Arts and Humanities Commons^™

The Conflict Of Krishna And Yahweh As Warrior: A Comparison Of The Conflicts Of Krishna In The Puranas And Of Yahweh As Warrior In The Old Testament, With Special Emphasis On The Themes Of History, And Salvation, And Their Relevance To Human Life, Arockiam Rajaian

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

The conflicts of Krishna cannot be understood simply as stories or interpreted as isolated events. They have to be understood within the framework of Vaishaava theology as exemplified in the Puranic literature. Viewed from this perspective, one will find that they have profound theological significance. In the Old Testament also we find the motif “Yahweh as Warrior." The question arises whether a comparative study of the conflicts of Krishna and the battles of Yahweh is feasible, and what is the distinctiveness of the Old Testament message. Therefore, an attempt is made in this paper to analyze the conflicts of Krishna …

Charismata Of The Spirit In The New Testament In Comparison With Hindu Religious Practices, M. Selva Gunalan

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

A renewed interest in the Spirit and charismata has increasingly resulted in a wide array of literature. The present state of the Charismatic Movement seemingly has created a new awareness among Christians of the need to discern the peculiar phenomena of the movement in the light of the Scriptures. Secular fields of study, such as sociology, anthropology and psychology also have been striving to investigate the cause and effect of the supernatural elements claimed by the Charismatic Movement.

The Charismatic Movement has received severe criticism as well as enthusiastic acceptance. This movement has grown rapidly and has left its effect …

A Case Study In Ecumenical Methodology: Survey And Evaluation Of Post-Vatican Ii Roman Catholic/Protestant Solutions For Achieving Doctrinal Consensus Concerning The Marian Dogmas Of The Immaculate Conception And Bodily Assumption, Terence Groth

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

In light of these developments it seems apparent that the church has a need to take cognizance of these methods and evaluate them to determine which, if any, are legitimate approaches to the problem of achieving doctrinal consensus in the church today. That, in short, is the burden of this study.

In the scope of this study the application of these methods to every major doctrinal obstacle now being tackled cannot be observed. Therefore, it was decided to focus attention upon one area of major disagreement which both Roman Catholics and Protestants agree is an obstacle which must be overcome …

Communicating The Gospel Into The Tribal World A New Reality And A New Language, Ron Rall

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

It is the primary focus of this thesis to deal with the practical problem of communicating the Gospel into the thought world of people who have never before heard it, specifically the world of people who might be called “tribal" peoples.

Judgment And Grace In The Wilderness Narratives, Martin Buerger

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

It is ultimately the inclusion of the of Yahweh’s love toward Israel in the wilderness, and the contrasting judgment in times that closely parallel the saving acts, which prompt this study. In Lutheran terms this is known as gospel and law theology. The covenant made at Sinai seemingly distinguishes the way Yahweh approaches his people, and separates the narratives. The pre-Sinai narratives accentuate the gracious acts of Yahweh and the post-Sinai narratives emphasize his judgment and punishment. Considering this difference, the question is asked whether the murmurings of the people are the focal point for studies, as the emphases of …

Demonic Possession, Exorcism, And Pastoral Care, Paul Sherouse

Master of Divinity Thesis

The objective of this research paper is to understand the phenomena of demonic possession in the light of Scriptural teaching and Lutheran theology, in order to evaluate the place of exorcism in pastoral care. To achieve this objective, the following research is employed: (1)Lutheran involvement in the 1949 case in terms of pastoral care provided, (2) Scriptural references to Satan, demons, and demonic possession, (3) references to the same in significant Lutheran theological literature, (4) insights from other literature on demonic possession, and (5) evaluation of exorcism in the practice of pastoral care.

Deus Absens-An Old Testament Judgment Motif, David Adams

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The purpose of this study is to show that not only was the Deus Absens, the Absent God, an important part of Old Testament thought, but also that this motif was used by the various authors of the Old Testament as one means to express the judgment of God. This is not to say that every text in which God's absence is referred to must be understood as a judgment text. In some cases God's Absence is to be attributed to His transcendent nature rather than to His judgment. This is particularly true of the many passages in the Psalms …

‘Righteousness’ And ‘Peace’ In The Pauline Epistles And Ecumenical Missiology, Gregory John Lockwood

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

'Eirene' cannot be fully understood in isolation from the concept with which it is frequently associated, 'dikaiosyne' (for example, Romans 5:1, 14:17; Hebrews 7:2). 'Justification' was the theme for a retreat of Australian missionaries held at Wau, Papua New Guinea, in 1980 - the 400th anniversary of the Book of Concord. Through participation in this retreat I was stimulated to take a greater interest in the 'articulus .stantis et .cadentis ecclesiae' and its continuing significance for mission theology. Accordingly a major part of this paper will be devoted to a study of 'dikaiosyne.'

The Ordination Of Women As Deacons In Conservative Presbyterian Churches, Michael Roy Marcey

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The Church has not acted in such a way so as to respond constructively and progressively to the concerns of women for more freedom and opportunities. Today it finds itself engrossed in a heated debate. Yet, the Church has the opportunity and responsibility in our day to speak with sensitivity and clarity to the current discussions. This will involve affirming the value and significance of women and their g1f~ for the Church. It will also involve a careful examination of its practices and policies to insure that women are full participants in the ministry of the Gospel. This thesis is …

A Study Of Recent Research On The Concept Of Holy War In The Old Testament, Brian Truog

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The main purpose of this thesis is to gain a general overview of recent scholarship in the area of Holy War in the Old Testament. Holy War is a "problem" for the Christian for at least two reasons. First, the concept of holy War in the Old Testament is often a major point used in stressing the discontinuity between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Contrasts are set up between the Old Testament as a book of Law and the New Testament as a book of Gospel. The Old Testament is seen as containing a primitive form of religion …

Secularization And Challenges Which Confront Contemporary Brazilian Lutheranism: Some Insights In The Light Of Boaventura Kloppenburg And Some Lutheran Theologians, Gerhard Grasel

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

In order to find out some answers to the issues, problems, challenges and questions, the writer of this study chose to study the universal phenomenon of secularization based on many different scholars; the Brazilian culture; Boaventura Kloppenburg's view of secularization, and some responses based on Luther and some Lutheran theologians to the issues which appeared in this study.

Samuel Simon Schmucker's Fraternal Appeal And The Reaction By The General Synod To 1850, Chris Wicher

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The purpose of this study is to investigate the General Synod's reaction to the "Fraternal Appeal." The General Synod itself was a structurally complex and a highly intergrated church body. Because it is in constant flux it is difficult, if not impossible, to analyze the General Synod's theological position with precise accuracy. At best it can be assumed that from 1820 to 1850 the General Synod was commiting itself anew to the Lutheran Confessions and reevaluating its ecumenical position.

"Jesus And Japan" In The Thought Of Kanzo Uchimura: A Study In A Theological Interpretation For The Indigenization Of Christianity In Modern Japan, Akio Hashimoto

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The reason for our choosing salvation as the central topic of this study is to be found in the fact that a theologian's concept of salvation, whatever it might be, is in the last analysis the surest index to what he regards as the ultimate issue of the Gospel. Then, it goes without saying that·the other aspects of Uchimura's theological thought will be taken into consideration as far as they have bearing on our attempt to understand Uchimura's soteriology.

The Preaching Of Clovis G Chappell- A Study Of The Published Sermons In Light Of The Proper Distinction Between Law And Gospel As Articulated By C. F. W. Walther, William Carpenter

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

Walther persistently asserted that the understanding and proper distinction between Law and Gospel is vital to correct or orthodox preaching even to the point of holding this understanding up as the "supreme art among Christians." If a person is to be a serious practitioner of the Word of God, he must aspire to this skill or ability.

The value of this study then is twofold: our hypothesis was that C. F. W. Walther's classic work could be distilled into a pithy corpus and from this digest a set of criteria could be drawn from which objective judgments could be made …

Nehushtan And Serpent Symbolism In The Ancient Near East, James Bollhagen

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

In Numbers 21:4-9 the story is told of how Yahweh punished the Israelites by sending "fiery serpents" into their midst. After hearing the people's confession, Yahweh provided the means of healing in the form of the Bronze Serpent. This serpent was not heard of again until the time of Hezekiah, over five-hundred years later. It was destroyed as part of Hezekiah's reform, where it was designated as Nehushtan. What happened to the Bronze Serpent in the interim? And what was the theme of Nehushtan worship? This paper will endeavor to shed light on these questions by surveying the use of …

Iglesia Luterana Y Educación Teológica En Amlatina, Roberto Hoeferkamp

Artículos educación teológica

Iglesia Luterana y educación teológica en AmLatina

The Historical-Critical Method- Dividing Wall Between Moderates And Conservatives In The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Controversy, Jose Fuliga

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

There are, without question, theological and non-theological differences between the Moderates and Conservatives which are not directly related to the former's use of historical criticism. The role politics has played in the controversy cannot be denied. The differences regarding the practice of unionism, ecumenism, close communion, church polity, and even Synodical policies toward foreign missions have been controverted issues. But the focus of this study will be confined to verifying whether the use of historical criticism is indeed the dividing wall, between Moderates and Conservatives. This research shall furthermore probe if the Moderates' hermeneutical presupposition -- the Law-Gospel reductionism restrains …

The Theology Of St. Irenaeus A Survey, Timothy Endean

Master of Art Theology Thesis

In this paper we shall attempt a general survey of Irenaeus’ theology. We will use the typical systematic categories and order(which Irenaeus himself tends to follow), yet we will constantly keep in mind the Gnostic theology and philosophy which he fought and, as Church history and even the very existence of Church history shows, successfully opposed.

The Doctrine And History Of Worship In The Reformed Presbyterian Church Of North America, John Delivuk

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

As the smaller, conservative Presbyterian churches have moved towards merger, one doctrinal problem has emerged. It is the position of the Reformed Presbyterian (Covenanter) Church of North America (RPC) on worship. The Reformed Presbyterian Church holds to the traditional Reformed positions of a capella singing and the exclusive use of the Psalms for singing in worship. This thesis was written to explain Reformed Presbyterian worship. The questions that it attempts to answer are: What is the historical basis for Reformed Presbyterian worship? What is the doctrinal basis for Reformed Presbyterian worship? What, if any, have been the changes in Reformed …

Uemura Masahisa (1857-1925) First Generation Pastor, Christian Leader And Instinctive Proponent Of Indigenized Christianity In Japan, Addison Soltau

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

Uemura was an extremely able leader and organizer of men, sophisticated thinker, broad reader, and committed to the Christian faith ashes understood it. Part of the fascination of the study lies in observing how the influence of this towering figure and others like him came so quickly to bear upon the church in Japan. Unlike other countries to which the faith has been taken by missionaries, Japan stands out as one in which missionary leadership and influence were replaced by Japanese within thirty years after its introduction. Uemura was one who helped to bring this about. The Christian church in …

Effective Pastoral Care For The Bereaved, Michael Klatt

Master of Divinity Thesis

The topic which I have chosen for my research elective is "grief.” The name which I have chosen for my study is "Effective Pastoral Care for the Bereaved." Since the grieving process is something which everyone goes through at one time of their life or another, I felt that doing a study of bereavement after the loss of a loved one would be a very appropriate subject. The pastor must know how to give effective pastoral care for the bereaved person, so it is essential that he know about grief with its various causes and stages. The pastor must also …

An Evaluation Of The Position Of The Missouri Synod On The Antichrist, Richard Hillenbrand

Master of Divinity Thesis

In this study, then, we will concentrate on three main witnesses: that of the Scriptures, that of sixteenth century Lutherans (with special emphasis on Luther), and that of the Missouri Synod. Each will be dealt with thoroughly in separate sections. The stance taken will be presented, and also the historical circumstances that brought about that stance at that particular time. Stances and the reasons for them will be compared and, finally, the practical implications of differing stances will be discussed.

A Comparative Study Of The Psalter In Light Of Qumran Cave Eleven Psalter Scroll A, Martin Homan

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The major thesis of this paper is that llQPs is better understood not as a Psalter but as a liturgical psalmbook, a collection of psalms, used by the Dead Sea community. This scroll's text does not support the theory of Frank M. Cross, Jr. on local text types, but the text does have importance for textual criticism of the Old Testament. llQPs supports an understanding of an earlier development of the canon of the Old Testament. This thesis will be developed in the subsequent chapters.

The Missouri Synod's Unity Attempts During The Pfotenhauer Presidency, 1911-1935, John Wohlrabe

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The purpose of this paper is to examine the unity attempts of the 4 German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States (hereafter referred to as the Missouri Synod) during the presidency of Frederick Pfotenhauer (1911-1935). This period of the Missouri Synod's history has been chosen because it was during these years that American Lutheranism, as a whole, began to consolidate through mergers, amalgamations, and various federations. The synodical alignments and boundaries that exist today in American Lutheranism found much of their early formation during this period of time. In analyzing the Missouri Synod's attitude and involvement in …

A Study Of The Rhetorical And Thematic Structure Of The So-Called "Holiness Code" (Leviticus 17- 26) In Order To Evaluate Unity And Authenticity, Roger Cotton

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

My purpose is not to disprove the critic3,1 assumptions, methods, or theories~, but to do a fresh, straightforward, and thorough literary .analysis of the canonical text of Leviticus 17- 26 o I want to investigate the rhetorical and thematic ·structural aspects of the text and consider how these affect the interpretation of its meaning. 7 I want to determine what organization, what structure, what unity and purpose, if any, there are in Leviticus 17-26, and if it is authentic to Leviticus as a whole.

The Three-Self Principle As A Model For The Indigenous Church, Peter Dorn

Master of Divinity Thesis

With all of these definitions, the one that is recognized the most is still the one with which it was associated from the beginning. "In common usage, an indigenous church is defined as a church that is self-governing, self-supporting, and self-propagating."11 This Three-Self Principle is the subject of this paper. Since the development of the Three-Self Principle more than a century ago, many other "selves” have been put forward as a means to developing the indigenous church. The most current of these discussions are centering on the indigenization or contextualization of theology. These discussions are outside the realm of discussion …

A Study Of Psalms 16, 49, 116, And 23 And Their View Of Eternal Life And The Resurrection, Joel Christiansen

Master of Divinity Thesis

This study is an analysis of Psalms 16, 29, 116, and 23 for their understanding about eternal life and the resurrection of the body. Since the time of Mowinckel it has been the standard assumption of most scholars that neither Israel nor early Judaism knew of a faith in a resurrection. On the basis of Ugaritic parallels Mitchell Dahood in his work on the Psalms challenged that conception. Not only are there references to immortality and the resurrection in Psalms 49 and 73, which .other scholars agree with, but it was his contention that there are at least forty other …

Selections Translated From The Loci Theoiogici By Johann Gerhard, Charles Paulson

Master of Divinity Thesis

An article in the December 14, 1981 issue of the Reporter begins: “Lutheran theologians do a good job of emphasizing salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone, yet lay people do not seem to grasp the divine compulsion to follow faith with works." This may be true today, but it is no fault of John Gerhard and the other 'orthodox' Lutheran theologians. This paper has originated from a desire to learn more about the connection between faith and works, and whether Lutheran theology gives this connection proper treatment. Because the age of orthodoxy has formed the basis of so much …

Assimilation: It's Role In Church Growth, Dennis Bartels

Master of Divinity Thesis

The purpose of the paper is to help the reader examine and evaluate the importance and the process of assimilation of members into the congregation. This will be accomplished by evaluation of Scripture on such topics as man's condition, discipleship and the body of Christ. Also included will be, the importance of assimilation in fulfilling the command of our Lord in the "Great Commission"; with a look at the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Finally the paper will look at the role the pastor and congregation play in the process of assimilation.

Confronting And Utilizing Conflict In The Parish, David Becker

Master of Divinity Thesis

Conflict is a fact of life which congregations need to face, resolve, and utilize. The purpose of this paper is to examine the dynamics of interpersonal conflict and ways in which a congregation can face, resolve, and utilize conflicts which arise.