Africanas Journal Vol 2 No 1.Indd
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!&2)#!.53*/52.!, 6OL .O!PRIL This page intentionally left blank africanus journal vol. 2, no. 1 april 2010 Contents 2 Goals of the Journal 4 Life of Africanus 4 Other Front Matter 5 Some Ministerial Musings of an Aspiring Christian Philosopher: Select Contributions of Analytic Philosophy to Christian Ministry Patrick T. Smith 14 The Impossible Gospel: The Doctrine of Salvation According to the Text and Canon of Mormonism Harold F. Carl 26 Evangelicalism’s Appeal Darin Poullard 34 Preaching from the High Plains Pulpit: A Cultural Study in Regional Preaching Woodrow E. Walton 41 Ministry in an Age of Scientifi c Intervention: The Incarnation and the Ministry of Presence in Healthcare Ministry T. J. DeMarco 48 Review of Speaking of God: Theology, Language, and Truth by D. Stephen Long Adonis Vidu 51 Review of The Next Evangelicalism: Freeing the Church from Western Cultural Captivity by Soong Chan Rah John Lathrop 54 Review of The New Testament in Antiquity: A Survey of the New Testament Within its Cultural Contexts by Gary Burge, Lynn Cohick, and Gene L.Green Gustavo Karakey 1 57 Review of Marriage at the Crossroads: Couples in Conversation About Discipleship, Gender Roles, Decision Making and Intimacy by William David Spencer, Aída Besançon Spencer, Steven R. Tracy, and Celestia G. Tracy Elizabeth W. McLaughlin 59 Review of Global Dictionary of Theology by A.William Dyrness and Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen Simeon Damas 61 Review of Giving Ourselves to Prayer: An Acts 6:4 Primer for Ministry ed. by Dan R. Crawford Gama Belizaire 63 Review of Tactics of Truth: Military Principles for Waging Spiritual War by Ernest L. Vermont Sandra G. Whitley 65 Review of Art and the Christian Mind: The Life and Work of H.R. Rookmaaker by Laurel Gasque Richard V. Pierard 67 Review of Filipenses, Colosenses, 1 y 2 Tesalonicensis, Filemón by Awilda González-Tejera Aída Besançon Spencer 68 Review of Espiritualidad y Justicia: Teología Posmoderna de un Boricua en la Diáspora by Eldin Villafañe David A. Escobar Arcay Current Publications from professors and students of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Boston Campus (Center for Urban Ministerial Education) are interspersed throughout the Journal. Goals of the Africanus Journal The Africanus Journal is an academic, multilingual journal. Its goals are to promote: a. the mission and work of the members and mentors of the Africanus Guild Ph.D. Research Program of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, based on the Boston campus (the Center for Urban Ministerial Education [CUME]). b. the principles of the Africanus Guild (evangelical orthodox Christian men and women who are multicultural, multiracial, urban-oriented, studying a Bible without error in a cooperative way). Scholarly papers may be submitted normally by those who are in a Th.M., D.Min., Ph.D. program or have a Th.M., D.Min., Ph.D., Ed.D., or equivalent degree. http://www.gordonconwell.edu/boston/africanusjournal © 2010 by the Africanus Guild 2 Mentoring Scholars in a New Millennium THE JULIUS AFRICANUS GUILD WASCREATEDATTHE"OSTONCAMPUSOF'ORDON #ONWELL 4HEOLOGICAL3EMINARYWITHTHEPURPOSEOFIDENTIFYINGAND NURTURINGEVANGELICALMINORITYDOCTORALSTUDENTSWITHTHE POTENTIALTOIMPACTTHEGLOBAL"ODYOF#HRISTSIGNIlCANTLY THROUGHTHEIRSCHOLARSHIP h)AMETERNALLYGRATEFUL TOTHE!FRICANUS'UILD 4HE'UILDEXISTSASA0H$RESEARCHSUPPORTANDMEN WHICHHASHELPEDMEFULlLL TORINGPROGRAMINCOLLABORATIONWITHSCHOOLSSUCHAS 'ODSCALLANDREALIZEA ,ONDON3CHOOLOF4HEOLOGYIN%NGLAND4HECONTEXTOF PERSONALDREAM)COULDNOT THE'UILDISURBANANDMULTICULTURALWITHANEMPHASISON BEWORKINGONMY0H$IN DEVELOPINGSCHOLARSWHOCANADDRESSDIFlCULTISSUESFACING /LD4ESTAMENTWITHOUTTHE THECHURCHTODAYWITHACOMMITMENTTOTHEINERRENCYOF lNANCIALHELP PRAYERS AND 3CRIPTURESANDTHECONTEXTUALAPPLICATIONOFTHEPRINCIPLES EDUCATIONALSUPPORT)RECEIVE FOUNDTHEREIN THROUGHTHE'UILDv 15/.%+5)!$!9 PARTNER WITH US 0LEASEPARTNERWITHUSTOHELP0H$CANDIDATESFROMCONSTITUENCIES UNDERREPRESENTEDINTHEACADEMYPREPARETOTEACH'ODSWORDIN OURINCREASINGLYMULTICULTURALURBANCENTERS 3ENDYOURCONTRIBUTIONTO'ORDON #ONWELL4HEOLOGICAL3EMINARY $EVELOPMENT/FlCE %SSEX3TREET 3OUTH(AMILTON -! 0LEASEINDICATEINTHEMEMO!FRICANUS'UILD3CHOLARSHIP Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary SOUTH HAMILTON | CHARLOTTE | BOSTON | JACKSONVILLE THINK Theologically | ENGAGE Globally | LIVE Biblically 3 Life of Julius Africanus Julius Africanus was probably born in Jerusalem, many scholars think around a.d. 200. Africanus was considered by the ancients as a man of consummate learning and sharpest judgment (Ante-Nicene Fathers 6:128). He was a pupil of Heracles, distinguished for philosophy and other Greek learning, in Alexandria, Egypt around a.d. 231–233. In a.d. 220/226, he performed some duty in behalf of Nicopolis (formerly Emmaus) in Palestine. Later he likely became bishop of Emmaus (Eusebius, History, VI.xxxi.2). Origen calls him “a beloved brother in God the Father, through Jesus Christ, His holy Child” (Letter from Origen to Africanus 1). Fellow historian Eusebius distinguishes him as “no ordinary historian” (History, I. vi.2). Eusebius describes the fi ve books of Chronologies as a “monument of labor and accuracy” and cites extensively from his harmony of the evangelists’ genealogies (History, VI. xxxi. 1–3). Africanus was a careful historian who sought to defend the truth of the Bible. He is an ancient example of meticulous, detailed scholarship which is historical, biblical, truthful, and devout. Even though Eusebius describes Africanus as the author of the Kestoi, Jerome makes no mention of this (ANF 6:124). The author of Kestoi is surnamed Sextus, probably a Libyan philosopher who arranged a library in the Pantheon at Rome for the Emperor. The Kestoi was probably written toward the end of the 200s. It was not written by a Christian since it contains magical incantations (Oxyrhynchus Papyri III.412). The Greek text of Africanus’ writings may be found in Martinus Josephus Routh, Reliquiae sacrae II (New York: Georg Olms Verlag, 1974 [1846]), 225–309, and Martin Wallraff, Umberto Roberto, Karl Pinggéra, eds., William Adler, trans., Iulius Africanus Chronographiae: The Extant Fragments, Die Griechischen Christlichen Schrifsteller 15 (New York: Walter de Gruyter, 2007). The extant writings of Julius Africanus may be found in vol. 1, no 1, April 2009 edition of the Africanus Journal. Other Front Matter Editorial team Quonekuia Day, Benjamin Fung, Gustavo Karakey, Matthew Mascioli, Deb Beatty Mel, Alvin Padilla, Nicole Rim, John Runyon, Aída Besançon Spencer, William David Spencer Resources Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary faculty publications only and hard copies of this journal may be ordered by emailing [email protected], [email protected], or telephoning CUME bookstore at 617-427-7293. Please note that each author is solely legally responsible for the content and the accuracy of facts, citations, references, and quotations rendered and properly attributed in the article appearing under his or her name. Neither Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, the Africanus Guild, nor the editorial team is responsible or legally liable for any content or any statements made by any author, but the legal responsibility is solely that author’s once an article appears in print in the Africanus Journal. Summary of Content This issue, following the practical apologetic interest of Africanus, deals with the Christian basis of philosophy, a philosophical study of Mormon salvation, and the variety in the church racially and regionally and generationally particularly as it affects justice. 4 Some Ministerial Musings of an Aspiring Christian Philosopher Patrick T. Smith1 The rich legacy and history of Gordon-Conwell is well known. The theological and ministerial heritage of luminaries such as Billy Graham, A. J. Gordon, and Harold J. Ockenga have left an indelible print on the lives and ministries of many people throughout the world.2 I am at once honored and humbled to be part of such a special and unique history of God’s blessing. I must admit that I feel a little like the mule whose owner entered him into the Kentucky Derby. After his entry was denied, one organizer of the event asked the old farmer why he would do such a thing. He had to have known that the mule wouldn’t win. The farmer replied by saying, “Well, I fi gured as much. But I thought the mere association may do him some good.” To be associated with such a highly regarded institution, esteemed faculty, faithful and competent staff and administration is truly a privilege for which I am extremely thankful. We know it is by the grace of God that He calls and commissions us: “To advance Christ’s kingdom in every sphere of life by equipping Church leaders to think theologically, engage globally, and live biblically” as articulated in our vision statement. On some occasions, after having preached in churches, some would ask me about the role and value of philosophy for the Christian faith. It is usually easy enough to discern the suspicion that often underlies the question when posed by faithful laity. I often in common Socratic fashion respond with a question by asking them about their understanding of philosophy and how this understanding in their estimation is problematic for a Christian. Usually, the response refers to the notion that it is unbiblical in some way or other. Most often appeal here is made to the Apostle Paul’s admonition in Colossians 2:8, where it is written, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world