...working out then it is okay to divorce and move on to other relationships. The Bible is clear as to what marriage stands for and that it is something that must be fought for and should last a lifetime. The concept of marriage was established when Adam and Eve were created. In Genesis 2:18-25 it tells not only of how Eve was created but why she was created. According to L.I. Granberg and J.R. Root, God made marriage so that a man and woman could be joined to form “one flesh” and reach a sense of completeness. (Granberg, 743). It can be found in 1 Corinthians 7:1-16 what is required and asked of both the man and the woman to have a healthy, God honoring marriage (NIV). The Bible does not give an exact moment in which a couple is considered to be married in the eyes of God, but rather lists three principles that should be followed. The first being that marriage should follow the marriage requirements the government has set. Romans 13:1-2 says that we must obey the government that the Lord has placed over us (NIV). The second principle, depending on cultural background, is to have some form of a wedding ceremony. According to R.S. Rayburn, the wedding ceremony and celebration plays a key role in the consummation of the marriage (Rayburn, 745). The last principle that must be acknowledged is the consummation of the marriage through sexual intercourse. Genesis 2:24 says that a man and woman should leave their parents side and join...
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...Todd M. Lynch THEO201 C03 Short Essay #3 Short Essay on Pneumatology: Spiritual Gifts Spiritual Gifts and their place in today’s world is a topic that has been debated for some timed. One gift that has received specific attention is the gift of speaking in tongues. This essay will define what spiritual gifts are, as well as differentiate them from Spiritual fruits and show which one is a sign of spiritual maturity. This essay will also discuss speaking in tongues, defining it, discussing if it is a sign of baptism in the Holy Spirit and arguing whether or not it is still a valid spiritual gift today. Spiritual Gifts are “gifts of God enabling the Christian to perform his or her (sometimes specialized) service” in the church.[1] They are supernatural gifts bestowed by the Holy Spirit that enhance the work and ministry of the Christian. [2] Depending on which gift is given you use them to spread the Word of God and help the church to grown. They can be anything from the gift of prophesy, to the gift of speaking in tongues to the gift of administration. The gifts all have a place in ministry within the church. Spiritual gifts are not to be confused with Fruits of the Spirit. Fruits of the spirit such as love, joy, peace, kindness, etc. are all things that are produced in us by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). These things are not given to us, but brought out from inside of us through the work of the Holy Spirit. The Fruits of the Spirit relate to our character,...
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...Joshua Lytle THEO201_B24_201120 Short Essay #3 Short Essay on Pneumatology: Spiritual Gifts Spiritual gifts are capacities given to believers in Christ or “useful functions for God” in spiritual service. The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) is produced in believers by the Spirit to sanctify them through the production of His character. Spiritual gifts are abilities used in service to God while spiritual fruit involves the character of Christians. The Fruit of the Spirit, produced only by the indwelling of the Spirit, exhibits the spiritual maturity of believers. My personal definition of spiritual gifts is the following: Spiritual gifts are abilities given by God to every Christian for different types of service, each person receiving one or more gifts, with purposes including: to give God glory through service, to accomplish His will, and to edify believers. The baptism of the Holy Spirit and His indwelling is directly related to salvation. When a person accepts Jesus as his or her Savior, the Spirit indwells the new believer immediately, not in a subsequent experience. This indwelling places the believer in the Body of Christ. Salvation is not a two-step process, but is instead a change in a person’s relationship with God. Biblical definitions of speaking in tongues are: a gift of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 that may have two functions: In the book of Acts, it is an “initiation” gift given to affirm entrance to the Church Body. It may also be a spiritual...
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...Cheryl Morrison THEO 0201_D20_201320 Final Essay May 10, 2013 FINAL ESSAY The doctrine that I’m studying is the inerrancy word of God; first to understand the doctrine one must know and understand the word of God, His Holy Scriptures that were inspired by God and written by men of God’s inspiration, inerrancy and truth. The bible revelation involves the content of God’s message to us. Also the bible is God’s revelation to aid us as we search for truth and attempt to live for God. (Tim 3:15-17). To identify with God one must know that God is an invisible personal and living spirit, distinguished from all other spirit’s which including His birth, death and resurrection.[ Elwell, Walter A. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology].pg.496 God is self- existence, eternal and unchanging, intellectual God is omniscient, faithful and wise; ethically God is just merciful and loving, emotionally God detests evil, God is long-suffering compassionate, existentially, God is free authentic and omnipotent, God is transcendent in being immanent, universally in providential activity and immanent with his people in redemptive activity these are some of God’s attributes. Therefore man was created into God’s likeness here on earth. [Elwell Walter A. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology] pg.492 The law of God nature with His creations is that everything is God’s offspring of His mind and bears the impression of His determinate nature; He created man as an intelligent being in His own likeness He has God...
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...Experience with Theology Essay Kyle Winter Professor Colombo Introduction to Theology THEO-104 Liberty University 7/1/2015 1. When you hear the word theology, what comes to your mind? (125–150 words) 2. Besides a passing grade, what do you hope to get out of this course over the next eight modules/weeks? (125–150 words) Prompt 1. Theology is the study of God. What is His nature and character are the main things I think of. When I think of theology I think of one of my favorite theologians, Brother Lawrence. “Practicing the presence of God” has immensely satisfied my search for God. I love that when we look at nature we can come to infinite conclusions about Gods nature and Character. I also think about a lot of negative things that have come from bad theology. Christians have been their own worst enemy for centuries because of bad theology. I have worked for a Christian non-profit (Youth With A Mission) for the last 5 ½ years. The main values are to know God, and to make Him know. This is probably what I think about most when I think about Theology. These are values that I consider to be above all else. Prompt 2. It has been over 10 years since I’ve taken an actual academic course on theology. I see every opportunity/class as a chance to know God just a little bit more. I believe that in times like these where seemingly the majority of our Nation is so confused and unable to express their emotions/feelings we need to have a strong foundation...
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...Essay on Topic [e.g., Hamartiology: The Problem of Evil (Theodicy)] [Write your essay here, which must contain 600–800 words for the first 3 Short Essays.] Word count: [Post the word count of just your actual essay, not including title.] The problem of evil is perceived to be portrayed by the following propositions: 1, God is omnipotent; 2, God is wholly benevolent; 3, evil consequences that result from the actions and events befall mankind; 4, the omnipotent being of 1 and 2 eliminates all the evil that he can; 5, there are no nonlogical limits to what an omnipotent being can do; 6, so God will therefore eliminate every evil that is logically possible for him to remove (Elwell, pg. 413). The prepositions 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 would mean that 3 is negated making the six points self-contradictory. In the Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, we find two types of evil; the bad (or moral evil) and the harmful (natural evil). These two evils are distinct from eachother but, you cannot seperate them. Natural evil is the consequence of moral evil. Moral evil is when man breaks God's law and natural evil is a result of mankind's sinful nature. Adam brought on God's curse on mankind and the world when he willfuly disobeyed God. With this disobedience, man invited sin and corruption into God's perfect creation. A theodicy is a defensive position on the goodness and omnipotence of God in view of the existence of evil. Many such theodicies exist with scientists, philosophers, and...
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...Short Essay #1 Short Essay on Hamartiology Harmartiology is the study of sin. Many people have confusion on the reason why it existent’s when God created the world. Recently, a neighbor questions the very thing. He’s having trouble with his faith and doesn’t understand why natural catastrophes, disease’s and other things that plagued humans. Before this question can be answered it’s important to know the truth of evil in a Biblical view. The problem with evil is the perception of what it is. In today’s society evil acts are not considered evil; most are justified for the purpose. Evil is an act of that is not “not in the keeping with the nature or will of God.”[1] If a person decides to commit adultery repeatedly, the excuse could be because he/she does not feel loved; therefore the act is justified and excusable. Conversely, that is not the case. The act is a sin, period. Humans are called to live according to Gods laws and when people commit sin it’s important to repent and turn from sin, which is seen in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land”. In today’s society people do not look at sin as evil acts that hurt people, when people are hurt then the question becomes “If there was a God, why is their pain; a good God wouldn’t hurt the ones He loves.” There are two types of evil, moral...
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...Biblical Worldview Essay Instructions Rationale for the Biblical Worldview Essay Every person has a worldview whether he realizes it or not. What is a worldview? James W. Sire defines a worldview as: [A] commitment, a fundamental orientation of the heart, that can be expressed as a story or in a set of presuppositions (assumptions which may be true, partially true or entirely false) that we hold (consciously or subconsciously, consistently or inconsistently) about the basic constitution of reality, and that provides the foundation on which we live and move and have our being. Stated more succinctly, "…[A] worldview is simply the total set of beliefs that a person has about the biggest questions in life." F. Leroy Forlines describes such questions as the "inescapable questions of life." Life's inescapable questions include the following: "Is there a God? If so, what is He like? How can I know Him? Who am I? Where am I? How can I tell right from wrong? Is there life after death? What should I and what can I do about guilt? How can I deal with my inner pain?" Life's biggest, inescapable questions relate to whether there is a God, human origins, identity, purpose, and the hereafter, just to mention a few. Satisfying answers to the "inescapable questions of life" are provided by the Holy Scriptures. The Holy Scriptures, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, form the starting point and foundation for the biblical worldview. More specifically related to our purposes...
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...David Jones THEO_201_B09_201230 Short Essay #4 Short Essay on Angelology and Satanology Anna, thank you for your call regarding the documentary you watched on common dualism. By your description this is also known as religious or ethical dualism. Kuhn in defining ethical or religious dualism says “ Ethical or ethico-religious dualism asserts that there are two mutually hostile forces or beings in the world, the one being the source of all good, the other the source of all evil.”1 Kuhn further describes the universe as the battle ground for these equally opposing forces and identifies them as light and darkness. In this definition we see God being light and Satan being darkness as equal forces in eternal hostile battle. This form of dualism is in contradiction as to what Scripture teaches. Scripture starts with God creating not only the earth but the heavens as well. (Gen.1:1) In the book of Genesis we see God as the creator of all. In the ending of Scripture God claims victory over Satan and Satan is cast into the lake fire to suffer eternal torment.(Rev. 20:10). In Isaiah 14:12-14, the prophet addresses Satan as the one fallen from heaven and cast down to earth for his prideful sins against God. In Ezekiel 28: 12-17 God addresses Satan as the King of Tyre, through the prophet Ezekiel. He addresses him as having been an anointed guardian cherub. God says “for so I ordained you.” (vs 14). “You were the model of perfection,”(vs ________________________________...
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...THE THEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF RUDOLF BULTMANN one briefly explain the theological of a man whose diversified writings first book How the present decade? Is it extend fromahissignificance review ina 1908 to possible for short essay to disclose fundamental unity in topics which range from source criticism, the history of religion, literary criticism, classical philology, technical exegesis, Gnostic studies, existential philosophy, and hermeneutics to the Gifford Lectures, the theological essay, popular and literate dialogue about the Church, demythologizing, and the relation of the New Testament to daily life?3 If the theological significance is judged in terms of intellectual climate, moral force, and scholarly style or by the more tangible but subtle influence on several generations of scholars, then the theological significance seems almost as elusive as it is palpable. Fortunately, diversity of form and subject is more apparent than real. The theological atmosphere and problematic shaped by Bultmann may be traced to concepts and procedures available to any critical reader. While it is quite correct to note, as did Hans Jonas on the Feiertag celebrated in honor of Bultmann in Marburg, November 16,1976, that it is impossible to separate the man from his writings, for he lived as he wrote,4 we are not here primarily concerned with Bultmann's personal psychological integrity, striking as it is. It may, however, be accurate to say that this escalating unity of life and work...
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...David Cobb THEO202_B07_200930 Short Essay #2 Short Essay on Anthropology: Marriage and Divorce The origin of marriage comes from Genesis 2:18, where God said that it is not right that man should be alone. Regardless of the intention that God had for marriage when he ordained it, too many people have made it to be something of a fad or a trend. That is why we as Christians should strive to uphold and embody the sacred vows that we took in the eyes of man and of God and be an example to a lost world. The biblical teaching of marriage is that it is the union of one man and of one woman (Gen. 2:24). This bond is portrayed in the relationship as a covenant. A covenant is a personal relationship within a publicly known structure, based on promises given and accepted. (1) As two become on flesh it is important that we remember it is God’s intent that you remain intact forever (Gen. 2:24). There are some biblical laws concerning marriage. After Levitical law marriage to family is outlawed (Lev. 20:19), marriage to foreigners is considered dangerous (1 Kings 11:1-2-10; 2 Cor. 6:14-15), and both husband and wife are to be submitted to each other (Eph. 5:22-33). In a biblical marriage the husband did not possess his wife until the bride price was paid (Gen. 34:12). Even before this though there was a time of Betrothal to one another. This was a legally binding contract that stated they would remain celibate (Matt. 1:18). The marriage would be consecrated on the first...
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...today’s society. What is overlooked, and should often be recapped is; without the endurance and dedication within the creative minds of these two creative thinkers, it’s possible that oppression and segregation would still remain a part of our society. Many Civil Rights leaders are responsible for the equality growth in our culture, and Hal Cone and Cornel West has been influential in ensuring Blacks continued to advance in America’s society. Both men contributed an important view to Civil Rights, and is known as leaders who changed the way the world worked personally, socially, and politically. James Hal Cone is a Black libertarian theologian who was born in the early 1930s. The Reverend Hal Cone has written several books about liberation theology. His core contribution to society has been bridging the social gap among Blacks and Whites, and providing clarity between the bible and African Americans. He used his education and...
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...The impact of Dente’s Inferno on European Society and History, a reflective essay “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here” resonates across the centuries. For over 650 years, from the time it was written until today, critics have analyzed and reinterpreted The Devine Comedy and especially Inferno, written by Dente Alighieri (1265–1321) while he was in exile from Florence, Italy . The fact that it has tremendous impact on art and literature is evident by the centuries of continuous study and the number of notable authors and artists whose works clearly reflect an influence from the theological, political or poetic value of the piece. T. S. Eliot (1888-1965) wrote in a 1929 essay that “Dante and Shakespeare divide the modern world between them; there is no third,”1 Certainly the word pictures in Inferno are vivid and memorable. But did Inferno actually influence society? Did it shape history? Did thought leaders of Dante’s time and over the centuries following find inspiration in its pages such that the Western world today is different than it might have been without Inferno? There are few works of literature to emerge from the Middle Ages with a lasting legacy to the modern world. Historically, Inferno was the first great literary work available in the vernacular, or common dialect, of a region. As such, it had an impact on the formation of the Italian language. More compelling, Dante’s work seems to be a dividing line between the epic poems of antiquity and the modern, humanistic...
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...been a long debated topic amongst both sexes. It is wondered if it is biblically appropriate that women maintain specific roles that have been held by men since the New Testament church rose up. This essay will address what the New Testament definitions of an “elder” and “deacon” are and the biblical requirements for being permitted the office title, can women hold those positions and supporting Scripture, my personal interpretation and counter arguments, and are women limited in the church as well as outside of it. We will also discuss if women can make contributions to theology, leadership and management in their local churches. According to Towns’ Theology for Today, an “elder” in the New Testament church is someone who has been designated into the highest pastoral position that requires spiritual maturity and literally means “aged man”, while a “deacon” is an office in the church and literally means “servant.” The requirements of becoming an elder is that they must rule over their own house well, referencing 1Tim 3:4-5 which uses the word overseer, and that they should rule or lead the church by feeding them the Word as seen in Kepha Aleph (1 Peter) 5:1-2. The office title of Deacon has different requirements as referenced in Theology for Today mentioning Ma’asei (Acts) 6:1-6 which states they must be of good report, full of the Spirit, full of wisdom, and full of faith. They must also be blameless, husband of one wife, grave, not given to wine or greedy for money, a good...
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...theological understanding of texts: (1) Divine discourse, (2) Intertextuality, and (3) Canonical-linguistic approach: theo-drama. 92Stephen E. Fowl, Engaging Scripture: A Model for Theological Interpretation (Malden: Blackwell, 1998); idem, The Theological Interpretation of Scripture (Cambridge: Blackwell, 1997); John Webster, “Hermeneutics in Modern Theology: Some Doctrinal Reflections,” SJT 51 (1998):...
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