Thesis (M. Div.)--Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 145-155) and index.

Thesis (Th. M.)--Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, 1996. / Typescript. Bibliography: leaves 115-123.

Thesis (M.A.B.S.)--Multnomah Graduate School of Ministry, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 64-72).

The purpose of this study is to trace out the theme of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit throughout the Old Testament promises and the New Testament fulfillment. It is argued that the possession ofthe prophetic Spirit is one ofthe important identity markers of the early Christian church. The first chapter deals with the role of the Spirit in Second Temple Judaism. Jewish texts preceding and subsequent to the New Testament are used to piece together the Jewish understanding of the Spirit in the Second Temple period. This chapter deals primarily with the theory of the cessation of the Spirit in Second Temple Judaism. It is the argument of this chapter that the Second Temple view was that the Spirit continued to be active but that the Spirit's prophetic role was transformed after the last biblical prophet. The second chapter deals with the outpouring of the Spirit in the prophecies of lsaiah and Ezekiel. More important than Isaiah and Ezekier s original intent is how these prophecies were understood in Second Temple Judaism. It is argued that the Jewish exile was understood as continuing in a spiritual sense beyond the return to Palestine. As a result. Isaiah and Ezekiers prophecies which were originally linked to their own historical situations were given an expanded theological context. Isaiah and Ezekiers prophecies are arranged according to the following themes: 1) the Spirit and the Messiah. 2) the Spirit and eschatology. 3) the prophetic Spirit. 4) the pouring out of the Spirit upon the people, 5) the Spirit and obedience. 6) the Spirit of redemption. and 7) the Spirit of justice and reconciliation. The third chapter is an exegesis ofthe best known prophecy ofthe outpouring ofthe Spirit: Joel 2:28-32. Joel's prophecy is studied in its original historical context as well as how it was interpreted in Second Temple Judaism. The prophecy of Joel presents an eschatological outpouring ofthe Spirit upon "all flesh." Joel develops the definition of"all flesh" by specifying that all gender, age and social barriers are removed. Joel continues his prophecy by speaking ofthe judgement ofthe nations on the Day ofthe Lord. The fourth chapter is a study of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the synoptic Gospels. the Gospel of John and the Pauline epistles. It is demonstrated that the synoptic Gospels see the coming of the Spirit primarily in terms of Jesus' possession of the Spirit, although there is a promise that Jesus would baptize people with the Holy Spirit. John's understanding of the pouring out of the Spirit is that the Spirit would be given after Jesus' death and that the Spirit would function in the role of the "Paraclete." Paul saw the possession ofthe Spirit as being vital for the church's unity. The final chapter deals with the outpouring of the Spirit in Luke-Acts. While the Gospel of Luke focuses primarily on Jesus' possession of the Spirit. there are hints of the future inclusive possession of the Spirit. The fulfillment ofJoel's prophecy that "all flesh" would receive the Spirit is fulfilled at Pentecost. The church struggles with the inclusivity of the Gospel. and it is only after similar Spirit outpourings that various fringe groups are accepted into fellowship. The conclusion ofthis study is that the Spirit was an important identity marker for the early church. Possession of the Spirit broke dov.n many societal distinctions and created unity among believers. Although possession ofthe Spirit was not the only identity marker, it was an important theme for the early church. / Thesis / Master of Theology (Th.M)

ABSTRACT THE PEOPLE OF GOD: TOWARD AN EVANGELICAL ECCLESIOLOGY Juan Ramon Sanchez, Jr., Ph.D. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2015 Chair: Dr. Gregg R. Allison This dissertation argues that in a day of ecclesiological confusion among evangelicals over who belongs to the church and what the mission of the church is, the biblical concept of the image of God interpreted in its textual, redemptive-historical, and canonical contexts reveals a common pattern for the people of God that serves as an interpretive key to understanding the identity, nature, and mission of the church. Chapter 1 recounts much of the confusion over the doctrine of the church within evangelicalism and exposes the need for such a proposal. Chapter 2 proposes that the creation of man as God’s image reveals God’s purpose to create (1) a people with whom he will relate in a father/son relationship (sonship) under his rule and care (covenant), (2) a people who will dwell in his presence to serve him as priests (priesthood) and (3) a people who will represent his sovereign rule on the earth (kingship) by exercising dominion over creation by extending the borders of the sacred space and reproducing the divine image through godly offspring until the entire earth is filled with the glory of God (mission). Thus, it establishes the foundation for the thesis that the concept of the image of God communicates sonship, kingship, and priesthood within a covenant relationship in which God’s people serve as God’s instruments by which he establishes his kingdom on the earth. Chapter 3 shows how the pattern for the people of God established in the garden continues in Abraham and Israel. It also shows that king David is a prototypical image bearer who points to a future messianic Adam who will ultimately establish God’s kingdom on the earth. While Israel failed to keep covenant and image God faithfully, judgment is not the final word. Instead, the biblical storyline looks forward to a new covenant yet to be established by a faithful Davidic messiah. Chapter 4, then, investigates the new covenant passages in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel by utilizing Isaiah 54-56 as a structure for understanding what the new covenant entails. Chapter 5 addresses the New Testament data related to Jesus as the last Adam. The chapter shows that Jesus is the Son of God from David’s line who came to restore Israel on the basis of a new covenant. This messianic mission reveals that Jesus is the true and faithful image of God who inaugurates the kingdom of God on the earth and begins populating it with the divine image by gathering a people through the gospel. Chapter 6 shows that the pattern of the people of God established in Genesis 1 and 2 is also found in the church: sonship, kingship, priesthood, and mission within a covenant relationship. This chapter argues that the New Testament applies the language of Israel (Exod 19:4-6) to the church (1 Pet 2:9) because it is the new Israel constituted on the basis of the promised new covenant, created to serve as a corporate Adam for the purpose of mission. As a corporate Adam, the church is called to image God on the earth and fulfill the mission of eschatological ingatheing until the return of Christ. Chapter 7 provides theological conclusions from the biblical data in the previous chapters and proposes a definition of the church that helps to clarify the identity and mission of the people of God under the new covenant. And finally, it proposes a path toward constructing an ecclesiology that is biblically faithful and culturally appropriate.

Thesis (D.Phil(O.T.)--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (D.Phil.(Systematic Theology)--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 243-260)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Concordia Seminary, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 166-183).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Concordia Seminary, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 166-183).

Thesis (S.T.M.)--Concordia Seminary, 1991. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 169-178).