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How Speech Act Theory Can Help Address Problems In Theology And Church Posed By Modern Philosophy, Charles W. Westby

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

Westby, Charles W. “How Speech Act Theory Can Help Address Problems in Theology and Church Posed by Modern Philosophy.” Ph.D. diss., Concordia Seminary, 2022. 347 pp.

This dissertation analyzes modern idealism as developed by René Descartes and Immanuel Kant to show how modern philosophy has impacted conservative theology, focusing on the theology of Carl F. H. Henry. The relationship between theology and philosophy is analyzed in terms of foundationalism, using postliberal theological analysis propounded by Hans Frei and George Lindbeck. Speech Act Theory as propounded by J. L. Austin and John R. Searle is used to critique modern idealism in …

Isaac Newton As A Prophetic Interpreter, Kenneth Jørgensen

Dissertations

Throughout his life, Sir Isaac Newton was deeply dedicated to the science of decoding biblical apocalyptic writings. To understand and appreciate Newton's prophetic scheme, it will be advantagous to have a certain grasp of what sources and ideas might have influenced him. No comprehensive study before this one has helped us see Newton from that perspective. A survey of the development of canonical apocalyptic hermeneutic and interpretation, beginning before the time of Christ and ending with Newton, shows that four distinct systems of hermeneutics had developed by that time. Historicism was the earliest and the preferred system among Protestants until …

"You Must Prophesy Again": The Mission Of God's People In Revelation 10-14, Adenilton Tavares De Aguiar

Dissertations

The primary task of this study was to delineate the theology of mission in the book of Revelation, with a focus on chaps. 10–14 and special attention to the people of God as participants in the mission of God. The historical survey demonstrated that the theology of mission conveyed by the book of Revelation is a topic broadly neglected in recent scholarship and, hence, requires an in-depth treatment. The object of research was addressed from a biblical-theological perspective by means of an exegetical analysis of relevant passages and key terms that were identified on the basis of a semantic field …

Heavenly Clothing Liturgically Worn: The Clothing Metaphor In The Book Of Revelation As Exegetically Performed In The Byzantine Liturgical Rite, Elias Issa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Problem

The subject of these hermeneutical and performative approaches to the biblical texts and the liturgical dimensions and metaphors in the Book of Revelation are of particular interest to this dissertation, whose ultimate goal is to ask how the Byzantine rites, as practiced in the Orthodox Church, actualize the liturgical dimensions of the Book of the Revelation. The question will focus on a case study of the clothing metaphor as used in Revelation and related apocalyptic texts.

Method

The question of this dissertation is framed within this context of the liturgical performative exegesis. The question will be approached in its …

The Battle Of Armageddon: The Time Of The Final War And The Role Of Spiritualism And Political Powers, Vanderlei Dorneles

Post Doctoral Fellowship

No abstract

Understanding The Devil: A Comparative Examination Of Dead Souls, The Master And Margarita, And Revelation 12-3, Thomas "Tj" Kennedy

LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines how the devil is depcicted and characterized in Nikolai Gogol's Dead Souls, Mikhail Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita, and Revelation 12-13. By exploring their respective historical situations, I connect how all three depictions are linked to satire; however, I reflect upon the differences between the literary and religious, most notably the grotesque physical portrayals and allusory nature of Revelation. The three texts are given their own sections, each divided into three parts: historical situation, textual analysis, and literary commentary. From this analysis, it is shown that the devil carries with them a history of sins within great …

A Kingdom Of Priests And Gods: Angelic And Participatory Deification In John's Apocalypse, David A. Armstrong

MSU Graduate Theses

Ancient Jewish and Christian apocalyptic literature contains soteriological narratives of human transformation that qualify as examples of deification in antiquity. One widely exemplified type of deification in ancient Jewish apocalypses and apocalyptic literature focuses first on the analogy between priests and angels, and then the gradual assimilation of the former to the identity of the latter. In much apocalyptic thought, God resides in a celestial sanctuary in heaven where angels serve a heavenly liturgy of worship and praise, and it is this reality which the earthly priesthood, temple, and cult mimic and extend into the human world, which led to …

A Comparative Study Of Hermeneutical Approaches To The Seven Seals, Harold Novac

Master's Theses

Problem

From the beginnings God had a purpose with His prophetical messages to the world and we can see in the Bible clearly, that God always presented His prophetical messages in a certain order. A chronological method was favored by God. That is why from the beginnings, as Seventh-Day Adventists we believed that the best way to interpret the secrets of Revelation is through the historicist approach. Unfortunately this view is fading among scholars, even among SDA researchers.

Purpose

We are going to investigate why this is happening and we will show that historicism has a lot to say, even …

A Theology Of Missional Leadership In The Book Of Revelation, Gyeongchun Choi

Dissertations

Problem

Leadership styles and the attendant behavior of mission practitioners and church administrators too often demonstrate leadership attitudes and practices that reflect cultural norms while violating biblical norms. There is both historical and contemporary evidence of a predictable migration from leadership as service to leadership as control—such as autocracy, coercion, self-ascendancy, and dominance. These problems are found in leadership practices primarily informed by cultural norms apart from God’s Word. These norms vary widely and may even be practiced within the faith community thus violating biblical principles. This reality creates an urgent need for the application of biblical principles that transcend …

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 …

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 …

An Icon Of Jesus Michael: The Archangel As Antagonist Of Satan, Raymond Hagan

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

The attempt here is not to identify Jesus as being on a par with angels, or with an individual angel per se. Indeed, the Epistle to Hebrews discusses the relationship between Christ and angels, making a clear differentiation. The doctrine of Christ's humanity also serves this distinction - "he became man in order to save men." Christ took the form of a man, not of an angel, in order to bring about salvation. The issue of worship demonstrates the same conclusion. Angels are not to be worshipped (see John in Revelation), but the Son is to be worshipped.

The Lamb Of God Image Of Christ In Revelation, Donald Fitzner

Master of Art Theology Thesis

The identification of Christ as the Lamb of God provides great potential for comfort to God's people. Although this designation of our Lord Jesus Christ occurs only twice in Holy Scripture, I a shortened version, the Lamb, is used extensively in the book of Revelation as one of His titles. While there is much debate as to the origin and precise meaning of this term, there is a significant amount of scriptural background that provides a context for understanding this title of the Lord Jesus.

The prominence of lambs in the sacrificial cultus of the Old Testament' prefigures the presentation …

The Old Testament Source Of Rev 21:3c, Helen Cadogan

Master of Art Theology Thesis

This paper intends an assessment of the textual form of Rev 21:3c as an OT reference; as such it may have something to contribute to the discussion commenced by Menken and continued by Schuchard on deciphering the form of the OT in the NT. Even though other aspects of Revelation study may be vital, the limitations of this research preclude more than the most cursory excursion, if any at all, into the ongoing dialogue on the use of the OT in the NT,language, style, authorship, unity, symbolism, the historical context of Revelation, or whether the author of the Gospel, the …

"Blessed Are They Who Keep These Words" An Examination Of The Use Of Language And The Intentionality Of Solecisms In The Apocalypse, Timothy Rosenthal

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

This paper purposes to examine the role and impact of the solecisms found in the Apocalypse. Before one can isolate a discussion about solecisms one must first address the issue of the style of Revelation (and, to some extent, that of the NT in general) and the degree to which Semiticisms appear. Thus, though the paper wishes to focus upon solecisms, a rather large portion of the paper will necessarily first address the whole issue of the nature and style of the Greek in Revelation so that a clear understanding of solecisms might emerge.

The Usage Of A Κατ Ω Formula In The Book Of Revelation, Shiu Ming Lau

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

In this paper I will first describe the background and usage of the "Alpha and Omega" formula. Next, I will evaluate all these possibilities. Finally, I will explain the meaning and significance of this formula in the Book of Revelation.

The Angel Of Revelation -An Angel Of God And An Icon Of Jesus Christ, Louis Brighton

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

The purpose of the dissertation is to determine who the angel is through an examination of his appearance and role and by analyzing his relationship to God and Christ. A search and review of possible sources were made to determine whether such literary aids could help in interpreting the appearance and role of the angel. The relationship of the angel and Christ was also compared and analyzed to discover why the author of Revelation has and uses such an angel.

A Study Of The Meaning Of "Works" In The Book Of Revelation With A Syllabus For Applying The Findings In Religious Instruction, Vel Eric Kotter

Professional Dissertations DMin

This paper represents an attempt to clarify the significance of the term ergon ("work") in the book of Revelation. The first part investigates the word group ergon ("work") as used throughout the Scriptures, and especially in the book of Revelation. Special attention is given to the word as used in the Gospel of John, since this study accepts John, the Son of Zebedee, as the author of both the Gospel and the Revelation. The second part presents five studies representing a practical application emerging from the investigation. Not only is there a lack of discussion of the word ergon in …

The Consummation Of The Exodus: A Study Of The Exodus Motif In The Revelation, Philip S. Haugen

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The study of the Exodus motif grew out of the author's curiosity concerning the clear reference to the Exodus in Revelation 15:3. The question which arose concerned the extent to which the Exodus motif is used in the Apocalypse, and its significance. Therefore, the purpose o this study is to examine and demonstrate the use of the Exodus motif in the Revelation.

The study will commence with a discussion in chapter one of typology and the unity of Scripture. Because the Exodus is a major source of Old Testament types, an attempt will be made in chapter one to illustrate …

A Study Of Revelation, Ken Brown

Honors Theses

Through the centuries man has felt a deep, innate thirst for an intimate relationship with the Infinite. Whether expressed in the ancient Babylonian mysteries of Tummez or in present-day "flower children," the thirst has driven the human soul to reach out and to touch the ultimate, to know that which holds command of all things. And though the human soul has continually sought, it has sought blindly and, at best, has gained only limited spiritual insight.

Christianity, however, is quite different from the various cults which have arisen because it is the result of the Infinite's search for man and …

The Revelation Of God In The Revelation To St John, Williard Mueller

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The question to which this present paper addresses itself is that concerning the nature of revelation as this is reflected in the Revelation to John. It asks whether God's revelation in that writing is of Himself or of facts concerning Himself; what the source of the revelation is and in what manner it takes place; and whether revelation is an event of the past, the present, or the future. The Apocalypse is examined first to determine if its message can be clearly enough understood today to provide evidence for this investigation. The investigation then turns to the language describing revelation …

The Significance Of Hebrews 1:1-2a For The Method And Message Of 1:1 – 10:18 Toward A More Efficacious Ministry, Charles Dube

Bachelor of Divinity

This paper, however, is an attempt to make some sense of the message of Hebrews and its method of dealing with OT material. The opening sentence of the book has been used as the key to this operation. Thus a formal statement of the question with which we shall be dealing is: "What is the significance of Hebrews 1:1-2a for the method and message of 1:1-10:18?"

The Christology Of The Seven Letters In Revelation Chapters Two And Three, With Special Reference To Possible Relationships Between The Author's Self-Designations And The Subject Matter Of The Letters, Ewald Otto

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This study does not attempt to add to the material on the history of the congregations or to the analyses of their graces and defects, zeal and lukewarmness. Rather, a portion of what: has been written was restudied from the standpoint: of the relationship between the self-designation3 and the contents of the letters against the backdrop of the Christology of the Apocalypse.

The biologist and the physicist must begin with certain assumption~. To claim otherwise reveals ignorance and vanity. The theologian, too, must begin somewhere. This study assumes that the Bible is the Word of God, that an inspiration without …

An Inquiry Into The Time Elements Of The Fifth And Sixth Trumpets Of Revelation Nine, Robert Lee Mole

Master's Theses

Statement of the problem

It was the purpose of this investigation, (l) to discover whether the dates as given in the Litch-Smith view of Revelation the ninth chapter, which ends the times of the fifth and sixth trumpets on August 11, 1840, agree with both the Bible and history; and if not, (2) to determine whether a solution is possible that would agree with both factors in view of the criticism presently leveled at the Litch-Smith view. This criticism is based on the seeming inability to find historical facts to support this view, and also on the exegesis of the …

The Christology Of The Apocalypse Based On The Lamb Passages, Donald R. Krueger

Bachelor of Divinity

This thesis attempts to set forth a Christology of the Book of Revelation, more exactly called in the transliterated form of its first Greek word, the Apocalypse. The purpose of the writer has been to present, to the best of his ability under God, the portrait of Jesus Christ which the sacred text of the Apocalypse paints.

The Purpose Of The Parables According To Mark 4:10-12, Martin E. Marty

Bachelor of Divinity

According to the plan of this study, the question as to whether this Logion is an intercalation of later Church teaching within a catena of parabolic sayings is reserved for the final chapter. Yet it is fundamental to an understanding of the discussion as it progresses for the reader to be aware of the critical dismissal of this entire passage as a vaticinium post eventum, interpolated by the evangelist because of the frustration of the early Church as it propagated the message of the Christ.

An Examination Of The Passages In The New Testament Which Speak Of The Royal Priesthood Of Believers, Norman Brauer

Bachelor of Divinity

It is the purpose of this thesis to examine the passages of the New Testament which speak of the Royal Priesthood of Believers. Actually, there are only five instances where the Christian priesthood is specifically mentioned. They are I Peter 2:5; I Peter 2:9; Revelation. 1:6; Revelation 5:10; and Revelation 20:6. All other references to priests or priesthood are either to the priestly office of Christ or to Jewish and pagan priests.