A critical examination of the doctrine of revelation in evangelical theology

Ash, Carisa A Dallas Theological Seminary 2012 해외박사(DDOD)

This study results from a desire to understand the relationship between what many evangelicals label "general" and "special" revelation. It stems from asking the question: What is the significance that Scripture teaches and evangelicals affirm that God reveals through the created order?. Evangelicals affirm the created order as revelation but tend to neglect it in systematic theology. The same inconsistency is evident in efforts to integrate truth. I propose a theology of revelation intended to overcome the inconsistency between evangelicalism's confession and practice. The theology proposed emphasizes similarities between forms of revelation while maintaining the distinctness of each form. The introduction provides definitions for key terms, states the need for the study, and explains the method of the study. The second chapter surveys how theologians explain and carry out the task of systematic theology. The third chapter examines how evangelicals understand the task of integration. Chapters two and three highlight how evangelicals affirm the created order as revelation but then neglect its usefulness in theological method and integration. The fourth chapter examines problems with definitions and categorizations of revelation which lead to a neglect of the created order. The fifth chapter proposes a theology of revelation that takes into account the similarities and differences between forms of revelation. This chapter proposes a correlative relationship between Scripture and the created order as exemplified by Herman Bavinck and Jonathan Edwards. Scripture teaches that God reveals through the Incarnate Son of God, Scripture, and the created order. Revelation, regardless of form, comes from God and retains his character. The human recipients of divine communication are both finite and fallen. Therefore, people depend (intentionally or unintentionally) on the Spirit's work of illumination and redemption to respond rightly. The content of revelation includes knowledge of God, his relationship to creation, as well as creation itself The effects of revelation include but are not limited to salvation and God's delight.

Paul and his mortality: Imitating Christ in the face of death

Jenks, R. Gregory Dallas Theological Seminary 2012 해외박사(DDOD)

Death takes a prominent place in the writings of Paul. His gospel offers the solution for death as sin's consequence---Jesus' death and resurrection provides propitiation, reconciliation, and eternal life. In spite of this confidence, however, he speaks about death often, at times affirms that he anticipates death with a positive attitude, and speaks of dying voluntarily. Paul was aware of his mortality and he lived and ministered out of this awareness. The thesis of this dissertation is that Paul uses expressions of mortality in terms of imitating Christ with three distinct senses or paradoxes based on the occasion into which he was writing. To churches with those who opposed him or his gospel, he spoke of noble death with an honor/shame paradox. To churches that were facing persecution, he spoke of martyrdom with an obedience/defiance paradox. To churches and colleagues who grasped the atoning nature of Christ's death and its implication within God's redemptive plan, he spoke of a life/sacrifice paradox. This dissertation examines Paul's theology of death and mortality by looking at semantics, background influences, then Paul's teaching and example. We begin in chapter two by defining the terminology of voluntary death. Chapters three to six discuss the major worldviews from which Paul drew his theology: Gentile, Jewish, the influence of Jesus and the early church. Chapter seven discusses Paul as a historian and theologian and engages his writings with a view to better understanding his positive affirmations of death in light of his ambition to imitate Christ and to lead others to follow his example.

City names as memorials in Old Testament theology

Anderson, Edward (Ted) Bruce Dallas Theological Seminary 2002 해외박사(DDOD)

This dissertation discusses the relationship between narrative theology and the prophetic literature and the role of memory and story in the theology of Israel. The writer first develops a theology of remembrance and memorials in the history of Israel. The four major memorials for the nation of Israel, Passover, the redemption of the first born, the Law, the crossing of the Jordan River, are examined. Each of these four demonstrates a clustering of memory phrases and themes used throughout the Bible to guide the nation to remember their past and to apply that past to their present situation. These major memorials and their similarities lead to a discussion of other areas where these same themes occur. The writer shows how memory phrases are used in relation to three Old Testament cities, Beersheba, Bethel, and Gilgal. The author traces these phrases through the Old Testament to the Book of Amos 4:4–6 and 5:5 where Amos mentions these three cities in connection with the memorial phrases and other sub themes. Briefly stated, the hypothesis is that Beersheba, Bethel, and Gilgal served as memorial mirrors for the people of Israel and helped the nation develop their theology in the same way as Passover, the redemption of the first born, the Law, and the crossing of the Jordan River. The writer develops his thesis first by examining memory in Israel, and by seeking to develop a theology of memory. He then examines each of the three cities diachronically, showing their development as memorial cities within the nation of Israel and their eventual divine setting aside for a new memorial. The writer then examines the passages in Amos 4:4–6 and Amos 5:5 where the prophet mentions these cities in a theological setting. The writer demonstrates how Amos used the history and memory of the nation to make poignant theological statements concerning the sin of the nation and their departure from their God. Finally, since Old Testament theology should make a connection with the New Testament, the writer seeks to demonstrate how an Old Testament theology of memory is transferred to the New Testament and New Testament memorials for the people of God today.

The nature and theological import of Paul's collection for the saints in Jerusalem

Faye, Yohannes Baheru Dallas Theological Seminary 2013 해외박사(DDOD)

This paper examines the nature and theological import of Paul's effort to organize financial aid for the church in Jerusalem. It argues that a close reading of the biblical data, properly situated in its proper context, indicates that the collection was not an impromptu act of charity intended to meet a mere economic need that arose in Jerusalem. Rather, it was a concerted effort on the part of Paul and, probably, the Jerusalem church leaders meant to counter and soften Jewish resistance to Paul's gospel and the Gentile mission. It aimed at promoting the unity of the body of Christ in line with the ideal and demands of Paul's gospel---the solidarity of the Christian community. The research closely investigates the nature of the collection. This is done by analyzing the biblical data and characterization of the project; the social conventions and institutions that informed the methods and infrastructures Paul used to make the collection a reality. Informed by an emerging picture of the nature of the collection, and the pastoral context that led to its inception an attempt is made to locate its function. This study makes the case that the theological function of Paul's collection is found at the intersection of the claims of Paul's gospel (theology and practice) and the pastoral reality of Jewish Gentile relationship in the early church.

Carl F. H. Henry and the metaphysical foundations of epistemology

Waita, Jonathan Mutinda Dallas Theological Seminary 2012 해외박사(DDOD)

The purpose of this dissertation is to demonstrate the exculpability of Carl Henry's epistemology from charges of modernist rationalism. This is attempted by setting Henry's rational epistemological methodology against the backdrop of earlier anti-metaphysical and heterodox metaphysical epistemologies, with a view to accentuating Henry's orthodox Christian metaphysical realism. Henry's commitment is to the reestablishment of divine revelation as the metaphysical axiom of epistemology. Chapter 2 presents Henry's criticism of three anti-metaphysical systems---viz., Kantian Phenomenology, Barthian Neo-orthodoxy, and Ayerian Logical Positivism for attempting to establish epistemology on metaphysical vacuum, on the one hand, and Whiteheadian Process Thought for attempting to establish epistemology on heterodox metaphysics. Against his epistemological antagonists Henry reiterates theological and philosophical indispensability of metaphysics. Chapter 3 presents Henry's project, highlighting its special features which ground his confidence in the function of his epistemology as a better substitute to the earlier ones. Henry's epistemology is presuppositional. It begins with an assumption of the reality of God and his self-disclosure as its basic axiom. Henry's epistemology is logo-centric. It is rational rather than rationalistic. It is metaphysics-affirming. Chapter 4 presents a critical evaluation of Henry's epistemology. The chapter begins with a critique of the critics of Henry. It is argued that charges of Henry's rationalism, fundamentalism, anthropocentricism, and foundationalism, from within and without evangelicalism, are dismissible on the basis of their wrong premises. The rationale for Henry's emphasis on the objectivity of knowledge is divine bequeathing of humanity with such epistemic tools as logic and intelligible language, on the one hand, and God's self-disclosure by means of propositionally written Scripture, on the other hand. Chapter 5 concludes that the basis of Henry's view of the intelligibility of divine revelation and the epistemic sufficiency of human reason and language (i.e., their suitability and sufficiency in appropriating divine revelation) is God's desire to clearly communicate his truth to mankind. Henry succeeds in preserving the integrity of the Bible as the objective metaphysical foundation of epistemology against the backdrop of the anti-metaphysical and heterodox metaphysical epistemologies.

The ambiguity of Mark's use of Huios Theou in Mark 15:39

Kavanaugh, Dennis John Dallas Theological Seminary 2011 해외박사(DDOD)

The present dissertation investigates the ambiguity that scholars have suggested underlies the words of the Roman centurion in Mark 15:39. Because of his Greco-Roman background it has been proposed that he could not have made a Christological statement, rather, his is merely comparing Jesus to a Greco-Roman hero. A historical as well as a linguistic method of analysis helps in analyzing what both the centurion could have meant and what Mark intended by including it in his Gospel. Some principles of relevance theory help uncover both explicit and implicit communicative intentions, and explore whether the centurion's expression could have polemical implications. Chapter one introduces the problem by surveying the current debate surrounding Mark 15:39. Chapter two attempts to define the complex concept of ambiguity, and to introduce a strategy for identifying polemic in narrative literature. Chapter three studies the grammar of u` io&d13;v q3ou&d4; h ,&d4; n . Chapter four investigates the cognitive environment of first century Greco-Romans, showing that the emperor was called u` io&d13;v q3ou&d4; . Chapter five shows that the emperor's power and exalted status established him as a unique son of god figure in the minds of people. Chapter six uses relevance theory to show that the centurion's declaration reveals a change in his cognitive environment and to show how polemic aids in replacing Caesar with Jesus Christ the true Son of God. Chapter seven summarizes the work.

The rhetorical arrangement and function of OT citations in the Book of Hebrews: Uncovering their role in the paraenetic discourse of access

Buck, Daniel E Dallas Theological Seminary 2002 해외박사(DDOD)

The presence of the Old Testament (OT) citations throughout the Book of Hebrews is unmistakable. It is argued that prominent citations serve both a structural and argumentative role in the theology of the book. The connected discussion of these citations (Ps 110:1, 4; Ps 8:4–6; Ps 95:7–11; Jer 31:31–34; Ps 40:6–8; Hab 2:3–4) displays the author's persuasive argument that the recipients must embrace Jesus' provision of a way of access to the very throne of God where mercy and forgiveness are found. The structural component of the design of the OT citations is integrated with George Guthrie's text-linguistic approach in <italic>The Structure of Hebrews </italic> (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1994), adjusting his parallel lines of argumentation to suggest a more cohesive thought for Hebrews. Chapter Two examines suggested internal and external premises used to organize the thoughts of Hebrews and shows that the crisis situation of the Hebrews turns the argument in a decisively rhetorical nature, one that seeks to convince through the spoken message of the OT citations. Chapter Three, using a deductive methodology, establishes a soteriological linkage that is textually present in word and conceptual associations between the OT citations, clarified by the author's creative handling of the passages. Chapter Four proceeds inductively to reveal the cumulative function of the citations in moving the recipients to a life of full access to God. The final chapter examines alternate OT passages as test cases for the author's reading of Scripture and how the selection and use of the prominent OT citations is integral to the persuasive nature of Hebrews. From an historical-exegetical investigation of these OT Scriptures comes an understanding of the author's intention to relate the message of these ancient texts to the intellectual and spiritual needs of his contemporary audience so they will give assent to the theological work of Christ on their behalf in providing eternally available access to the redeemer God.

An appraisal of the intrinsic probability of the longer endings of the Gospel of Mark

Sapaugh, Gregory P Dallas Theological Seminary 2013 해외박사(DDOD)

The thesis of this dissertation is that the three longer endings of the Gospel of Mark have not been adequately investigated from the standpoint of intrinsic probability. The dissertation evaluates the internal evidence of each of the three longer endings of Mark---the Freer Logion, Intermediate Ending, and Long Ending. This includes both linguistic and literary patterns. The same evaluation was performed on seven anomalous pericopae in the main body of Mark (1:1-16:8). The results from the pericopae in the main body form a baseline by which to evaluate the linguistic and literary characteristics of the three long endings. When appropriate, the data was further compared to the evidence from the rest of the NT. We found that each of the longer endings contains many Markan characteristics. This is particularly true in the area of vocabulary. When syntactical and literary results were added in, the non-Markan character of the long endings began to assert itself. Each long ending has a significantly higher number of non-Markan components per line of text than the pericopae in the main body. This higher proportion of non-Markanisms is significant enough that the non-Markan character of the long endings is very certain. This study helps to fill a void in the text-critical study of the ending of the Gospel of Mark. Based on the criterion of intrinsic probability, we may conclude that the longer endings were not written by Mark.

The point of view of the book of Revelation: A literary study

Gonzales, Alexander R Dallas Theological Seminary 2012 해외박사(DDOD)

Ideological point of view used as a hermeneutical tool makes interpretation of the book of Revelation clearer, more precise, and more logical than other interpretive approaches. This is made evident as ideological point of view more clearly identifies the book of Revelation as a cohesive story in the bridal, Exodus, and dragon motifs, which characterizes Christ as Bridegroom, Redeemer, and King. In biblical studies, ideological point of view has largely been ignored or misunderstood as a key hermeneutical tool. This is evidenced by the small number of studies published using point of view as an interpretive tool. Ideological point of view can be determined by how the author frames what the reader sees in the text. Once the author frames the text, then he uses his palette of literary tools to paint the narrative on the textual canvas. These literary clues help guide the reader to a proper interpretation of the text. Some of these major literary clues in Revelation include: the characterization of the four women (Jezebel, the woman clothed in the sun, the harlot, and the bride), the personification of the two cities (Babylon and the New Jerusalem), and the bridal, Exodus, and dragon motifs. In order to see more clearly how point of view affects meaning, these three motifs will be unraveled to show how they shape the text. They are evidence of the author's ideological point of view. Thus, the author's ideological point of view is accessible through the literary footprints he has left behind in the text. When an author tells a story, he tells it from a certain ideological perspective. In Revelation, there is a story within a story. The church's story is the focus of chapters 1--3, while Israel's story is the focus of chapters 4--18, and the resolution of both are the focus of chapters 19--22. The church's conflict is seduction to idolatry and compromise versus remaining faithful as the bride of Christ. Similarly, Israel's conflict was due to her past failure to remain faithful to Yahweh her husband (Rev 19:6--10). The church's conflict is resolved when Christ returns in the marriage supper of the Lamb, while Israel's conflict is resolved when Christ sets up the Davidic kingdom and the New Covenant in the millennial reign (Rev 20:4--6). Also, the canon-wide biblical meta-narrative is resolved as Satan is cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20:7--10) and Christ dwells with His people in the New Heavens and the Earth (Rev 21:1--8). Using point of view as a hermeneutical tool helps the reader interpret the text more clearly, more accurately, and more cohesively.

An investigation into the teleios ("perfection") motif in the letter to the Hebrews and its contribution to the argument of the book

Simisi, Seth Muhesi Dallas Theological Seminary 2012 해외박사(DDOD)

This investigation evolved from the controversial and debatable interpretation of the te&d12;le iov ("perfection") concept in Hebrews where it appears to be so central to the argument of the Book. The precise meaning to be attached to this concept has puzzled Bible interpreters. Does the notion carry a purely moral-ethical meaning, a cultic-religious meaning, a vocational experiential meaning; or, should the concept be taken as carrying the notion of exaltation-glorification, a "definitive attestation" or "divine philanthropy"? The question concerning the meaning of te&d12;le iov is directly related to the message and argument of Hebrews. The investigation consists of six chapters that examine the notion of te&d12;le iov and its import on the argument of Hebrews. The first chapter consists of a general introduction underlining the need and purpose of the investigation, followed by a survey of major interpretative approaches to the te&d12;le iov notion in Hebrews and related literature in the second chapter. The third chapter consists of an examination of the concept of te&d12;le iov in the ancient world including: classical Greek literature, Jewish Scripture, Septuagint, Second Temple Judaism, and the New Testament. The fourth chapter examines the literary nature and purpose of Hebrews, serving as a bridge to the heart of the investigation in the fifth chapter. The fifth chapter of the investigation provides a detailed analysis of major occurrences of te&d12;le iov in Hebrews so that readers may appreciate the import of this notion on the argument of Hebrews. The sixth chapter consists of a summary conclusion underlining key theological implications of the major points of the investigation. The entire study proves that the notion of te&d12;le iov , "perfection" or "completeness," has futurist eschatological significance and is related to the better provisions of the new covenant which guarantees the believer's future salvation and eternal inheritance.