Thesis (Th. M.)--Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, 1987. / Bibliography: leaves 84-90.

Thesis (M.A.) -- Central Connecticut State University, 2007. / Thesis advisor: Ángela Morales. "... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Modern Languages" Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-111). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.A.)--Briercrest Seminary, 2004. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-131).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 2006. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 143-147).

Thesis (Th. M.)--Grace Theological Seminary, 1979. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [99]-106).

Thesis (Th. M.)--Grace Theological Seminary, 1983. / Abstract. Bibliography: leaves 104-111.

Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1993. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 116-124).

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In recent years as supposedly “Lutheran” readings of Paul's doctrine of “justification by faith” have increasingly come under attack, and as the weaknesses of the New Perspective on Paul have been identified, there has been a growing interest in reading the apostle as teaching something best understood in participationist terms (chapter 2). Particularly, there have been multiple attempts to retrieve the patristic concept of “theosis” as a counterpart of union with Christ. This move is particularly associated with the work of Michael J. Gorman, Stephen Finlan, M. David Litwa and Ben C. Blackwell and is connected to the recent interest in deification as a widespread concept in Christian theology, one with significant ecumenical potential (as attested by the Finnish Lutheran School). To date, however, inadequate attention has been paid to the complex character and history of theosis in the theological tradition, meaning that the word is used in biblical studies in a way that is over-simplistic. All of the studies to read Paul in terms of theosis have been too over-imposing (Litwa), too narrow (Blackwell) or too general (Gorman, Finlan) in their comparison of Paul with the Jewish, Greco-Roman, and Orthodox traditions to properly address the validity of the category of theosis for the analysis of Paul. This study will deal with this deficiency by tracing the four trajectories of theosis in the patristic era (chapter 3). This dissertation proffers a concept, tentatively labelled triadosis, which intends to present the whole complex that is treated elementally in the various trajectories. Further exploring what we have labelled triadosis in the later theological traditions, chapter 4 rereads Luther and Calvin with the help of the Finnish Lutheran School and J. Todd Billings. These scholars argue that the idea of union with Christ is central for both Luther and Calvin and always includes the Father and the Spirit, hence presuming a Trinitarian dimensio The final chapter addresses the deficiencies of three major proponents of theosis as an appropriate category to describe Paul's soteriology. This analysis stresses that the historical rediscovery of deification in surrounding culture should not minimise the apostle's distinction from his polytheistic contemporaries (Litwa). Equally, the Christocentric soteriology misplaces the appropriate emphasis on the Father and the Spirit (Blackwell). Finally, the use of essentialist terminology should be grounded in patristic and contemporary theological discussions (Gorman). Thus, the theme of triadosis helps the reader to view Paul's soteriology as the Father's endeavour to bring redeemed humanity in union with himself in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.

This thesis seeks to explore the concepts of humanity within Wesley’s soteriology and African perspectives in response to the call of the leadership of the Methodist church of Southern Africa (MCSA) to develop theology that is informed by our Southern African context. The central problem of the paper attempts to understand how people within the life of the MCSA interact with an understanding of humanity that is formed within the frameworks of Nguni and Sotho culture as well as Christian perspectives. The thesis maps Wesley’s anthropology through his own experience of God and particularly within the trajectory of his soteriology. It also seeks unpack an understanding of humanity within the framework of Ubuntu. In attempt to ground the conversation within the lived experience of the MCSA the paper also draws in data from two focus groups that are comprised of laity and ministers in training, respectively as well as through feedback from questionnaires that the participants in the two focus groups completed. The thesis makes use of an interpretive qualitative approach to explore the interplay of the different world – views in the lives of the participants as they share who they understand themselves to be and why they hold those particular views. The paper concludes with the observation of a pattern within the feedback from the participants that within the lives of the participants there seems to be a difference in their theoretical conception of humanity and their lived experience of their humanity. Within their theoretical understanding the participants were able to draw equally from their cultural perspectives and their Christian understanding, whilst within their lived experience, participants drew their understanding mainly from their Christian perspectives. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.