Masters Theses
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Browsing Masters Theses by Subject "B - Old Testament"
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- PublicationAbraham, Israel and the Nations: The Implications of Abraham’s Blessing for the Nations(2016) Suokhrie, KesolenuoThe Biblical idea of election presents moral and theological difficulties that have resonated through history, particularly in the relationship between Judaism and Christianity. Out of such theology rises the question of how a fair God can “elect” one group of people to the exclusion of the rest. This research seeks to deal with this question of election focusing on the story of Abraham in Genesis. Adopting a canonical approach that interprets the Abraham story as a whole, rather than as a collection of separate theological perspectives, this thesis argues that the election of Abraham and later Israel is not so much about God favoring one group of people over others, but rather, that there is a universal dimension to this story even if there is room to debate the implications of this universalism. Gen 12: 1-3 in particular addresses this issue in asserting that Abraham’s blessing has significance that extends beyond the chosen people to “all the families of the earth.” This idea is later alluded to in Genesis 17 where the Abrahamic covenant is described to have a wider scope that encompasses others than the covenant community. Even Genesis 15, which describes the fate of the Canaanites does not contradict the universal implication of Abraham’s blessing as it directly deals with the issue of justice for the Canaanites. Hence, the Abrahamic tradition does not endorse any election idea that serves the benefit of some people on the exclusion of the rest. Rather, behind the story of the divine choosing of a particular group of people lies a greater divine purpose that seeks to bless “all the families of the earth.”
- PublicationCommandment and Law: The Adamic Analogy in Romans 7:7-25(2010) Wright, MartinThis dissertation attempts a reading of Romans 7:7-25 with reference to its intertextual echoes of Genesis 2-3. The exegesis is undertaken in the context of a reflection on Romans’ pragmatic purpose, in the hope that the function of this passage (both literary and historical) might be illuminated by attention to Paul’s interpretation of Genesis. It is argued that the echoes of Eden in ch. 7 complement those of Sinai, are consistent with the Adamic typology of Romans 5 and the role of “the law” throughout the letter, and contribute to Paul’s redemptive reading of scripture in which Christ as the new Adam regains what has been lost.
- PublicationDivine Anger and Walter Brueggemann's Biblical Theology(2013-05-02) Peck, AlbertThis study is an attempt to understand the biblical theology of divine anger via an engagement with the writings of Walter Brueggemann. Brueggemann’s approach to divine anger is studied and tested through exegetical explorations of selected passages in the Old Testament, weighing Brueggemann’s comments in light of other contributions in the field. The implications of Brueggemann’s theology of divine anger are significant, it is argued, in that students of biblical theology (whether inside or outside the church) are challenged not to present a reductionist view of the anger of God. While the biblical ideas of divine anger are confronting, they also propel us beyond merely contractual and punitive ideas of God’s journey with Israel.
- PublicationFrom Creation to Canaan: Biblical Hermeneutics for the Anthropocene(2021) Pope, MichaelThe Anthropocene presents humanity with unprecedented change. This thesis seeks to develop ethical principles from Gen 1–11 and Lev 17–26 by asking what was Israel’s responsibility for the land, and how was this shaped by their understanding of divine sovereignty, and the land itself?
- PublicationPaul and Timothy: Developing a Leader(2010) Roberts, GrahamThe story of the church reveals that the apostles and Paul provided the first generation of leadership. Where did the second generation come from? The relationship between Paul and Timothy exemplifies the passing on of the baton to the second generation. Selected by Paul, Timothy shared in ministry over many years, and had the opportunity to learn the teachings of the faith and share in the responsibilities of ministry and leadership. Their relationship offers an example of the development of a leader in the early church as seen from the differing perspectives of Paul, Acts and the Pastoral letters. By exploring these perspectives on their shared ministry: the way the relationship was expressed by Paul, the activities that Timothy engaged in, and how the early church understood the relationship; the nature and growth of Timothy’s leadership is evaluated and described in terms of some current models of leadership.
- PublicationThe חסד of God: A Study of the Word חסד in Books III and IV of the Hebrew Psalter(2014-06) Nguyen, Minh TienThis thesis investigates the theological understanding of the word חסד in psalms of Books III and IV of the Hebrew Psalter. It attempts to answer the question of God’s חסד, first, within the context of the covenant that God initiates with David and his dynasty in Psalm 89, the landmark between Book III and Book IV, then in other psalms of the two Books. The research concludes that review and analysis of the expression of חסד in Psalms of Books III and IV provides a multi-dimensional understanding of the confidence of the Israelites in God and God’s חסד. The study also shows the dynamic character of the meaning of חסד, and the different shades of meaning the word has, according to its context within the Psalter.
- PublicationYHWH's absence or hostility as two main motifs of suffering and protest in lament psalms: A Theo-dramatic appraoch(2012-05-03) Lucaci, BujorelThis thesis seeks to develop a new method of interpretation for lament psalms and to apply it to Psalms 13, 22, 44, 88. The new method is called Theo-dramatic approach. This method recognizes lament psalms as dialogical prayers, (multivoicing) which describe the drama of suffering experienced by the psalmists. The Theo-dramatic approach is an imaginative method of interpretation. The most important elements are: the script, the theatre and the performance. The actors are: God, the supplicant, the enemy, the community. Script: lament Psalms: 13, 22, 44, and 88, were chosen because they demonstrate much of the vocabulary of the absence or hostility of God. Theatre: the public space provided by the covenant relationship between God and pray-er. Performance: the dramatized grief and pain of the psalmist, caused by the hostility or absence of God.