Religion Commons^™

What God Has Joined Together: The One Threefold Purpose Of Marriage, David Frayne Shudy

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Modern married couples and marriage-minded individuals are often left awash in a sea of confusion aimlessly groping about for a purpose for their marriage, with disastrous societal results. Whereas long-standing Christian tradition has taught a unified threefold marital purpose of three equal elements—procreation, mutual help, and remedy for sin—Enlightenment thinkers and their ideological descendants have introduced a hierarchical marriage teleology with a self-chosen purpose (usually companionship) at the top in order to correct for an alleged countervailing overemphasis on procreation in premodern marital teleology.

This thesis will challenge the claim of a relative deficiency in the companionate aspect of premodern …

Contemplative Vision: Visual Language In The Sermons Of Johannes Tauler, Joshua P. Reifsteck

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Reifsteck, Joshua P. “Contemplative Vision: Visual Language in the Sermons of Johannes Tauler.” STM Thesis, Concordia Seminary, 2022. 91 pp.

Johannes Tauler conceives of thought, contemplation, and mystical experience in visual ways, and this conception manifests in visual language and metaphor throughout Tauler’s preaching corpus. This visual language is influenced heavily by Neoplatonic conceptions of contemplation and the One, and by an interior-exterior tension within Tauler’s anthropology which is especially significant for his portrayal of the senses. This thesis focuses especially upon a group of Middle High German words related to the verb schoͮwen. These words are technical terms, …

Straining Forward To What Lies Ahead: Models Of Patristic Contemplation, Joshua Vanderhyde

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Vanderhyde, Joshua S. “Straining Forward to What Lies Ahead: Models of Patristic Contemplation.” Thesis, Concordia Seminary, 2022. 111 pp.

As secularization sharpens the contrast between Christian belief and western culture, many Christians are looking for ways to take a more active and intentional approach to the struggle to be conformed to Christ. The Church Fathers offer a unified theory of Christian spirituality, grounded and structured by the concept of contemplation—a theory of perception widely held in the ancient world and integral to diverse systems of thought, including Neoplatonism. In this thesis, the concept of contemplation is elucidated as a theory …

The Source And Application Of Thomas Müntzer's Theology Of Divination In His Marginal Notes On Tertullian, Roger Drinnon

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Drinnon, Roger A. “The Source and Application of Thomas Müntzer’s Theology of Divinization in His Marginal Notes on Tertullian.” Thesis, Concordia Seminary, 2021. 101 pp.

Traditional Lutheran and Marxist interpretations of Thomas Müntzer inadequately account for Müntzer’s theology and practice. The doctrine of the order of creation tied Müntzer’s theology and practice together. According to the order of creation, the goal of the material world was to return to God at the end of time. Müntzer’s writings on the order of creation stated the doctrine was the central tenet of Christianity. By returning to God, Müntzer believed the creation would …

Codex Boernerianus A Textual Analysis Of 1 Timothy, Alexander Fisher

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Fisher, Alexander, R “Codex Boernerianus: A Textual Analysis of 1 Timothy.” Master’s thesis, Concordia Seminary, 2019.

Long associated with the monastery of St Gall, the ninth century bilingual manuscript Codex Boernerianus (G) has been studied by modern scholars since the sixteenth century. Over time, the relationship between the Latin and Greek texts of the codex gained interest as did the relationship of the codex to its known ancestors, Codices Claromontanus (D) and Augiensis (F). The scope of this thesis is limited to 1 Timothy, offering a textual analysis with comparison to D F, and a Latin and Greek transcription of …

Metaphorical Imagery In Colossians: The Narrative Of Christian Living, Paul Muther

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Muther, Paul D. “Metaphorical Imagery in Colossians: The Narratives of Christian Living.” STM thesis, Concordia Seminary, 2019. 114 pp.

Although many recent theologians employ conceptual metaphor theory to the Bible’s imagery surrounding the Gospel, few apply the same theory to the metaphors of Christian living. Although many theologians develop models to demonstrate the overall picture of Christian living, few tease out the implications of individual metaphors throughout a given work.

By applying conceptual metaphor theory and Justin Rossow’s narrative analysis tool of the actantial model to the text of Paul’s letter to the Colossians, this STM thesis examines three metaphors …

Falling Far From The Tree? God's Rejection Of Cain Outside The Garden Of Eden (Genesis 4:1-16), Mark Remington Squire

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Squire, Mark R. “Falling Far from the Tree?: God’s Rejection of Cain Outside the Garden of Eden.” S.T.M. Thesis, Concordia Seminary, 2018. 105 pp.

This thesis offers a review of the history of interpretation of the account of Gen 4:1–16. Specifically, the focus of this thesis regards the question of why God favored Abel and his sacrifice and not Cain and his sacrifice. The paper provides an original translation of Gen 4:1–16, as well as translation notes. The historical interpretations of the answer to the question of why God favored Abel over Cain are grouped into three broad categories: Cain’s …

Is The Christian In The Flesh? An Apocalyptic Reading Of Galatians 5:16–26, Michael Redeker

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Paul’s letter to the Galatians, according to the traditional reading, is read through a sixteenth century paradigm to answer the question, “How is a person saved?” In this traditional reading, Paul’s purpose is to establish the doctrine of justification by faith alone apart from “works of the Law” as the only way a person can be saved. Recent scholarship has examined and “read” this beautiful epistle through a different paradigm, namely an apocalyptic one. In an apocalyptic reading of Galatians, Paul’s focus is shifted, though the doctrine of justification remains. This paper will look at the contrast of these two …

Manuscript 2193 And Its Text Of The Gospel According To John, Timothy Koch

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This thesis examines manuscript 2193 and its text of the Gospel according to John and contributes valuable information to the ongoing studies in New Testament textual criticism.

The introduction (Chapter 1) defines the topic, surveys the status of the question, and ..

In Chapter 2 the manuscript and external criteria are described. Special attention is paid to scribal conventions such as contractions, abbreviations, ligatures, punctuation, and nomina sacra. A significant discourse classifying the minuscule script according to the work of Thompson and Hatch is also provided. The chapter concludes with a subsection discussing the presence of multiple correctors who have …

Rhetorical Rationale For The Compositional Integrity Of Second Corinthians, Mark Erickson

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The contention of this thesis, then, is: The Apostle Paul's apparent use of ancient Greco-Roman rhetorical conventions in 2 Corinthians gives evidence of its compositional integrity and adequately accounts for the apparent partitions which, to some scholars, reveal the existence of multiple documents.

Our goal is not to assert that rhetorical criticism proves that 2 Corinthians is a single letter. It is rather to show that, given the textual evidence within the document, rhetorical criticism offers a plausible, even preferable, interpretation of the data in 2 Corinthians than prevailing composite theories.

Nor is our goal to defend the inerrancy, inspiration …

The Hour Has Come-A Narrative-Critical Analysis Of The Use Of Ω̋Ρα In The Gospel Of John, Dennis Matyas

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

After summarizing eschatology in the Gospel of John, this STM thesis examines the use of, ω̋ρα in Greco-Roman Greek sources, extra-biblical Jewish sources, the LXX, and the New Testament. After this examination, the thesis argues that each and every use of ω̋ρα in the Gospel of John either refers directly to the hour of Jesus' suffering and death or bears a special relationship to it.

Irenaeus And Scripture: Orthodox Corruptions Or Reverential Alterations?, Benjamin Haupt

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This thesis will explore Irenaeus' citation of New Testament texts containing Christological titles, in order to determine their worth for New Testament textual criticism. The critical apparatus of NA lists Irenaeus as citing John 1:18, as well as other passages, in more than one way. Did Irenaeus carelessly quote Sacred Scripture? Was he motivated by his theological polemics against the Gnostics to intentionally alter the text of Sacred Scripture? The history of textual criticism and its use of church fathers has only listed Irenaeus' citations without giving any explanation for how he could cite the same verse in multiple ways. …

The Structure Of The Gospel Of Mark: Revisiting The Implications Of Repetition And Characterization, Gregory Michael

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The search for a distinctive and coherent structure to the Gospel of Mark has long been a challenge for scholarship. While denying redaction and narrative criticism's slavish adherence to their methodology, this thesis utilizes repetition and characterization to assess the matter of Markan structure. Key points of repetition addressed within the text are repetition of words and phrases, forms, and thematic items. The discussion of words and phrases highlight: θάλασσα, πάλιν, εἰς π̍εραν, ἐν τ̂ηὁσ̂ω, and Jewish leaders. The forms addressed are call narratives, exorcisms, and passion predictions. The thesis presents six key repeated thematic elements: geopolitical locations, the senses …

Submit To Whom? An Exegetical Study Of Romans 13:1-7, Bradley Smith

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This thesis will address the question of referent, specifically, who or what is the referent ̍εξονσια and its parallels in Romans 13:1-7. This is a unique endeavor in recent scholarship on Rom. 13:1-7. For, although much has been written on Rom. 13:1-7, recent scholarship has been concerned with the pragmatic nature of the text. The nature and meaning of submission, the orders of creation in light of the holocaust, and concerns of unjust states are some of the issues driving the research into Rom. 13 in recent years

Discerning The Body - An Exegetical Examination Of 1 Co. 11:17-34, Mark Surburg

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The following study will provide a detailed treatment of1Co. 11:17-34 with an emphasis on lexical meaning and structural analysis. It will examine Paul's treatment in five major sections: 1) Exegesis of 11:17-19 2) Exegesis of 11:20-22, 33-343) Analysis and Critique of scholarly reconstructions of the Corinthian Eucharistic setting 4) Exegesis of 11:23-26 5)Exegesis of 11:27-32. Within each section the study will focus on certain important issues.

Isaiah's Oracle Against Philistia: An Exegetical And Historical Study Of Isaiah 14:28-32, Paul Wenz

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Isaiah's oracle against Philistia in 14:28-32 presents some unique problems to the exegete. Itis the only oracle with a chronological marker in Isaiah, i.e., it is dated at King Ahaz's death (v. 28), which raises questions of authorship for some. Chapter 1 introduces Isaiah's use of “Oracles against the Nations" (OAN) and specifically how Isaiah's oracle against Philistia is a good example of the genre, yet points out some of its unique characteristics. The translation of the pericope, with its exegetical details, is treated in chapter 2. Chapter 3 gives comments on the oracle and its setting, which is Isaiah's …

The Intercession Of The Prophet, Warren Graff

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The question brought to the forefront is this: Is intercession proper to the prophetic office? The thesis of this study is that intercession must be understood as proper to the prophetic office. Prophetic intercession on behalf of the people is to be understood with reference to the institution and nature of the prophetic office. This study will examine this subject by surveying particular accounts of prophetic intercession. This will be done by examining relevant texts, by critically considering relevant commentaries on these texts, and by drawing conclusions from these texts that might shed light on an understanding of the prophetic …

Vanity In Human Life-A Comparative Study Of The Role Of Hebel In Qoheleth And Wu In The Philosophical Thought Of Wang Bi, Samuel Hsiao-Yung Liu

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The aim of this study is to increase the mutual understanding between the Old Testament and ancient Chinese thought. The methodology is both cross-cultural and exegetical. Without the effort of exegesis, an understanding of hebel would be colored by one's own assumptions and prejudices. The same thing is true of ancient Chinese philosophy. The concept of wu was first discussed not by Wang Bi but by Lao Zia (in about the fifth century B.C.E.), the founder of Daoism. A$ a re-interpreter of wu, Wang-Bi developed the original meaning of Lao Zi and increased a new spirit for Daoism, Confucianism and …

Feminism And The Major Female Characters Of Exodus, Scott Ashmon

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The scope of this thesis is feminist interpretations of the major female characters of Exodus: Shiphrah, Puah, Moses’ mother (Jochebed), Moses’ sister, Pharaoh’s daughter, Miriam, and Zipporah. I will demonstrate that feminists interpret the major female characters of Exodus in three general ways. First, some feminists interpret the major female characters of Exodus in proper contextual, grammatical fashion and end up with a more accurate portrayal of the women. For this thesis, the term “exegetical” will be the shorthand term for this type of interpretation. Second, other feminists interpret the major female characters in exegetical fashion, but then exaggerate the …

Literary Approaches To The Book Of Jonah, Thomas Engler

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

"Kein Buch des Alten Testaments, abgesehen von den Psalmen, ist so oft erklart worden wie daskleine Buch Jona."1 It is even common to see disclaimers for one more book being written on Jonah. Hence the disclaimer that this investigation is not on the Book of Jonah per se, but falls into "the almost legendary category of analysis of analyses."2 That is, this investigation will not attempt to make an original literary analysis of the Book of Jonah. It will look at what others have discovered, analyze their purpose and methods, and seek to learn from them the contributions "literary approaches" …

The Enemies Of God's People-A Comparison Of Pauline And Jewish Exegesis, Charles Schulz

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

In light of the current re-evaluation of points of identity and divergence between Pauline Christianity and Judaism, this thesis presents a study of how each religion applied a single motif from the Psalter: the enemies of God's people. We start from the obvious common ground, the Old Testament shared by both Paul and the Jew as their sacred text. The work focuses on the unique opportunity afforded by the text of Romans 3:9-20, where Paul cites the Old Testament depiction of the wicked enemies. Next, we survey how apocalyptic and rabbinic Judaism developed and employed the enemy theme. Our conclusion …

“Have You Never Read?” The Significance Of Old Testament Citations In The Plot Of Matthew’S Gospel, Carl M. Hanson

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The primary purpose of this thesis is to begin to make a narrative critical examination of the use of explicit Old Testament formula citations in Matthew as they relate to the plot of the story. As an introductory study into the problem, a number of skills will be developed in this study. One prerequisite will be to explore and develop a better understanding of the narrative critical method. This means gaining the skills necessary in using this method to analyze the question above. Ancillary to this will be to gain an appreciation for the study of plot in general, and …

Hermeneutical Approaches To The Isaiah Apocalypse: An Examination Of Form- And Redaction-Critical Interpretive Principles And Foundations For A New Study Of Isaiah 24-27, William Carr Jr

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This thesis is an exercise in detecting these underlying hermeneutical principles in the secondary literature as they have been applied to Isaiah 24-27, in relation to the three areas of investigation mentioned above: literary coherence (unity), date, and genre. Of primary interest are works produced since Anderson's watershed essay; however, since itis presupposed that the more recent researchers have relied considerably on an earlier scholarly tradition, it will be necessary to trace present principles to previous principals, especially of Isaiah studies, Bernhard Duhm, and of form criticism, Hermann Gunkel.

The Tearing Of The Temple Veil And The Death Of Jesus In The Gospel Of Luke, Douglas Stowe

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Luke's presentation of the death of Jesus is markedly different from that of Matthew and Mark. Both Matthew and Mark, on the one hand, follow the same narrative sequence. Unnatural darkness covers the land at noontime. At the ninth hour Jesus cries, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" After this the observers around the cross offer him sour wine, and he dies with a great shout. Then, the temple curtain is tom from top to bottom, and a centurion makes a confession (Mt 27:45-54; Mk 15:33-39).1On the other hand, Luke's narrative orders the events this way: first, …

Use Of Ek Πι∑Τεω∑ In Romans And Galatians: The Significance Of Paul’S Choice Of Prepositions With Πι∑Τει∑ As Object And Its Bearing Upon Justification By Faith, Andrew John Spallek

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

In addressing the current debate concerning Paul's explanation of justification by faith as it pertains to Jews and to gentiles, the present study will examine the meaning of ὲκ πίστεως in Paul and its bearing on justification by faith. The approach to this examination will be rather complex. In order to arrive at a precise meaning for ὲκ πίστεως, it is essential that the word πίστις be thoroughly examined, especially its connection to the Old Testament concept of faith (אכזד). In order to differentiate between ὲκ πίστεως and other prepositional phrases with πίστις it will be necessary to examine the …

Hebrew Narrative: Theory For Proclamation, Alan Toenjes

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

While acknowledging (enthusiastically!) the close relationship between homiletics and exegesis, this paper will approach Hebrew narratives from the vantage point of the exegete, specifically, that of the Lutheran exegete who confesses Scripture as God's Word of both Law and Gospel. From this point of view, this thesis will posit a hermeneutical understanding of Hebrew narratives as Scripture that will be of value for the preacher.

A fundamental presupposition that this paper shares with the likes of Thompson, Gowan and others, is that it is important to preach on Old Testament texts. It is no secret that this assumption has not …

He Will Baptize You With The Holy Spirit And Fire, Luther Esala

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The phrase, Αύτός ύμȃς βαπτίσει ε̍ν πνεύματι α̍γι̍ψ καί πυρί has puzzled me for years. This thesis is an attempt to solve the puzzle. The first half of the thesis will be a history of the interpretation of this phrase. An essay by James D. G. Dunn will provide the outline for this historical review. The second half of the thesis will be the interpretation of the phrase.

The Priesthood Of All The Baptized:An Exegetical And Theological Investigation, Thomas Winger

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

For all the emphasis placed on the "priesthood of all believers" as an article of faith, very little critical research has been done into its exegetical, dogmatic, and historical foundations. In his monumental study, John Elliott notes that a detailed exegetical treatment of 1Peter 2 had never before been done in the history of Christianity. 2 Yet he declines any attempt to relate his conclusions to a "dogma" of priesthood. The most extensive historical study, undertaken in two volumes by Cyril Eastwood, attempts to trace the influence of this doctrine in the history of the church, but it fails to …

The Annals Of Obadiah: A Record Of The Wars And Peace Treaties In The History Of Its Interpretation, Joel Elowsky

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

It is the contention of this thesis, that in the war over Obadiah's interpretation, the translator and the historian could, by and large, sign" peace treaties" of agreement. The theologian and the homiletician, however, were engaged in nothing less than a battle to the death. The questions regarding translation and isagogics were two areas where Jewish and Christian interpreters could find much agreement and even help from the other side. The questions regarding fulfillment, significance and application of the text, however, found little if any agreement. If anything, they only helped to fuel the anomysity between the two sides which …

James 1:25 And 2:12: The Perfect Law Of Liberty And The Perfect Liberty Of The Christian, Paul Alliet

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

"The perfect law of liberty" is an expression which sounds strange. Even in secular use, a law is more often seen as a restriction of liberty than a guarantee of it, and theologically the problem seems as great if not greater.1This study is based on the belief that if James is allowed to speak on his own terms, he speaks as one who not only found the Law compatible with Christian liberty, but an essential part of it. This is particularly the case since St. James was one of the four half-brothers of our Lord mentioned in Matthew 13:55 and …