...Nimrod and Abraham: The Fall and Reformation of Human Community In partial fulfillment of: OT 501 - Pentecostal Explorations of the Old Testament Submitted to: Dr. Rickie Dale Moore Church of God Theological Seminary Cleveland, Tennessee Daniel Tomberlin November 20, 2001 COGTS Box # 247 The Hebrew name for Genesis is bƒreÕµ séû tÆ ,_ preferably translated “by way of beginning”1 which is also the overarching theme of the book - the beginnings of the creation of the universe, of humanity and human civilization, and of a covenant people of God. The traditional outline of Genesis is to divide the book into two major sections: Primeval History (chapters 1-11) which is universal in scope and serves to demonstrate the unity of humanity; and Patriarchal History (chapters 12-50) which is particular in scope and serves to present God’s concern for a covenant people. Gordon Wenham offers a similar outline: the origin of the world (chapter 1); the origin of the nations (chapters 2-11); and the origin of Israel (chapters 12-50).2 An outline that better serves the theological themes of Genesis is to present the book in three major sections: generation (chapters 1-2) which reveals God as Creator of the universe and all life therein; degeneration (chapters 3-11), which reveals the fall of the first human family and the continued downward spiral of human civilization; and regeneration (chapters 12-50) in...
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...r Divine-Human Synergism in Ministry Dennis Bratcher A paper presented to the Breckenridge Conference on Clergy Preparation I. Introduction II. Synergism: A Biblical and Theological Base III. The Church's Mission and Ministry: A Recovery of Balance IV. Divine-Human Synergism in Ministry Footnotes Bibliography I. Introduction The Issue In Context The Church In this series of conferences begun last year, we are in process of reflecting on the direction and focus of the ministry and ministerial training in the Church of the Nazarene as our community of faith moves into the twenty-first century. We have attempted to approach our task from two complimentary perspectives, caricatured last year as the "field" of hands-on work and the "realm" of reflective inquiry (although I think there are serious problems inherent in such an artificial dichotomy of responsibilities). -1- From our initial attempts, it has become obvious that we face a multiplicity of issues in such an endeavor. The range and diversity of these issues arise partly from the variety of theological, historical, and practical concerns operating with each of us as individuals and partly from the assumptions and perspectives imported from particular arenas of ministry. One common element that keeps reappearing in various forms is the issue of the nature and mission of the Church. This issue is not unique to our enterprise in these conferences, as the new eleventh Article of Faith on...
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...Introduction How exciting it is to open the bible to the book of Exodus and read the narrative of the fulfillment of God’s promise in the rescue of the Israelites from captivity in Egypt—the call of Moses, the plagues, and the dramatic manifestation of God on Mt. Sinai. Though the book of Exodus is most famous for the revelation of the Ten Commandments contained in Chapter 20, it remains vague in terms of where the biblical account actually occurred, and yet we cannot begin to fully understand the Old Testament if we look at it as merely a piece of great literature, or as some have suggested nothing more than interesting legend, or the elaboration of superior ideals. … The Book of Exodus is a narrative of the sacred history of Israel from the sojourn in Egypt to the completion of the Tabernacle in the wilderness. The term Exodus comes from the Greek terminology and literally means “going out,” an appropriate title for the book that narrates how under the leadership of Moses, the Israelites escaped from Egyptian persecution and began their journey back to the Promised Land. To be certain, all human history is the scope of God’s sovereignty. God became especially involved in the lives of a relatively unknown people, culminating a historical event that changed biblical history and altered the course of their lives and culture. When we seek to understand the meaning of our individual life events, we don’t actually begin with birth or infancy, even though a biographical account...
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...D.Min. Project Prospectus Sharon L. Smith I. Title: Bridging the Gap: A Pilot Project Aimed at Mutually Equipping Church and Business Leaders for Kingdom Impact II. The Context: Followers of Jesus Christ who possess a divine calling, talents, and gifts to work and serve God through specific voluntary or paid vocations in the workplace face daily opportunities to impact the Kingdom of God. When believers walk by faith and obedience in the revelation that God’s divine presence and purpose is with them daily in their work lives, God empowers them to lead change that can transform lives, businesses, and even nations. Believers clearly see this truth in the lives of Abraham, Joseph, Daniel, and Nehemiah. The Great Commission (Matt. 28) commands believers to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every person. This directive includes Holy Spirit-empowered witness in the marketplace with signs, wonders, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit in operation. As His priests (1 Pet. 2:5; Rom. 12:1-2), God calls believers ordained for the twenty-first century workplace to worship and serve Him through their actions, words, and works. God’s Word calls for excellence in whatever a person does (Col. 3:17). Fruitfulness follows when believers root biblical ethics in excellence, and practice it in relationships and business decisions. Anthropologists and missiologists are observing major global shifts causing leaders to revise their understanding of the notion of culture...
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...or prosperity. The granted wisdom would ultimately lead to his downfall from God’s grace. Solomon, born to David at the height of his reign, never knew simplicity, David had erred once in fidelity, resulting in marriage to Solomon’s mother; Solomon erred many times over by marrying hundreds of pagan wives. Any service Solomon did perform for his people was more self-centered than other-centered. Living a lifestyle so far outside of God’s protective ideals resulted in a growing love for self, rather than for God. Solomon differed greatly from David, even early on, in his seeming lack of the passionate love for God that David possessed. His choices did nothing to kindle a growing love for the God he honored (Foster, 2005, 492). This paper will discuss how Solomon’s request for wisdom is an example of dramatic irony on the part of the Kings historian. This will be accomplished by defining what dramatic irony is and then examining Solomon’s character and the early years of his reign as king of Israel. The wisdom that he requested led to choices that he made in his personal and professional life that ultimately derailed the leadership qualities in his monarchy and his relationship with God. The lifestyle choices that Solomon made, led to his apostasy later in his life. DRAMATIC IRONY Many forms of irony are identified throughout literature, drama and cinema. Dramatic irony is inherent in speeches or a situation of a story that is understood by the audience but not grasped...
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...00-BBR_18.2.book Page 209 Friday, September 12, 2008 12:00 PM Bulletin for Biblical Research 18.2 (2008) 209–231 “The Disciple Jesus Loved”: Witness, Author, Apostle— A Response to Richard Bauckham’s Jesus and the Eyewitnesses andreas j. köstenberger and stephen o. stout southeastern baptist theological seminary Richard Bauckham’s Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2006) makes a persuasive argument that the Gospels display eyewitness testimony and thus renews the quest for the identity of the Beloved Disciple as the author of the Fourth Gospel. While Bauckham attributes this Gospel to “the presbyter John” mentioned by Papias, the authors of this study show that the patristic evidence more likely seems to support the authorship of John the apostle and that the literary device of inclusio in the Fourth Gospel, astutely observed by Bauckham, also favors the authorship of John the son of Zebedee. Key Words: Fourth Gospel, Beloved Disciple, John, authorship, apostle, Zebedee, John the Elder, Papias, Eusebius, Muratorian Fragment, Polycrates, Irenaeus, Bauckham Introduction Recent years have witnessed a significant number of publications on the identity of “the disciple Jesus loved” in John’s Gospel. The ever more daring proposals have included identifications of this figure as diverse as the apostle Thomas, Mary Magdalene, Lazarus, James the son of Zebedee, and even the Samaritan woman, among others. 1...
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...theologians who profess this theology, “deny all forms of traditional ontology and allow for no sovereign and unconditioned Being but only a ‘God’ who at some point in the dialectic wills His own self-annihilation” and that, “man must learn to live without God.”[1] The lack of universal truth in our lives in this 21st century can be directly attributed to the lack of morals and moral values begun in the 19th century; and which took root in the 20th century; and might be the death of man in the 22nd century. In stating that God is dead, it has to be shown that: * Is God dead? * Science and technology can solve the world’s problems * God died as a transcendent God when Christ died * The Bible is narrative (i.e. myth) This review of the God-Is-Dead theology focuses on these four questions. Is God Dead? In an article written in the Chicago Tribune in 1963 it is stated that two men (Thomas Altizer and William Hamilton) experienced the death of God. Upon this statement, a “theology” was born. This is very unusual as both of these men happen to be atheist. This then begs the question, if you are an atheist and profess to not believe in God then, how could you have experienced the death of that which you state does not exist in the first place? Secondly, this is very unusual due to the understanding that atheists had never called...
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...Jesus in the Tanakh May 1, 2009 Professor Name World Religions Introduction The Christ of Christianity made radical claims in regards to his relationship to Judaism. Jesus was no timid Jewish rabbi. He claimed that he was the fulfillment of the entire Jewish Tanakh! Luke quotes the Christ as saying, “all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” (Luke 24:44) Jesus reinterpreted Jewish symbols and re-applied them to himself. (Wilson, 55) The many followers of Jesus today are still offending Jews by claiming that the Jewish religion is incomplete and no longer salvific without the incorporation of the Christ. Modern Jews reject the application of the prophecies regarding the Messiah in the Tanakh that the Christians typically apply. However, there is strong evidence that Jews in ancient Pre-Rabbinic Judaism interpreted significant amounts of historical portions of the Tanakh to be subtle prophecies (Edersheim, 163). The Christians claim that God left subtle footprints of the Messiah in many non-explicitly Messianic portions of the Tanakh and even in ancient Jewish tradition and society. The more convincing of these claimed prophetic footprints will be presented and evaluated. The Hebrew Deliverer Archetype According to Milton Steinberg in Basic Judaism, modern Jews who anticipate an individual human Messiah believe that when he comes, he will do all of the things expected of him in one event. No ‘second...
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...THE CONQUEST AND SETTLEMENT OF CANAAN The Conquest and Settlement of Canaan Jimmy West Grand Canyon University Old Testament History July 21, 2009 Introduction The Book of Judges takes its title from the twelve men and one woman who served as judges during the period from Joshua’s death to the time of Samuel.This book was written during the period of the monarchy, judging by the phrase which occurs four times, “In those days there was no king in Israel.” All the judges were themselves limited in their capabilities. In fact, each one seemed to have some defect and handicap which was not a hindrance but became a positive asset under the sovereign direction of God. In Judges we find backsliding and the amazing grace of God in recovering and restoring . The New Scofield Reference Bible gives the theme of the Book of Judges as “Defeat and Deliverance.” This is unusually appropriate. There is, however, another aspect which this book emphasizes: disappointment. The Role of the Judges in Israel How gracious and compassionate the Lord is! When the children of Israel cried unto Him for deliverance, He raised up Othniel to be the first judge. Othniel was the first and one of the better judges. There is no great criticism leveled against him. He saved his people from the oppression of Chushan–rishathaim. The only thing is that he was not capable in himself. He did not become leader of Israel because of his outstanding ability but because...
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...LIBERTY UNIVERSITY LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY BOOK CRITIQUE the master plan of evangelism AN ASSIGNMENT SUBMITTED TO PRO. MALCOLM HESTER IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURSE INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGMENT GLST 650 BY Walter A. Culup JANURARY 26, 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………..….3 SUMMARY……………………………………………………………………………………….4 CRITICAL INTERACTION……………………………………………………………………...6 CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………………………........9 BIBLIOGRAPHY……………………………………………………………………………….10 INTRODUCTION One of the debates which arises when we examine Christian ministry is: What is the role of women in the ministry? What does the Bible say about this topic? While no conclusion or consensus has been reached on the topic there are two view points and positions which have arisen to the forefront of the debate. First we have the egalitarian view which holds the position that ministerial opportunities should be equal for both men and women. Then we have the complementarian view which presents the belief that ministerial roles should be differentiated by gender. James Beck’s book TwoViews on Women in Ministry explores both of these positions by examining four articles, two of each opposing viewpoints along with three critical responses to each article. The goal of the text is to compare and contrast both positions...
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...Kaiser, Walter C., Jr. Preaching and Teaching from the Old Testament: A Guide for the Church. Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group, 2003. 222 pp. Paper. $8.99. Walter C. Kaiser Jr. is an evangelical Old Testament scholar, writer, public speaker, and educator born in 1933. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Wheaton College, Bachelor of Divinity from Wheaton Graduate School, and both M.A. and Ph.D. in Mediterranean studies from Brandeis University. He was the president of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary until 2006. He was the Colman M. Mockler distinguished Professor Emeritus of Old Testament and Old Testament Ethics. Prior to this he was Senior Vice President of Education, Academic Dean, and Senior Vice President of Distance Learning and Ministries, and Professor of Old Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. In 1977 he was the president of the Evangelical Theological Society. Currently he serves on the boards of several Christian organizations. He is the author of dozens of books and commentaries. Also many of his articles appear in the Journal for the Study of Old Testament, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Christianity Today, Westminster Theological Journal, and the Evangelical Quarterly. His primary purpose in writing this book, Preaching and Teaching from the Old Testament: A Guide for the Church, is to address the lack of preaching and teaching from the Old Testament that is currently going on in the modern church. The general...
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...HOW TO READ THE BIBLE F O R A L L I T S W O RT H The primary task of Bible study is to determine what the Scriptures meant at the time they were written and how that meaning applies to us today. This vital guide focuses on the historical contexts of the Bible and explains differences between the Old Testament narratives, the Epistles, Gospels, Parables, Psalms, and more. It's a practical approach to Bible study -- one that makes good sense and is easy to understand. This new edition includes, among other changes, a new section on the Song of Songs and an updated list of recommended commentaries and resources. “A practical approach to Bible study in an easy to understand style.” —Bookstore Journal “A very useful reference book for the layperson who is engaged in study of the Bible.” —Booklist “...provides keys to interpreting the genre, and discusses the hermeneutical questions it raises for today’s Christians.” —New Testament Abstracts “This is a book about hermeneutics, without jargon or footnotes. It is very readable and makes good sense.... Carefully thought out and written.” —Journal for the Study of the Old Testament “...readable, clear, and well-written book on hermeneutics.” —Christian Standard “Fee and Stuart have delineated the hermeneutical principles for the valid interpretation of the variety of literary genres found in Scriptures. Fee and Stuart fulfill the objectives they set for themselves admirably. A book with this focus meets an obvious need.” —Journal of...
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...Institute for Christian Teaching THE BIBLE: REVELATION AND AUTHORITY Richard M. Davidson 402-00 Institute for Christian Teaching 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904 USA Symposium on the Bible and Adventist Scholarship Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic March 19-26, 2000 Page 1 of 33THE BIBLE: REVELATION AND AUTHORITY 3/2/2014http://fae.adventist.org/essays/26Bcc_017 -055.htm Introduction I have not always held the view of Scriptural revelation and authority that I now maintain. Having journeyed through a different perspective on the revelation/authority of Scripture and then returning to the position that I now hold, I am convinced that this issue is basic to all other issues in the church. The destiny of our church depends on how its members regard the revelation and authority of the Bible. In the following pages I have summarized the biblical self-testimony on its revelation and authority. The major focus of the paper is biblical authority, but a short statement concerning revelation-inspiration-illumination introduces the subject, and other biblical testimony on the nature of revelation is subsumed under the discussion of biblical authority. The paper also includes a brief historical treatment of the Enlightenment and post-Enlightenment understandings of biblical revelation/authority and an analysis and critique of their basic presuppositions in light of Scripture. Following the conclusion, a selected bibliography of sources cited and other...
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...Institute for Christian Teaching THE BIBLE: REVELATION AND AUTHORITY Richard M. Davidson 402-00 Institute for Christian Teaching 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904 USA Symposium on the Bible and Adventist Scholarship Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic March 19-26, 2000 Introduction I have not always held the view of Scriptural revelation and authority that I now maintain. Having journeyed through a different perspective on the revelation/authority of Scripture and then returning to the position that I now hold, I am convinced that this issue is basic to all other issues in the church. The destiny of our church depends on how its members regard the revelation and authority of the Bible. In the following pages I have summarized the biblical self-testimony on its revelation and authority. The major focus of the paper is biblical authority, but a short statement concerning revelation-inspiration-illumination introduces the subject, and other biblical testimony on the nature of revelation is subsumed under the discussion of biblical authority. The paper also includes a brief historical treatment of the Enlightenment and post-Enlightenment understandings of biblical revelation/authority and an analysis and critique of their basic presuppositions in light of Scripture. Following the conclusion, a selected bibliography of sources cited and other useful books and articles on the subject is provided. Appendices include: (1) a chart schematizing the two major...
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...Preaching the Gospel in an Awkward Age William H. Willimon Duke University Chapel, Durham, North Carolina In The Nature of Doctrine: Religion in a Post-Liberal Age, (Westminster) George Lindbeck notes that North American Christians live in an awkward age. The age is awkward because, Christianity, having once been established in this culture is not yet clearly disestablished. Perhaps that explains why the majority of my sermons begin in Lindbeck's "experiential-expressivist" mode, beginning with the congregation's unformed and uninformed experiences and subjectivity, as if the old Constantinian synthesis were still in place, only to end as if I am a missionary speaking to pagans. Having begun in the recesses of human experience - are you depressed? Do you want self-esteem? How can we get the attention of Congress? -1 end with the renewed realization that the gospel does not merely want to speak to the modern world, it wants to assault, confront, convert, remake that world through the church and its preaching. As Lindbeck might put it, I begin, as all liberals do, as "experiential-expressivist," providing poetic articulation to what people already know, only to realize belatedly that the gospel is more "cultural-linguistic," demanding conversion into a new culture and a new mode of speaking and thinking which cannot be known without conversion. Most Sundays, in my neo-gothic, middle-of-the-university pulpit built in the heyday of North Carolina Constantinianism, speaking to a campus...
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