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The Person of Christ in the Seventh–Day Adventism

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The Person of Christ in the Seventh–Day Adventism View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Middlesex University Research Repository The Person of Christ in the Seventh–day Adventism: Doctrine–Building and E. J. Wagonner’s Potential in Developing Christological Dialogue with Eastern Christianity Nicolae Butoiu May 2018 ABSTRACT The feat of salvation and of the everlasting life had been (and still is) one of the most profound anxieties expressed by the Christian believers, which led to a consistent scrutinizing of the identity of Jesus Christ. Titled, “The Person of Christ in the Seventh–day Adventism: Doctrine–Building and E. J. Wagonner’s Potential in Developing Christological Dialogue with Eastern Christianity,” this thesis presents the historical context and the essence of the debates in which the Seventh–day Adventists adopted the belief that Jesus Christ is fully divine and eternal, and abandoned the Arian, and semi-Arian teachings of its pioneers. The thesis also demonstrates that, with a seasoned Christology in place, the Seventh–day Adventism is ready to engage a more meaningful Christological dialogue with Orthodox Christianity, for the purpose of religious coexistence, if nothing else. The adoption of the Trinitarian Christology by the Seventh–Day Adventists has been widely debated during the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth, both as matter of ecclesiastic identity, and as a quest for spiritual salvation. While some argued that by adopting a Trinitarian Christology that resembled a Catholic creed, Seventh–day Adventism endangered itself of “returning” to a creedal Catholicism. Others recognized that only a Christ who forever is the true God, and who also became truly human, can indeed save humanity from the bondage of sin, and grant everlasting life. As this thesis demonstrates, Waggoner’s arguments that favoured the Trinitarian Christology were built on the Scripture, and away from any interference of Catholicism. Beyond historical criticism, this thesis also delves into comparative dogmatics in order to demonstrate that a similar interpretation of the Scripture by the Seventh–day Adventism, and the Eastern Orthodox Christianity yielded similar Christological results with regard to the relationship between the divine nature and human nature of Jesus Christ. Last but not least, in spite of an apparent contextual disparity that might emerge from the comparison between American Protestantism and Orthodox Christianity, this thesis also demonstrates that both parties were concerned with the same questions regarding the identity of Jesus Christ, who, as described by Mark, “even the wind and the waves obey!” (Mark 4:41) ii The Person of Christ in the Seventh–day Adventism: Doctrine–Building and E. J. Wagonner’s Potential in Developing Christological Dialogue with Eastern Christianity By Nicolae Butoiu Theology Main Supervisor: Dr Damon SO Second Supervisor: Dr Jerry MOON Director of Studies: Dr David SINGH A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Middlesex University May 2018 Oxford Centre for Mission Studies DECLARATIONS This work has not previously been accepted in substance for any degree and is not being concurrently submitted in candidature for any degree. Signed (Candidate) Date 25 May 2018 STATEMENT 1 This thesis is the result of my own investigations, except where otherwise stated. Where correction services have been used, the extent and nature of the correction is clearly marked in a footnote. Other sources are acknowledged by midnotes or footnotes giving explicit references. A bibliography is appended. Signed (Candidate) Date 25 May 2018 STATEMENT 2 I hereby give consent for my thesis, if approved, to be available for photocopying by the British Library and for Inter-Library Loan, for open access to the Electronic Theses Online Service (EthoS) linked to the British Library, and for the title and summary to be made available to outside organizations. Signed (Candidate) Date 25 May 2018 DEDICATION SDG – To the Almighty God for the thirst He put in my heart; to my wife Monique and to my four daughters – Manuela, Vicky, Elena and Tina for challenging me with their two constant questions ‘How do you know is true?’ and ‘Did it happened to you?!’ i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Worshipping God is the only impulse that moves my soul while I write these words; thanking Him for all the people, experiences, and support that brought me to this landmark. He is the One who impressed Professor Deryke Belshaw and Dr. Bernard Farr to open the OCMS door to me. It is the Lord who appointed Dr. Damon So to be my main and one of a kind supervisor whose godly patience and Christian spirit at times, kept alive the flickering flame of my academic journey. Thank God for the expertise and ministry of Dr. Jerry Moon from Andrews University, US and for Dr. David Singh, my director of study, who refused to let me talk with discouragement. Thank God for all OCMS faculty—Dr. Paul Bendor- Samuel (your prayer meant immensely to me, thank you!), Dr. Tom Harvey, Dr. Tim Keene, Dr. Brainerd Prince (how can I forget your stature in my pre-viva?!), Dr. Marina Behera (you convinced me to dare!), Dr. Ben Knigton, Drs. Wonsuk and Julie Ma, Drs. Bill and Kay Prevette, Dr. Marian Simion (you taught me the science of flowing in writing, thank you!), Dr. Nelu Burcea the man who always sees a way out and a solution where it seems to be none. Thank you staff - Ralf Bates, our librarian, Nicky Clargo and Marslin Blanche, Rachel McIntyre, Miss Irim Sarwar (thank you for saving me from so many times with my registration and technicalities!), friends and research colleagues. Thank you David for keeping the building clean and thank you miss cook for so many Wednesday tasty meals. Thank you all those I forgot of, myself included, but you are not forgotten. You all were sent by God to lead and help me through. Thank you heartily. I will be back! ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Dedication ...............................................................................................................i Introduction............................................................................................................1 Chapter 1 .............................................................................................................. 16 The Foundations of Christology 17 1.1 Jesus Christ: Divine or Human? ............................................................................. 16 1.2 The Foundations of Christology ............................................................................. 16 1.2.1 The Pivotal Role of the Scripture .................................................................... 17 1.2.2 Arius and the Raise of Arianism ..................................................................... 19 1.2.3 Preconditions for Defining Trinitarian Christology ........................................ 21 1.2.4 Political Aspects and Doctrinal Unity ............................................................. 22 1.2.5 The Formulation of the Trinitarian Doctrine in the Early Church .................. 24 1.2.6 The Ecumenical Councils ............................................................................... 26 1.2.6.1 The Council of Nicaea ............................................................................. 27 1.2.6.2 The Power of homoousios (ὁμοούσιος) ................................................... 27 1.2.6.3 The First Council of Constantinople ........................................................ 28 1.2.6.4 The Niceno–Constantinopolitan Creed .................................................... 30 1.2.7 Nestorianism vs. Monophysitism .................................................................... 31 1.2.8 The Filioque Clause ........................................................................................ 33 1.2.9 The Orthodox Definition of the Trinitarian Christology ................................. 36 1.2.9.1 What the Trinity Is ................................................................................... 36 1.2.9.2 What the Trinity Is Not ............................................................................ 38 1.3 Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 39 Chapter 2 .............................................................................................................. 42 Typifying Christology at the Birth Theological Milieu of Adventism 43 2.1 The Genesis of Adventism ..................................................................................... 45 2.2 The Theological Milieu at the Birth of Adventism ................................................ 47 2.3 Four Factors of Influence ....................................................................................... 49 2.3.1 Anabaptism ..................................................................................................... 49 2.3.2 Restorationism ................................................................................................ 50 2.3.3 Methodism ...................................................................................................... 51 2.3.4 Deism .............................................................................................................. 51 2.4 The Development of Adventist Christology ........................................................... 52 2.4.1 The Christian Connexion ...............................................................................
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