Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Analyzing The Use Of Chiastic Structures Within Patriarchal Narratives In Genesis, Hunter Seehorn

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Chiastic structures are utilized throughout the entirety of the Bible but are prominently found in the book of Genesis. This paper aims to research the stories of four different patriarchal characters of the Bible to see how chiastic structures are used in these stories. By looking at the stories of Noah, Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph in Genesis, I will demonstrate the effectiveness of chiastic structures covering the entirety of the stories, as well as how smaller chiasmi work within each. An appreciation of these chiastic structures deepens our appreciation of the formal structuring of Biblical narratives and the transformational character …

We Are All Eve: Rescuing The Mother Of All Things From Patriarchal Interpretation And Its Implications For Modern Christian Women, Maeve Pioli

Senior Theses

For centuries, the traditional Christian understanding of the Genesis narrative has relied heavily on the patriarchal biases of historic church figures to enforce a gendered hierarchy where women are deprived of authority, voice, and agency. My thesis deconstructs these misogynistic interpretations to provide liberating, alternative readings for the Garden of Eden as well as New Testament verses that utilize Eve’s transgression to justify women’s secondary status. As a former Christian, I have witnessed the persistence of this oppressive theology, often repackaged as a “complementary” relationship between sexes where women must dutifully submit to the headship of men. Therefore, by building …

Remembering Jacob: The Literary Representation Of Memory In The Jacob Narrative, Isaac Borbon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis seeks to describe the Jacob narrative through the lens of memory. Taking Gen 28:10-22 as a case study, the objective is to place Jacob’s visit to Bethel alongside other ancient referential claims, analyzing it for authentic memories. However, the complex nature of memory is susceptible to preservation and revision. That is to say, having no desire to comport to modern historical-critical sensibilities, memory’s epistemological underpinnings are concerned primarily with reconstructing a remembered past for subsequent generations of Israelite tradents. In order to understand the historical background to the Jacob narrative in its entirety, a formal analysis of Iron …

Motivations For Motherhood: A Feminist And Textual Analysis Of Barrenness And Suffering In Genesis, Emma Claire Sternberg

Senior Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Expressions Of Female Power Within The Patriarchal Etiquette: The Portrayal Of Ruth And Other Biblical Women, Philip Jaeggi-Wong

Senior Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

A Hermeneutic For The Aqedah Test: A Way Beyond Jon Levenson's And Terence Fretheim's Models, Arlyn Sunshine Drew

Dissertations

Problem

The works of Jon Levenson and Terence Fretheim highlight the problem of determining which interpretations of the biblical worlds of meaning around the text are congruent with the text of the Aqedah (also known as the Sacrifice of Isaac, Genesis 22: 1-19) and which should be disclaimed. A hermeneutical model is needed for Abraham's test that provides a text-based paradigm for sound interpretation of the narrative world (in the text), the historical world (behind the text), the theistic world (above the text), the cosmological world (below the text), and the present world (in front of the text).

Method

Four …

The Slave Woman And The Free: The Role Of Hagar And Sarah In Paul’S Galatians 4:21-5:1 Allegory, Amanda Michelle Bryant

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

A Narrative Analysis Of Genesis 3:1-7 And The Theological Significance Of The Serpent, Milton Gonzalez

Master's Theses

Problem

The Christian tradition of the Fall as it relates to Gen 3 is an interpretive construct that is foreign to the text and its immediate context. While scholars continue to view humanity and its fallen state as the central theme of the narrative, I suggest that such are but second to an even greater narrative—namely, a cosmic conflict between Elohim—the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and the serpent.

Method

The first chapter of this study considers the traditional view of the temptation narrative (i.e. Gen 3:1-7) as the Fall of Man and suggests that the story of …

The Two Shall Become One: A Comparative Exegetical Study On Marital Unity From The Genesis Garden Narrative To Ephesians 5, Abigail M. Diaz

Selected Honors Theses

In light of a cultural world in which both real-world marriages and the scholarly interpretation on marital purpose and process are scarred with dysfunction and division, this thesis attempts to contribute to the discussion on the Scriptural purpose and process of marriage as God intends it. In order to discern a glimpse of divine intention of marriage, an exegetical analysis of its divine beginnings in Genesis 1:27-3:24 is performed. This section addresses the original nature of marriage as well as how it was affected as a result of sin and the fall. The following chapter complements this analysis with exegesis …

How Chosenness Manifests In The Book Of Genesis: A Literary And Theological Exploration Of The Divine Elections Of Abraham, Jacob And Joseph, Emily Dowden

Senior Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Families And God-Human Interactions In Genesis, Josias A. Flores

Honors Theses

This study carefully analyzes the themes found in various interactions between God and humans in the book of Genesis, viewing them through the lens of family. The majority of the texts that record direct verbal communication between God and humans reveal that God initiates such encounters in order to develop and define healthy families. Themes found in the God-human interactions parallel previous conclusions in family studies research regarding family rituals. Motivated by insights from the behavioral sciences, this work contributes to the scholarly discussion surrounding families from a theological perspective and also provides practical implications for modern-day families.

At The Crossroads Of Biblical Studies And Linguistics: An Exegesis Of Genesis 10:1-11 :9, Trevor Huxham

Honors Theses

In the book of Genesis, one of the longest genealogies in the Bible is followed by a narrative about a city and a tower called Babel located in southern Mesopotamia. In this account. God confuses the original common language of humankind at Babel, and from there. people spread throughout the world speaking their diverse languages, however, archaeologists and linguists have found that languages change gradually over time and that people began migrating across the world some 50,000 years ago from eastern Africa. At first glance, there seems to be a conflict here between the Bible and the sciences. But when …

Renaming Abraham's Children: Election, Ethnicity And The Interpretation Of Scripture In Romans 9, Robert Bruce Foster

Dissertations (1934 -)

In this study, I attempt to reconstruct Paul's pre-epistolary exegesis of Genesis that I hypothesize lies beneath Rom 9. This exegesis goes beyond the discussion of the patriarchs in Rom 9:6-13 and supports the reconfiguration of God's family in Rom 9:24-29. It enables Paul to view Israel as simultaneously chosen and rejected by God.

Adopting a method from Carol Stockhausen, I offer several criteria to establish this project's legitimacy. The Pauline exegesis that I propose is plausible to the extent that (1) it is rooted in his text; (2) it is historically credible; (3) it illuminates the argument in Rom …

Using "Chaos" In Articulating The Relationship Of God And Creation In God's Creative Activity, Eric Michael Vail

Dissertations (1934 -)

Out of dialogue with Old Testament studies and the sciences, there has been a rise in recent years in the use of "chaos" language by theologians in their articulation of a theology of creation. There has been little uniformity in how the word is used among the fields, or even within some fields—especially by biblical scholars doing ancient Near East comparative studies. Under the umbrella of this popular terminology, some ideas have found refuge whose theological implications warrant evaluation.

Within this dissertation the range of ideas that fall under "chaos" within the physical sciences, Old Testament studies, and theology is …

The Last Testaments Of Jacob And Moses, Joel Heck

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

In the light of current critical positions regarding Genesis 49 and Deuteronomy 33, the purpose of this thesis is to defend the antiquity and unity of both chapters. The defense of the authorship of Jacob and Moses serves to buttress both the antiquity and the unity of these last testaments. Recent findings in the field of Ugaritic studies have shed new light upon the proper exegesis of the individual verses. After a careful exegesis is given of both chapters, information based upon that exegesis will be pulled together to show that both chapters are of great age and to show …

A Critical And Exegetical Analysis Of Exodus Twenty-Four With Special Attention To Covenant Ratification, Peter Talia

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

The discussion employed in this treatise, first, sets forth the original text of Exodus 24 in its original languages, in order to present the evidence for the traditional view and to test it by an examination of these languages. This rather fresh procedure has been done in order to put the case in its most favorable light, reduce the limits of uncertainty proportionally in favor of the traditional view and support the originality and integrity of the chapter in question. In this way the internal tests of the trustworthiness of these texts will be exhibited and the historic character of …

A Study Of The Relationship Between Genesis, Chapters One And Two, And Isaiah, Chapters Forty Through Sixty-Six On The Basis Of Bara', 'Asah, Yatzar, John Brandt

Master of Divinity Thesis

This paper will attempt to put forth the close relationship between the account of creation as recorded in Genesis, chapters one and two, and the references to creation as recorded in Isaiah, chapters forty through sixty-six. This paper will deal with this relationship on the basis of the three verbs used in the first two chapters of Genesis to relate the creative activity of God: bara', 'asah, and yatzar.1 Also included will be those verbs which are apparent synonyms used by the author of Isaiah, chapters forty through sixty-six, for the three basic verbs in question.

The Doctrine Of Man In Genesis, Pyeng Seh Oh

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

It is, therefore, the fundamental teaching about man. in the Pre-Mosaic revelation that is dealt with in this thesis. This study will treat both individual man and a group of Men, viz., a society. It is plain from the previous explanation that this study is not limited by the traditional dogmatic division of Christian anthropology. It is a synthetic or systematic exegesis instead of the familiar consecutive exegesis, chapter by chapter, as presented in commentaries. This material will be collected under five cardinal themes on the doctrine of man in Genesis, with each theme displaying disparities and sim1larities or opinion …

A Comparison Of The Authorized Version And The Inspired Revision Of Genesis, Calvin H. Bartholomew

Theses and Dissertations

A. Purpose of this Thesis:
1. To present the variants between the Authorized Version of Genesis and the Inspired Revision of Genesis as published by the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and
2. To indicated the implications of the most significant variants.

B. Significance of This Thesis:
1. This thesis helps to clarify the position of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in regard to the problem of the Pentateuch. This is one of the most important, if not the most important, of the literary problems of the Bible; and the Latter-day Saint position concerning …

The Exodus In Light Of The Bible And Archeological Research, Arnold O. Wagner

Bachelor of Divinity

It is the aim of this thesis first of a11 to determine on approximate date for the event of' the Exodus, and secondly to establish the historicity of the Bibl1ca1 account.

The Messianic Sedes In Genesis, Ludwig Helmstetter

Bachelor of Divinity

The scope of this thesis is a study of the Messianic content of the Book of Genesis. It is not the purpose merely to restate traditional orthodox interpretations of the passages in question and to refute differing interpretations; nor is any attempt made to present new points of interpretation. The approach is fundamentally that of the Bible student whose purpose is to see what the text says and what Holy Scripture says about it.

Alleged Anachronisms In The Pentateuch, Eugene Bertermann

Bachelor of Divinity

The history of Pentateuchal criticism shows that the importance of the postmosaica has long been widely recognized. On these alone Rabbi Aben Ezra based his doubts of the integrity of the Pentateuch. In the seventeenth century Peyrerius, Spinoza, and Hobbes again advanced only the postmosnica in their attacks on the Pentateuch, although we suspect that they were motivated ultimately by more sinister motives than a desire to find out the truth in these passages of Moses. Clericus goes a step farther and acknowledges the validity of two arguments against the Pentateuch, that of style, as well as the anachronisms. But …

Mood And Tense In Genesis, Mary Edna Arnold

Manuscript Thesis Collection

Study of mood and tense in Genesis.