No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

<p>The present study explores the relevance of ethnic boundary maintenance for the development of Diaspora synagogues in the Graeco-Roman world. By investigating the possible relationship between ethnicity and synagogue development, the synagogue will be analyzed as a communal and ‘religious’ institution that contributed to the maintenance of a specific ethnic identity within a Diaspora context that challenged its very survival and existence. The main goal of the present study is to provide a new perspective of development and maintenance for Diaspora synagogues that eschews the idea of a dichotomous relationship between these synagogues and the Jerusalem Temple. Instead, a socio-historical approach will be presented that focuses on Jewish communities as a distinctive ethnic group that existed alongside other similar groups in the Graeco-Roman world and sought to maintain their collective ethnic identity. The synagogue served as a key driving force within this process of maintenance.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

<p>This study will critically evaluate the dominant framework through which the Johannine <em>aposynagōgos</em> passages (John 9:22, 12:42, 16:2) are read. This dominant framework, which understands these passages as allegorically encoding the history of a putative Johannine community some forty to fifty years after Jesus’ lifetime, will be judged exegetically and historically implausible. An alternative reading of the passages will be developed, grounded in a philosophy of history derived from the critical realist epistemology developed by Bernard Lonergan and introduced into New Testament studies by Ben F. Meyer. It will be argued that these passages are historically plausible and that the Gospel author intended factuality and was plausibly knowledgeable on the matter. Consequently, it will be argued that a positive judgment of historicity can be assigned to these passages.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

<p>This thesis proposes a new reading of Romans 9:1–18. The history of biblical interpretation of the passage is explored with the purpose of mapping out the diversity of interpretations and noting points of agreement between these interpretations and that which is proposed. The main objective is the proposed reading of Rom 9:1–18. It is argued that when full weight is given to Rom 9:1–5 as Paul's fleshly desire, what follows in 9:6–18 is correctly understood as Paul's appropriation of Israel's Scripture to address his own desire and grief. This brings to the fore a recurrent theme in the pentateuchal passages that Paul evokes: the conflicting desire of significant figures in Israel's history – Abraham, Isaac, and Moses – with God's will. As Paul applies Scripture to his own situation, Paul's desire for the salvation of his fellow Israelites based on ethnic descent conflicts with God's will to harden Israel and call Gentiles. But in the end Paul's desire for Israel's salvation is granted (11:26).</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

<p>The writings of Martin Buber have had an impact in many areas. Theology, philosophy, educational theory, psychotherapy and biblical studies have each culled insights from his wide-ranging works. While Buber's interests have been diverse, however, a major part of his efforts has been expended in explicating, exegeting, translating and philosophizing about the Hebrew Bible. This thesis describes and analyzes Buber as an interpreter of the Hebrew Bible. It is not a sustained critique of his theology and philosophy and their effect on biblical interpretation, but rather a discussion of his use of theological and philosophical concepts in interpretation and the problems arising therein. Buber has often been understood as being antinomian in respect to the biblical tradition and the concepts of Judaism which grew out of that tradition. This thesis focuses upon and calls attention to the traditional elements as they appear within the methodology and content of Buber's interpretations, especially in regard to prophecy, the election, nationhood and land of Israel, and kingship and messianism. In so doing, it evidences a perception of Buber as a traditional Jewish thinker. Buber as biblical interpreter is set against Maimonides and Nahmanides as a means of ascertaining the traditional components. The antinomian aspects and their implications are also analyzed. The thesis demonstrates the strong presence of traditional elements in Buber's biblical interpretations, elements, however, which are often distorted because of Buber's rejection of the rabbinic tradition. The thesis concludes that the antinomian aspects are not overcome by the traditional components, and so remain effective in Buber's writings.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)