This essay examines the healing miracles of Jesus as described by the Synoptic Gospels and posits that the appeal of the Synoptics over non-canonical texts can partially be found in the former’s focus on these physical healing miracles. The essay argues that the idea that one can be healed of physical pain through faith is a varied theme in the Synoptics and a strong motivator to bring an interest in early Christianity, especially during a time of persecution. Further, this essay considers Gnostic Gospels and their relative lack of healing miracles to expand upon a theory put forth by Elaine Pagels, namely that the early church declared Gnostic texts to be heretical in part because they did not cater to the basic needs of the people as the Synoptics did.

Project (D. Min.)--Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1991. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 143-149).

Thesis--Catholic University of America. / Bibliography: p. 196-213.

Thesis--Catholic University of America. / Bibliography: p. 196-213.

Thesis (Th. M.)--Holy Cross Orthodox School of Theology, 2006. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 91-100).

No description available.

Esta dissertação tem como objetivo investigar o fenômeno das aparições de Nossa Senhora das Graças, no Sítio Guarda, na Vila de Cimbres, em Pesqueira, Pernambuco, no ano de 1936. Em nosso primeiro capitulo estudamos os conceitos de aparições e aparições ocorridas no Brasil; no segundo capitulo reapresentamos a narrativa das aparições da Virgem da Graça, na Serra do Ororubá; no terceiro e último capitulo estudamos milagres, curas e graças no entender da Igreja e do popular. Registramos alguns supostos milagres ocorridos ao logo da história do Brasil, incluindo os atribuídos a Nossa Senhora das Graças, de Cimbres. Maria, Mariana na Serra do Ororubá é estudo dos fenômenos das aparições na perspectiva das Ciências da Religião / This thesis aims to investigate the phenomenon of the apparitions of Our Lady of Grace, the site Guard in Cimbres village in Pesqueira, Pernambuco, in the year 1936. In our first chapter we study the concepts of appearances and appearances occurred in Brazil; in the second chapter re-present the story of the apparitions of the Virgin of Grace, in the Serra do Ororubá; the third and final chapter study miracles, healings and graces in the eyes of the Church and popular. We recorded some alleged miracles occurred throughout history in Brazil, including those attributed to Our Lady of Grace, of Cimbres. Maria Mariana Serra do Ororubá is study of the apparitions phenomena from the perspective of religious studies.

Dale Allison refers to the historical question pertaining to Jesus’ resurrection as “the prize puzzle of New Testament research.” More than 2,500 journal articles and books have been written on the subject since 1975. In this dissertation, I investigate the question while providing unprecedented interaction with the literature of professional historians outside of the community of biblical scholars on both hermeneutical and methodological considerations. Chapter one is devoted to discussions pertaining to the philosophy of history and historical method, such as the extent to which the past is knowable, how historians gain a knowledge of it, the impact biases have on investigations and steps that may assist historians in minimizing their biases, the role a consensus should or should not play in historical investigations, who shoulders the burden of proof, and the point at which a historian is warranted in declaring that a historical question has been solved. I seek to determine how historians outside of the community of biblical scholars generally proceed in their investigations involving non-religious matters and establish a similar approach for proceeding in my investigation of the historicity of Jesus’ resurrection. In chapter two, I address objections to the investigation of miracle-claims by historians from a number of prominent scholars. My conclusion is that their objections warrant that extra caution should be taken by historians investigating miracle claims but are ill-founded in terms of prohibiting a historical investigation of Jesus’ resurrection. Historians must identify the relevant sources from which they will mine data for their investigations. In chapter three, I survey the primary literature relevant to our investigation and rate them according to their value to an investigation pertaining to Jesus’ resurrection. I limit this survey to sources that mention the death and resurrection of Jesus and that were written within two hundred years of Jesus’ death. I then rate each according to the likelihood that it contains data pertaining to Jesus’ death and resurrection that go back to the earliest Christians, and identify the sources most promising for the present investigation. In chapter four, I mine through this most promising material and form a collection of relevant facts that are so strongly evidenced that they enjoy a heterogeneous and nearly universal consensus granting them. These comprise our historical bedrock upon which all hypotheses pertaining to Jesus’ fate must be built. In chapter five, I apply the methodological considerations discussed in chapter one and weigh six hypotheses largely representative of those being offered in the beginning of the twenty-first century pertaining to the question of the resurrection of Jesus. I conclude that the hypothesis that Jesus rose from the dead is not only the best explanation of the relevant historical bedrock, it outdistances its competitors by a significant margin and meets the criteria for awarding historicity. Of course, this conclusion is provisional, since future discoveries may require its revision or abandonment. It also makes no assertions pertaining to the nature of Jesus’ resurrection body nor claims to address the question of the cause of Jesus’ resurrection. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / New Testament Studies / unrestricted

The question of reality has traditionally been answered from two broad and separate perspectives, namely natural science and theology. However, in recent times, there has been a growing realism and humility about the limits of the two disciplines, specifically in their pursuit of understanding what makes up reality. Indeed, many are openly speaking about “a new convergence” in the disciplines, opening the way to new insights and understandings about reality. Because of this, many now see both disciplines as complementary ways of seeking to understand reality. As such, this research shows that there is justification to combine science and theology to further the general understanding of what makes up reality. However, the problem expressed, is that even though both disciplines accept their limits, both disciplines have conflicting world-views on what makes up reality. Nevertheless, the research shows that there is commonality, i.e. both study reality from a creation or natural viewpoint, although each differs on the method to use. Natural science basis its findings on empirically verifiable data, whereas theology, basis its findings on revelation and the “Wirkungsgeschichte” thereof. Unfortunately, this research shows that the problem does not end there. Within the two disciplines there is what one could call supplementary-worldviews, meaning, each discipline has multiple world-views within its structures. Taking this into account, the research examines these various world-views, and then suggests a suitable solution to the difficulty of finding pluralism among these views. The research begins with a clear understanding of what the different views consist of. It achieves success by setting up a common frame of reference between each view presented, and then researches each one individually, and where fitting, complementarity sought and explored. The research puts forth that one can only come to a reasonably clear understanding of what makes up reality, if one understands the beliefs and views of each on this. The research further examines world-views such as the open-theism argument for determinism, Darwin’s evolutionary theory, and the different views about the end result of humanity and creation. It also examines God’s providence and how one would connect it to miracles, prayer, personhood and sin. The objective being to show that other than a theistic world-view, none of the alternative views give satisfactory answers to these questions, and neither do they give answers to the purpose for creation and humanity? The research also shows and argues that evil in this present world must not be thought of as something God willingly planned as an instrument of human punishment and education, but rather as something He allows because of human freedom. The research also asks questions such as “What is the Final End of Everything”, a question that science and theology have been trying to answer ever since humanity became aware of its own existence. The research further expresses that as technology has increased, many of the issues surrounding eschatology have become obscure, and difficult to deal with. The research points out that at times, eschatology has become a topic of debate, resulting in accusations and acrimony among scholars. Yet the research shows that the Bible is clear about what the end entails, whether that is towards the believer or non-believer. The research also makes a determination that any view that contradicts itself or destroys itself in the process or act of affirming itself, is self-defeating and false and only theism is actually undeniable. Thus, it is established throughout this work, that theism offers an argument with the undeniable premise that leads one to recognise the existence of an infinitely perfect and powerful Being, who has a purpose for humanity and creation. Indeed, the research shows that any world-view that cannot prove to be true simply based on the premise that it is non-contradictory, must be false. Finally, the research proposes and confidently states, that by implication, this would mean that theism, the only remaining non-contradictory world-view, would be true by the process of falsification of other alternate views, even in today’s scientific and technocratic age. B27/eo / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

This thesis seeks to show that miracles and healing are inseparable from the Messianic task of Jesus Christ; and that in so far as He commissioned His Church to continue that Messianic task, it is reasonable to expect that miracles and healing would continue. The early history of the Church is examined for evidence confirming this expectation, and a question is asked of the contemporary Church.