Buswell Bulletin: Journal Articles – October 2022
Covenant’s librarians keep an eye on the new journal issues coming into the library and then each issue we highlight recent articles and reviews that strike us as interesting and/or important to the scholarly conversation. (Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement.)
Linked items marked “Open Access” are accessible to anyone. Otherwise, a Covenant library account may be required for access. Alumni may access items marked “Alumni Access Available” by visiting the Alumni Portal and selecting the identified resource on the library resources page.
Biblical Exegesis and Systematic Theology: Toward Mutual Benefit
Arnold Huijgen, Koert van Bekkum, and Hans Burger
Journal of Reformed Theology 16, no. 3 (July 2022): 173–193.
Abstract:
Notwithstanding the legitimate distinction between biblical studies and systematic theology, these disciplines can and should benefit from each other. On the one hand, biblical studies deals with texts that make claims about God that are read primarily in a liturgical context by people with a faith commitment. Accordingly, while the distantiation of an academic approach is helpful, a systematic theological dimension enriches the otherwise rather naturalistic biblical studies. On the other hand, systematic theology needs biblical studies. Historical Christian theology shows that abstract theology without engagement with biblical studies becomes arid. Current emphases on history, language, narrative, and Israel offer opportunities to connect the two disciplines. This article sketches a methodology for the mutual benefit of biblical studies and systematic theology.
A Novels Spiritual Discipline: Literature and the Renewal of the Mind
Christopher E. Franklin
Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care (August 22, 2022).
Abstract:
We know from experience that a stable feature of the human predicament is internal alienation: our various psychic states (knowledge, choices, desires, emotions) are often in conflict with one another. We are divided selves. In this paper, I delineate the nature and argue for the importance of a spiritual discipline of reading literature as a way of addressing this division. My argument comes in two stages. First, I offer a diagnosis of why we fail to be wholehearted that develops Aristotle’s idea that a fundamental source of internal division within the soul is between what we know and how we see or construe our present situation. Second, I show how a spiritual discipline of reading literature is the right prescription for retraining our habits of construal so as to bring them into harmony with our knowledge. I conclude with a few remarks about how to put this discipline into practice.
Alumni Access Available: SAGE Journals
Timothy Larsen
Journal of Reformed Theology 16, no. 3 (July 2022): 226–245.
Abstract:
John Gachango Gatũ (1925–2017) was one of the most prominent and important Kenyan church leaders of his generation. He was the first African to serve as general secretary of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa, and then went on to be moderator. He also held influential positions in numerous Christian organizations, including the All Africa Conference of Churches and the World Council of Churches. He is best remembered for his call, first issued in 1971, for a moratorium on Western missionaries and resources in the developing world. At the time, this controversial proposal also led to some discussion about whether or not he was a still an Evangelical. Gatũ published three books in the twenty-first century, including a substantial autobiography, and in the light of these it is now possible to assess his thought and his entire life and ministry on their own terms. When that is done it become apparent that he emphasized three distinctives of his churchmanship: he was a revivalist who was deeply committed to the East African Revival Movement; an ecumenist who worked tirelessly for Christian cooperation and unity; and, perhaps most of all, an Africanist who continually sought to inhabit and commend a truly African Christianity.
On the Non-enforceability of the Penal Sanctions in the Mosaic Law
Michael V. Flowers
Journal of Reformed Theology 16, no. 1-2 (July 2022): 90–107.
Abstract:
Although the “theonomy” debate has largely subsided, it continues to be espoused by a vocal minority because it was never properly addressed. The key issue is not whether the judicial laws are still binding. These laws are grounded in God’s moral character; hence, they are still binding. But since they were enforced by magistrates who worked in conjunction with Levitical priests in the context of a now-defunct priesthood, today’s magistrates would lack the divine guidance and authority to enforce the judicial laws as was once prescribed. A conceptual distinction should therefore be drawn between moral/judicial laws and their legal enforcement in society.
Thomas the (Un)Faithful: Πιστός in John 20.27
Christopher Seglenieks
Journal for the Study of the New Testament (August 9, 2022).
Abstract:
Thomas in John’s gospel has often been understood as the prototypical doubter based on Jn 20.27. Jesus’ words are taken as condemning a failure of intellectual belief, despite the shift in 20.27 from the frequent use of πιστεύω to the adjective πιστός. Yet the use of πιστός in other texts denotes faithfulness and often the actions which display faithfulness. The prominent theme of witness in Jn 20, along with contrasts to Synoptic accounts of post-resurrection doubt, point towards Thomas’s failure as a failure to take up Jesus’ commission and become a faithful witness. This is confirmed by Thomas’s response to Jesus, where he becomes an active witness to Jesus as God (20.28).
Alumni Access Available: SAGE Journals
Abraham’s Paternity and God’s Promise: Another Look at the Context and Syntax of Romans 4.1
Jeffrey W. Aernie
Journal for the Study of the New Testament (July 21, 2022).
Abstract:
The complexity of Paul’s engagement with the Abrahamic narrative in Rom. 4 arises immediately in Rom. 4.1. The challenging syntax of Rom. 4.1 has resulted in distinct views on the apostle’s engagement with the patriarch and the purpose of his argument in Rom. 4. My intention is to reconsider Rom. 4.1 based on a wider structural analysis of Rom. 3.27–4.22. Building especially on the work of Douglas Campbell and Joshua Jipp, I argue that Rom. 4.1 should be read in connection (conceptually and structurally) with Rom. 4.16-22. I then contend that the lexical and thematic parallels between Rom. 4.1 and 4.16-22 provide clarity with respect to the syntactical complexity of Rom. 4.1. This analysis suggests that, in Rom. 4.1, Paul considers what Abraham discovered with respect to his action according to the flesh (Ishmael) and God’s action according to the promise (Isaac).
Alumni Access Available: SAGE Journals
Mentanna Campbell
Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling (August 5, 2022).
Abstract:
Unaddressed religious and spiritual struggles can lead to poor mental health, making identifying the pathways individuals take towards growth of great importance. This hermeneutical phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of individuals who sought counseling to address their religious and spiritual struggles, focusing on how the therapeutic relationship and the counselor's way of being influenced growth pathways, as these factors are most predictive of positive outcome. The researcher highlights key findings and elaborates on clinical implications.
Alumni Access Available: SAGE Journals
Paul’s Paraenetic Strategy of Example and Imitation in 1–2 Thessalonians
Cornelis Bennema
Ephemerides Theologicae Lovanienses 98, no. 2 (2022): 219–238.
Note: Online access to this journal is only available at campus by publisher requirement. Off-campus students may contact the library for assistance.
Abstract:
The Thessalonian correspondence makes several references to imitation but there is no scholarly consensus about its content and function. This study examines the role of example and imitation in Paul’s strategy for the moral formation of the Thessalonian church. Our findings show that example and imitation are key aspects of Paul’s paraenetic approach to shape the lives of the Thessalonian believers and that imitating Paul’s (and Christ’s) lifestyle of self-giving holds together the relevant texts in 1-2 Thessalonians. This study also illustrates that imitation can be mediated through other means than direct observation.
Kevin Gushiken
Christian Education Journal 19, no. 2 (August 2022): 282–296.
Abstract:
This article explores diversity in higher education institutions, particularly seminaries. In recent years, colleges and universities have grappled with ethnic make-up among faculty and staff. In many cases, a color-blind approach is adopted that focuses on demographic composition. This article argues for institutions to adopt a color-conscious approach that seeks to embrace a diverse ethos that informs decision-making, curricula choices, and faculty voices. This paper specifically focuses on Christian institutions. A biblical, theological, and sociological exploration of ethnicity is presented. Implications for institutions of higher education are provided. These implications have specific importance for seminaries who train ministry leaders to lead in an increasingly global world.
Alumni Access Available: SAGE Journals
A Critical Analysis of David and Goliath in Picturebooks
Ruth Sylvester, Megan Brown, and Sharon Kerestes
Christian Education Journal 19, no. 2 (August 2022): 213–231.
Abstract:
The story of David and Goliath is a popular and often referenced narrative. This study examined how contemporary authors and illustrators depict this ancient narrative in children's picturebooks. Using selection criteria determined by the researchers, 26 picturebooks were compared with the English Standard Version (ESV) of the ancient text. Content analysis and a constant comparative coding process were employed which revealed many consistencies between the biblical passage and modern picturebooks. The analysis also revealed major modifications, omissions, and additions to the retelling of the ancient text. Suggestions for selecting picturebooks with faithful representation of the narrative are included.
Alumni Access Available: SAGE Journals
A Minority Report on the Call to Ministry
Leland Brown
The Expository Times 133, no. 11 (August 2022): 468–78.
Abstract:
Most evangelical conceptions of the call to pastoral ministry in the American context argue that a compelling inward desire or personal sense of certainty is a prerequisite for entering ministry; these experiences are essential to discerning if one is genuinely called to ministry. This article argues that there are significant biblical and theological problems with this experience-centered understanding of the call to ministry and seeks to resource several sources from the Christian tradition that center the call to ministry on the outward qualifications of a ministerial candidate. In conclusion, the author offers several contemporary applications of seeing the call to ministry as focused primarily on the outward giftedness and qualifications of a candidate.
Alumni Access Available: SAGE Journals
Chun-Fang Kuo and Tzu-Fen Chang
Journal of Psychology and Theology 50, no. 4 (December 2022): 488–504.
Abstract:
This study investigated the association between counselors’ Christian beliefs and their counseling. One hundred fifty-eight participants, including 13 counselors and 145 counselors-in-training who were assessed for levels of Christian commitment, were randomly assigned to view one of two versions of a videotape (i.e., a client with or without Christian commitment) and respond in writing to the client’s problem. Two trained raters (i.e., a licensed counselor and an advanced counseling intern) evaluated counselors’ levels of empathy. Counselors with low and high levels of Christian commitment showed similar levels of empathy for non-Christian and Christian clients, while counselors with moderate levels of Christian commitment showed more empathy for Christian clients. The implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.
Alumni Access Available: SAGE Journals
Book Reviews
Neil D. Harper
Christian Education Journal 19, no. 1 (April 2022): 199–201.
Arthur John Rankin III
Journal of Reformed Theology 16, no. 3 (July 2022): 276–277.
Revew of Apostle of Persuasion: Theology and Rhetoric in the Pauline Letters, by James W. Thompson
Alex Muir
The Expository Times 133, no. 9 (June 2022): 404–404.
Marcus Chilaka
The Expository Times 133, no. 11 (August 2022): 498–99.
Review of The Oxford Handbook of the Book of Revelation, edited by Craig R. Koester
Alexander E. Stewart
Biblical Theology Bulletin 52, no. 2 (May 2022): 124–125.