Asbury Theological Seminary

https://place.asburyseminary.edu/syllabi/4496/thumbnail.jp

Arnold, Bill

Advanced Exegetical Studies of 1-2 Samuel

https://place.asburyseminary.edu/syllabi/4523/thumbnail.jp

Watson, Kevin

Basic Christian Doctrine

Haynes, Rhonda

Book Review: A New and Ancient Evangelism: Rediscovering the Ways God Calls and Sends by Judith Paulsen

Danielson, Robert A.

The Asbury Journal 80/1: 6-10
© 2025 Asbury Theological Seminary
DOI: 10.7252/Journal.01.2025S.01
From the Editor
 
         
This issue of The Asbury Journal is dedicated to the memory of 
Hram Hu Lian (May 22, 1982 – June 2, 2024). Hu Lian was a Ph.D. student 
at Asbury Theological Seminary in the area of Biblical Studies with a 
concentration in the New Testament. He was from the country of Myanmar 
and also worked in the Archives and Special Collections of the B.L. Fisher 
Library. I knew Hu Lian from his work in the archives, but also as a student. 
When he was almost finished with his coursework, he needed one more 
class during the summer, and so he arranged to do an independent study 
with me on the Anthropology of Food and Buddhism in Myanmar. He was 
hoping to make this a key part of his Ph.D. dissertation. Part of his work 
for that study was to produce a publishable article. I told him at the time 
that I would like to publish it in The Asbury Journal, but it needed a little 
editing work. Sadly, he never had time to do that work, and so I have done 
some basic editing and his paper is in this issue of The Journal, both in 
English and translated into Burmese, the principal language of Myanmar, by 
a friend and classmate, David Lian. (Special thanks to David for this work in 
honor of Hu Lian.) I feel this article can help perpetuate some of what Hu 
Lian was trying to accomplish with his Ph.D. work, and I pray that his work 
will continue to strengthen the work of the Church in Myanmar.
Perhaps more than this paper though, I remember our weekly 
meetings when Hu Lian was so worried about the state of his country, 
Myanmar, which was involved in civil unrest, and the safety of his wife and 
children. He was working hard to get them out of the country, and so we 
often prayed for their well-being in those meetings. I remember the joy in 
his face when I saw him in the parking lot after the class and he introduced 
me to his wife and children, after they had arrived safely. It was a wonderful 
answer to our prayers.
I also remember Hu Lian’s work in the archives, where he had 
become the person who knew how to do everything. He was the expert 
when you needed something. Often, many of the images you see in the 
“From the Archives” essay for the past few years, were scanned by Hu Lian. 
From the editor   7
When he became unexpectedly ill and was hospitalized, the entire archives 
had to figure out how to do many things which had always fallen to Hu 
Lian. We still grieve his loss as a co-worker and as a friend. Our prayers and 
thoughts continue to go out to his family, and especially his children who 
he deeply loved and cared about. 
In Memory of Hram Hu Lian
(May 22, 1982 – June 2, 2024)
It is somehow suitable, given Hu Lian’s work in the archives, 
that we start this issue of The Journal announcing some important new 
gifts to the Archives and Special Collections, including a signed letter of 
John Wesley’s and a possible letter of Samuel Wesley, along with other 
Wesleyana. This is followed by Hram Hu Lian’s paper in English, followed 
by the same paper translated into Burmese. In this paper, he is seeking to 
relate Paul’s advice on eating meat offered to idols with the real practical 
theology of Christians in Myanmar who often interact with their Buddhist 
neighbors, and these interactions often involve issues of eating together at 
8    The Asbury Journal    80/1 (2025)
           
         
social events, many of which have religious connotations. Hram Hu Lian is 
aiming to find biblical support to encourage increased interactions between 
Christians and Buddhists, while also remaining true to scripture. 
Nicholas Railton presents the next article which examines the 
history of Freemasonry within Methodist circles in the 18th century. While 
some groups, like the Free Methodists rejected ties to secret societies, the 
Methodist Episcopal Church appears to have embraced these connections. 
Railton raises the types of concerns these connections caused, and in a 
well-documented article seeks to increase research interest in this topic. 
Walter Stephanenko uses the debates between Wesley and 
Calvinist opponents to examine how Wesley’s view of theory and practice 
worked together in terms of his theology. He is less concerned with the 
traditional theological arguments and more interested in the process which 
Wesley used to both address theological and practical concerns among the 
Methodists.
Rabbi David Zucker joins The Asbury Journal again in this issue 
with a fascinating examination of Jewish rabbinic sources regarding the 
death of Abraham and Moses. While only briefly touched on in scripture, 
understanding the Jewish sources on this topic better helps us understand 
Jewish views about death in historic times. These rabbinic stories have 
many similarities as Abraham and Moses both seek to avoid death, and 
even refuse to go with God’s angels who are sent to bring them to heaven. 
This look into the topic can help Christians seeking to understand possible 
early Jewish influences on Christian views of death as well.
The story of Irene Blyden Taylor is told by Robert A. Danielson 
in the next article. This little-known story of an early African-American 
Holiness missionary to the Caribbean is insightful in understanding key 
missiological principles. Irene worked on the island of Nevis, and due 
to her work no foreign missionary was ever needed to live on the island. 
Her work demonstrates the complexity of early Holiness missions in the 
English-speaking Caribbean, but also shows how God laid the foundation 
for the Wesleyan Church in the islands through the work of ordinary people 
who did extraordinary things.
Nicholas M. Railton presents a second article on the views of 
Charles Wesley of the Jewish people of his day. In particular, he analyzes 
the anti-Jewish protests of 1753 (triggered by a law to allow citizenship 
for Jews in England), and a political cartoon from the time which seems 
to suggest Charles Wesley’s agreement with these sentiments. However, as 
From the editor   9
Railton points out, the influence of Samuel Wesley and Charles’ own work 
suggests that their theology toward the Jewish people was not against the 
Jews, but rather saw the restoration of the Jewish people to the Holy Land as 
part of the eschatological views of scripture, and therefore Railton suggests 
that while some Methodists clearly held anti-Semitic views, it is unlikely 
that these views were held by Charles or Samuel Wesley. Railton is also 
encouraging modern Methodists, in Britain especially, to be more reflective 
on their modern views toward Israel in light of the historical theology of 
the Wesleys.
In the From the Archives essay for this issue, I examine the 
development and use of tracts and their importance for understanding lay 
theology, especially from the 1920s through the 1970s. This in an area rich 
for potential research which provides insight into the concerns of ordinary 
Christians and their spiritual needs. Finally, Dwight D. Swanson presents a 
special book essay focused on dealing with issues raised in Thomas Oord’s 
book, The Death of Omnipotence and Birth of Amipotence. Swanson 
presents strong evidence countering some of the principle themes taken 
by Oord, particularly in regard to confusing etymology with meaning 
and translation with interpretation. The use of El Shaddai in Genesis and 
Job is especially important in Oord’s view for understanding concepts on 
the omnipotence of God. Swanson argues that Oord’s conclusions lack 
appropriate scholarly support.
In many ways, this issue of The Asbury Journal is about speaking 
from the margins. Whether it be from the Church in distant Myanmar and 
the island of Nevis in the Caribbean, to Methodists opposed to Freemasonry, 
to Jewish views of scripture and Methodist views of Jews, it is always 
important to hear points of view from the margins and not just the centers 
of the Christian world. Even the article on Calvinism is speaking from the 
academic margins of the philosophy of religion instead of the theological 
center. The issue of tracts also forces us to examine issues of concern to 
ordinary Christians, which are often sidelined in academic circles.
The margins are an important place in scripture and in the Jewish 
and Christian traditions. The Jewish people themselves were on the margins 
of the empires of the ancient world. God chose a people who were slaves in 
Egypt, definitely a marginalized people, to form a new nation. The prophets 
frequently supported the people on the margins. Jesus cared for those on 
the margins in his day, whether they be despised tax collectors, or lepers, 
10    The Asbury Journal    80/1 (2025)
or sinners rejected by the local religious elite. In his description of the 
final judgement in Matthew 25, Jesus points out that actions done for “the 
least of these,” those who were hungry or thirsty, strangers, naked, sick, or 
in prison, would be actions done to Christ himself. Being true Christians 
means being able to hear and respond to the voices of the poor, the 
immigrant, the excluded or rejected of society, and bring them the Good 
News that God loves and cares for them, just as much as for the people at 
the center. Christian theology and practice must always include the people 
on the margins. As Jesus quoted from Isaiah in announcing his message in 
Luke 4:18-19 (ISV),
“The spirit of the Lord is upon me;
He has anointed me to tell
the good news to the poor.
He has sent me to announce release to the prisoners
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set oppressed people free,
and to announce the year of the Lord’s favor.”
This continues to be our message, even as academics and theologians. 
We must never become so captured by the center of power that we forget 
we are sent to the margins, and I pray our academic work as well as our 
practical ministry will never fail to remember this essential truth.
           Robert Danielson Ph.D.


English

From the Editor

Morris, Dolores G.

J.L. Schellenberg, WHAT GOD WOULD HAVE KNOWN: HOW HUMAN INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL DEVELOPMENT UNDERMINES CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE

https://place.asburyseminary.edu/ecommonsatschapelservices/8637/thumbnail.jp

Watson, David F.

Christ, the true vine (Video)

https://place.asburyseminary.edu/ecommonsatsdissertations/2742/thumbnail.jp

Paroschi, Keldie

Undetermined

False witnesses of God? : the legal framework of the apostolic testimony to the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:1-19

Volume 10 Issue 6 (Feb 1912)

Volume 10 Issue 9 (May 1912)

Volume 10 Issue 10 (June 1912)