Boyce Digital Repository (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary)
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Mysterion and the Salvation of "All Israel" in Romans 9-11
Get PDFPh. D., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2019The aim of this study is to build upon the emerging consensus that the Pauline mystery is rooted in a Jewish apocalyptic context, reflecting a “once hidden, now revealed” schema. For Paul, this mystery schema divides history into distinct ages of concealment and revelation. This study will explore how a Jewish apocalyptic mystery schema impacts Paul’s use of mystery in Romans 11:25–27, along with the greater argument of chapters 9–11. Therefore, the thesis of this study is that the Pauline mystery of 11:25–27 recalls a “once hidden, now revealed” schema whereby Paul reimagines Israel’s history around the advent of Christ, unveiling God's redemptive plan concerning Israel’s plight and eschatological restoration concealed in the prophetic Scriptures.
Chapter 1 provides a history of research, reviewing the various interpretations of the Pauline mystery of Israel’s salvation in 11:25–27. I offer an evaluation of how contemporary scholars have engaged the Pauline mystery and provide a way forward in the discussion.
Chapter 2 argues that mystery in the OT and Second Temple literature is apocalyptic, reflecting a “once hidden, now revealed” schema for interpreting history and previous revelation to unveil God’s hidden plan of redemption in the eschaton. This technical use of the term is prominent in the book of Daniel, the DSS, and Pseudepigrapha. Recognizing a consistent Jewish apocalyptic mystery schema, the foundation is laid to compare it with Paul’s use of μυστήριον in Romans.
Chapter 3 shows that the Pauline mystery in Romans is rooted in Jewish apocalypticism. Particularly, like the OT and Second Temple literature, the mystery reflects a “once hidden, now revealed” schema for interpreting history and previous revelation to unveil God’s hidden plan of redemption in the eschaton. Specifically, the hidden eschatological realities of Israel’s salvation and the judgment of the wicked are made known through the gospel of Jesus Christ for everyone who believes. Christ’s death and resurrection serve not only as the basis of God’s redemption, but the paradigm for it. In other words, Christ is the apex which unifies God’s redemptive plan throughout history and into the eschaton. The Christ event lifts the veil over the OT, retrospectively revealing countless prefigurations of that event. Through faith in Christ, God’s people now see their eschatological hopes prefigured in him being incorporated to God’s unfolding narrative of redemption.
Chapters 4 and 5 focus on the mystery motif of Romans 9–11. These two chapters argue that Paul’s use of μυστήριον in 11:25 elicits the same christological paradigm it carries in 16:25–27 to unveil God’s hidden wisdom concerning Israel’s present unbelief and future restoration. Specifically, the mystery of 11:25–27 summarizes all of Romans 9–11 whereby Paul reimagines Israel’s history around the death, resurrection, and parousia of Christ to unveil God's redemptive plan surrounding Israel’s plight and eschatological restoration concealed in the prophetic Scriptures.
Chapter 6 serves as a conclusion providing a synthesis of this study showing that Paul explains Israel’s plight and future restoration as a mystery unveiled in Christ. Furthermore, this chapter suggests a couple of avenues for future studies on Paul’s mystery motif and the salvation of Israel
Looking at Illegal Immigration in the United States through the Lenses of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Get PDFThe United States is a sovereign nation formed by immigrants from its very beginnings. Today, the U.S. is a nation proud of its diversity, formed of people of various backgrounds—race, nationality, education, religious background, or economic status. Nonetheless, we are also reminded that the U.S. is a larger community comprised of borders and laws for the protection and flourishing of its people. For many in the world, the U.S. represents a model country—not a perfect country, but a democratic country— where people from various parts of the world long to come with the hopes for a better life.
Consequently, immigration laws and the enforcement of the laws become a never-ending task. An essential job to those who legislate and enforce the laws is the integration of the moral components that undergird the shaping and exercising of immigration-related responsibilities. For that reason, the thesis of this paper examines the issues relating to illegal immigration. Using the theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the paper attempts to uncover approaches to tackle this issue from a state, church, and individual Christian perspective.
Chapter 1 begins with an introduction to the paper as well as a case for the validity of nations and laws. It also provides a background on U.S. immigration, and the current issues relating to U.S. illegal immigration.
Chapter 2 introduces the theology of Bonhoeffer, beginning with the Lutheran two kingdoms thinking. The chapter then covers Bonhoeffer’s stance on individual responsibility, human rights, and the application of his theology on the Jewish question.
Chapter 3 attempts to reflect Bonhoeffer’s theology and ethics on the current state of the U.S. illegal immigration issue.
Chapter 4 ends the thesis with an overview of the impact of Bonhoeffer’s view on the state, church, and individual concerning illegal immigration
Wisdom, Eloquence, and Academic Rigor in ACCS Schools: A Mixed Methods Study
Get PDFThis study explored the relationship between the Christian liberal arts and sciences curriculum and academic rigor among classical Christian schools. It used convergent data-transformation methods to analyze publicly available curriculum descriptions in relationship to publicly available academic data. This study correlated the two sets of variables to determine the relationship between the two.
A review of the precedent literature first described the history of the classical Christian school movement then presented the philosophical and theological foundations of the movement. Next it examined studies of both Christian curriculum and academic rigor, both theoretical and practical curriculum studies were reviewed. The term “Christian liberal arts and sciences” was used to describe the curriculum found within classical Christian schools. It also reviewed studies examining selected criteria (AP courses, SAT scores, and acceptances into top-ranked liberal arts colleges and universities) as measures of academic rigor. Very few published studies examined the intersection of both topics and none did so within the classical Christian school movement.
The convergent data-transformation research design consisted of both qualitative and quantitative analyses consisting of four phases. The study required a research population which could demonstrate both the Christian liberal arts and sciences curriculum and academic rigor within a classical Christian school setting, hence the selection of the Association of Classical Christian Schools (ACCS). The first phase collected publicly available qualitative data of the Christian liberal arts and sciences. The second phase gathered both tuition and family income data to control for possible confounding variables. The third phase coded schools’ course descriptions for integration of faith and learning (IFL) language, which was then transformed into quantitative data for further analysis. The fourth phase performed a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) on all independent variables and one dependent variable (SAT scores). Following the ANOVA, an analysis of variance with covariates (ANCOVA) was performed to control for the covariate of family income levels.
Overall, this study found that ACCS secondary schools provided academically rigorous curriculum when compared to other categories of schools with regard to SAT scores. Controlling for family income levels did not strengthen the academic rigor measurements. The frequency of IFL language within certain disciplines correlated with both higher and lower academic measures as seen in a positive correlation between Bible courses and math courses with high IFL frequency and above average SAT scores. Science courses with high IFL frequency correlated with above average SAT scores while social studies courses with low IFL frequency correlated with above average SAT scores.
This study utilized a recent methodology for correlating the Christian liberal arts and sciences curriculum and academic rigor within a new context, classical Christian schools
Developing An Internship Model For Pastors In African American Churches, At Forest Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky
Get PDFIn this project I planned and implement an internship model for pastors in African American churches at Forest Baptist Church. Chapter 1 provides the foundation of the project, which includes the purpose, goals, context, rationale, and research methodology. Chapter 2 presents the biblical and theological basis for pastoral internships based on how Jesus and Paul mentored men. Chapter 3 summarizes theoretical and practical issues to pastoral leadership in the African American context by giving an historical sketch of the black church. Chapter 4 traces the planning and implementation of the project, along with an evaluation and conclusion. Chapter 5 analyzes and assesses the project, with personal reflections
Mr. Valiant for Truth: The Polemic of Charles Haddon Spurgeon as Pastor-Theologian During the Downgrade Controversy (1887-1892)
Get PDFThe primary purpose of this dissertation is to answer the question: what was the polemic of Charles Haddon Spurgeon during the Downgrade Controversy? This question is best answered using the Vanhoozer/Strachan paradigm of the pastor theologian. Using their taxonomy, Spurgeon’s theological discourse both inside and outside the Metropolitan Tabernacle is given context. He is an exemplary model of the pastor as a public theologian. Addressing Spurgeon’s polemic in this fashion produces numerous accompanying questions. From what theological perspective was Spurgeon speaking? Was Spurgeon truly trilingual during the Downgrade? From a rhetorical perspective, how did he speak to the academy, the public at large, and his congregation during this time? How significant was his preaching ministry as the locus of his pastoral theology and public rhetoric during the Downgrade?
This dissertation argues that Charles Haddon Spurgeon served as a model trilingual pastor-theologian in his polemic against theological liberalism during the Downgrade Controversy from 1887-1892. The implications of this study are far reaching. The bifurcation of the pastor and theologian was gathering steam in post-Enlightenment Victorian England and Spurgeon stood alone as a particular kind of intellectual generalist. His controversy also demonstrates that capitulation to cultural ideology and doctrinal divergence didn’t begin with modern controversies over inerrancy, the atonement, or morality. Thus, modern pastor-theologians are not the first ones to wrestle with these things. Spurgeon offers great instruction, encouragement, and fuel for resolve in such critical matters
Teaching a Theology of Civil Government at Southern View Chapel in Springfield, Illinois
Get PDFThis project is designed to teach a biblical theology of civil government to members of Southern View Chapel in Springfield, Illinois. Chapter 1 presents the context of this project, its rationale, purpose, goals, methodologies, definitions, and delimitations. Chapter 2 exegetes five passages of Scripture (Gen 4-11; Acts 5:29; Rom 13:1-7; 1 Pet 3:13-17; 1 Tim 2:1-4) to establish the origins of government, explain God’s purposes for it, and encourage believers to respond biblically. Chapter 3 surveys the history of evangelicals in the political arena, provides a biblical critique, and proposes a philosophy for Christians to engage government. Chapter 4 describes the project itself and the content of the eight-week class. Chapter 5 evaluates the efficacy of this project based upon completion of its goals
Developing an Apologetics Ministry at LifePoint Church Indy in Indianapolis, Indiana
Get PDFThis project was designed to develop a curriculum for apologetic training at LifePoint Church Indy (LPCI) in Indianapolis, Indiana, that allowed members and attenders to be trained in apologetics and to be more confident and comfortable in gospel encounters. The curriculum was delivered over a twenty-six week course that included significant reading by the participants along with small group participation and discussion.
Chapter 1 introduces the ministry context at LPCI, along with the rationale, purpose, goals, research methodologies, definition, and delimitations of the project. Chapter 2 develops the biblical and theological basis for apologetics in the local church setting. Significant to the design and implementation of the curriculum are five passages of Scripture. Together, these passages form the scriptural basis for training and real life use of apologetics. Chapter 3 addresses the need for training in apologetics, addressing the concepts of biblical worldview development, apologetic methodologies, the need for fair and ethical treatment of skeptics and non-believers, and the application of sound reasoning. Chapter 4 lays out the curriculum and lesson plans for the implementation of that curriculum. Chapter 5 concludes with an evaluation of the project, including its strengths and weaknesses and how it will be further developed based on that evaluation
Developing a Pastoral Training Program at First Baptist Church of Enterprise, Alabama
Get PDFABSTRACT
DEVELOPING A PASTORAL TRAINING PROGRAM AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF ENTERPRISE, ALABAMA
Kaleb Tillman Wimberly, DMin
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2019 Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Robert L. Plummer
This project sought to train future pastors in pastoral maturity through the categories of conviction, character, and competency in the context of First Baptist Church, Enterprise, Alabama. This was done for the purpose of equipping them to be faithful shepherds when the Lord appoints them to a specific ministry task. Chapter 1 presents the ministry context of First Baptist Enterprise and the goals of this project. Chapter 2 provides biblical and theological exegesis of four passages of Scripture to reveal the call for local churches to train future pastors in pastoral maturity through conviction, character, and competency. Chapter 3 presents a theoretical and practical basis for training future pastors in pastoral maturity through each category of conviction, character, and competency. Chapter 4 describes the project itself, recounting the content methodology of the pastoral training curriculum and schedule. Chapter 5 evaluates the efficacy of the project based on completion of the specified goals. Ultimately, this project sought to equip future pastors with the pastoral maturity necessary to pastor a church with conviction, character, and competency
Transforming the Leadership Development Culture in Church Revitalizations: A Mixed Methods Study
Get PDFAs the church in North America declines, many search for answers to turn the tide. One avenue is church revitalization: turning plateaued or declining churches into growing churches once again. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between leadership development culture and church revitalizations. Phase 1 of the study identified growing, declining, and plateaued churches. In phase 2, churches that met the criteria of revitalization were invited to participate in a survey related to their experiences. In phase 3, select churches that identified leadership development as a significant influence on their revitalization participated in interviews. The interviews examined how churches developed leaders and how this contributed to revitalization. The study identified key factors of how the revitalized churches transformed leadership development environment. The study also identified implications for pastors, churches, and seminaries. Finally, research applications are discussed for pastors and church wanting to experience revitalization
Just As I Was: The Presence of Sacramentalism in the Methods of Southern Baptist Revivalism
Get PDFDavid Robert Denis, Th.M.
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2019
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Gregg Allison
This paper will argue that Southern Baptists in the revivalist tradition have unknowingly adopted a sacramental understanding in many of their methods and practices. The two methods specifically addressed are the sinner’s prayer and the altar call. Chapter one will give an introduction to the subject as well as lay out the thesis and methodology.
Chapter two will look at two of the major figures in the development revivalism. The first, who many consider the father of revivalism, Charles Finney, and the second, Billy Graham.
Chapter three and four will mark a shift in the book as it will compare the ideas of sacramentalism in the Roman Catholic Church to the ordinances in Southern Baptist churches. For the section on Roman Catholicism, three major figures will be examined: Augustine, Lombard, and Aquinas. One will then see how the work of those three functions within the Roman Catholic Church today. Regarding the section on Southern Baptists’ ordinances, one will see the official doctrines laid out regarding the ordinances in the Baptist Faith and Message. However, these will be contrasted with the ways Baptists speak of two means in particular: the sinner’s prayer and the altar call. These means appear to take on a sacramental quality in the life of many Southern Baptists.
Finally, chapter five will look at how the use of the sinner’s prayer and the altar call leave the individual revisiting these events over-and-over again. This ultimately leads to a crisis of assurance within individuals. Chapter six will provide suggestions for how to move forward in an age where many have misconceptions about the sinner’s prayer and the altar call