Biblical Studies Commons^™

The Icarian Dilemma: The Battle Of Faith Versus Identity Addressed With Scenic Design, Allistar G. Barrett

Senior Honors Theses

American Christians and the LGBTQ+ community have long been in a cultural war with one another. However, queer Christians – individuals who are both LGBTQ+ and Christian – have rarely found solace in either community, instead being shunned and ostracized for their beliefs and identities. Using the transformative art of theatre to address cultural divides, a theatrical scenic design was developed for Joe Calarco’s Shakespeare’s R & J, a retelling of the traditional Romeo and Juliet script through the lives of four Catholic school girls. This design uses the Greek mythology of Icarus, Catholic culture, the original Romeo and Juliet, …

Excavations On The Southwestern Margins Of Giv‘Ati Parking Lot, Jerusalem: Markers Of Byzantine–Early Islamic Transition (Pp. 303–338), Yana Tchekhanovets

'Atiqot

The small-scale excavation on the southwestern margins of Giv‘ati Parking Lot exposed important findings dating to the transition between the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods. A flagstone-paved street dating from the Byzantine period was exposed, representing one of the major thoroughfares of Jerusalem that served an important pilgrimage route. This street ceased to exist at the beginning of the Early Islamic period when the function of the area changed from residential to industrial. The remains of a small-scale metallurgical workshop, including numerous copper alloy fragments, metal slags, pottery crucible fragments and large amounts of ash, were dated to the Umayyad …

The Glass Finds From The Monastery At Har Ḥoma (Pp. 293–295), Tamar Winter

'Atiqot

The excavation of the monastic complex at Har Ḥoma yielded 25 glass finds, including vessel and windowpane fragments. The finds are characteristic of the sixth–seventh centuries CE, similar to assemblages of glass vessels and windowpanes discovered in contemporary monastic complexes in Jerusalem and its vicinity. The distribution of the glass finds within the complex sheds light on its architecture and operation.

A Byzantine-Period Monastery At Har Ḥoma, Between Jerusalem And Bethlehem (Pp. 257–292), Yehiel Zelinger

'Atiqot

Excavations on the northern slope of a high hill southeast of the Har Ḥoma neighborhood revealed a single-phased, sixth–seventh-century CE Byzantine coenobium monastery, and several quarries and agricultural installations. The monastery comprised a central courtyard surrounded by rooms, a chapel and a winepress. This monastery was small, probably inhabited by a community of about 20 monks. Most of the finds from the site––pottery, glass and coins––date to the Byzantine–Early Islamic periods, up to the eighth century CE. The complex resembles other contemporary monasteries located between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, the two holiest cities of Christianity.

Remains From The Late Byzantine, Early Islamic, Mamluk And Late Ottoman Periods In Ẓahal Square Tunnel, Jerusalem (Pp. 193–210), Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah

'Atiqot

An excavation conducted at Ẓahal Square, outside and west of the Old City wall of Jerusalem, uncovered remains dating from the late Byzantine–Umayyad to the late Ottoman period, revealing evidence of Jerusalem’s urban expansion in different periods and its fortifications. The earliest remains are a Greek inscription, etched in bedrock during the late Byzantine–Umayyad period. Hewn walls of a deep moat and remains of a forewall from the late Early Islamic period were uncovered, allowing for a reconstruction of Jerusalem’s fortification system along the northwestern corner of the Old City. The city walls and the moat fell into disuse after …

A Lead Pilgrimage Ampulla From ‘Akko’S Crusader Harbor, Jacob Sharvit, Bridget Buxton, William H. Krieger, Dror Planer, Ofra Barkai

'Atiqot

A medieval mold-made lead pilgrimage ampulla was retrieved in an underwater excavation in the port of ‘Akko. It exhibits molded ribbing, resembling a scallop shell or drawstring purse on one side, and an aniconic quatrefoil petal on the other. Such mass-produced, budget-friendly, lead pilgrim ampullae are well-known in medieval Christianity, probably reflecting an insatiable desire for holy relics. Certain characteristics of the ampulla may suggest that it was locally produced in ‘Akko. In the Crusader period, ‘Akko was the major maritime gateway in and out of the Holy Land for European pilgrims, and the ‘Akko ampulla may have arrived at …

Theology Of The Laity: The Lutheran Way, Brian M. Mosemann

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

The distinction between the laity and clergy has been a contributing cause of disunity within the church because the clergy and laity are often pitted against one another with one or the other being elevated to the detriment of the other. This problem has plagued the church from the middle ages until the present day. Since the definition of the term “laity” is vacuous, the laity are generally defined relative to the clergy, specifically in reference to their authority and duties. This results in a negative definition when the laity are defined as the opposite of the clergy. The laity …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Slaves In The Christian Household : The Colossian And Ephesian Haustafeln In Context, Donald Murray Vasser

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Justification Clause Of Phil 3:12 : A Textual, Transcriptional, And Exegetical Analysis, Ryan Kristopher Giffin

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Coherence Of Justification In Luke 18:9-14 With Authentic Jesus Tradition, Peter D. Tan-Gatue

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Interpretations Of Jesus And The Virgin Mary In The Quran And The Bible: A Possible Contribution To Muslim-Christian Cooperation?, Jon Armajani

The Journal of Social Encounters

This essay explores Muslim and Christian understandings of Jesus and his mother Mary, which may provide a basis for possible cooperation between the two religious communities. The similarities and differences in views are discussed, with an understanding that there are differences in views not only between but also within the two religious communities. The essay concludes with a discussion of seven types of interreligious dialogue as articulated by Sallie B. King, and how they apply to Muslim-Christian dialogue related to Jesus and Mary.

Prayerbook Of Christ, Prayerbook Of The Church: Dietrich Bonhoeffer’S Christological Interpretation Of The Psalms, Brad Pribbenow

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

Pribbenow, Brad A. “Prayerbook of Christ, Prayerbook of the Church: Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Christological Interpretation of the Psalms.” Ph.D. diss., Concordia Seminary, 2017. 260pp.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945), German Lutheran theologian and pastor, is known as an ethicist, church reformer, political resistor, seminary professor, and martyr. Yet overlooked by many scholars is his contribution to the history of interpretation of the Psalms. Bonhoeffer’s interpretive approach toward the Psalms, which shares many characteristics of pre-critical exegesis, is built on a two-pronged hermeneutic emphasizing the relationship of the Psalms to prayer and to Jesus Christ the Crucified One. The distinguishing mark of his unique …

Intersexion, Cynthia Davis

English Theses & Dissertations

A combination of memoir, reportage, and opinion writing, Intersexion explores the realities of growing up intersex while also examining the conservative mindset that caused the narrator—a happily married suburban mother—to lose a tenure-track position at a Christian university for being unwilling to label Danny’s intersex condition as “repugnant” and “offensive to God.”

Papers Of Edna Judd Davis Arc1995-001 - Finding Aid, Ats Special Collections And Archives

Finding Aids

No abstract provided.

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.

Reclaiming And Reconciling What Was Originally Ours--Christianity And Feminism: A Concise History, Soquel Filice

History

No abstract provided.

A Period Of Transition: Early Islamic And Umayyad Coinage, Anna Tiner

Featured Research

A study of four coins from 620 to 680 AD provides a meager yet insightful glimpse into the coinage minted by Islamic rulers during their conquest over the Holy Land and the transition of rule from the Byzantine Empire to the Islamic Caliphate. With the help of an innovative technology called Reflective Transference Image (RTI), on loan from USC, I created high-resolution images that can be adjusted with respect to light and reflectivity. Creating RTI images of the coins administers a deeper alternate perspective giving light to aspects of the coin that cannot be seen by the naked eye. Using …

Transformational And Strategic Leadership : Its Impact On The Capacity For Organizational Effectiveness, Barbara Angela Dobson

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Importance Of Integrity In Christian Leadership : Giftedness + Integrity(3) = Productivity, Jasmin O. Brown

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"One of the christian world’s greatest leadership challenges today is integrity. the church is facing an integrity crisis that will compromise its influence within society. this integrity crisis within the church serves as the impetus for exploring the importance of integrity among christian leaders. this study examines three dimensions of integrity: personal integrity, vocational integrity,"

The Importance Of Integrity In Christian Leadership : Giftedness + Integrity(3) = Productivity, Jasmin O. Brown

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Strategies For Developing Young Leaders Through Effective Mentoring Relationships Within The Bethel Church Of Liberia, Jacob Meiporkoyah

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Growing Places : An Exploratory Study Of Lay Leadership Development In The Local Church, Craig Taylor

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Practice Of Rule Of Life As A Tool For Spiritual Formation In View Of Ministry In Union With Christ, Ethiege Upul Nishantha Silva

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Enduring Endeavor : How Francis E. Clark Utilized Written Communication, Global Travel And Organization To Re-Shape The Global Protestant Church's Ministry To Young People Through The Christian Endeavor Society, Brian C. Hull

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Twelfth Century Literal Bible Commentaries: Comparing Jewish And Christian, Devorah Schoenfeld

Theology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

In the twelfth century, both Jewish and Christian Bible commentators began to emphasize literal, or historical, or contextual, approaches to interpreting scripture. These commentators wrote predominantly line‐by‐line commentaries that focused the reader's attention on linguistic questions in the biblical text. There was also a renewed interest in seeing the Bible in its own terms rather than exclusively through the lens of earlier midrashic or patristic commentaries, although those continued to play an important role. These developments happened at the same time for both Christian and Jewish scholars, who were often in conversation with each other about how to interpret the …

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

Master of Art 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.

Review Of Jewish Ways Of Following Jesus: Redrawing The Religious Map Of Antiquity, Matt A. Jackson-Mccabe

Philosophy and Religious Studies Department Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.