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Light From the Sanctuary
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Here is the Study Guide for the week ending May 25, 2024.
This week’s discussion on our YouTube channe
Standing for the Truth
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Here is the Study Guide for the week ending April 27, 2024.
This week’s discussion on our YouTube channe
Focus, 2024, Summer
Get PDFFOCUS (ISSN 1077-9345) is published quarterly, free of charge, for alumni and friends of Andrews University, an institution owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/focus/1107/thumbnail.jp
Evil, Ontology, and Scripture: A Diachronic Analysis of Augustine of Hippo\u27s Privatio Boni Concept
Get PDFAugustine of Hippo’s Privatio Boni concept—the idea that evil is not a substance, but the privation of good in a substance—is the most influential early systematic theodical attempt within Christianity to exculpate a good God from responsibility for evil. By approaching Privatio Boni as the intricate interplay of Augustine’s views on evil, ontology, and Scripture, this dissertation aims to clarify misunderstandings surrounding the concept and determine if there is biblical warrant for it. Chapter 1 addresses issues of background, problem, purpose, and justification before introducing a delimited three-staged methodology of establishing context, engaging in diachronic analysis, and conducting a comparative study.
Chapter 1 also establishes a historical-contextual benchmark by analyzing Augustine’s autobiographical Confessions to reveal the basic contours of Privatio Boni with its chronological and logical order of Ontology—Evil—Scripture. Proceeding diachronically, Chapters 2, 3, and 4 examine the evolution of Augustine’s privative understanding of evil relative to that benchmark by thoroughly mining the entire extant corpus of his works, sermons, and letters for relevant data throughout six periods of historical and theological development. More specifically, Chapter 2 investigates his time as a freshly converted Christian lay person, Chapter 3 as a newly ordained priest and bishop, and Chapter 4 as an established and influential leader in the Catholic Church. This extensive diachronic analysis demonstrates that Augustine bolstered his extrabiblically- originated ideas with three biblical proof-texts in support of privative ponerology (Genesis 1:2-4, Genesis 1:31, and Isaiah 45:7), one text in support of timeless divine ontology (Exodus 3:14), and one text in support of ecclesiastically-mediated epistemology (Isaiah 7:9).
In order to ascertain the probability of biblical warrant for Privatio Boni based on Augustine’s interpretation of these Bible texts, Chapter 5 compares his interpretation with a sampling of interpretations by more recent scholars who utilize historical-textual hermeneutical methods. Chapter 6 summarizes the findings of the dissertation, draws conclusions and makes recommendations for further study
Ecclesiological Meaning in Jesus’ Sabbath Healings
Get PDFThe earthly life and ministry of Jesus Christ was the full incarnation of his divine identity and mission. However, certain events and situations became windows that allowed his relationship with his Father and his divine mission to be revealed with clarity to those around him. In particular, Jesus saw in the Sabbath a unique and regular opportunity to reveal both his identity and his mission. Likewise, his opponents understood, with almost surprising accuracy and clarity, what he was communicating about himself from his religiously non-conforming actions on Sabbath. However, this was not just a minor ethical scuffle between a well-studied Jesus and some slightly ignorant teachers of the law. Jesus was contending against forces that were actively misrepresenting God. In short, the healing ministry that the Gospels record Jesus performing on Sabbath sheds much light on both Christology and missiology and is a conscious effort to dispel the darkness that had accumulated with regards to the character and work of God.
If it is true, though, that our Christology should inform our missiology and ecclesiology, then the question arises as to whether there is any ecclesiological meaning in Jesus’ Sabbath miracles that would guide our vision and realization of a biblically true and culturally relevant ecclesiology in the 21st century. Since the church is now the body of Jesus, which is spiritually animated by the one and same Holy Spirit to carry out even greater works of the same fundamental nature, it would be natural to assume that Jesus’ Sabbath healings provide ecclesiological precedents for us today in an embryonic form
Is There a Future for the Missiological Study of Worldview? Part 1
Get PDFThis two-part article aims to assess the missiological worldview theory critically while pointing to implications for mission studies. It argues that the concept needs serious development to be useful for research in contemporary society. The social shifts experienced in the last decades and a lack of robust missiological critical engagement have made the model theoretically unreliable as an analytical tool. This first paper introduces the genealogy of missiological worldview theory to expose its theoretical underpinnings and identifies a departure between anthropology and missiology regarding the concept. The first task in the ensuing discussion is to unearth the theoretical foundations of the concept
Andrews University Singers and Chorale - Fall Concert
No full textThe Andrews University Singers and Chorale present A Vision Unfolding, a Fall concert under the direction of Professor Stephen Zork.https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/posters-2024-2025/1024/thumbnail.jp
The Effect of DHA on Myo-Inositol Levels in Lymphoblasts Derived from Patients with Bipolar Disorder
No full textBipolar disorder is a mood disorder that is characterized by recurring episodes of mania and depression. Bipolar I disorder is accompanied by severe episodes of mania and depression, while bipolar II disorder is characterized by a milder form of mania. It has been hypothesized that currently approved treatments for this disorder, lithium and valproic acid, exert their therapeutic effect by decreasing myo-inositol levels intracellularly. However, these treatments may lead to undesired side effects, creating a need for safer treatments. Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats that have been shown to be effective in relieving symptoms of bipolar disorder.
To investigate the effect of an omega-3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), on intracellular myo-inositol levels, lymphoblasts derived from patients with bipolar I, bipolar II, and lymphoblasts derived from persons without a mental health condition were grown in the presence of DHA, Intracellular myo-inositol levels were measured in the cell extracts with an inositol assay, and those concentrations were normalized by total protein. A two-way ANOVA was performed on the three trials to determine the significance of the independent interaction between cell lines and treatments and the interaction between them. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in the myo-inositol levels across treatment groups or cell lines
Interactive Activities for Hyflex Courses
No full textA hyflex (Nilson & Goodson, 2021) or a hybrid blended course (Bartlett, 2022) has been defined as synchronously teaching both online and in-person students. Although this modality has been controversial in its benefits, mainly because of the complexity of reaching out to students both in person and online (Bartlett, 2022), some students have expressed satisfaction with the modality because of its flexibility and adaptability (Rhoads, 2020). This presentation would offer tips and ideas on how to create interactive activities that would cultivate a close-knit class community despite the space and medium constraints. Although many examples are drawn from teaching ESL adult courses, the teaching strategies presented can be applied to a multitude of subjects