Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Old and New Man in Ephesians 4:17-24

Lance T. Beauchamp — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:13:08 PDT

The identity of the Διψυχος in The Shepherd of Hermas

Jeremiah Mutie — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:02:18 PDT

The Expository Sermon - Cultural or Biblical?

Robert A. Allen — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 07:28:01 PDT

A Critique of the Historiographical Construal of America as a Christian Nation

John David Wilsey — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 06:52:18 PDT

The Christian America thesis has grown in popularity over the past thirty years. This essay will critique the Christian America thesis, and instead offer the assertion that America was founded as a nation with religious liberty. Six lines of critique of the Christian America thesis will be presented, and the essay will attempt to show the significance of religious freedom in the founding. America‘s history points to a mixture of sacred and secular ideas. The nation is defined more realistically by religious freedom rather than a Christian identity. Evangelicals can approach those who do not share their faith commitment in peace and respect, knowing that the culture will be conformed to Christ when religious freedom is enjoyed equally by all.

The Impact of the Reformation on the Fine Arts

John D. Wilsey — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 11:56:28 PDT

An Analysis and Critique of Immanuel Kant’s “Critique of All Theology based upon Speculative Principles of Reason

Michael S. Jones — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:36:13 PDT

Imago Dei and the Appreciation of Beauty

Michael S. Jones — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:31:35 PDT

"Man does not live by bread alone ... " Human life embraces more than just 'living' (material survival); the human soul thrives on many ambiguous metaphysical elements. One of these elements is beauty. The question motivating this article is the ubiquitous 'why'; why do people find beauty in various elements of their environment? Put another way, what is it that enables one to appreciate beauty? The thesis of this article is that a person's ability to appreciate beauty is a result of being created in the image of God.

Review: Life after Death: A Study of the Afterlife in World Religions

Gary R. Habermas — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:25:53 PDT

Review: Jesus in the Koran

Gary R. Habermas — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:21:37 PDT

Review: Biblical Faith and Other Religions: An Evangelical Assessment

Michael S. Jones — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:24:21 PDT

Review: God's Rivals: Why Has God Allowed Different Religions? Insights from the Bible and the Early Church

Michael S. Jones — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:55:51 PDT

Review: Personalism: A Critical Introduction

W. David Beck — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 06:14:59 PDT

On God's Existence

W. David Beck — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 06:08:57 PDT

The Cosmological Argument: A Current Bibliographical Appraisal

W. David Beck — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 06:05:22 PDT

Inter-generational Youth Ministry and the Solution to Volunteers

Steve R. Vandegriff — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:06:59 PDT

Book Review: The Art of Deception

Edward N. Martin — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:12:34 PST

Revisiting Holy Spirit Language…What Happened at Pentecost?

Donald L. Fowler — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 07:01:54 PST

The English Standard Version - A Review Article

James A. Borland — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 07:31:23 PST

An Analysis of the Concept of Believing in the Narrative Contexts of John's Gospel

David A. Croteau — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:35:00 PDT

The thesis explores the meaning of the concept of believing in the Gospel of John. Chapter 1 provides a discussion of the relevance of the subject and the methodology employed in the research. The methodology is primarily a semantic field approach emphasizing the importance context adds to the interpretation process. Chapters 2, 3, and 4 follow the same basic outline. The goal is to provide an analysis of [Special characters omitted.] within its syntactical relationships and verbal forms. Any relevant conclusions are then integrated into an exegetical discussion. The Gospel of John is divided into three sections, one for each of these chapters: John 1-4, 5-12, 13-21. In Chapter 2 (John 1-4) the evidence for interchangeableness of the [Special characters omitted.] and [Special characters omitted.] + dative constructions is presented. [Special characters omitted] constructions do not refer to a superior belief. Typically, verbal forms of [Special characters omitted.] are not used formulaically. The crowd in 2:23-25 is portrayed negatively. The disciples, the Samaritans, and the royal official progressed in their belief.

In Chapter 3 (John 5-12) the [Special characters omitted.] construction was determined to contain a different meaning than the [Special characters omitted.] and [Special characters omitted.] + dative constructions. John 5:12 can be characterized as, largely, many people rejecting Jesus. While four signs were performed by Jesus, there were seven negative reactions to them; the three signs performed in John 1-4 had mixed reactions. Three inadequate professions were made in John 5-12 (6:14; 7:31; 10:21) and four groups demonstrated deficient belief through poor actions (6:22-66; 8:21-47; 10:22-39; 12:42-43). Positive portrayals were placed in contrast to negative portrayals. The antecedent to “they” (in 12:37) are the negative portrayals of those believing in John’s Gospel, not one specific group.

In Chapter 4 (John 13-21) the [Special characters omitted.] absolute construction was in a synonymous relationship to a [Special characters omitted.] construction, demonstrating the flexibility of this construction in the Gospel. Eternal life, understood in both its qualitative and quantitiative aspects, was discussed in its relationship to believing. The relationship of knowing and believing should be understood as being reciprocal. John 13-21 begins with two pericopae in which Jesus calls his disciples into a deeper faith; later in the narrative they progress. All portrayals of believing were positive in this section. It appears that the beginning of the Gospel was more concerned with a question of whom belief should be placed in, while the latter part was more concerned with the content of this belief.

Chapter 5 summarizes the conclusions while integrating them. Implications are drawn for Lordship Salvation and the doctrine of assurance

Agnosticism: Kant

W. David Beck — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:33:49 PDT

This chapter identifies the results of Kant's philosophical system on the contemporary discussion concerning an inerrant revelation. Knowledge, for Kant, is possible only as the forms and categories of the mind organize the raw data of the senses. Beyond this phenomenal world, the mind can only postulate what must or ought to be. It cannot know what is. The first postulate of this practical reasoning is freedom. The individual is autonomous, knows the good, and is capable of willing and doing as he ought.

Within such an epistemological framework, revelation becomes unnecessary, useless, and unverifiable. Inerrancy is not only false but incomprehensible in such a system. Since Kant's theory of knowledge largely dominates contemporary theology, it is inevitable that inerrancy cannot be seen as an option.