96,409 research outputs found
Christ Absent and Present: A Study in Pauline Christology
No full textThe aim of this thesis is to contribute to the study of Pauline Christology by examining how Paul conceives of the exalted Christ. In particular it considers the exalted Christ through the lens of his absence and presence. The fact that the exalted Christ can be simultaneously present (e.g. Rom 8:10) and absent (e.g. Rom 8:34) points to the complexity in Paul’s conceptuality. The main argument of this thesis is that if the absence of Christ is carefully delineated then the seeming paradox concerning the presence and absence of Christ actually disappears.
Given that New Testament studies have generally not considered the exalted Christ through this lens, in chapter one we do not present a history of research but provide an entry point to our thesis by examining how two of the 20th Century’s most significant Pauline scholars, Albert Schweitzer and Ernst Käsemann, conceived of the exalted Christ. These two Pauline interpreters are particularly relevant given that they view the exalted Christ in such sharply distinct ways and so help orientate us to the theological issues that are crucial to understanding the nature of the exalted Christ.
In chapter two, we consider a number of texts where Paul expresses the reality of the absence of Christ from the world. We examine a number of passages which indicate that the absence of Christ is a bodily absence since, for Paul, the exalted Christ remains a human being with a discrete, located, human body. Because Christ retains a discrete and distinguishable human body, he is not universally located.
In chapters three and four we turn to investigate three of the most significant modes of the presence of Christ and, in particular, consider how these relate to his bodily absence. In chapter three we consider his epiphanic presence and his dynamic presence. The former is seen in an extended section in 2 Corinthians (2:14-4:12) where Paul repeatedly employs epiphanic language and imagery. The dynamic mode of Christ’s presence is seen in texts where Paul portrays Christ as the agent of his own presence.
Finally, in chapter four we consider the bodily presence of Christ. Here Paul employs the concept of the body to suggest Christ’s intense presence with his people whether individually, corporately or in the Lord’s Supper. This use of body imagery to express the presence of Christ would seem to call into question our suggestion that the absence of Christ might be understood in bodily terms. However, throughout this chapter we see that the bodily presence of Christ is a mediated presence and not an absolute, unqualified presence
The claim of humanity in Christ : salvation and sanctification in the theology of T.F. and J.B. Torrance
No full textThis thesis critically engages with the Torrances’ claim that all of humanity is in Christ. It explores how God has claimed humanity in salvation and the claim that He has placed upon humanity in sanctification. It argues that this claim upon humanity is not a cumbersome one, for God’s radically objective act of salvation is the basis for the subjective outworking of the Christian life. As we freely participate by the Spirit in the incarnate Son’s filial relationship with the Father, we grow into the ontological reality of who we are in Christ.
Part One critically examines how the salvation wrought for us by the triune God of grace is filial, ontological and objective. It challenges soteriologies that have an overarching federal or external framework which lead to people being thrown back upon their own subjective endeavours to gain salvation. Part Two extends the implications of the Torrances’ soteriology to the outworking of our sanctification. It roots sanctification objectively with
justification in Christ, challenging the belief that, having been justified by God, it is now our part to work out our own sanctification; Affirming humanity’s new eschatological orientation in the risen humanity of Christ, it argues for confidence in the nature of our humanity and in the outworking of sanctification. Thus it challenges external paradigms that can only offer a poor perspective on humanity and demand our own ineffectual efforts. It presents the outworking of sanctification in dynamic, relational terms, rather than static, moralistic terms, as the free gift of participating by the Spirit in the Son’s
intimate communion with the Father
The Christian ministry : case studies of preachers of the Churches of Christ in Bicol, Philippines
No full textThis thesis examines the challenges faced by the ministers of religion in Churches of Christ (Restoration Movement) in Bicol, Philippines. The goal is to do theology from below, not from above, as pastoral ministry must come from the experience of those who practice it, not from textbooks. The pastoral perspectives of the dilemmas that the ministers raise are heard, observed, documented, and then reflected upon. To do this, case studies of four preachers are used and the mga problema that they present are explored with them.
As a result, first, I introduce some of those challenges which are perplexing on the ground level and which appear to be under-researched in serious theological circles, especially in an Asian context. Second, I hope that these case studies can be used to stimulate reflection in ministerial and spiritual formation. Third, I document some of the theology and methodology of the Churches of Christ, particularly as practiced in the Philippines.
Chapter 1 explores the dichotomy between the perceived satisfaction in the pastoral ministry with the crisis of role and identity. In particular, issues such as forced exits and stress are presented while baptism and preaching are scrutinized. Chapter 2 centres on the conundrums experienced in planting a new church and being the lone planter. Chapter 3 examines three challenges–the task of ministering in a home congregation, the issue of accreditation in ministerial training, and how the minister can be a success and grow the church. Never far from the thoughts and actions of any of the Bicolano ministers is the problema of poverty, so Chapter 4 considers some of the Filipino, personal, and spiritual complexities of poverty, delineates a number of factors that need to be taken into consideration in any effort to overcome this malady and concludes with a particular reference to ministry
Harmony and discord within the English ‘counter-culture’, 1965-1975, with particular reference to the ‘rock operas’ Hair, Godspell, Tommy and Jesus Christ Superstar
No full textPhDThis thesis considers the discrete, historically-specific theatrical and musical sub-genre of ‘Rock Opera’ as a lens through which to examine the cultural, political and social changes that are widely assumed to have characterised ‘The Sixties’ in Britain. The musical and dramatic texts, creation and production of Hair (1967), Tommy (1969), Godspell (1971), Jesus Christ Superstar (1970) and other neglected ‘Rock Operas’ of the period are analysed. Their great popularity with ‘mainstream’ audiences is considered and contrasted with the overwhelmingly negative and often internally contradictory reaction towards them from the English ‘counter-culture’. This examination offers new insights into both the ‘counter-culture’ and the ‘mainstream’ against which it claimed to define and differentiate itself.
The four ‘Rock Operas’, two of which are based upon Christian scriptures, are considered as narratives of spiritual quest. The relationship between the often controversial quests for re-defined forms of faith and the apparently precipitous ‘secularization’ and ‘de-Christianization’ of British society during the 1960s and 1970s is considered.
The thesis therefore analyses the ‘Rock Operas’ as significant, enlightening prisms through which to view many of the profound societal debates – over ‘faith’ and ‘belief’ in the widest senses, sexuality, the Vietnam war, generational conflict, drugs and ‘spiritual enlightenment’, and race – which were, to some considerable extent, elevated onto the national, political agenda by the activities of the broadly-defined ‘counter-culture’. It considers subsequent representations of the ‘counter-culture’ as the root of a contested but enduring popular legacy of ‘The Sixties' as a period of profound cultural change
The doctrine of revelation in the theology of Thomas F. Torrance
No full textThis thesis is an exposition and close reading of Torrance's doctrine of revelation and of the theological epistemology that emerges from it. In Torrance's account personal knowledge of God is available only in his self revelation in Christ. However, it is shown that his understanding of the place of the Bible and nature in theology points to them both as places of divine self-revelation.
There is a gracing of all knowledge of God whether in Christ, Scripture or nature which means that God is always
sovereign of his self-revelation. In his engagement
with the writings of Einstein on scientific method Torrance finds a similar gracing of scientific knowledge.
Chapter one demonstrates the foundational place of revelation in Christ in Torrance's theology. From this self revelation Torrance arrives at his definition of scientific
method, namely the precedence of ontology over epistemology. The epistemological significance of the doctrine of justification by grace is applied to the place of the Bible in revelation (chapter two). Barth's reasons for rejecting natural theology are explored (chapter three). Chapters four and five demonstrate that the gracious aspect of knowledge of reality applies not only to theology but also to the natural sciences. The natural sciences are brought under a larger theological account of reality in which their inexplicable ability to uncover the reality of the universe is founded on the creative Word of God. Torrance is shown to have turned the natural sciences into natural theology but in a way that compromises neither the independence of the sciences from theology in their operation nor the sovereign and gracious aspect of all knowledge of God.
From Torrance's doctrine of revelation there emerges a critically realist epistemology which takes account of the subjective element in all human knowing, is non-dualist,
correlates with the epistemology which characterises
contemporary scientific practice and unifies a wide range of disciplines including the natural sciences, the social sciences and humanities including theology
Communion with Christ and Christian community in 1 Corinthians: a study of Paul's concept of Koinonia
No full textAlthough the concept of χοιυωυια occurs only twice in 1 Corinthians (1:9 and 10:16), each of these two occurrences appears to be highly significant not only for the context in each case but also generally with reference to the character of the Apostle's argumentation in this epistle. In the first passage, which has almost entirely been neglected so far in the many scholarly contributions to the subject of χοιυωυια, the term occurs in the summarizing climax of the letter-opening (1 Cor 1:1-9) which is remarkably packed with theological and christological statements and which is structured by a laudatory description of God's wonderful works in the Corinthians' lives in past (vvA-6) present (v.7a) and future (vv.7b-8). The basic message which Paul wants his addressees to comprehend right from the beginning and which - according to the epistolary I P function of these nine verses - reveals his approach to their many serious problems, culminates in the concept of χοιυωυια, in the salvific communion with Christ crucified, God's Son, their risen Lord, a communion into which they had been called once-for-alI and where God's faithfulness continually preserved them until the end. The other instance in 1 Cor 10:16 is not a Pauline formulation but a presumably catechetical tradition on the Lord's Supper which the Apostle quoted and employed as an argument in the course of his lengthy discussion of the problem of idol-meat (1 Cor 8:1-11:1). Because of the communion (χοιυωυια) with the body and blood of Christ, i.e. the inclusive involvement into Christ's death and resurrection as it is tangibly expressed in the celebration of the Eucharist, any other competing relationships and meal fellowships with idols are necessarily excluded. So, in both cases of χοιυωυια in 1 Corinthians the concept is not an ecclesiological term but rather emphasizes the communion with Christ as the constant constitutive condition of the Christians' individual and community life
Calvin United Church of Christ Confirmation Class, 2007
No full textA photograph of the 2007 confirmation class of Calvin United Church of Christ with Pastor Adrian Sunday.Class of 2007:"(back row) Patrick McCrae, Rev. Adrian F. Sunday, Derek Berg
(front row)" Brett Jordan, Sara Farka
Calvin United Church of Christ Confirmation Class, 1937
No full textA photograph of the 1937 confirmation class of Calvin United Church of Christ with Reverend F. Ujlaki.Bottom Row: ¥. Szabo, E. Kovaca, F. Koaoz, E. Kerekes, 3. Csehi,.2nd Row:R.Nyitray,
E. Nagy, 3. Jakcay, Rev. UJlaki, E. Fabian, R. Boda, E. Kozma. 3rd Row: I. Waryu,
E. Henea, L. Balaza, C. Bertok, E. Materni, V. Varga, A. Kerekes. Not in Picture:
Ida Izaak:, J. Izaak, F. Izaak:, J. Gall.
Calvin United Church of Christ Confirmation Class, 1929
No full textA photograph of the 1929 confirmation class of Calvin United Church of Christ with Reverend F. Ujlaki.N#-
Bottom Row - M. Tamaa, M. Meszaroa, I. Bertok, Rev. F. UJlaki, E. Tarczali,
H. Nemeth, V. Smiio 2nd Row - E. Papp, F. Vial, E. Szabo, I. Gyuricko, E. Farkss,
H. Mesteller, J. Szabo, M. Pecaenye, E. Kerteaz, M. Hunyor, Km. *abian, F. Fapp,
3rd Row - J. Kovacs, J. Kanocz, M. Szabo, H. Mihalko, S. Arvay, J. Galyos,
M. Beres, S. Novak, J. Materni 4th Row - F. Oroaz, E. Szabo, 3. Nagy, L.Komaromy,
J. Molnar. P. Jelenek. F. Kostvu. J. Kunec
The triumph of God in Christ : divine warfare in the argument of Ephesians
No full textIn this thesis I argue that the letter of Ephesians contains a coherent
argument and that this argument is animated by the ideology of divine warfare.
This ideological tool was utilized throughout the ancient world to assert and
defend the cosmic supremacy of national deities, and appears throughout the Old
Testament in texts that declare the exalted status of Yahweh over all other gods
and over the forces of chaos that threaten creation. This ideology is applied to
Ephesians with the result that what many regard as the central portion of the
letter-Ephesians 2--contains a complete cycle of this mythological pattern.
Here, within a context of praise and worship (1:1-19), the cosmic Lordship of
Christ is asserted (1:20-23) and the triumphs of God in Christ over the powers that
rule the present evil age are elaborated (2:1-22). God in Christ has triumphed over
the powers that hold humanity captive to death by raising believers to life and
seating them in the heavenlies with Christ. Further, Christ triumphs over the
powers and their divisive effects within humanity by creating a new unified
humanity that shares in the life of God in Christ by the Spirit. I then attempt to
demonstrate that reading Ephesians through this lens provides satisfying solutions
to a number of problems in subsequent sections of the letter. The
'autobiographical' remarks in Eph 3:2-13 are not intended as an apostolic defence,
but rather are an explanation of how Paul's imprisonment, which would appear to
be a devastating argument against the cosmic Lordship of Christ, actually serves
to epitomize and reinforce that exalted status. I also argue that the difficult
quotation of Psalm 68 in Eph 4:8 finds a satisfying solution through the
application of divine warfare ideology. Finally, I argue that this reading
demonstrates that the two halves of Ephesians are integrally related-that the
exhortatory portion is a call to the New Humanity to engage in divine warfare
against the evil powers, embodying the triumph of God in Christ in their corporate
life
- …
