Towards a Biblical Spirituality: Dwelling with God Through the Exodus Sanctuary-Covenant Structure
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Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Master's Theses Graduate Research 2019 Towards a Biblical Spirituality: Dwelling with God through the Exodus Sanctuary-Covenant Structure Silvia Canale Bacchiocchi Andrews University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/theses Part of the Biblical Studies Commons Recommended Citation Bacchiocchi, Silvia Canale, "Towards a Biblical Spirituality: Dwelling with God through the Exodus Sanctuary-Covenant Structure" (2019). Master's Theses. 129. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/theses/129 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT TOWARDS A BIBLICAL SPIRITUALITY: DWELLING WITH GOD THROUGH THE EXODUS SANCTUARY-COVENANT STRUCTURE by Silvia Canale Bacchiocchi Adviser: Richard M. Davidson ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Thesis Andrews University Seventh-Day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: TOWARDS A BIBLICAL SPIRITUALITY: DWELLING WITH GOD THROUGH THE EXODUS SANCTUARY-COVENANT STRUCTURE Name of researcher: Silvia Canale Bacchiocchi Name and degree of faculty adviser: Richard M. Davidson, Ph.D. Date completed: April 2019 Problem Biblical spirituality was challenged from the very start of the Christian church by competing spiritual ideologies of philosophical origins. Because the interpretation of spirituality has focused on exegetical and doctrinal approaches (micro and meso- hermeneutical levels), the grounding biblical macro-hermeneutical level of its basic presuppositions has been ignored. Yet this is the level that gives ultimate meaning to the meso and micro levels. This oversight constitutes a giant roadblock to understanding and experiencing true biblical spirituality, the consequences of which are devastating both for the individual believer (Matt 7:23), as well as for the mission, unity, and growth of the church at large. Method This thesis will first deconstruct the macro-hermeneutical foundations of three primary models of Christian spirituality—classical, Protestant and modern—through their selected representatives: Augustine, Martin Luther, and Teilhard de Chardin, respectively. Then the biblical model of spirituality will be outlined through a phenomenological study of the OT Exodus sanctuary-covenant structure, focusing on seven mountain meetings between God and Israel. Finally, a summary and comparison of the four models—classical, Protestant, modern, and biblical—will be presented. Results The final comparison of the four models of Christian spirituality reveals that the three dominant models—classical, Protestant, and modern—are nearly identical in all their macro presuppositions. The biblical model, on the other hand, stands in unique contrast to them all in upholding 1) an analogically temporal, relational and missional theology and ontology; 2) a wholistic anthropology; 3) a cognitive epistemology based on faith in God’s historical words/acts; 4) a unified historical cosmology; and 5) a Christological metaphysical center where Christ operates historically through the sanctuary covenant, granting freedom to all rational beings with the present aim of spiritual restoration/union and the final aim of a physical restoration/reunion. Conclusion This study concludes that the Exodus sanctuary-covenant structure offers a spiritually compelling and biblically grounded alternative to other models of Christian spirituality. For those seeking to be faithful to the sola and tota Scriptura principles at the most meaningful meta-hermeneutical level, it is an option that must be seriously considered. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary TOWARDS A BIBLICAL SPIRITUALITY: DWELLING WITH GOD THROUGH THE EXODUS SANCTUARY-COVENANT STRUCTURE A Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts in Religion by Silvia Canale Bacchiocchi May 2019 ©Copyright by Silvia Canale Bacchiocchi 2019 All Rights Reserved TOWARDS A BIBLICAL SPIRITUALITY: DWELLING WITH GOD THROUGH THE EXODUS SANCTUARY-COVENANT STRUCTURE A thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts in Religion by Silvia Canale Bacchiocchi APPROVAL BY THE COMMITEE: _______________________________ Richard M. Davidson, Ph.D., Adviser _______________________________ ______________________________ Martin F. Hanna, Ph.D. Date approved Dedicated to my father Fernando Canale in gratitude for his theological guidance and inspiration, and to my mother Mirta for her love and prayers. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .......................................................................... 4 2. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 5 Background of the Problem .................................................................... 5 Statement of the Problem ....................................................................... 8 Purpose ................................................................................................... 9 Justification ............................................................................................ 9 Definitions .............................................................................................. 10 Scope and Delimitations ......................................................................... 10 Presuppositions ....................................................................................... 10 Method ................................................................................................... 11 3. CLASSICAL, PROTESTANT, AND MODERN MODELS OF SPIRITUALITY ........................................................................................ 17 The Philosophical Foundations of Christian Spirituality ....................... 17 The Classical Model: Augustine of Hippo ............................................. 20 Interpretation of Being, God and Human Nature ............................ 20 Union with God through the Soul’s Higher Reason ....................... 21 The Role of Scripture ...................................................................... 23 Cosmology ...................................................................................... 26 Metaphysics .................................................................................... 27 Summary ......................................................................................... 28 The Protestant Model: Martin Luther ..................................................... 29 Interpretation of God’s Being ......................................................... 33 Interpretation of Human Nature ...................................................... 35 Cosmology ...................................................................................... 36 Union with God ............................................................................... 37 Metaphysics .................................................................................... 39 Summary ......................................................................................... 40 The Modern Model: Pierre Teilhard de Chardin .................................... 41 Cosmology ...................................................................................... 41 Interpretation of Human Nature ...................................................... 43 Interpretation of God ....................................................................... 44 Role of Scripture ............................................................................. 46 Union with God: Completing the Incarnation ................................. 47 Metaphysics .................................................................................... 49 1 Summary ......................................................................................... 52 Conclusion ...................................................................................... 53 4. THE BIBLICAL MODEL OF SPIRITUALITY: EXODUS AND THE SANCTUARY-COVENANT STRUCTURE ................................................. 55 The Biblical Structure of Theological Reason ....................................... 55 Interpretation of God and Being: Exodus 3:14, 15 ................................ 56 The Reality of God’s Appearance and Words ................................ 58 God’s Name as Temporal, Relational, and Missional .................... 60 Interpretation of Epistemology ............................................................... 64 Interpretation of Human Nature ............................................................. 68 At Creation ...................................................................................... 69 The Fall ........................................................................................... 71 Promise of Restoration .................................................................... 72 Spirituality Articulated through Seven Mountaintop Meetings ............. 74 1st Meeting (Exod 19:3–6): The Proposal ....................................... 76 2nd Meeting (Exod 19:9b–13): Consecration .................................. 78 3rd Meeting (Exod 19:20–20:17): God’s Vows ............................... 80 First Promise: The Faithful Yahweh Elohim ...........................