Digital Commons Network^™

A Strategic Research Project Exploring An African American Church’S Engagement In Public And Nonprofit Healthcare Partnerships, Josephine Louise Evans

Transformations

This Strategic Research Project examines how churches engage in public and nonprofit healthcare partnerships to address community health disparities and strengthen congregational well-being. Guided by organizational leadership principles and supported by frameworks such as the Social Ecological Model, change theory, and systems thinking, the study explores the perceptions, experiences, and decision-making processes of pastoral leaders involved in cross-sector collaboration. Using a mixed-methods design, the research analyzes qualitative insights from leadership interviews alongside quantitative data on community health trends to identify facilitators, barriers, and perceived effectiveness of these partnerships. Findings reveal that trust building, cultural competence, shared mission alignment, and resource …

Her Body Broken: Wrestling And Reconciling With Judges 19 Through A Feminist Lens, Elisabeth Edmonds

Honors Projects

Nestled within the story of Israel in the Christian Old Testament, lies the events of Judges 19 - one of the most violent, disturbing, and traumatic stories of the Christian sacred text. Employing a feminist lens, this paper engages with Judges 19 in three sections by 1) discussing the events of Judges 19, 2) overviewing general Christian responses to the text historically, and 3) featuring specific ideological responses to Judges 19 (feminist theology, intertextual and structural biblical responses, and reconciliation studies). By highlighting a wide array of responses and ideological readings of Judges 19, this paper defends a holistic approach …

Echoes Of Redemption: What Typology Reveals About The Significance Of Isaac In The Aqedah, Jacob A. Lugo

Masters Theses

In this thesis, I outline a problem of logical consistency within the typological interpretation of the Aqedah narrative in Genesis 22. I also attempt to provide a more consistent interpretation that still seeks to remain faithful to the text while recognizing how this account fits into the overall narrative of Scripture.

In times past, the literature on this topic has been saturated with the identification of Isaac as a type of Christ; this is seen most readily in the Early Church Fathers’ interpretation. I also explore other modern readings to demonstrate the multiplicity of understandings that have arisen regarding this …

Examining The Relationship Between Biblical Characters And Mental Health: Identifying A Christian's Well-Being, Shanetia Sharie Chapman

Masters Theses

This thesis aims to examine the intersection between biblical texts and mental health within the framework of Christian belief systems. Through a critical analysis of key biblical narratives involving figures who exhibit experiences analogous to contemporary psychological struggles, this study investigates the influence of scriptural interpretation on believers’ perceptions of mental health and their coping mechanisms. By employing textual analysis, the research seeks to evaluate the potential of biblical teachings as therapeutic resources. Ultimately, this thesis aims to contribute to developing culturally and theologically informed approaches to mental health awareness and support within Christian communities.

Yielding Fruit: The Relationship Of Love, Unity, And Spiritual Gifts, Douglas Donald Vannostrand

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation explores the interconnectedness of love, unity, and spiritual gifts within the Christian church, primarily through an analysis of Paul's letters in Romans, Corinthians, and Ephesians. It argues that these principles are essential for the church to fulfill its divine purpose. The study examines how love serves as the foundation for unity and the effective use of spiritual gifts, contributing to the community's edification and reflecting the nature of the Trinity. The research employs exegetical analysis, historical context, and practical application to demonstrate how these principles can address contemporary challenges in the church, fostering spiritual growth and reflecting God's …

The Fear Of Yahweh: Introducing Scripture’S Wisdom Literature For Biblical Counseling, Alexander Lee

Senior Honors Theses

Biblical wisdom literature is one of the most neglected areas of Scripture related to biblical counseling. Biblical counseling is formulated on the sufficiency of Scripture, so a deeper examination of any area of Scripture is sure to enlighten the biblical counselor. Wisdom in biblical counseling was introduced through an examination of the fear of Yahweh. A proper fear of Yahweh connects the counselee with the revelation of Jesus Christ in the New Testament, leading to a transformation of the client’s character toward a flourishing life. An existing case study was examined, highlighting how these findings can be implemented in the …

A Pauline Dress Code Or A Roman Analogy: Reinterpreting Paul’S Discourse In 1 Corinthians 11:1–16, Nicole Francis

Studia Antiqua

Historically, the debate surrounding 1 Corinthians 11 has focused on whether or not Paul is referring to women veiling their heads in church or simply wearing their hair up. This debate roots itself in a nearly universally accepted assumption that Paul is requesting a sort of dress-code standard for praying and prophesying in church. While this has been the dominant reading in scholarship for centuries, there are numerous compelling weaknesses in this interpretation. This paper will explore those weaknesses and provide an alternative reading: When confronted with group conflict, Paul attempts to reason his way through the hierarchical structure he …

Retracing The Historical Via Dolorosa: A Logistical Exercise In First-Century Jerusalem, Calan Christensen

Studia Antiqua

Since the identification of Herod’s palace on the Western Hill of Jerusalem as the Praetorium (πραιτώριον) of the Gospels, the notion of Jesus being tried at the Antonia Fortress, and the associated Via Dolorosa, has been relegated to mere tradition. This presented a prime juncture to responsibly reinform a tantamount Christian pilgrimage tradition through the lens of archaeology. Unfortunately, this opportunity has seemingly been neglected by the greater academic community. Any scholar that ventures to mention a plausible route from the Praetorium to Golgotha hastily assumes a route through the Upper City and neglects to cite any compelling evidence. This …

The Carnivalesque And The Carmel Competition In 1 Kings 18, Paul Bryner

Studia Antiqua

While humor is a difficult feature to identify in the Bible, the concept of the “carnivalesque”—a form of literary humor with sociological implications, coined by Mikhail Bakhtin — is much easier to apply. I argue for the presence of carnivalesque themes in the Elijah narrative of 1 Kings 18 which give a subtle, implicit social commentary on Israelite society.

The Loaves Of The Tree Of Life: A Historical And Biblical Analysis Of The Origins And Purpose Of The Bread Of The Presence Within The Torah, J. Christian Doling

Masters Theses

The bread of the Presence refers to the twelve loaves of bread which were laid in the presence of God every Sabbath and consumed by the Israelite priesthood as part of the cultic rituals. The wheat for the bread was presented as part of Israel's first fruits offering during the Feast of Weeks, where Israel also presented an elevation offering of bread, a ritual bread with many similarities to the bread of the Presence. Once a week (according to Leviticus) the priests would collect some of this wheat to bake into twelve loaves of bread which were then placed in …

"Who Wrote The Epistle, God Only Knows": A Statistical Authorial Analysis Of Hebrews In Comparison With Pauline And Lukan Literature, Benjamin J. Erickson

Senior Honors Theses

The authorship of Hebrews has been a point of contention for scholars for the past two millennia. While the epistle is traditionally attributed to Paul, many scholars assert that it carries thematic, structural, and stylistic differences from the remainder of his extant epistles; therefore, many other possible authors have been proposed. Of these, only Luke has other New Testament writings. Therefore, this project conducts a statistical comparison of Hebrews to the Pauline and Lukan corpora using stylometric authorial analysis methods. This analysis demonstrates that Hebrews is stylistically closer to Lukan literature than Pauline (but not to a significant degree), and …

More Perspectives On Benjamin's Speech

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

Two more interesting insights into the complex nature of King Benjamin's speech have been noticed. First, in the June 1985 issue of the Journal of Biblical Literature, an article by William Kurz analyzes the twenty elements found in typical classical Greek, Roman and Biblical " farewell addresses." In such speeches, the person who is about to die summons successors, points to his own mission as an example, proclaims his innocence, discusses his impending death, gives exhortations, appoints a successor, etc. While many of these elements taken alone are unremarkable, the full pattern Kurz displays is interesting. It is apparent …

Biblical Scholar Compares Moses And Joseph Smith

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

In "The Formation of the Canon of the Old Testament," in Religion and Law: Biblical, Judaic, and Islamic Perspectives, (edited by Edwin Firmage, Bernard Weiss, and John Welch and published in 1990 by Eisenbrauns), David Noel Freedman discusses the legacy of Moses and his Torah to the Western world. This legacy, he believes, is "the merger of law and religion, the inseparable joint expression of the divine will, communicated by his prophet. If true religion involves the right relationship between humanity and deity, then the law 1s the way in which that relationship is defined and regulated." Freedman concludes …

Dead Sea Scroll Expert Gives Farms Lecture

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

Emanual Tov, an eminent Dead Sea Scrolls scholar, delivered the seventh annual F.A.R.M.S. lecture on February 22 in the BYU Varsity Theater on "The Hebrew Bible in the Dead Sea Scrolls." Tov is Editor- in-Chief of the Dead Sea Scrolls Publication Project and a world-renowned expert on the Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls. A transcript and video of his presentation are available on the order form. Tov gave a similar lecture in Salt Lake City (both lectures were presented to overflow crowds).

Revelation And The Urim And Thummim, Matthew Roper

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

In the past most biblical scholars viewed the Urim and Thummim as a rather mechanical device used merely to obtain a yes or no answer, similar to casting lots. This is quite different from the function of the device described in the Book of Mormon as "interpreters" and by the Prophet Joseph Smith as the "Urim and Thummim." In these descriptions of the use of the Urim and Thummim, revelation played a large role. For example, accounts of the translation of the Book of Mormon indicate that Joseph Smith could not translate without the Spirit and that a great deal …

Upon The Tower Of Benjamin, John W. Welch, Terry L. Szink

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

When King Benjamin crowned his son Mosiah, all the people in Zarahemla sat in tents around the temple while Benjamin addressed them. Because he "could not teach them all within the walls of the temple, therefore he caused a tower to be erected, that thereby his people might hear the words which he should speak unto them" (Mosiah 2:7). Was the need to improve the acoustics the only reason for the construction of this tower? Recent research has discovered ancient precedents for the use of such "towers" in royal convocations and coronation ceremonies. These biblical and Jewish precedents are not …

Brown Bags Report Preliminary Research Findings

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

The first three presentations of 1995 at the FARMS brown bag seminar (held every other week at BYU) reported on research in progress on topics as diverse as errors in the transmission of the biblical text of Samuel, the Egyptian roots for Hebrew religious terminology, and a hierarchy of settlements in the Book of Mormon.

The Allegory Of The Olive Tree, Stephen D. Ricks, John W. Welch

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

The allegory of the olive tree in Jacob 5 is one of the most magnificent allegories in all of sacred literature. The essays in The Allegory of the Olive Tree examine this allegory and related topics from many perspectives, and in doing so they not only illuminate the meaning of this portion of the Book of Mormon, they also increase our understanding of much that is contained in the New Testament. The olive is a powerful image in the New Testament, and the efforts of these authors to understand that image and its use in the allegory shed light on …

Lectures Highlight Connections Between Scrolls And Mormonism

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

Selections from the March conference entitled "LDS Perspectives on the Dead Sea Scrolls" are now available for purchase on video and audiotape. The presentations teach about the ancient scrolls and how they contribute to LDS understanding of gospel teachings, the Bible, and other aspects of biblical life.

The Debate Over Biblical Archaeology, John Tvedtnes

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

There are two major camps among archaeologists studying biblical lands. The so-called "minimalists" tend to accept only a bare minimum of information from the Bible as historical fact, while the "maximalists," believe that much of it (although not all) is real history. The latter point to archaeological evidence such as the recently discovered eighth-century B.C. inscription mentioning "the house of David." The minimalists dismiss this and a number of other finds inscribed with biblical names as forgeries planted for archaeologists to discover.

Recent Archaeological Discoveries Support Bible, John A. Tvedtnes

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

The number of archaeological excavations in Israel has increased dramatically over the last two decades. The January/February 1997 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review (BAR) lists 20 sites currently being excavated. As more sites are studied, more evidence for the historical authenticity of the Bible is uncovered.

Redesigned Farms Review Of Books Released

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

Sporting a new cover design and format, the latest issue of the FARMS Review of Books (vol. 12, no. 1) looks at an array of recent books related to Mormon studies, biblical studies, and scripture study. In the editor's introduction, Daniel C. Peterson sets the record straight concerning a particularly infamous example of contemporary anti-Mormon rhetoric. His remarks set the stage for much of the nearly 500-page Review, which in addition to several positive book reviews, includes a thorough debunking of another anti-Mormon publication, the Counterfeit Gospel of Mormonism.

The Bible In Full Color: A High School Bible Study On The Inductive Bible Study Method, Margaret Gregory

Senior Honors Theses

Modern Christianity is saturated with Bible studies for students. However, a crucial skill the Christian student needs to learn – how to study the Bible independently – is a topic difficult to find in contemporary youth Bible study curricula. While there is a wealth of biblically sound, helpful Bible studies that students can benefit from, it is essential that students do not remain dependent on these resources. One goal for youth ministry leaders is that their students graduate high school with the knowledge and tools they need to interpret the Scriptures for themselves correctly. The creative thesis will be an …

Equipping Covenant Baptist Church To Defend The Bible In A Skeptical World, Harlan Grant Mclain

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The thesis of this research project is “If Covenant Baptist Church members are taught the reliability of the Bible, they will be equipped to defend their faith to a skeptical world.” The goals of this doctoral thesis are two-fold: to train adequate believers regarding the Bible’s reliability in a skeptical world, and honor God in the process through the equipping ministry of the church in accordance with Ephesians 4:11-16. Seven lessons were researched, formulated, and presented to a small group of believers in Covenant Baptist Church who desired to become more confident in defending the Bible to a skeptic. Entrance …

Composing The Book Of Jeremiah: Relocating The Oracles Against The Nations In The Masoretic Text, Brenna C. Salverson

Honors College Theses

The thesis conducts a textual critical analysis of the Book of Jeremiah’s placement of the oracles against the nations in the Masoretic Text and Septuagint. The following questions will be explored: 1) are the oracles against the nations a late addition to Jeremiah? 2) does the Masoretic Text relocate the oracles against the nations? and 3) do keywords and phrases that occur in the oracles against the nations appear in the content preceding and following the oracles in the Masoretic Text and Septuagint? Implications of the questions include the radical scribal decision to rearrange the Book of Jeremiah and the …

The Sabbath In The Old Testament, Dana M. Pike

Faculty Publications

The scriptures consistently depict the significance of sacred space and sacred time in the lives of the Lord’s covenant people. Sacred time is still experienced today, as in the past, through commemorations and celebrations on specific days that are dedicated to God and thus regarded as holy. These days punctuate the passing of ordinary or common time and are intended to help bring focus and clarity to relationships with the divine.

Farms Review Stresses Biblical Studies, Remembrance, And Church History

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

Issue 19/2 of the FARMS Review, which is now available, follows a long tradition of dealing with a wide variety of fascinating topics. Of particular interest in this issue is a series of articles on pre-serving and enlarging the memory of the Saints. As Louis Midgley notes in his introduction to this section, “In the April 2007 General Conference, Elder Marlin K. Jensen of the Seventy delivered a powerful sermon entitled ‘Remember and Perish Not,’ in which he urged the Saints to pay close attention to the ways of remembrance in our scriptures” (p. 23). At the next conference, President …

How Servant Leaders Navigate Conflict: An Analysis Of Acts 15:36–41, Joshua D. Henson, Justin R. Craun

Selected Faculty Publications

Greenleaf’s foundational work on servant leadership has evolved considerably over the past 50 years. Servant leadership has been found to have positive outcomes on group and organisational effectiveness. While servant leadership characteristics and outcomes have been measured, is a need to be better understand how servant leaders navigate when they disagree. Using a social and cultural analysis, the conflict between Paul and Barnabas is explored. Social and cultural analysis allows interpreters to understand what the characters in the narrative ‘see and hear.’ The analysis of Acts 15:36–41 yielded three emerging themes related to how these servant leaders navigated conflict: (1) …

From Divinely Equal To Violently Oppressed: Brutality Against Women In The Bible, Shana Clemence

AWE (A Woman’s Experience)

The Old Testament tells us the first woman on earth, Eve, was created from the rib of the first man, Adam. To many, this symbolizes equality between the sexes. A historical theologian said, “to be formed from the side symbolically indicates equality rather than domination or subjection” (O’Loughlin, 1993). Wheelwright-Brown (2020) stated how the effect of mankind’s view of Eve’s brave choice to partake of the fruit of the tree of life had serious, harmful consequences for women:

There’s the effect it had on men, and the way they have been subtly influenced to perceive women and think of women. …

Our Own Complicity: The Unnamed Woman In Judges 19 And Mmiwg, Cassidy Crosby

AWE (A Woman’s Experience)

Singular brutality marks the unnamed woman’s story in Judges 19—perhaps the most disturbing and upsetting story in the Hebrew Bible, in which a group of men rape and then murder her. Our religious discussions therefore usually ignore this story, preferring to focus on tales that are not as difficult to deal with. However, ignoring the woman’s story does a disservice to her life and death, and to ourselves. If we believe the content in the Bible is divinely inspired, then we have a duty to search for the divine in this story. Perhaps the most important path comes in applying …