] in the Hebrew Bible to determine its temporality …

Christological Application Of The Mosaic Law: A Hermeneutical And Exegetical Exploration, Nabeel Saqib

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study is a hermeneutical and exegetical exploration of the Christological application of the Mosaic Law for Christians. It involves a clear understanding of the relationship between the continuity and discontinuity from the Old Testament to the New Testament, the relationship between Israel and the Church as people of God, and the relationship between the Old and the New Covenant. It also requires a clear understanding of the meaning and purpose of the law for the initial audience, and its current significance for Christians today. Romans 10:4 presents Christ as the culmination of the law as it sees him as …

Inverted Quotations In The Book Of Mormon, David Bokovoy

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

When the Book of Mormon appeared in 1830, the Western world had only a limited knowledge of the impressive literary and editorial techniques utilized by ancient Semitic authors. Even today, many students of the Bible remain unaware of exciting discoveries by Israeli scholars whose work has appeared only in Hebrew.

Worship Leadership From The Beginning: A Comparative Study Of Exodus 15:1-21 And Judges 5, Vivian Ann Petties

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although many excellent books, commentaries, and journal articles have been written on worship leadership, no framework for worship leadership has been developed based upon Exodus 15:1-21 or Judges 5. The purpose of previous research has not been to discover principles of leadership, praise, and worship, or composition of music for use in ministry nor to develop a consensus about the roles played by the males and females in these texts. To develop a proposal for filling this lacuna, the present thesis will study Exodus 15:1-21 and (comparatively) Judges 5. This qualitative study will employ the exegetical methods of socio-rhetorical analysis …

Misusing Books: Material Texts And Lived Religion In The Roman Mediterranean, Jeremiah Coogan

Jesuit School of Theology

Books are more than vehicles for textual content. They are objects of economic value and social significance, embedded in complex networks of production and use. Recent historical scholarship on lived religion in the Roman Mediterranean has expanded beyond traditional conversations about theological concepts and scriptural interpretations, but this critical turn sometimes neglects material texts as sacred and powerful objects. Addressing this lacuna in light of Roman book culture, the present article re-reads several ancient reports about the misuse of textual objects. Accounts of the burned books of Numa Pompilius, of the powerful codex of Elchasai, and of the writings destroyed …

Did Jewish Women Circumcise Male Infants In Antiquity? A Reassessment Of The Evidence, Thomas R. Blanton Iv

2023 Faculty Bibliography

Two diametrically opposed assumptions have influenced interpretations of circumcision rituals in ancient Judaism: either women performed the operation on their infant sons because children at birth and during infancy remained under the purview of the mother; or, conversely, men—specifically a ritual agent known as the mohel—performed circumcisions, because only they were typically granted authority to carry out the ritual. This study reassesses the pertinent texts, including Exodus 4 and passages from the books of Maccabees and the Babylonian Talmud (b. Šabb. 134a; b. Yebam. 64b; b. ʿAbod. Zar. 27a), to determine whether women in ancient Judaism may have circumcised their …

Theosis In The Book Of Mormon: The Work And Glory Of The Father, Mother And Son, And Holy Ghost, Val Larsen, Newell D. Wright

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

While some scholars have suggested that the doctrine of theosis — the transformation of human beings into divine beings — emerged only in Nauvoo, the essence of the doctrine was already present in the Book of Mormon, both in precept and example. The doctrine is especially well developed in 1 Nephi, Alma 19, and Helaman 5. The focus in 1 Nephi is on Lehi and Nephi’s rejection of Deuteronomist reforms that erased the divine Mother and Son, who, that book shows, are closely coupled as they, the Father, and Holy Ghost work to transform human beings into divine beings. The …

Behold The Beasts Beside You: The Adaptation And Alteration Of Animals In Lxx-Job, James Wykes

Dissertations (1934 -)

“Behold the beasts beside you; they eat grass like cattle” (LXX-Job 40:15). The first translator for the book of Job into Greek was faced with a difficult text, replete with archaisms, corruptions, and convoluted Hebrew. He produced a distinctive – and often misunderstood – translation. Though its central characteristic is one of omission, its general approach to the text has proven hard to categorize. This study continues this trend by following one feature of Job that a casual reader cannot overlook: the book of Job’s zoological panoply. The LXX-translator handles these creatures in a variety of ways, often contextually-sensitive and …

Inequality And Narrative In The Book Of Mormon, Robert F. Schwartz

BYU Studies

speak unto you as if ye were present,” writes Moroni, “and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing” (Morm. 8:35). Eyewitnesses to the end of their civilization, Moroni and his father, Mormon, address us, their modern readers, from the perspective of exiled visionaries. Like twentieth-century exiles Hannah Arendt or Czesław Miłosz, these editors and part-authors of the Book of Mormon write as refugees from a society in utter, violent collapse, left to piece together a narrative of how things came to such a bitter end and what the future …

Indicators Of Typology In The Narrative Of Elijah: An Investigation Into The Predictive Nature Of Biblical Theology, JôNatas De Mattos Leal

Dissertations

Elijah is among the most popular prophets in the Judeo-Christian tradition. In Judaism, the hope for his return has evolved into a plethora of legends in which he functions as a helper to the righteous in the present and avenger to the wicked in the future eschaton. In Christianity, the expectation involving his return has also a multitemporal dimension, but its fulfilment is typologically oriented. More often, scholars study the fulfilment of the Elijah typology from the NT perspective in a backward movement. This dissertation investigates this typology in a forward movement going from the OT to the NT while …

Books Received

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

Eros As Interpretation: Isaac Ibn Sahula's Commentary On The Song Of Songs And The Invention Of A Kabbalistic Hermeneutics, Jesse Noily

Honors Papers

Isaac ibn Sahula was a marginal figure in the Castile community of medieval Spanish kabbalists, which included those mystics who would come to compose the groundbreaking book of Zohar toward the end of the thirteenth century. While Ibn Sahula is best known for his anthology of animal fables, this essay casts his more obscure Commentary on the Song of Songs (ca. 1283) as a key document in tracing the genealogy of the Song's interpretation in classical Kabbalah. Through the translation and analysis of two exemplary sections of the Commentary, this essay will discuss its uniquely kabbalistic reading of the Song …

Northwest Semitic Epigraphy And Historicity In The Book Of Jeremiah, Matthew Tyler Bronson

Masters Theses

This thesis examines recent finds in Northwest Semitic epigraphy in an effort to determine their effectiveness for speaking to the historical validity of the prose sections of the Book of Jeremiah. In light of the book’s complex compositional issues, many models for understanding its development have been published over the last century; one foundational theory, expounded primarily by Robert P. Carroll, argues that material in Jeremiah apart from chapters 2–26 (Source A) fail to provide an accurate picture of the Historical Jeremiah. This claim is examined in light of Hebrew epigraphy. Chapter one introduces the issues involved in the study …

Where Is Wisdom? Privileging Perspectives In The Book Of Job, Israel Mcgrew

Dissertations (1934 -)

Job is one of the most difficult books in Hebrew Scripture: in language, poetic rhetoric, subject matter, and literary form. Many scholars understand the book as skeptical literature, as the poetry, the bulk of the book, refutes any justification of God’s activity in history. The matter is acute, as these scholars recognize the poetry’s parodic allusions to Hebrew Scripture and mythological traditions. The poet’s protagonist charges God with immoral conduct, judges the human experience morally incoherent, and despairs of vindication in an afterlife. The whirlwind rebukes Job, Job seems to repent, and the epilogue indicates that God in fact does …

News, Announcements, And Remembrances, The Editors

Liberty Theological Review

News from various organizations in related disciplines. Announcements from Eleutheria editors about internal matters. Remembrances of people and events that include in memoriams, retirements, interesting lookbacks, etc.

The Removal Of Sin In Second Temple Jewish Literature, Odiaka Walker

Master's Theses

Problem

This thesis explored the Second Temple literary background of the concept that Jesus appeared at the end of the ages to take away sin, in Heb 9:26. As such, the research question which guided the paper was: what did Old Testament and Intertestamental writers believe about the removal of sin at the end of the ages? The answer to this question infers other questions: who would remove sin? From where would sin be removed? How was sin defined? How would sin be removed? When would sin be removed (are there time specifications involved)?

Method

The terms ἀφαιρέω, ἀφίημι, ἀπαλείφω, …

Balaam In The Book Of Numbers, Dana M. Pike

Faculty Publications

Balaam, the non-Israelite who prophesied positively about the Israelites, remains an enigmatic biblical figure, at least in part, because we cannot fully or confidently answer several important questions about him. The account of Balaam in Numbers 22–24 is oddly unique and reads like an independent unit, but it connects in several ways with the content and themes of the rest of the book of Numbers. So, however this account developed and was incorporated into the book of Numbers, it can at least be appreciated as part of the organic whole of the book.

‘Remember The Deeds Of The Lord:’ Collective Memory’S Role In A Reasonable Faith, Baily Ray Mcdaniel

Masters Theses

Faith has long been regarded by secular scholars as unreasonable and unjustified. One of the largest issues that Christians face today is working against the notion that faith is blind. Best-selling author Richard Dawkins states, “religious faith is an especially potent silencer of rational calculation, which usually seems to trump all others.” The irrationality of faith is echoed consistently by other scholars including Bertrand Russell. As Kelly James Clark points out, “Bertrand Russell was once asked, if he were to come before God, what he would say to God. Russell replied, ‘Not enough evidence God, not enough evidence.’” The claim …

Medieval Christian Views Of Hebrew As The Language Of Magic, Andrew C. Skinner

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

The view of Hebrew as a language of magic, for which precedents can be discerned in the Bible and in rabbinic tradition, spilled over into early and medieval Christianity. Andrew Skinner adroitly explores the material and theological history of this trajectory, showing how this contributed to the emergence of Christian Kabbalah in the sixteenth century.