Open Access Dissertations and ThesesA Collection of dissertations and theses produced by students of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminaryhttps://hdl.handle.net/10392/26432024-03-28T22:39:19Z2024-03-28T22:39:19ZAugustine’s Understanding of the Human Soul: Origin, Life, and EndCho, Daekihttps://hdl.handle.net/10392/72362024-03-02T01:22:01Z2023-12-01T00:00:00ZAugustine’s Understanding of the Human Soul: Origin, Life, and End
Cho, Daeki
This dissertation argues that Augustine’s conceptualization of the human soul is intricately linked to the guidance provided by Scripture and tradition. Augustine believed that the Scriptures teach the creation of the human soul, its anthropology, spiritual growth, and its eventual reunification with the resurrected body.
The first chapter introduces the thesis, methodology, and historical overview of academic discussions surrounding Augustine’s understanding of the human soul. This chapter positions the argument of this dissertation within the contemporary debates, elucidating the significance of the research conducted and its relevance to current scholarly discourse.
The second chapter presents the creation of the human soul by God. The creation ex nihilo takes center stage, setting Augustine’s perspective apart from Neoplatonism and other philosophical ideologies. This chapter shows Augustine’s articulation of the Christian doctrine of creation ex nihilo, examining its presence in various works by him.
The third chapter unfolds the human soul’s life, centering on the relationship between the soul and immortality, the spirit, and the body. Augustine’s unwavering reliance on the authority of the Scriptures proves his steadfast commitment to the Christian faith.
The fourth chapter explores the distinct concepts of ascension embraced by Augustine and Plotinus. By scrutinizing these concepts of the soul’s ascension, this investigation underscores Augustine’s commitment to the authority of Scripture, which teaches that the soul’s ascension encompasses its life after Christ.
The fifth chapter illustrates the culmination of the human soul’s journey. Augustine’s vision delineates the anticipated trajectory of the human soul following the cessation of the physical body, ultimately culminating in its reunion with the resurrected body as outlined in the teachings of Scripture. This distinctive perspective on the soul’s end emphasizes the inherently Christian nature of Augustine’s teachings.
The sixth chapter explains Augustine’s methodology for categorizing sources in depicting the human soul. In this framework, Scripture precedes alternative ideologies, with philosophical reasoning considered secondary to Scripture yet superior to other secular thoughts.
2023-12-01T00:00:00ZA Powerful Word: On Defining and Responding Justly to AbuseHeitland, Stephen Edwardhttps://hdl.handle.net/10392/72352024-03-02T01:21:59Z2023-12-01T00:00:00ZA Powerful Word: On Defining and Responding Justly to Abuse
Heitland, Stephen Edward
The topic of abuse has received increased societal scrutiny of late, and with good reason. Yet the very subjectivity of the term can be problematic, as most resources on abuse do not give adequate attention to the question of definition. In this dissertation, I define abuse as selfish compulsion to the pronounced detriment of another. This definition shares some similarities with the most prevalent paradigm today, which generally identifies abuse through the lens of power and control, in line with the Duluth Model and their Power and Control Wheel. However, the Duluth Model minimizes or misses altogether a positive understanding of power and control, especially as identified in Scripture, and therefore is liable to mislead, mislabel, or even malign when it comes to identifying and responding rightly to abuse. Further, the conceptions of justice that are brought to contemporary discussions on abuse are often unhelpfully influenced by Critical Theory, which obscures or dismisses a biblical understanding of justice. Therefore, the need for definitional and practical clarity on matters of abuse, oppression, and justice is great. This dissertation begins with an examination of the term and concept of abuse, including its historical and contemporary usage, before examining Scripture’s positive witness to power and control. Chapter 2 then examines the biblical text in order to present and defend a biblical definition of abuse. Chapter 3 turns to critique of the prevailing model, identifying how it does and does not overlap with the biblical perspective. Chapter 4 then examines justice, providing a succinct definition and examining the components necessary for acting justly when allegations of abuse are made. Chapter 5 concludes by offering several practical considerations for applying the concerns and principles developed throughout the work. An appendix offers alternative Wheels which represent my understanding of these important topics.
2023-12-01T00:00:00ZApplication for the Sake of Transformation: A Study of Thomas Manton’s Categorical Approach to Sermon ApplicationFunchess, James Davishttps://hdl.handle.net/10392/72342024-03-02T01:21:56Z2023-12-01T00:00:00ZApplication for the Sake of Transformation: A Study of Thomas Manton’s Categorical Approach to Sermon Application
Funchess, James Davis
2023-12-01T00:00:00ZA Mixed Methods Multiple Case Study of Church-Based Multiethnic Leadership Development ProgramsRothschild, Joshua Fleminghttps://hdl.handle.net/10392/72332024-03-02T01:21:37Z2023-12-01T00:00:00ZA Mixed Methods Multiple Case Study of Church-Based Multiethnic Leadership Development Programs
Rothschild, Joshua Fleming
The purpose of this study was to better understand how multiethnic churches develop leaders from within their congregations. The urgency for this study arises from two observations. First, the biblical-theological narrative points towards leadership teams reflecting the ethnic makeup of the environment in which they are situated. Second, leadership teams that match the diversity of their context have been demonstrated to better reach their cities and the next generation and more effectively lead diverse churches. These two convictions, in combination with demographic trends that point toward a diversifying United States, create a need to develop leaders who will faithfully and effectively lead the next generation of multiethnic American Christians. If we are to develop these leaders for tomorrow, then we must better understand how multiethnic churches are developing these leaders today.
The research sought to identify two aspects of leader development within the multiethnic church context: (1) the desired outcomes for developing leaders and (2) the designed strategies for accomplishing those outcomes. A mixed-methods design was utilized by which a questionnaire established the desired outcomes and in-depth interviews uncovered the strategies.
Chapter 1 outlines the theological and practical need to better understand leader development in a multiethnic church context. Chapter 2 presents the precedent literature in the field of leadership development. This chapter is organized from broad to narrow, starting with the historical development of leadership theory, followed by Christian leadership development literature. Finally, this chapter presents literature addressing leader development in a multiethnic church context.
Chapter 3 overviews the mixed-methods multiple case study methodology utilized in this research study. Chapter 4 presents the findings from the research study. Specifically, the themes from the coded interview transcripts and an in-depth analysis of the leader outcomes questionnaire are provided. Chapter 5 summarizes the findings from chapter 4, relates them back to the precedent literature, lists possible implications for multiethnic churches, and suggests further areas of needed research.
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