Browsing by Author "McIver, Robert"
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Item 1 and 2 Peter(2016-09-01) McIver, RobertThis book starts with a careful examination of the text of 1 and 2 Peter, and then teases out the implications that the words of Peter have for the everyday life of a Christian. It has many of the characteristics of a commentary. For example, it considers the historical, social and literary background of the passages under consideration, and it comments at the meaning of many of the key words and others features of the Greek text of the epistles. From time to time it does what Peter himself does in his letters, it considers the practical application of the theology expressed in the letters to the every-day life of Christians.
While there are significant commentaries and articles written on 1 and 2 Peter which I have been able to consult while writing this book, much less is written on the two epistles than on the letters of Paul, any of the Four Gospels, and the Apocalypse of John, even when you take into consideration 1 and 2 Peter are short in length. In some respects, the relative neglect of 1 and 2 Peter can be understood. The Gospels record the deeds and sayings of the founder of Christianity. The letters of Paul carry within them profound ideas that have shaped much of Christian theology, and which played a significant role in the extraordinary upheaval in Christianity associated with the emergence of Protestantism. 1 and 2 Peter, on the other hand, are quite small letters tucked away towards the back of the New Testament, and written to address situations that can seem a little alien to the modern reader.
Yet there is much to commend 1 and 2 Peter to our attention. Sure, they are written to people very different in culture and circumstances than those living today. Even so, Peter addresses their concerns with carefully reasoned answers, rich in theology and practical advice. The resultant letters have many interesting features. We discover something of the stressful circumstances that the early Christian believers in Asia Minor were facing, and how Peter addresses their real concerns. We find out that there are false teachers troubling these very churches, and discover the consequences of their teaching in the lives of those who they influence. The theology that Peter shares has been formed to meet very practical needs. Because of that, they have a relevance to contemporary believers that is quite remarkable.
This book explore the concerns that Peter has with regard to the Christian communities he addresses, and his response to their circumstances. The first chapter looks at Peter himself, to discover the stature of the one from whom these letters originated. The next 11 chapters deal with the leading ideas covered in the two letters, more or less in the order in which they are found in the letters. The final chapter looks at some of the larger themes that have emerged as we have studied the details of the letters.
Item Biblical and Theological Studies on the Trinity(2014-01-01) McIver, Robert; Petersen, Paul B.The word 'trinity' is not in the Bible. The expression of the doctrine was developed over a long period and finalised only in the fourth century. Many Christians who wan to be biblical have questioned the official church doctrine on the Godhead. The following collection of articles from a Seventh-day Adventist conference in Sydney emphasises, however, that the concept of the trinity is thoroughly biblical.
Item Distinguishing Characteristics of Orally Transmitted Material When Compared to Material Transmitted by Literary Means(2004-12-01) Carroll, Marie; McIver, RobertControversy surrounds the relationship between the three Synoptic Gospels written by Mark, Matthew and Luke. In particular, researchers on the New Testament disagree about whether the similarities between these three Gospels can be attributed to copying from a common information source, or whether they are due to a reliance on common oral traditions. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the characteristics that might distinguish material that was orally transmitted from that which was copied. In Experiment 1, participants were asked to write short narratives about recent and historic events, using (a) no external sources (b) an external source which was to be returned before the narrative was written, or (c) an external source which was retained while the narrative was written. Results showed that long sequences of common verbatim text occurred only when external sources could be retained while the account was written, suggesting behaviour indicative of copying. In Experiment 2, however, different genres of material were examined (jokes, aphorisms, and poetry). Results showed that while long sequences of more than 18 words in verbatim sequence might be evidence of copying where narrative material is concerned, it is not necessarily true for poetry or aphorisms, where it is possible to transmit from memory more than 18 words in exact sequence. We conclude that when Gospel instances of long sequences of similar material are examined, copying is a likely explanation. But such instances only represent a small proportion of the total number of parallels. The majority of parallel traditions appear to rely on memory, consistent with the experimental evidence presented here. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Item Experiments to Develop Criteria for Determining the Existence of Written Sources, and their Potential Implications for the Synoptic Problem(2002-01-01) Carroll, Marie; McIver, RobertConsiderations of oral transmission have long been a staple of Gospel studies. The experimental examination of the characteristics of human memory has likewise been a significant part of the academic discipline of psychology from its inception. Yet, with a few notable exceptions, those working in the field of gospel studies have made little use of the insights that might derive from experimental psychology.
This article reports on three of a series of six experiments designed to explore some of the characteristics whereby material copied from written texts may be distinguished from orally transmitted materials. The experimental design is the result of a collaboration between academics from the two diverse of Gospel studies and experimental psychology. This article will conclude with a consideration of some of the implications for the study of the Synoptic problem that might derive from the results of the experiments.
Item Eyewitnesses as Guarantors of the Accuracy of the Gospel Traditions in the Light of Psychological Research(2012-01-01) McIver, RobertThe attention of NT scholarship has been directed by Judith Redman to an important set of data relevant to the ongoing debate concerning the role eyewitnesses may have played in the formation of the gospel traditions.
Item Ezekiel: Through Crisis to Glory(1997-01-01) McIver, RobertThe prophet Ezekiel is without doubt one of the oddest characters of the Old Testament. A priest at the temple, he had a comfortable life among the better segments Jerusalem society. But after living through the horrors of a siege, he was taken captive to a strange land.
Beginning with his "wheels within wheels" vision and encounter with God, Ezekiel's life took a turn for the bizarre. But the very actions that seem so strange underline two important issues we face today.
This study of Ezekiel will allow us to ask "Why are bad things happening to good people? And what is God doing about it?" Ezekiel will bring us face to face with the actions of God in the world's past and in our lives today and in the future.
Item First-Century Nazareth(1999-01-01) McIver, RobertGlaube und Zukunftsgestaltung: Festschrift zum hundertjährigen Bestehen der Theologischen Hochschule Friedensau contains essays on theology, social sciences and music. These areas do not exist independently but are interrelated. Some of the interdisciplinary themes being addressed include faith and peace, faith and cultural identity, history and religious experience, social situation and religious hope, Christian community and social responsibility, society and mission, music and theology as well as cultural crisis and church.
Item Guest Editorial: Jesus(1999-11-01) McIver, RobertItem Hermeneutics of Parable Interpretation in Ellen White Compared to Those of Archbishop Trench(2014-01-01) McIver, RobertBoth Archbishop Trench and Ellen White published their works on parable interpretation before Jülicher’s decisive rejection of allegorical interpretation became widely known. Thus their hermeneutics of parable interpretation can be fairly compared. Trench and White move freely between commenting on the relevant historical backgrounds and application to the reader’s personal spiritual life. Both are comfortable with a natural theology – that God, as creator, has revealed himself in nature as well is in Scripture. White is more conservative in the amount of allegorization she uses than is Trench, and she places more stress on the immanence of the eschaton.
Item Implications of New Data Pertaining to the Problem of Synoptic Relationships(1997-01-01) McIver, RobertThis paper grows out of research done for reasons quite removed investigating the synoptic problem, but which threw up data that had direct, and unexpected implications for the relationships between the Synoptic Gospels. It attempts to pursue these implications in a methodical way which lays a basis for the rather novel hypothesis advanced. It will do so by first stating some definitions , then by pursuing common ground on which all involved in the debate are agreed, by outlining the new data and its limitations, and finally, by developing a thesis consistent with this data.
Item Incorporating Student Experience and Transformative Learning into Curriculum Design and Planning of Undergraduate Theological Degrees(2010-01-01) Ormerod, Neil; McIver, Robert; Holm, Neil; Harding, Mark; Moore, Gerard; Sherlock, PeterItem Jesus and Sepphoris: Missing Link or Negative Evidence?(1997-01-01) McIver, RobertThis paper explores anew the possible connections between Jesus and Sepphoris, together with the contributions that Sepphoris makes to our understanding of the historical Jesus. It will do so by first considering the prima facie case for linking Jesus with Sepphoris despite the fact that Sepphoris is no where mentioned in the New Testament.
It will then examine what archaeologists have discovered about first century AD Sepphoris, after which it will take opportunity to evaluate the implications the discoveries at Sepphoris have for our understanding of Jesus.
Item Mainstream or Marginal: The Matthean Community in Early Christianity(2012-01-01) McIver, RobertThis book constructs a profile of the Matthean Community by using insights from sociology and studies of oral and chirographic cultures, together with a careful investigation of the material unique to the gospel of Matthew. A picture emerges of a self-regulating, independent community with the kind of strong self-definition and tension with its surrounding society characteristic of a sect. It had a high regard for law and practiced Sabbath-observance, as well as observing the distinction between clean and unclean foods. The community viewed its members as saved sinners who should conduct themselves in a manner appropriate to those who await the soon return of the Lord. Somewhat provocatively, this book argues that the Matthean Community was likely to be mainstream in early Christianity, not marginal.
Item No One Better: Essays in Honour of Dr. Norman H. Young(2016-01-01) McIver, Robert; de Waal, KayleIn honour of the work and legacy of Norman H. Young, this compilation of essays covers a range of topics on the Old Testament, New Testament, mission, sociology of religion, identity, and church history.
Item One Hundred-Fold Yield – Miraculous or Mundane? Matthew 13.8, 23; Mark 4.8, 20; Luke 8.8(1994-10-01) McIver, RobertIn the second volume of their ICC commentary on Matthew, as they comment on the parable of the sower, W. D. Davies and Dale C. Allison state that yields of thirty-fold, sixty-fold, or one hundred-fold ‘do not seem obviously out of the ordinary. We therefore register our disagreement with Jeremias. The yield in our parable is not spectacularly overdone.’ Davies and Allison are not alone in saying this of the yield of the seed that fell on the good soil in the parable, although most commentators do interpret the passage in terms of the miraculous yield of the seed sown on the good soil. This matter is of some importance in the interpretation of the parable, though, because if Davies and Allison are correct, then the parable has quite a different focus than that generally understood. The parable would then only highlight the variation in fruitage, not the miraculous yield.
Item Perceptions of Mission Held by Teachers in Seventh-day Adventist Schools in Australia and the Solomon Islands(2017-12-30) Kilgour, Peter W.; McIver, RobertThe questions addressed in this book include:
- What do teachers in Seventh-day Adventist Schools in Australia and the Solomon Islands believe is their mission?
- What was the original motivation that led to the setting-up of Adventist schools in Australia and the Solomon Islands?
- What aspirations do the current administrators have for Adventist schools?
- What congruence exists between the original motivation, the current aspirations of administrators and the beliefs of teachers about their mission?
Adventist schools today are in-the-main funded independently of their parent churches and have substantial administrative autonomy. The research reported here provides evidence that teachers in Adventist schools in both countries hold views on the mission of their school that accord well with the goals of both the pioneers and current education administrators.
This book will be of interest to:
- Teachers, school administrators, church administrators, church pastors and parents of students attending Adventist schools;
- Academics interested in faith-based school systems;
- Academics interested in the role of institutions in a growing church.
Item Physical, Mental and Moral Education at Avondale College(1993-09-01) McIver, RobertBecause humans have physical, spiritual, mental and social aspects, it is self-evident that the primary object of education should be to "develop and train every part of the being- physical, mental and moral" At least this reasoning was self evident to Ellen G. White and the group of American educators working with her to establish a school in Australia.
Item Purpose and Mission of Seventh-day Adventist Schools in Australia and the Solomon Islands - Past and Present(2017-12-01) McIver, RobertVery soon after the Seventh-day Adventist Church became established in both Australia and the Solomon Islanders, leaders in the Church established church schools to pass on their world view to the students attending those schools. Over a century has passed since the initial setting up of the Adventist school systems in Australia and the Solomon Islands. In both countries government moneys provide the main funding for the schools, making them independent of the church for their funding. Has this made them also independent of the church in their goals and ethos? The results of the survey of teachers in Adventist schools in both Australia and the Solomon Islands reveal that there is still a strong congruence between contemporary teacher’s understanding of the role of Adventist schools, and the reason that Adventist Schools were initially established.
Item Should Ministers of Religion be on Hospital Ethics Committees?(1996-07-01) McIver, RobertWhy should ministers of Religion be included on nearly every ethics committee? While this paper will not argue that ministers of Religion should be on all ethics committees, it will suggest that there are certain things which make them particularly suitable candidates for inclusion. It will first point out that they are experienced in working within ideologically diverse environments; it will demonstrate that they are experienced in applying principles to real life situations in a dynamic way; and finally, the paper will affirm their awareness of the limitations of rule-based systems.
Item The Bible and Ethics(1994-09-01) McIver, RobertThe Bible is not a handbook of ethics, but because biblical religion strongly links religious commitment to behaviour, the Bible deals deals extensively with ethical issues. It is precisely in the area of ethics that biblical religion makes itself real in the life of the believer, and it is the point at which the relevance or irrelevance of religion is felt most keenly. The question, "Is the Bible still relevant today?" is frequently answered in terms of the perceived ethics inherent in the Bible.
This article will survey some of the more prominent themes in biblical ethics, and will discover these to be astonishingly relevant to modern society, societies far removed in time and culture from those who first received the written word of God.