Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / (M.Th Practical Theology))

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This dissertation seeks to answer the following question: If ancient Jewish and Christian Two Ways texts have a common literary structure and reoccurring apocalyptic dualisms, how and why does the Didache neglect to frame the Two Ways with an apocalyptic worldview? The thesis argued that the Didache’s Two Ways coheres with an ancient apocalyptic Two Ways genre, yet the Didachist does not incorporate the apocalyptic features, dualistic connotations, and the two spirits scheme to maintain a purely ethical version of the Two Ways. Chapter 1 summarizes the history of scholarship and generational Didache studies as they have inquired about the apocalyptic undercurrents of the Didache’s Two Ways. Chapter 2 examines historical scholarship and reception of John J. Collins’s work on apocalypticism and joins this work to the study of the Two Ways. Lists of texts, a typology of salient apocalyptic features, and summaries of the ancient Two Ways reveal the undercurrents of an apocalyptic worldview beyond a two angels scheme. Chapter 3 offers a close critical reading of ancient Two Ways texts that are often compared with the Didache’s Two Ways. The argument focuses upon the apocalyptic features of the Treatise of the Two Spirits (1QS III, 13–IV, 26); Testament of Asher; Galatians 5:16–24; Barn. 18.1–21.1; De Doctrina; and Herm. Mand. 6.1–2 (35–36). Chapter 4 builds upon the work of Nancy Pardee’s delimitation of the Didache and argues for the Didache’s Two Ways to comprise of material in Did. 1.1–6.2. Textual cohesion, discourse boundaries, and comparison with other ancient Two Ways reveals that Did. 1.1–6.2 is uniquely structured and assimilates unique material into the Two Ways literary frame. Chapters 5 and 6 collectively argue that the Didache’s Two Ways lack an apocalyptic worldview that is often associated with a Two Ways genre. Assessing the literary frame and selected readings within the Didache’s Two Ways, I demonstrate how the Didache does not include common apocalyptic undercurrents of an ancient Two Ways genre.

Mankind’s scientific, technological, artistic, and intellectual capacities are complemented by an impressive list of physical achievements; nevertheless, it is the remarkable inner abilities that testify to the human being as God’s crowning creation. The single most distinctive aspect of Adam’s creation is that he was created in the image of God and his nature bears that image. But what exactly is the image of God in man? The image of God consists of the spiritual part of a human that reflects the character of God and is the only firm basis for advocating human dignity and the gracious redemption of sinners. Although modern scholarship, particularly Old Testament scholarship, have argued for man’s function through his physical body as the meaning of or forming an integral part of the image of God, the view that God’s image is found in the spiritual aspect of the human being is more faithful to the biblical text. This dissertation argues for the spiritual interpretation of God’s image by providing a historical-grammatical reading of the relevant texts and a proper theological understanding of the image and likeness of God. The first chapter provides the history of interpretation by describing the important personalities and their methods, and explaining the evolution of the topic that has lead to the modern departures from the traditional view. The second chapter discusses the data that supports the thesis by analyzing selected issues in current scholarship that leads to a physical and functional view of the image of God and why I disagree with their conclusions. The third chapter provides a historical-grammatical reading of selected texts that demonstrate the reasonableness of a spiritual interpretation of the image of God, and why it should be defended. The fourth chapter examines the counter claims to the thesis and presents a defense to the findings of this study. The fifth chapter briefly summarizes the most important findings and provides a conclusion.

From Preface: The problem of authority in religion can be stated as follows: what is the finally authoritative source and judge of religious truth? This was the fundamental question which Jesus Himself raised when He came to the Jews. It was the fundamental problem of the Reformation. It is also the fundamental problem that confronts the Church in our time. But it has never ceased to be the perennial question underlying all religious and philosophical thought.

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This study explores how successful Alvin Plantinga is in his contention that belief in God can be obtained and maintained in a basic way that attains and retains rationality for reflective persons. Plantinga indeed calls into question any confident presumption that theistic belief is epistemically irresponsible. He not only seriously challenges the necessity for propositional evidence to be available for such belief to be justified, he also supplies significant support for the conclusion that it remains legitimate even if it faces a preponderance of contrary considerations. However, Plantinga does not convincingly demonstrate that basic theistic belief merits privileged status by virtue of a character sufficiently analogous to paradigmatic perceptual, memory and ascriptive beliefs. Nor does he adequately argue its independence from the bearing of evidentialist concerns, especially regarding its background moorings. He needs to do more work to show the full warrant for theistic belief.

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Lam Tsz Shun, Jason. / Thesis (M.Div.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 72-75). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Agenda Illustrated as in Revelation as History --- p.4 / The Problem Perceived by Pannenberg --- p.5 / Solution Offered as Dogmatic Theses --- p.9 / A Preliminary Analysis --- p.14 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- History and Hermeneutics --- p.16 / Pannenberg's Historical Method --- p.16 / Pannenberg's Hermeneutical Method --- p.20 / Synthesis of the Results of the Historical and Hermeneutical Methods --- p.23 / Different Aspects Reconsidered --- p.25 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Toward a Theology of the History of Religions --- p.30 / The Problem Perceived by Pannenberg --- p.30 / The Solution Proposed by Pannenberg --- p.31 / An Assessment --- p.36 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Theology as a Science of Religion --- p.40 / The Scientific Status of Theology as a Question --- p.41 / Theology as a Science of God --- p.43 / Old Problem in New Formulation --- p.47 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- A Systematic Gestalt --- p.51 / The Quest of Truth as the Task of Systematic Theology --- p.52 / The Reality of God and the Experience of Religions --- p.55 / The Revelation of God as Witnessed by Christianity --- p.58 / An Appraisal --- p.60 / Chapter Chapter 7 --- Conclusion --- p.66 / References