Digital Commons @ George Fox University Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations 2-10-2016 Developing an Applied Semiotics of Prophetic Perceptuality Mark John Chironna George Fox University, [email protected] This research is a product of the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program at George Fox University. Find out more about the program. Recommended Citation Chironna, Mark John, "Developing an Applied Semiotics of Prophetic Perceptuality" (2016). Doctor of Ministry. Paper 125. http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/dmin/125 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at Digital Commons @ George Fox University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctor of Ministry by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ George Fox University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY DEVELOPING AN APPLIED SEMIOTICS OF PROPHETIC PERCEPTUALITY A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GEORGE FOX EVANGELICAL SEMINARY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MINISTRY By MARK J. CHIRONNA PORTLAND, OREGON FEBRUARY 2016 George Fox Evangelical Seminary George Fox University Portland, Oregon CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL ________________________________ DMin Dissertation ________________________________ This is to certify that the DMin Dissertation of Mark J. Chironna has been approved by the Dissertation Committee on February 10, 2016 for the degree of Doctor of Ministry in Semiotics and Future Studies. Dissertation Committee: Primary Advisor: Loren Kerns, PhD Secondary Advisor: AJ Swoboda, PhD Lead Mentor: Leonard I. Sweet, PhD Copyright © 2016 by Mark J. Chironna All rights reserved. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Many treasured relationships have added value to my life and made this journey possible. Without Dr. Leonard Sweet’s enduring friendship, faithfulness, and theological investment, this moment would not have been realized. I am deeply indebted to my faculty adviser, Dr. Loren Kerns, who walked alongside me, exponentially expanding my critical-thinking skills. To Dr. Cliff Berger, an instrumental encourager, my appreciation overflows. To the doctoral committee who guided and invested in me, and to my doctoral cohort, who inspired exploration and honed my convictions, I am ever grateful. I am indebted to Derek Brown, Bishop Joseph L. Garlington, Dr. Adonijah Ogbannaya, and Vincent Manzo, whose thought-provoking critiques, insights, and compelling questions sharpened my argument. Misty Hood, my administrator, kept me accountable, carrying my schedule as if it were her own. I am humbled. The value-add of my editor, Donna Scuderi, cannot be repayed. She is one of the most inspirational, thought-provoking, forward-thinking persons I have known. Ultimately, I acknowledge the sacrifice and endless love of my wife, Ruth, who has given up countless hours, weeks, months, and years, to allow me to pursue this dream of a lifetime. She is my greatest encourager and my stalwart. I love her with my life. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT viii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION The Promise-Experience Disconnect ...................................................................... 1 The Problem ............................................................................................................ 2 Inconsistency and a Lack of Understanding ............................................... 2 Inconsistency and the Lack of Theology .................................................... 3 Inconsistency Due to Inadequate Theories ................................................. 5 Theological Persuasions Enforce Dogmatic Fallacies ................................ 7 My Story ................................................................................................................. 8 The Method of Research for This Study ............................................................... 11 The Thesis ............................................................................................................. 15 The Jesus Model and an Applied Semiotics of Prophetic Perceptuality .............. 16 Jesus, the Semiotician ............................................................................... 16 Incarnating Christ: The Jesus Model Manifested ..................................... 17 CHAPTER 2: JESUS’S PHENOMENOLOGY IN RECENT AND CONTEMPORARY SCHOLARSHIP The Landscape ...................................................................................................... 18 Jesus’s Consciousness and Person ........................................................................ 22 Jesus’s Consciousness as a Man ........................................................................... 23 iv The Jesus Pattern ................................................................................................... 25 Interpretation and Prophetic Function .................................................................. 29 Jesus’s Perceptuality and the Nature of the Son ................................................... 32 Tradition in the Father-Son Relationship .................................................. 35 Continual Contemplation .......................................................................... 37 The “Rebellious Son” Standard ............................................................................ 40 Jesus’s Perception of Himself as the Father’s Son ............................................... 43 Jesus’s Self-Perception as the Last Adam ............................................................ 46 Jesus’s Perception of Himself as a Man Anointed by the Spirit ........................... 53 CHAPTER 3: THE PATRISTIC VIEW OF JESUS’S ONTOLOGY AND PHENOMENOLOGY The Patristic Legacy ............................................................................................. 57 Defending the Biblical Record .............................................................................. 58 Hypostasis and Human Nature .............................................................................. 63 Fully-Human Consciousness of the Only Begotten .................................. 72 The Ignorance of the Incarnate Son ...................................................................... 74 The Weakness of the Incarnate Son ...................................................................... 78 The Incarnate Son Endowed with Power .............................................................. 79 CHAPTER 4: WESLEYAN CONTEXT FOR AN APPLIED SEMIOTICS OF PROPHETIC PERCEPTUALITY v Historical Dispute ................................................................................................. 84 The Reformation Seedbed ..................................................................................... 85 Wesley’s Experiential Perspective ........................................................................ 90 Wesley’s Roots: The Eastern Fathers ....................................................... 91 Wesley’s Roots: His Mother, Susanna ...................................................... 96 Wesley’s Practical Theology ................................................................................ 99 Wesley’s Interaction with John 5 ........................................................................ 100 Wesley’s “Silence” on the Miraculous ............................................................... 104 Wesley and the Restoration of Wholeness .......................................................... 107 An Applied Semiotics of Prophetic Perceptuality: Wesley’s Legacy ................ 110 CHAPTER 5: CONSCIOUSNESS STUDIES AND JESUS’S PHENOMENOLOGY Face-to-Face Communion ................................................................................... 112 Overview of Consciousness in History ............................................................... 114 John 5 and Polanyi’s “Tacit Knowing” .............................................................. 125 Jesus’s Phenomenology ...................................................................................... 132 Jesus’s Transpersonal Consciousness and the Possibility of Mystical Experience ............................................................................................... 135 Jesus’s Intentionality ........................................................................................... 142 Jesus’s Consciousness and the Spirit .................................................................. 145 vi CHAPTER 6: TOWARD AN APPLIED SEMIOTICS OF PROPHETIC PERCEPTUALITY The Direction of Inquiry ..................................................................................... 149 Signs: Wilderness Wanderings and the Man at the Pool .................................... 154 Jesus’s Purposeful View of the Sabbath ............................................................. 156 The Role and Condition of Intentionality ........................................................... 162 Union with Christ, by Faith, through the Spirit ...................................... 166 Seeing as Jesus Saw ............................................................................................ 170 CHAPTER 7: CONCLUSION Divine Intent: Prophetic Perceptuality and Power .............................................. 176 Father-Consciousness and “Greater Works” .....................................................