Date
5-22-2024
Department
Rawlings School of Divinity
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Theology and Apologetics (PhD)
Chair
Kevin L. King
Keywords
Pronomianism, Messianic Judaism, Torah, Continuity, Pronomian, Pro-Torah, Judaism, Jewish Christianity, Christianity, Paul, Pauline Studies, Torah Observance, Paul Within Judaism, Jesus Within Judaism, Biblical Law, Torah Apologetics, One Law Theology, Enlargement Theology, Jerusalem Council, Euthyphro, Euthyphro's Dilemma, Moral Apologetics, Biblical Morality, Early Church History
Disciplines
Philosophy | Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion
Recommended Citation
McKenzie, Gregory Scott, "Pronomian Paradigm: A Pro-Torah, Christocentric Method of Theology and Apologetics" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 5623.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5623
Abstract
This dissertation sets out to demonstrate the continued validity of the Torah for all believers today. As such, this dissertation attempts to show that discontinuity of the Mosaic Covenant is scripturally, theologically, and philosophically untenable. The thesis of this dissertation is that Pronomianism is the paradigm that most cohesively melds theology and apologetics, through its interpretation of Paul’s words and deeds at the second Jerusalem council, which unveils the Torah’s centrality in New Testament theology, and that Pronomian moral apologetics reveal the Law of God as the only foundation for objective, biblical morality, and the guide to righteous living. This conclusion is developed first via an exhaustive examination of Acts 21. Once the scriptural case is made, the argument shifts to the moral philosophical case for continuity, which is based on the well-known Euthyphro’s Dilemma. Lastly, the Pronomian paradigm is examined by its instances in church history and is applied as an example to demonstrate its ability to answer difficult, perennial questions in Christian theology. For future study, the Pronomian paradigm should be developed in more social, economic, and political terms to compare it to theological concepts like Theonomy and demonstrate how Pronomianism differs in its approach to social integration in an increasingly fractured, multipolar, and digital reality.
