Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons^™

Biblical Hermeneutics In The Early Missouri Synod, Charles Schaum

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

We now move to the specific situation of the Missouri Synod in the nineteenth century. They will not always use terms in the same manner as today's LCMS. The importance of the material lies in its being translated into English for the first time. The reader will gain a healthy respect for the strengths of "Old Missouri" and also an understanding of its weaknesses. Lutheranism is not an "easy" sort of theology, either with regard to innovation or repristination. Yet the capacity of the early Missouri Synod to remain "on message" in what was already a markedly pluralistic society in …

Opus Dei And Christian Formation: Compatible With A Lutheran Understanding?, Timothy Winterstein

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

This paper is an examination of the formational practices of Opus Dei and whether Lutherans and Lutheran congregations might profit from a more sustained consideration of what it means to be formed as Christians.

Women's Ordination- A Litmus Test For Antinomianism, Joseph Omolo

Master of Art Theology Thesis

When the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK), to which I belong, established a deaconess college at the beginning of this century to train young women for parish work, it was not clear which kind of education they were going to be offered. Many observers, both from within and without, saw this as a signal that the church was moving towards the ordination of women. When the first crop of deaconesses graduated and were deployed into the parishes, a great confusion reigned among the members, both clergy and ordinary Christians, regarding the role of these new workers. To compound the …

Angels And The Future Of The Elect, Tina Ziemnick

Master of Art Theology Thesis

As a Director of Christian Education in a parish, I encountered many youth and adults who believed that people become angels at death. As I talked with them, I realized that they were looking for comfort and hope in a world filled with uncertainty and tragedy. They wanted a picture of eternity and this notion of dying and becoming an angel made the concept of eternal life tangible. As I talked with other DCEs and Pastors I found that they had similar conversations with members of their congregations.' The frequency of these conversations within my professional meetings as well as …

A Pastor And His Ministry: Gregory Thamaturgus' Address Of Thanksgiving To Origen As Pastoral Practice, Edwin Harkey

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

One such student of his times was Origen. In his writings we see glimpses that while his goal was ultimately a deeply spiritual one-no less than a union with the Divine-he seemed no stranger to a more holistic approach in his encounters with the students who placed themselves under his tutelage. One of those students, Gregory Thaumaturgus, often called the "Wonderworker," even bequeathed to the church a most revealing document that enables us to get a rare glimpse of Origen and his method and style. It is that document, Gregory's Address of Thanksgiving to Origen, that will be the subject …

Conrad Dieterich (1575-1639) And The Instruction Of Luther's Small Catechism, Gerhard Bode

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

Bode, Gerhard H. "Conrad Dieterich (1575-1639) and the Instruction of Luther's Small Catechism." Ph.D. Diss., St. Louis, MO: Concordia Seminary, 2005.350 pp.

Luther's catechisms have had a lasting impact on catechesis in the Lutheran church and are still widely used in Lutheran circles more than 475 years after Luther wrote them. Conrad Dieterich (1575-1639) wrote several catechisms based on Luther's Small Catechism that were widely used in Lutheran circles during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Two of Dieterich's works were intended for use by upper-level students in Latin schools and employed dialectical method in presenting the catechetical doctrine. The dissertation …

English Reformation Apocalypticism Foreshadowed In Lollard Sermons, Douglas Reinders

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

Our study primarily focuses on available Lollard sermon literature in an effort to buttress the argument that Lollard sermons and preaching cannot be ignored in a discussion about what influenced English Protestant apocalyptic thought of the sixteenth century. An examination of sermon literature, however, would not be complete without considering the questions of diffusion and to what extent Lollard teachings and sermons were diffused in England. This is done in a section devoted to the methods of dissemination. In a final section, the similarities between Lollard and English Protestant apocalypticism are examined.

Luther's Reformation Of Penance, Robin Korsch

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

The history of the practice of penance from the early church to the dawn of the Reformation in the Western church is a rich story of continual change. The early church did not have a uniform doctrine and practice of penance and neither did the Western church even after Martin Luther's lifetime. The purpose of this paper is to study and explain the reasoning behind Luther's initial rejection of the Roman Catholic doctrine and practice of penance as found in various writings of Luther up until his 1520 work The Babylonian Captivity of the Church. It is the thesis of …

"Words Written In Golden Letters": A Lutheran Anthropological Reading Of The Ecumenical Creeds—"For Us" As The Constitutive Factor Of What It Means To Be Human, Guntis Kalme

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

Kalme, Guntis "'Words Written in Gold Letters': A Lutheran Anthropological Reading of the Ecumenical Creeds — "For Us" as the Constitutive Factor of What It Means to be Human."Ph.D. Diss., St. Louis, MO: Concordia Seminary, 2005. 386 pp.

After briefly introducing several possibilities for understanding man, the author — touching upon the traditional compositional and the relational definitions of man — turns his attention tithe Creedal approach. Since Nicea, Christians have confessed that God in Christ acted "for us men and for our salvation." The author argues that the Nicene Creed actually centers around the “for us," which both permeates …

The Confessional Liturgical Revival Of Theodor Kliefoth And The Works Of Liturgical Revision Of The Preface In Nineteenth-Century Sweden: The Vitality Of The Lord's Supper As Confessed In "He Alone Is Worthy!", Naomichi Masaki

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

Masaki, Naomichi. "The Confessional Liturgical Revival of Theodor Kliefoth and the Works of Liturgical Revision of the Preface in Nineteenth-Century Sweden: The Vitality of the Lord’s Supper as Confessed in "He Alone Is Worthy!" Ph.D. diss., St. Louis, Mo.: Concordia Seminary, 2005. 379 pp.

The vitality of the Divine Service of the Church of Sweden was enlivened during the second half of the nineteenth century. In this dissertation, the acclamation in the Preface of the Lord’s Supper, "He alone is worthy of thanks and praise!" which emerged through the works of the liturgical revision during that time, is taken as …

The Christological And Ecclesial Pacifism Of Stanley Hauerwas-A Lutheran Analysis And Appraisal, Joel Lehenbauer

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

The first purpose of this study, therefore, is to explore and examine the nature and content of Hauerwas's pacifist convictions and claims as a way of understanding more deeply and clearly his contribution to contemporary theology and ethics. There are, as we will see, many different varieties of pacifism. What are the essential characteristics of Hauerwas's pacifism, and what distinguishes it from these other varieties? Where do his pacifist convictions fit into his program for reforming Christian ethics? How do they inform and impact his theology as a whole?

A second purpose will be to examine Hauerwas's pacifism in the …

A Lutheran Look At President Bush's Faith-Based Initatives, Darren Olson

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

In recognition of this resolution it is important to examine President Bush's policy of faith-based initiatives. LCMS congregations that are faced with the opportunity to participate in faith-based initiatives should be informed of the nature and content of this government program. The purpose of this paper is to show that, theologically, legally, and practically, the church that participates in faith-based initiatives not only compromises but also loses her unique Christian witness. Theologically, the church that participates in faith-based initiatives is required by the government to separate her religious message from the social services she provides. By means of this requirement …

The Descent Of Darwin—A Theological Understanding Of Charles Darwin, David Kummer

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

In the process of seeking to understand Charles Darwin and his ideas that have come to dominate much of the modern/postmodern, western worldview, it is essential to elucidate the historical context in which both are developed is essential to elucidate. This approach asserts a reciprocity between Darwin the man (son, explorer, naturalist, husband, father, controversialist)and his ideas that not only derive from his life experiences but also contribute to them. An obvious place to start in this regard is the relationship he has with his mother. Although seemingly Freudian in tone, the purpose for this analysis does not include a …

The Christian Concept Of God And Japan-An Examination Of The Christian Concept Of God In Japanese Culture, Utilizing The Two Realms Theology Of The Lutheran Framework, Chikako Drawbaugh

Master of Art Theology Thesis

Therefore, it is essential to recognize that God, the author of the earth and heavens, has placed people in cultures with a variety of lifestyles and values. Even though circumstances may differ, our Christian identity remains unchanged because of faith in Christ. It is also crucial to appreciate culture as God's gift to human beings. At the same time, however, Christians need to recognize the idolatrous attitudes in their lives. Christians uniquely possess the character of living within and beyond cultures. This prompts us to consider what it means to live as a Christian while also belonging to a particular …

Bishop Bo Harald Giertz-Pietism And The Ordo Salutis-The Office Of The Holy Ministry, The Word, And Soul Care, Eric Andrae

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Though acknowledged as one of the most influential European churchman of the past century, and widely lauded in American Lutheran circles as the author of the acclaimed The Hammer of God, much remains to be learned in the U.S. of Bishop Emeritus Dr. Bo Harald Giertz (Gothenburg [Goteborg] diocese, Church of Sweden, served 1949-1970) and of his theology, especially concerning the specific doctrine which served as the foundation of the novel, the Order of Grace. Furthermore, interest in Giertz in America is increasing rapidly: several translation projects are underway, a film based on the first chapter of The Hammer of …

The Image Of God And Human Identity: An Explanation Informed By The Two Kinds Of Righteousness, Lucas Woodford

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

For centuries discussion and debate over the image of God has engaged theologians of every tradition. What is the image of God? Of what does it consist? How does Scripture speak of this image? Does it relate to all human beings? Establishing answers and definitions to such questions is a difficult yet vitally important task. Significant to these discussions are the implications that such definitions will have upon the understanding of human identity and human existence.

Treatments on the image of God have a variety of definitions and interpretations depending on the individual theologian and their theological tradition. There are …

Receiver, Bearer, And Giver Of God's Spirit-Jesus' Life And Mission In The Spirit As A Ground For Understanding Christology, Trinity, And Proclamation, Leopoldo Sanchez

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

In this project, I assess the usefulness of a Spirit-christology for reflection on Jesus’ perennial question, "But who do you say that I am?" (Mt. 16:15), and its implications for christology itself, trinitarian theology, and the proclamation of Jesus' story.1 I argue that reading the life and mission of Jesus as receiver, bearer, and giver of God's Spirit—i.e., a"Spirit-christology"2 —invigorates and complements classic Logos-oriented approaches to christology, Trinity, and proclamation.

Like many proposals in systematic theology, mine has both critical and constructive tasks. Critically, I investigate some reasons for the partial eclipse of the place of the Holy Spirit in …

Witness And Worship In Pluralistic America, John F. Johnson, Joel Okamoto, Charles Arand, David Adams, Richard Warneck, Andrew H. Bartelt, Paul Raabe, William Schumacher, Paul Robinson, James Voelz, Robert Kolb

Ebooks

American society in the twenty- first century poses a myriad of challenges for the church as it seeks to be an effective witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Among these challenges is an increasingly pluralistic cultural and religious context.

Who Do I Say That You Are? Anthropology And The Theology Of Theosis In The Finnish School Of Tuomo Mannermaa, William Schumacher

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

Part of what drives the present study is the conviction that anthropology matters in theology. That is to say, theology must find new ways (or recover and translate old ways) to answer questions about what it means to be human. One purpose of this study, then, is to try to reclaim the doctrine de homine as a vital and pertinent dimension of the whole theological enterprise, rather than relegate anthropology to non-theological (or even anti-theological) disciplines. The anthropological suggestions that arise from the studies of the Finnish school, intriguing and stimulating in some respects, ultimately fall short of this goal, …

Luther's Doctrine Of The Two Kingdoms In The Context Of His Theology, Heinrich Bornkamm

Ebooks

In this essay, the distinguished church historian of Heidelberg University gives us a guided tour through one of the most complex and controversial problems in the interpretation of Christian ethics. Luther’s “two kingdoms” doctrine has been variously praised and damned in recent theology. Thinkers such as Nygren, Althaus, and Ebeling have defended the doctrine as the source of a salutary political realism (since it reminds us that no social order as such will ever be identical with the kingdom of Christ), combined with a definite sense of Christian social responsibility (since the “kingdom on the left” is also God’s kingdom, …

Armenian Christology And The Council Of Chalcedon, Joseph Watson

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

The purpose of this study is to trace the historical and theological development of the Monophysitic Christology of the Armenian Church, especially as it is related to the Armenians' rejection of the Council of Chalcedon.

The first section of this paper will be devoted to a brief history of the Armenian Church, especially St. Gregory the Illuminator's role in Armenia's conversion to Christianity. The second part is devoted to the Armenian Church and its involvement with the first three ecumenical councils. The third portion of the paper will focus on the events leading to the Council of Chalcedon. Finally, the …

Apocalipsis: La Obra Presente Y Futura De Dios (Estudio Del Libro De Apocalipsis), Viesturs Pavasars

Cursos teológicos-otros

Este último libro de la Biblia, Apocalipsis, es una revelación de Dios para el beneficio nuestro y que es vigente para cada generación. El escrito del desterrado Apóstol Juan, trata del juicio final y del nuevo mundo del futuro, más allá de la historia actual. Aquí descansa nuestra esperanza y la de cada generación. Esta es la esperanza que le da fuerzas en medio de todas las tribulaciones y sufrimientos. ¿Por qué? Conocemos a Jesucristo, quien murió por nuestros pecados al rindió Su vida por la nuestra. Su resurrección es entonces también nuestra resurrección. Él es nuestro Salvador, nuestra razón …

Virtue Ethics And The Place Of Character Formation Within Lutheran Theology, Joel Biermann

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

This study strives to provide a way for all parish pastors to reconsider the task of providing ethical training in a parish setting. The intent of this investigation is to encourage a shift in perception that will allow training in ethics to be evaluated and eventually adopted as both practically positive and theologically valid. Failing that ambitious goal, the study can at least prompt further discussion of the appropriate place of training in ethics, that is, teaching the practical matters of living the Christian life. Understood scripturally, the goal is quite simply to provide a way for congregations faithfully to …

Culto Y Postmodernidad, César Henríquez

Artículos educación teológica

Culto y postmodernidad

Encuentro 01 - ¿Por Qué El Luteranism, Leonardo Stahlke

El Testimonio de la Fe Luterana

Es la esperanza del Centro de Estudios Hispanos (anteriormente el Instituto Hispano de Teología) del Seminario Concordia, St. Louis, que en este curso puedan encontrar las bases de fe que los cristianos tenemos. Para que esto sea posible, esperamos presentar para ustedes un repaso general de lo que las Sagradas Escrituras, La Santa Biblia, nos enseña.

Included for these 12 lessons is a link to download the entire Study Guide.

Incluido para estudiar las 12 lecciones es un link para bajar todo el manual de estudio.

The House Swept Clean : A Biblically Balanced Pattern For The Diagnosis, Exorcism, And Pastoral Care Of The Victims Of Demonic Possession, Darrell Arthur Mcculley

Other Student Publications

This was a difficult project to undertake for a number of reasons. First of all, for various reasons it became expeditious to self-publish, and that is a bit of a nightmare. Second, there is little in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod to which it may be compared. Thus, any doctrinal comparison to pre-existing teachings might be problematic in some places. Third, my biggest fear is that this work would be seen as an accusation or an indictment of the LC–MS. It is not intended as such.Any hyperbolic moments herein are not to point a finger of blame, but to call for …

Principles, Practices, And Problems-The Pastoral Theology Of St. John Chrysostom, Jack Ferguson

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

The importance of this limited outline of the life of St. John Chrysostom is that it highlights the pastoral periods of his work within the context of the two metropolitan communities which he served. It also locates within these periods several of his major works which yield, upon examination, a wealth of material as well as many points of comparison concerning the rudiments of his pastoral theology.

Arthur Carl Piepkorn And The Evangelical Catholic Approach To Ecuminism, Paul Sauer

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

As the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod is confronted once again with 'church questions' it is perhaps time to rediscover the writings of one from our own past. Piepkorn would remind us that one of the joys of being a part of the church catholic is the recognition that the events of our present day are in no way unique within the history of the church; as such our theological enterprise not only need not start from scratch, but should not. How then might Piepkorn's writings shape our understanding of the Lutheran Church Missouri-Synod and her relationship to the 'one, holy, …

"Real Presence" A Confession Of The Lord's Supper - The Origin And Development Of The Term In The 16th Century, Albert B. Collver Iii

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

This work is divided into two parts: Part 1 outlines the historical development of the term real presence, Part 2 provides a systematic analysis of the term.

God's Power For The Believer, Andre Snavely

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

So the questions that will be examined in this paper include the following. Does God manifest His power in any way other than salvation, either through miracles to bring people to salvation or to bless those who are already saved? What is the purpose of God showing His power? What is the connection between God's power and faith and between His power and His righteousness? And finally, how does a biblical theology of God's power give an answer to those who demythologize His power into a social program? These and other questions are very much on the minds of Christians …