Thesis (Th. M.)--Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, MA, 2005. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-124).

Thesis (Th. M.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-79).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, August, 2008. / Abstract only has been uploaded to OhioLINK. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 691-701)

No abstract available / New Testament / M.Th. (New Testament)

A história da interpretação bíblica é testemunha de que uma abordagem ora mais humana, ora mais sobrenatural à Bíblia sempre foi causa de dissenso na comunidade cristã. Ora, essa diversidade interpretativa em grande parte é resultado do entendimento que eventualmente se tem sobre a natureza da Bíblia: por vezes ela é divinizada; outras vezes, tratada como um livro meramente humano. Adotando um enfoque teológico bíblico-sistemático, a pesquisa verificou que a Bíblia, considerada a Palavra de Deus em linguagem humana, precisa ser interpretada respeitando-se essa tensão, já que ela reúne testemunhos humanos de experiências reveladoras de Deus. Isso em nada prejudica o seu caráter de Palavra de Deus, pois a inerrância da Bíblia está em sua mensagem, cujo ápice é a revelação de Jesus Cristo. Na era da Pós-modernidade, em que autor, texto e leitor são desconstruídos, a existência de significado no texto apresenta-se como uma questão teológica. Embora a intenção do autor não seja um conhecimento que se possa obter objetivamente, existem elementos no texto que orientam o leitor a enxergá-lo como uma ação comunicativa definida. O sentido literal, ou sentido literário, é aquele que respeita a intenção autoral, podendo ser descoberto com o auxílio do método histórico-crítico. Já o sensus plenior decorre das distâncias geográfica e temporal entre o texto e o leitor, que descobre nele novas potencialidades. O último estágio do entendimento é a apropriação pessoal do texto bíblico, que é o acolhimento da ação comunicativa intentada, por meio da ajuda do Espírito Santo, que, então, carrega o texto de nova significância em face dos novos tempos. Palavra e Espírito juntos formam o ato de fala de Deus. Entender a Bíblia é fundamentalmente começar a trilhar o seu caminho. / The history of biblical interpretation is witness to the fact that whether to use the more human approach or the more supernatural approach to the Bible has always been cause for dissention in the Christian community. This interpretative diversity is due, in great part, to the understanding which one has about the nature of the Bible: sometimes it is divinized, other times it is treated as a merely human book. Adopting a biblical-systematic theological focus, the research verified that the Bible, considered the Word of God in human language, needs to be interpreted respecting this tension, since it gathers together human witnesses of revealing experiences of God. This in no way affects its character as Word of God, since the inerrancy of the Bible is in its message, the apex of which is the revelation of Jesus Christ. In the era of Post-modernity, in which the author, text and reader are de-constructed, the existence of meaning in the text presents itself as a theological issue. Although the intention of the author may not be knowledge which one can objectively obtain, there exist elements in the text which orient the reader to see it as a definite communicative action. The literal meaning, or the literary meaning, is the one which respects the authors intention, which can be discovered through the historical-critical method. On the other hand the sensus plenior results from the geographical and temporal distances between the text and the reader, who discovers in it new potentialities. The last stage of understanding is the personal appropriation of the biblical text, which is taking in the intended communicative action through the help of the Holy Spirit, which, then, imparts upon the text new meaning in the face of new times. Word and Holy Spirit together form the act of Gods speaking. To understand the Bible one, fundamentally, needs to begin walking in its path.

Na presente obra, SILVA Jr propõe uma teologia bíblica do messianismo à luz da crítica canônica e em harmonia com a compreensão de José Comblin acerca do fenômeno do messianismo como temática através da qual o cristianismo fala de uma realidade última. Para SILVA Jr, o messianismo bíblico está em função de nos revelar uma eclesiologia pneumática, e não uma mera libertação histórica, um elemento irredutivelmente ulterior, e não uma práxis libertária de teor revolucionário, como é o caso dos messianismos em meio às sociedades em geral. Em sua forma final no âmbito do cânon bíblico, o messianismo do Antigo Testamento tem suas raízes na comunidade alternativa proposta por Moisés e sua continuidade com as promessas feitas a Davi, sendo todavia a comunidade pós-exílica centrada no templo que redescobre, em meio às peregrinações litúrgicas intertestamentárias, a crescente função escatológica do remanescente fiel portador da experiência mística de uma eclesiologia pneumática só plenamente revelada com a releitura neotestamentária do messianismo feita pela comunidade do discípulo amado. Assim, SILVA Jr demonstra como o foco do messianismo de Jesus reside em sua comunhão com o Pai operada pelo Espírito desde a sinagoga de Nazaré e como a releitura posterior feita pela teologia paulina o propõe como a mais genuína pneumatologia da Igreja, cuja experiência sacramental vincula-se estritamente à questão da processão eterna do Espírito, e não somente à sua missão histórica a partir de Pentecostes, de acordo com a teologia joanina e, imultaneamente, com a teologia ortodoxa até hoje. / In this present work, SILVA Jr proposes a bíblical theology of the messianism in according to canonical criticism and to the Joseph Comblins understanding about the biblical messianism as a theme to the christianianity speaks about the ultimate reality. In the SILVA Jrs perspective, the biblical messianism is in order to reveal us a pneumatic eclesiology, and not a mere historicist libertation, a ultimate irreducible element, and not a politic praxis in a revolutionary way, like the social messianisms. In its final shape of the biblical canon, the Old Testament messianism has its roots in the alternative community proposed by Moses and its continuity in the promises made to the David, but it will be the post-exilic community centered in the temple who rediscovers, in the middle the liturgical pilgrimages of intertestamentarial period, an increasing eschatological function of the Israels remnant as the last place to mystical experience of the pneumatic ecclesiology just fully revealed in the neotestamentary reinterpretation of the messianism applied by beloved disciple community. Just so, SILVA Jr demonstrates the focus of the Jesus messianism as being in the his communion to the Father operated by the Holy Spirit from the Nazareths sinagoga, and also, he presents as the posterior reinterpretation applied by pauline theology understands the messianism as a most genuine Churchs pneumatology, in which the sacramental experience is strictly relationed to the question on the eternal procession of the Holy Spirit, and not just to its historic mission from the Pentecost, in according to the joanine theology and, at the same time, to the orthodox theology in our days.

No description available.

The Diploma work explores and develops one of the many gifts of the Holy Spirit, that Catholic Church has like a treasure, and it is charisma. Many times in the Church or outside the Church a man can encounter with a negative attitude when the concept of charismas is mentioned, because many people do not know the true meaning and purpose of these gifts of the Holy Spirit. The purpose of the Diploma work is to raise in a simplicity the main issues of the topic and to offer answers to certain questions connected with the exposing of authenticity of this gift, which the Saint Paul is writing about. In the first part the Diploma work deals with the main attitudes of the Catholic Church towards charismas from the perspective of what Holy Scripture and Catechism of the Catholic Church says on the charismas. The Diploma work efforts to develop a spiritual knowledge of charismas, their authenticity and also a danger of sliding out of the Church. It discusses the criteria for distinguishing and recognition of charismas. The work discusses the gifts, charismas and fruits of the Holy Spirit. The topic is focused on identifing of the gifts of Holy Spirit and their presence in the Church and in the life of individual. Finally, the Diploma work describes topics such as "baptism in the Holy Spirit", thus...

Dynamics of spiritual thirst is an expression of the exchange of love between God and human being, which is the basic motivation for any Christian ministry. When a man encounters Jesus' thirst for the salvation of men, a desire to respond to this love is enkindled in his heart, most of all by taking part in collaborating in the salvation of souls. The deeper is the unity of the soul with Christ, the more she takes part in His salvific thirst, i. e. she is consumed by the desire to calm His thirst working at the salvation of souls. Both the intercessory prayer of Theresa of Lisieux, who lived hidden cloistered life, and Mother Theresa's worldwide mission of merciful love came out of the same source. It means that the dynamics of spiritual thirst is the deepest motivation of any Christian apostolic work and ministry. Key words Spiritual thirst, merciful love, Holy Spirit, salvation of souls, apostolic work

This thesis develops a practical Wesleyan approach to leadership in conflict transformation, aimed toward guiding leaders and communities in conflict situations. The thesis analyzes a conflicted situation in the United Methodist Church (UMC) through a case study of the UMC General Conferences of 2012 and 2016, supplemented by interviews that draw wisdom from leaders in the field. It then creates a dialogue with the biblical witness, contemporary movements in pneumatology, and leadership theory. Particular attention is given to John Wesley’s pneumatological thinking and practices as a transformative leader. Both the contextual and theological analyses reveal human capacities and failures to relate with God, self, and neighbor, as well as the movements of the Holy Spirit in situations of conflict and transformation. The thesis concludes with practical guidance for UMC congregations and other bodies to support and expand the work of transformative leadership in situations of conflict.