Date

11-13-2025

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Bible Exposition (PhD)

Chair

Richard Fuhr

Keywords

Fire, Covenant, Redemption

Disciplines

Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

Abstract

Understanding biblical signs and symbolism is essential for recognizing how God communicated and interacted with both the original people of the Bible and the modern church. A lack of this knowledge can often lead to misinterpretation of Scripture or the adoption of a false perception when the original context is neglected. From Genesis to Revelation, signs and symbols typically convey either literal or metaphorical meanings. Numerous passages throughout the Bible demonstrate that God used fire as a tool for various purposes. In fact, the King James Version records the term “fire” over 500 times, underscoring its prominence throughout Scripture. Fire symbolism is a significant indicator of divine nature and is not synonymous with the kingdom of darkness, as it is sometimes portrayed. Nevertheless, the image of fire is represented in several ways throughout Scripture, often illustrating God’s divine sovereignty. The method in which fire is used varies depending on the context of each passage. In addition to various explanations of fire imagery, symbolism, and phenomena throughout Scripture, this research will provide a diachronic analysis of biblical passages related to the function of fire within the Old and New Covenants.

Furthermore, examples of fire imagery prominent in the ancient Near East will be compared to relevant eschatological passages that depict fire in relation to deity and humanity. For instance, Moses and the “burning bush” in Exodus 3:2 represent the presence of God and serve as a prelude to the Mosaic Covenant, while Genesis 15:17 symbolizes fire in relation to God’s covenant with Abraham. These two instances offer contrasting perspectives on covenantal fire imagery in antiquity. That framework will serve as a prelude to the exegetical analysis of various parallels of fire revealed through legal punishment and divine judgment in the New Covenant, as prophesied in Isaiah 65:17 and fulfilled in 2 Peter 3:10.

An essential component of this project will be a brief examination of the fall of man, which led to the establishment of various covenants and the eventual necessity of the New Covenant in Christ. The fall of man is critical to the concept of covenant in biblical theology because it establishes the foundational need for covenantal relationship between God and humanity. In essence, the fall creates the problem where sin introduces alienation to which the covenant is God’s response for restoration.

This dissertation will focus on the function of fire through select biblical passages. It will also illuminate how fire imagery in the Bible represents more than a consuming substance, it signifies purification and empowerment. Fire symbolizes God’s presence, chastisement, judgment, and love, and it is one of the primary means by which God has demonstrated His power in both the Old and New Testaments, culminating in the inevitable conflagration of the universe in the eschaton.

Ultimately, this dissertation will illustrate the biblical nature of fire by highlighting God as the ultimate consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29) and reviewing several aspects of covenant directly related to fire. It will also provide an eschatological perspective on how fire will enact mass annihilation, wherein the heavens will pass away and the elements, along with the earth, will be destroyed (2 Peter 3:10).

Download

Share

COinS