Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Keyword
-
- Religion, Biblical Studies (11)
- Theology (10)
- Christianity (8)
- Bible (7)
- Church (6)
-
- Old Testament (4)
- Biblical studies (3)
- Christ (3)
- Christian (3)
- Divorce (3)
- Election (3)
- Hermeneutics (3)
- Israel (3)
- Justification (3)
- Music (3)
- Paul (3)
- Religion, General (3)
- Righteousness (3)
- Typology (3)
- Worship (3)
- Church History (2)
- Contextualization (2)
- Covenant (2)
- Creative thesis (2)
- Culture (2)
- Evangelism (2)
- Faith (2)
- God (2)
- Historical (2)
- Identity (2)
Articles 1 - 30 of 56
Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities
"Who Wrote The Epistle, God Only Knows": A Statistical Authorial Analysis Of Hebrews In Comparison With Pauline And Lukan Literature, Benjamin J. Erickson
"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 …
The Bible In Full Color: A High School Bible Study On The Inductive Bible Study Method, Margaret Gregory
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 …
The Role Of Story In The Creation And Life Of Man, Leah Ginion
The Role Of Story In The Creation And Life Of Man, Leah Ginion
Senior Honors Theses
Story was created by God as a vehicle for the revelation and glorification of Himself. Man, made in the image of God, was created as an innate storyteller. The world was created through story, and story is how it progresses and is sustained. As such, story is the foundation of all culture and the most natural and effective method of human communication. Research points to all of man’s stories being derivatives of the Great Story: the metanarrative of Scripture. Exploring man’s relationship with story reveals his place within the metanarrative and ultimately provides evidence for the existence and active presence …
Worshipers At War: The Church’S Call To Praise On The Frontlines, Keely Cox
Worshipers At War: The Church’S Call To Praise On The Frontlines, Keely Cox
Senior Honors Theses
As spiritual warfare wages on and battles are constantly fought, the worship leader must understand the power of worship the Church wields in the love and strength of the Lord. In order for the role of the worship leader to be fully recognized and understood as a significant part of the body of Christ, its unique history must also be examined. It can be seen in the appointment of the Levites to the ministry of the Israelite tabernacle and their leadership on the battlefield. It can be found in first-century Christian leaders who persisted to praise the one true God …
Women: Radically Glorified, Oppressed, Or Set Free?, Easton Finger
Women: Radically Glorified, Oppressed, Or Set Free?, Easton Finger
Senior Honors Theses
A woman’s identity in society has often been debated, starting from the beginning of time. The answer to this identity question has been sought in systems ranging from oppression, slavery, radical feminism, and over-exaltation of power. This thesis suggests that the value of women and their role is not found in those systems but in the knowledge of their Creator. Two questions will be posed, including how women’s identity has been previously defined and can a woman’s identity be found in her Creator God. The history of women in biblical times will be reviewed, as well as how Christ valued …
The Effects Of Mosaic Law Observance On Human Health, Emily Uhlmeyer
The Effects Of Mosaic Law Observance On Human Health, Emily Uhlmeyer
Senior Honors Theses
For the people of ancient Israel, life was guided and regulated by adherence to the law of Moses. Dietary restrictions, purification rituals, circumcision, and Sabbath observance were each critical components of this code and were meticulously detailed in the Old Testament, specifically in the Torah. Still today, dietary laws are observed and select rituals practiced by many Jews and Seventh Day Adventists. Although health protection was never the primary purpose of the law, noticeable effects on human health have been connected to its observance. Evaluation of the effects of the Levitical law on human health can be achieved by a …
Sacred Business: Outlining Business As Mission For The Fulfillment Of The Great Commission, Eli Jackson
Sacred Business: Outlining Business As Mission For The Fulfillment Of The Great Commission, Eli Jackson
Senior Honors Theses
Business as Mission (BAM) is the operation of a for-profit business located in a cross-cultural setting and aimed toward the fulfillment of the great commission. This definition reveals four key success factors for BAM: support, financial and otherwise, for both the business and the missionaries; the ability to gain access to cross-cultural settings; the opportunity to advance the gospel; and the requirement of managing both missional and business goals. Examining each of these areas, along with the historical effectiveness of BAM, reveals that BAM is an efficient and effective missional strategy, which should be used to see the Great Commission …
Yahweh’S Benevolence Vs. Anat’S Malevolence: A Comparative Analysis Of Judges 4–5 And Col Ii 1–Col Iii 2, Michaela Misantone
Yahweh’S Benevolence Vs. Anat’S Malevolence: A Comparative Analysis Of Judges 4–5 And Col Ii 1–Col Iii 2, Michaela Misantone
Senior Honors Theses
The actions of ancient Near Eastern warrior gods are often depicted as acts of vengeance, greed, and brutality, serving selfish ambition and never-ending power struggles. These gods and their warfare ethic dominated the worldview of the ancient world in which the events of the Old Testament took place. The actions of the Hebrew God are often included, even emphasized, in discussions of ancient divine warfare today. There are supposed similarities between the actions of war gods like Anat from the Ugaritic pantheon and those of Yahweh from ancient Israel. Unfortunately, this has led to the present-day belief that the God …
Revival Today: America’S History Of Biblical Revival And Its Modern Application, Matthew Musser
Revival Today: America’S History Of Biblical Revival And Its Modern Application, Matthew Musser
Senior Honors Theses
There is a need for revival within the church today. Christian revivals are becoming less and less popular in the current times. Is this due to a subtle shift in America’s culture? Or is this decline of religious revival the result of something deeper? This thesis will seek to discover the biblical foundations of revival in American history. First, it will analyze some of the biblical revivals that took place in the Old Testament, Gospels, and Book of Acts. Then it will transition into how these biblical principles have been the cornerstone for many of the great revivals in American …
The Law And The Gospel, Lissa Leanna Hull
The Law And The Gospel, Lissa Leanna Hull
Senior Honors Theses
This thesis provides an analysis of the purpose and function of the Old Testament Law for New Covenant Christians. The Bible contains the inspired story of God which culminated in the person and work of Jesus Christ, from the covenant with Abraham to the administration of the Mosaic Law up to the coming of the Messiah. The promised Messiah inaugurated the New Covenant and a new administration of the Law under the two commands to love God and love one another, and this work is carried out in believers by the Holy Spirit. The Law is no longer binding to …
Art As Contextualization: Using Visual Communication As Christian Missions In Native American And Alaskan Cultures, Hali Gehring
Art As Contextualization: Using Visual Communication As Christian Missions In Native American And Alaskan Cultures, Hali Gehring
Senior Honors Theses
Contextualization is an important aspect of Christian ministries and cross-cultural missions to create sustaining churches around the world. There are many forms of communication that use contextualization for religious purposes, such as theatre, story, art, and dance. These important forms of communication can be used with cultural practices to contextualize the Gospel to different people groups. For Native Americans and Alaskans, artistic works that promote cultural heritage are highly regarded. A beadwork piece that explains the Gospel could be a creative way to contextualize to Native American and Alaskans.
Palestinian Evangelical Christian Music In Bethlehem, Israel/Palestine, Abby Smith
Palestinian Evangelical Christian Music In Bethlehem, Israel/Palestine, Abby Smith
Senior Honors Theses
Often the story of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is portrayed as Jewish vs. Muslim, Hebrew vs. Arab. There is little room in the international dialogue for minorities such as Arab Christians. Though Palestinians have a rich culture of Arabic musical and poetic heritage, they are unable to produce their own new songs. In this study I interviewed three members of Immanuel Evangelical Church on their experiences and opinions on local Christian worship. The findings show that Palestinian Christians may feel unable to write worship music because of a prevalent feeling of inadequacy and a lack of musical training. I propose several …
Go & Make Disciples: The Biblical Foundation For Discipleship In The Way Of Jesus, Ryan May
Go & Make Disciples: The Biblical Foundation For Discipleship In The Way Of Jesus, Ryan May
Senior Honors Theses
What are Jesus’ foundational teachings that lay the groundwork for discipleship in the church today? Within this paper, I will seek to work through the initial section of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount to distill the essential theological lessons of Christ on discipleship. After introducing some important cultural realities concerning the state of discipleship in the church today, Matthew 5 will be thoroughly engaged. Beginning with a discussion on cultural, literary, and theological backgrounds, the passage will be broken down section by section to discern key truths expressed for the modern church. The paper will conclude with further reflection questions …
Election And Israel: Following Paul’S Thought Through Romans 9-11, Colton Lee
Election And Israel: Following Paul’S Thought Through Romans 9-11, Colton Lee
Senior Honors Theses
Paul’s dealings with Israel in Romans 9-11 have long been viewed as some of the most theologically controversial teachings in the New Testament. Throughout these three critical chapters located in the middle of his greatest theological treatise, Paul teaches both on the doctrine of individual election and on the future of ethnic Israel. In this paper, the text will be approached using the discipline of biblical theology with the hope of interpreting the text using a literal hermeneutic with the whole of Scripture in mind. The doctrine of unconditional individual election will be affirmed by this research, and both a …
Inconceivable: An Analysis Of Assisted Reproductive Technology For The Church, Mary Elizabeth Gresham
Inconceivable: An Analysis Of Assisted Reproductive Technology For The Church, Mary Elizabeth Gresham
Senior Honors Theses
Infertility pushes the boundaries of emotional and physical health, which is why many couples inside and outside the church turn to Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) for a solution. Despite what has seemed like silence from the Church, some individuals have braved the biological confusion and ethical dilemmas to evaluate the technology. Three major ethical viewpoints have emerged that each prioritize something over medical technology, namely community, order, or human dignity. This paper serves to educate pastors and church leaders on the ever-changing biology of ART as well as give voice to Christians that have spoken out on this issue. At …
Old Testament Election: God’S Exclusive Means Of Bringing About Global Redemption, Parker Williams
Old Testament Election: God’S Exclusive Means Of Bringing About Global Redemption, Parker Williams
Senior Honors Theses
This thesis will seek to explore the doctrine of election as it appears in the Old Testament. It will attempt to provide a robust, biblical conception of the doctrine, shedding light on its nature and purpose, viewing the Bible as a singular story of God’s redemptive work. It will consider and assess election as God’s act of divine prerogative—being at times individual but primarily corporate. While inherently partial, effort will be taken to defend the doctrine against common objections this partiality draws. Rather, it will be shown that as the means by which He initiated His gracious plan of salvation, …
The Importance Of True Friendship As Exemplified Within Shakespearean Plays, Gretchen Eckert
The Importance Of True Friendship As Exemplified Within Shakespearean Plays, Gretchen Eckert
Senior Honors Theses
Friendship is a valuable, important relationship, because a friend possesses great influence over a person’s life. For this reason, a good friend with a positive character is indispensable. In the Bible, God defined a true friend as selfless, generous, loyal, and honest. William Shakespeare valued the influence of a loyal friend, and his plays include a broad range of friendships that illustrate the impact of a friend’s characteristics. In Macbeth, Banquo proves to be a true, supportive friend who points Macbeth towards God. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hermia and Helena struggle with the selfishness that injures their …
Lyrics In Congregational Song: A Biblical And Historical Survey, Michael May
Lyrics In Congregational Song: A Biblical And Historical Survey, Michael May
Senior Honors Theses
Is there a standard as to what constitutes biblical, God-honoring congregational song lyrics? In this paper, I will seek to address this question through a review of relevant biblical principles and positions of prominent leaders throughout church history. The Bible provides a language of worship in the Psalms and includes some information regarding singing in the New Testament. Biblical principles have been applied throughout the centuries by various church fathers. The synthesis of biblical principles and historical contributions will produce a set of guidelines by which congregational song lyrics may be evaluated for the purpose of contextual application in modern …
The Physio-Emotional Effects Of Audio In The Global Christian Church, Evelyn Hanks
The Physio-Emotional Effects Of Audio In The Global Christian Church, Evelyn Hanks
Senior Honors Theses
Audio, specifically as researched by the film industry specialists, has physical and emotional effects on those exposed to it. These effects follow from manipulation of sound’s characteristics in specific and measurable ways. The responsibility of the Christian is to share the gospel with others and support the kingdom of God with his or her skills. In light of these truths, Christian audio specialists should have a thorough knowledge of the physio-emotional effects of audio. Further, they should not shy away from applying strategies from secular audio research to benefit local churches across the globe.
A Study Of Apostasy Through Scripture: A Biblical Theological Approach, Marissa Fast
A Study Of Apostasy Through Scripture: A Biblical Theological Approach, Marissa Fast
Senior Honors Theses
Apostasy is a subject that has been an intriguing question for many biblical scholars. This thesis examines apostasy from a biblical theological approach, meaning the Bible, and not Systematic Theology, has priority. First, the subject of apostasy within the covenantal context of the Old Testament is examined. Examples are given and discussed while the themes that can be gathered from this discussion are also be touched upon. Then texts addressing this issue within the New Testaments are examined and expanded upon. Finally, a conclusion of what the Bible has to say on the subject of apostasy is made.
A Divine Selection: An Exegetical Analysis Of Vocational Calling, Timothy Nguyen
A Divine Selection: An Exegetical Analysis Of Vocational Calling, Timothy Nguyen
Senior Honors Theses
Within Christian circles, the ‘calling’ of the vocational minister is frequently abused and misunderstood and muddled by the lack of Scriptural evidence for the overused term. The focus of this research is to observe first, the current cultural climate surrounding the nature of calling, and second, to compare this understanding to the authoritative Scriptural teaching on the subject in both the Old and New Testaments. This analysis reveals that the “internal” vocational call to minister is absent from the Bible and must be replaced by an alternative the Scripture directly teaches. It is concluded that God gives man the desire …
Christ’S Faith: The Pattern Jesus Set For The World, Austen Haney
Christ’S Faith: The Pattern Jesus Set For The World, Austen Haney
Senior Honors Theses
Over the past 50 years, there has been a ripple throughout the Christian community on how to interpret one of its most precious doctrines, the doctrine of justification by faith. Some may think that this issue was resolved during the Reformation or the Enlightenment, but thanks to the New Perspective on Paul movement, the controversy is once again as intensely passionate as ever. The questions range from the vicariousness of Christ’s death, to Paul’s view of the law, and the fundamental meaning of saving faith. This thesis is an attempt to carefully unite the old perspective with the new, to …
A Holistic Approach To Jesus The Nazarene In Matthew 2:23, Dylan West
A Holistic Approach To Jesus The Nazarene In Matthew 2:23, Dylan West
Senior Honors Theses
In Matthew 2:23 Jesus is said to have fulfilled what the prophets spoke when he and his family moved to Nazareth, that he shall be called a Nazarene. Due to the uniqueness of this term and the town of Nazareth being found nowhere in the Old Testament, multiple views have been proposed. These views include Jesus of the despised town of Nazareth, Jesus as a Nazirite, and Jesus as the branch from Isaiah 11:1. Each of these views propose their own interpretation of this Old Testament citation. However, these views often do not acknowledge the possibility of multiple meanings intended …
According To The Scriptures: The Significance Of Paul's Statement In 1 Corinthians 15:4, Jacob Sherrill
According To The Scriptures: The Significance Of Paul's Statement In 1 Corinthians 15:4, Jacob Sherrill
Senior Honors Theses
This study examines the various ways in which scholars have attempted to answer the question regarding which Scriptures Paul had in mind when he wrote that Christ was “raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1 Cor 15:4). Scholars have approached the issue from varying angles and have made insightful observations. This study surveys these approaches and synthesizes the findings. It is clear, from this study, that God, in His sovereignty, has incorporated a third day motif, as well as typological passages like Hosea 6:1-3, and even used Jewish cultural concepts to illustrate, from various Scriptures, that Jesus …
Jesus, Elisha, And Moses: A Study In Typology, Jeremy Tetreau
Jesus, Elisha, And Moses: A Study In Typology, Jeremy Tetreau
Senior Honors Theses
Because the Evangelists wrote with the intention of communicating specific, theological truths to their readers, the details they include in their gospels are important. Further, one way the story of the Bible unfolds and is theologically interpreted is through the use of repetition and typology. A number of the miracle accounts of Elisha are analogous to Jesus’ own miracles as recorded in the gospels. Because of this, it is likely that the Evangelists are inviting readers to understand Jesus in light of Old Testament prophets and events, specifically as the appearance of a Prophet-like-Moses. A Jesus-Elisha typology, then, must be …
The New Perspective On Paul And The Correlation With The Book Of James, Zach M. Scott
The New Perspective On Paul And The Correlation With The Book Of James, Zach M. Scott
Senior Honors Theses
The New Perspective on Paul is a new theory of how to interpret the Pauline epistles through the lens of first century Judaism. Three of the leading scholars that hold to the New Perspective are E.P. Sanders, James D.G. Dunn, and N.T. Wright. These men have done their best to defend the New Perspective of Paul, but have not adequately used, or explained the arguments set forth in the book of James, specifically found in James 2:14-26. The New Perspective fails to either give an analysis of James through the proposed lens of the New Perspective, or show how the …
The Makings Of An Ep: From Silence To Portable Sounds, Emily Ream
The Makings Of An Ep: From Silence To Portable Sounds, Emily Ream
Senior Honors Theses
The creation of an EP is a process that requires skills in multiple areas. Once, creating an EP was only available to those who garnered resources and support from a record label. However, an increasing number of aspiring musicians are writing, recording, and making their music available for download or purchase without the assistance of a record label. Doing this successfully and excellently requires application of knowledge in areas such as literature, theology (for Christian artists), music theory, music technology, and marketing. This thesis will describe one process used to turn inspiration into a tangible product that one can purchase …
Embracing Uncertainty: Evaluating The Traditional Christian Approach To Transgenderism, Samuel C. Myers
Embracing Uncertainty: Evaluating The Traditional Christian Approach To Transgenderism, Samuel C. Myers
Senior Honors Theses
The transgender movement has posed an ethical problem for societies around the world, and has forced Christian communities to reconsider traditional conceptions of gender, sex, and what makes someone a man or woman. The conventional approach that most evangelical Christian communities have adopted towards individuals who experience incongruence between their gender identity and physical sex characteristics has been to condemn cross-gender living. To equip Christians to consider the morality of transgenderism most effectively, this study begins by defining key terms, and provides a brief survey of some of the scientific and medical background issues surrounding this discussion. We then examine …
Retelling Inspired Stories: An Overview Of Preaching Biblical Narrative, Michael L. Frye
Retelling Inspired Stories: An Overview Of Preaching Biblical Narrative, Michael L. Frye
Senior Honors Theses
This thesis serves as an overview of preaching narrative passages of Scripture. The stories in the Bible are powerful and impacting when preached properly. Expositional preaching is the most effective model from which to preach narrative because exposition respects the nature and form of narrative as a genre of literature. The interpretation of narratives must be approached in a unique way to accommodate the literary elements and plot development of each story. Once the big idea of a biblical story has been discovered, the preacher must present the passage in narrative form, contrasting a traditional sermon outline of several points. …
Christ And Culture Valued: Test Cases On Fairness, John Carson Iii
Christ And Culture Valued: Test Cases On Fairness, John Carson Iii
Senior Honors Theses
This research engages H. Richard Niebuhr’s work, Christ and Culture. Niebuhr’s book is a seminal work on the historical trends of Christian cultural engagement. This research applies several tests to the paradigm demonstrated in Niebuhr’s work. These tests demonstrate that Christ and Culture presents a paradigm that lacks fairness and does not adequately meet the goals of an explanatory paradigm. Niebuhr’s paradigm has shaped the discussion of Christian cultural engagement for over fifty years, and this research was done to demonstrate the need for new conversation-shaping paradigms in the field of Christian cultural engagement.