The purpose of this exploratory inquiry is to begin to articulate traces of Sophia wisdom, a whole-making presence, as it appears throughout the development of Western mind. This inquiry explores specifically that aspect of the divine wisdom of Sophia that unites spiritual consc…
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This study identifies the literary forms used in the admonitions of 4QInstruction to better assess the relationship between that text and both biblical wisdom and the broader wisdom tradition. This study determines that the admonitions rely on traditional wisdom forms for their …
Although 4 Ezra is an apocalypse, the first half of the book is comprised of three dialogues, a form usually associated with wisdom literature. The present study argues that these dialogues are meant to represent a debate between two schools of Jewish wisdom over questions of th…
This thesis investigates the conceptual use of discernment in First Corinthians. As a motif, discernment spans many issues in the epistle while forming a key element in Paul’s understanding of the eschatological people of God in Christ and his expectations for them to emerge thr…
Two contrasting forms of advice for decision-makers are to either follow one’s heart (emotions) or one’s head (reason). This is a false dichotomy – but how should decision-makers combine heart and head? Decisions can be fruitfully analysed as a set of components: a decision-prob…
This study interprets the theme of election in the book of Sirach. A central problem in the interpretation of Sirach concerns the relation of Wisdom and Torah. Many scholars interpret Ben Sira's correlation of the universal Wisdom tradition with Israel's particular traditions of…
This study examines the pervasive influence of post-exilic wisdom editors and writers in the shaping of the Psalter by analyzing the use of wisdom elements--vocabulary, themes, rhetorical devices, and parallels with other Ancient Near Eastern wisdom traditions. I begin with an a…
The Aramaic Book of Ahiqar, an ancient instruction that combines a novella and set of wise sayings, was discovered among a cache of papyri dating to the 5th c. B.C.E. belonging to a community of Judeans on the southern Egyptian Nile-island of Elephantine. The text describes a co…
This thesis examines the personification of Wisdom in Proverbs, Job, Sirach, Wisdom and Baruch, with particular emphasis on the role and function of this phenomenon. The argument of the thesis is that the personification of Wisdom in Proverbs 1–9 was created in response to the l…
The construct of wisdom has been studied over the past 30 years with the majority of the research focused on wisdom as “expert knowledge in the fundamental pragmatics of life” (Baltes & Staudinger, 2000). In the Christian tradition, wisdom can be divided into two categories: con…
This is an interdisciplinary dissertation, taking a phenomenon commonly discussed within the field of economics and relocating it within the field of theology. I begin by offering a broad definition of economic oppression. I then explore past theologians whose work bears light o…
The oral tradition of any native community is considered as cornerstone and a powerful tool for the members. The Cherokee and the Negev tribes have long histories of oral traditions that are important for their members and their survival. The significant aspect of examining both…
This dissertation investigates the religious phenomenon of the three images of Torah as a mediator between God and human beings which are manifest in Jewish and Christian sources from the Second Temple and Rabbinic periods through the Middle Ages. This study conducts a philologi…
In the Book of Genesis, the motif of restoration is developed progressively and is an integrative part of its theological message. After the Garden narrative (Genesis 2-3), the author unveils the initial steps of God’s restoration of humanity and creation, which will culminate u…
This thesis explains the significance that bilingualism has played and should play in life. It consists of three chapters: Chapter 1 examines bilingual perspectives from different communities inside the United States; Chapter 2 presents a critical assessment of research from lin…
This dissertation asserts that in the epistle to the Colossians, Paul taught with an understanding of the source, nature, and purpose of wisdom, rooted in the Old Testament which affirms wisdom as a gift of God characterized by love unto salvation, thus providing a guide for Chr…
Recognizing the need for a biblically based leader-development program, the project director identified a need for a strategy to develop new leaders at Antioch Baptist Church in Fairfax Station, Virginia. Although existing leaders need leadership development, he intentionally fo…
The present study explored a highly influential exemplar of moral virtue and wisdom, Gretta Vosper, using a mixed-method person-centered case study analysis. Vosper is an Atheist Christian minister at West Hill United, a Christian church within the United Church of Canada.