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Finding Onesimus: Recovering The Story Of A First-Century Fugitive Slave, Ryan Lokkesmoe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is an investigation into the experience of a first-century fugitive slave named Onesimus, who is known to us primarily through Paul’s letter to Philemon (Phlm) in the New Testament. Within this broader purpose, this project challenges a popular historical theory for Onesimus’ flight, the so-called Amicus Domini theory. This is the theory that Onesimus fled his master Philemon with the premeditated intention of seeking out the Apostle Paul as a peacemaker in a conflict Onesimus was having with Philemon. The Amicus Domini theory is accepted by many scholars, though rarely discussed in detail or examined critically.

The goal …

Revelation 6:9-11: An Exegesis Of The Fifth Seal In The Light Of The Problem Of The Eschatological Delay, Patrice Allet

Dissertations

The fifth seal of Revelation has most often been treated from an anthropological perspective that appears to be clearly inadequate to account for the depth of this trigger passage located in a climactic setting. In and around the fifth seal, the text suggests indeed that the persecution of the last days has occurred. Imminence and delay do seem to intersect in the passage, creating a crisis of eschatological proportions which, in turn, raises questions of theodicy.

The purpose of this dissertation is to increase understanding of the fifth seal as a whole through a focused study of its delay motif …

Vips Only: Who Said God Is Fair?, Felix H. Cortez

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Great Commission, Don Fanning

Eruditio Ardescens

This last promise in Matthew extends beyond the life span of the Apostles to every believer that commits to the task of raising up a group of Christ-followers among every ethno-linguistic people groups on earth “to the end of the age” (Matt 28:20b). This phrase is also found in Matt 13:39-40, 49; 24:3, which refer to the end of the present age when the Son of Man returns to establish His kingdom. Thus the promise not only applied to these 1^st century disciples, but to every disciple since then and until the end of the Church Age. We can …

The Use Of Diacritical Marks In Our Earliest New Testament Papyri, Alan Taylor Farnes, Dr. Thomas Wayment

Journal of Undergraduate Research

I unfortunately was not able to complete this specific research project on diacritical marks but rather applied these funds to my honors thesis. Therefore, my report will focus on the results and experiences of my honors thesis which also had a substantial mentoring element from Dr. Wayment.

Woman At The Well, James F. Mcgrath

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

Dr. James McGrath's contribution to Bible Odyssey, a Society of Biblical Literature initiative.

Prophets Rendering Christlike Service: Looking To Peter As An Example, Kenneth L. Alford Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

This chapter (from the 2014 book “An Eye of Faith,” a festschrift for Dr. Richard O. Cowan, published by the Brigham Young University Religious Studies Center) shares examples of prophetic service from Peter the Apostle to each of the prophets of the Restoration—from Joseph Smith, Jr. to Thomas S. Monson. Many of the stories included about modern prophets are not widely known.

Review Of Judaism, Jewish Identities And The Gospel Tradition: Essays In Honour Of Maurice Casey, Matt A. Jackson-Mccabe

Philosophy and Religious Studies Department Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Revisiting The Mandaeans And The New Testament, James F. Mcgrath

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

The Mandaeans have been known to scholars for as long as there has been modern scholarship. Thanks to advances in technology, you can now find some of their ancient texts online, and videos of their baptismal rituals on YouTube. Yet as fascinating as the Mandaeans are, and as much as modern technologies can facilitate greater familiarity with them, the amount of attention that they receive is surprisingly sparse – although there are encouraging signs that that is at least beginning to change.

Slavery And Manumission In The Pre-Constantine Church, Joseph Francis Super

Liberty Theological Review

This paper looks at the church’s handling of the issue of slavery in the period before Constantine and the official recognition of Christianity. The time period is important because Christians had no political authority to end slavery, assuming they wanted to do so. Thus, the aim of the paper is discover how the Church as an institution alleviated the conditions of the slaves and how slaves were treated in the church and examine the relationship of slave to master in the church. This will be accomplished by examining certain doctrines of the faith church leaders applied to these problems as …

Fruit Of The Spirit, Gary M. Simpson

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Addressing Roman Jews: Paul's View On The Law In The Letter To The Romans, Dennis Haugh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For many years, Pauline scholars have wrestled with two related questions: (1) how did Paul envision the composition of the audience for his letter to Rome? (2) What did Paul see as the role of the Law in the community of Jesus followers? As to the first question, I contend that Paul wrote to an implied audience composed of non-Judeans who had first converted to Judaism and then acknowledge Jesus as Messiah, or who became Jews at the time of their acceptance of Jesus as Messiah. In either case, they adopted the beliefs and practices of the followers of Jesus …

Galatians, Ephesians (Book Review), John B. Roney

History Faculty Publications

Book review by John B. Roney.

Bray, Gerald L., ed. Galatians, Ephesians. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2011. (Reformation commentary on Scripture. New Testament; 10). ISBN 978083082973

A Commentary On St. Paul's Epistle To The Romans, Benjamin Helm

Heritage Material

No abstract provided.

The Lord Opened Her Heart: Women, Work, And Leadership In Acts Of The Apostles, Teresa Jeanne Calpino

Dissertations

This dissertation will explore two women in The Acts of the Apostles, Tabitha (Acts 9:36-42) and Lydia (Acts 16:11-15) who have been routinely ignored by scholars, or mentioned only in praising the apostle associated with their story. As a result, stereotypical categorization has swept these important characters from their rightful place into relative obscurity. In fact, an examination of their stories set against the expectations of women in Greco-Roman antiquity reveals their unconventional situations. In particular, this dissertation takes special notice of the ways in which representations of the `ideal woman' in the Greco Roman world are at variance with …

The Influence Of Israelite Temple Rites And Early Christian Esoteric Rites On The Development Of Christian Baptism, Ryan T. Wilkins

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis seeks to answer the question of the origin of some of the most fundamental additions made to early Christian baptism. Christian baptism began in a relatively simple liturgical form, but became, by the fourth century, a much more dramatic set of initiation rituals. Among the added elements to baptism were washing ceremonies in the nude, physical anointing with oil, being marked or signed with the cross on the forehead, and receiving white garments. Scholars have proposed different theories as to the origins of these baptismal rituals. Some claim the elements existed in the New Testament practice of the …

"Christians Aren’T Perfect Just Forgiven": A Second Look To Christ’S Ministry In The Heavenly Sanctuary, Felix H. Cortez

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Book Reviews

Liberty Theological Review

Review by Shane Kraeger of Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament: Colossians and Philemon. by Murray J. Harris. Nashville: B&H Academic, 2010. xxxii + 272 pp., $24.99.

Review by Joshua C. Stone of To Change the World: The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World by James Davison Hunter. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010, 358pp., $27.95.

Review by R. Lee Webb of Interpreting the Psalms for Teaching and Preaching. Eds. Herbert W. Bateman IV and D. Brent Sandy. St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2010, 292 pp., $34.99.

Review by Roberto Rodriguez-Nunez of Augustine as …

The Contribution Of Foundational New Testament Theological Themes To The Meaning Of Basic Bioethics Principles, R. Dennis Macaleer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Beauchamp and Childress' Principles of Biomedical Ethics is a well accepted approach to contemporary bioethics. Those principles are based on what Beauchamp and Childress call the common morality. This dissertation employs New Testament theological themes to enhance the meaning of contemporary principles of bioethics. Beginning with the incarnation in the New Testament, the invitation-response hermeneutic is developed as a hermeneutic to use in studying the New Testament. The primary New Testament text for this study is the twin commands from Jesus to love God and love one's neighbor. Three theological themes are developed from this study and these three themes …

A New Interpretation Of Luke's Prodigal Manager (Luke 16: 1-8a), Alan T. Farnes

Student Works

What has been called the parable of the Unjust Steward has been dubbed one of the most difficult passages in the entire New Testament. Indeed, John S. Kloppenborg has commented, “There is hardly a consensus on any single aspect of this parable.” Almost every commentary on the topic begins with a disclaimer that this parable is “notoriously difficult.” This parable has gained its notoriety due to its seemingly contradictory conclusion. The Prodigal Manager is slothful, does not collect all of his master’s money but rather gives it away, and in the end is a praised for his wisdom. Is the …

Sōma Sēma: The Influence Of “The Body Is A Tomb” In Early Christi An Debates And The New Testament, Gaye Strathearn

Faculty Publications

As we study the second half of the New Testament, it becomes evident very quickly that the early Church struggled with doctrinal drift. One of the central responsibilities of having a Church with apostles and prophets, we learn in Ephesians, is so “that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ephesians 4:14). Therefore, most of Paul’s epistles were written to combat this doctrinal drift. But what happens when the people no longer listen to …

Jesus And The Eyewitnesses: The Gospels As Eyewitness Testimony, Richard Bauckham, Thomas A. Wayment

BYU Studies

Undoubtedly, Professor Richard Bauckham's most recent contribution will add life to an already thriving scholarly discussion on the historical foundations of the New Testament Gospels, particularly the Synoptic Gospels--Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Like others who have contributed to this field of study, Bauckham (professor of New Testament studies at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland) sets out to describe the sources used by the authors of the canonical Gospels, and, in doing so, provides a viable theory that has been met by exuberant praise and will certainly encounter significant rebuttals. In his own words, he states:

It is the contention …

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Jesus Christ As Poetic Symbol: Wilhelm Bousset’S Contribution To The Faith-History Debate, Brent A. R. Hege

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

Wilhelm Bousset, a leading member of the religionsgeschichtliche school and author of a seminal work on early Christology, Kyrios Christos, is typically regarded by reviewers of his work as a classic nineteenth-century liberal who sought a secure foundation for faith in the historical Jesus. However, this view of Bousset fails to appreciate the significant development of his theological perspective on the relationship between faith and history, a perspective that underwent a profound shift due to the influence of the English historian Thomas Carlyle and the Kantian philosopher Jakob Friedrich Fries. It is the influence of these two figures that enables …

Review Of Jonathan L. Reed, The Harpercollins Visual Guide To The New Testament [Review Of The Book The Harpercollins Visual Guide To The New Testament: What Archaeology Reveals About The First Christians, By J. L. Reed], Rubén R. Dupertuis

Religion Faculty Research

Jonathan Reed begins the first chapter of The HarperCollins Visual Guide to the New Testament with the assertion that "archaeology is imperative for the study of the New Testament." This much most students of the New Testament and early Christian literature would grant. But how and to what degree is archaeology important to biblical studies is less clear and can be at times a contentious issue. The expectation that archaeology should provide proof of the historical reliability of the New Testament has for decades sent many a would-be Indiana Jones off in search of this or that biblical site with …

Review Of Kenneth E. Bailey, Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies In The Gospels, James F. Mcgrath

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

In his latest book, Kenneth Bailey provides further study of the New Testament Gospels from the perspective that has been his own unique contribution over the past three decades or so.

Bible Gateway And The New Testament Gateway: Two Biblical Websites, Ryan Combs

BYU Studies

BibleGateway.com is a website designed for online study and access of the scriptures. Unlike other sites that may have only one version of the Bible in one language, BibleGateway boasts thirty-five different languages and twenty-one versions of the Bible in English. Among the oldest are Jerome’s Vulgate (AD 405) in Latin, the Wycliffe New Testament (1382) in English, the Luther Bible (1545) in German, and the King James Bible (1611) in English. There are also many modern versions, such as the New International Version and modern translations in Chinese, Arabic, and Creole. For those who would prefer to listen to …

Texts And Traditions: The Consequences Of Humanist New Testament Scholarship For The Reformation, Laura Rickelman

Senior Honors Theses

Martin Luther's Reformation of Christianity was preceded by a conceptual reform of New Testament studies arising from the Renaissance scorn for medieval perceptions. The Reformation was thrust into a volatile academic area of conflicting humanist and scholastic methods of biblical interpretation. Lorenzo Valla and Desiderius Erasmus applied advanced methods of linguistic, historical, and literary criticism to the translation and emendation of the New Testament. The debate over authority for textual meaning held particular applicability for disregarding the authority of tradition in interpreting scripture. The humanist view of scripture was adopted by and consequently associated with the Reformation, although the conflicting …

Scribal Habits And Theological Influences In The Apocalypse : The Singular Readings Of Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus, And Ephraemi, Juan Hernández Jr.

Faculty Books

Modelled on the respective studies of Ernest C. Colwell and James R. Royse, Juan Hernández Jr. offers a fresh and comprehensive discussion of the Apocalypse's singular readings in Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus, and Ephraemi. Moreover, the singular readings of the Apocalypse are also assessed in light of the work's reception history in the early church. The author shows that the scribes of these three manuscripts omitted more often than they added to their texts, were prone to harmonizing, and, in the case of at least one scribe, made significant theological changes to the fourth century text of the Apocalypse. The author also …

Matthew As An Editor Of The Life And Teachings Of Jesus, Gaye Strathearn

Faculty Publications

The Gospel According to Matthew, or, as the Joseph Smith Translation notes, the Testimony of St. Matthew, is the first of the four Gospels in our New Testament.1 This Gospel was very influential among early Christians.2 Tertullian, one of the early Church Fathers (c. AD 155–230), described Matthew as the “most faithful chronicler of the Gospel.”3 In this dispensation, the Prophet Joseph often used the first Gospel in his sermons.4 Although modern scholars have debated the authorship of this Gospel, ancient Christian writings are unanimous in ascribing it to the tax collector named Matthew in Matthew 9:9.

Rebel Soldiers As Good Samaritans: New Testament Parables In An African Context, Glenna S. Jackson

Religion & Philosophy Faculty Scholarship

This article aims to critique western understanding of New Testament times. Most of the historical reconstructions done in the West are based on what biblical scholars have learned through primary and secondary written sources, occasionally from archaeological findings. The article recounts the author’s experiences at Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe. Students who themselves live in agrarian, technologically undeveloped rural areas, convinced her to return to Africa in order to travel with them and learn for herself how they relate to an economically poor lifestyle of two thousand years ago. As a result, the article argues that the ordinary in Africa …