Spring 2021 • Vol. 18, No. 1 The Baptist Center for Theology and Ministry New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary NOBTS President 2021 EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD James K. Dew, PhD Bart Barber, PhD NOBTS Provost First Baptist Church of Farmersville, Texas Norris Grubbs, PhD Rex Butler, PhD Editor & BCTM Director New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Adam Harwood, PhD Nathan Finn, PhD Typesetting North Greenville University Hampton Keathley Eric Hankins, PhD Book Review Editors First Baptist Fairhope, Fairhope, Alabama Archie England, PhD Dennis Phelps, PhD Malcolm Yarnell, DPhil Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary The Baptist Center for Theology and Ministry is a research institute of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The seminary is located at 3939 Gentilly Blvd., New Orle- ans, LA 70126. BCTM exists to provide theological and ministerial resources to enrich and energize minis- try in Baptist churches. Our goal is to bring together professor and practitioner to produce and apply these resources to Baptist life, polity, and ministry. The mission of the BCTM is to develop, preserve, and communicate the distinctive theological identity of Baptists. The Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry is published semiannually by the Bap- tist Center for Theology and Ministry. Copyright ©2020 The Baptist Center for Theology and Ministry, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. All Rights Reserved. This pe- ridiocal is indexed in the ATLA Religion Database® (ATLA RDB®), http://www.atla.com. CONTACT BCTM [email protected] www.baptistcenter.net SUBMISSIONS Visit the Baptist Center website for submission guidelines. Table of Contents Editorial Introduction ......................................................................................... 1 Lloyd A. Harsch, PhD Luther’s Practical Theology of Dying ............................................................... 3 Ben Hutchison Lament in Worship in an Evil World ............................................................ 27 Jessica McMillan, DMA, and Ed Steele, DMA The Davidic Covenant as an Interpretational Key ..................................... 41 Mario Melendez, PhD “The Son of God Appeared to Prophets and Patriarchs”: Ante-Nicene Views of Christophanies ................................................................................. 63 Rex D. Butler Philo of Alexandria’s Concept of Woman .................................................... 85 Joseph E. Early Jr., PhD What Does Evangelical Preaching in a Pluralistic Culture Look Like? ... 95 Pete Charpentier, DMin Boldness in Personal Evangelism ................................................................. 105 Preston L. Nix Book Reviews .................................................................................................. 119 JBTM 18.1 (Spring 2021):1–2 Editorial Introduction Lloyd A. Harsch, PhD Lloyd A. Harsch is professor of church history and Baptist studies, occu- pying the Cooperative Program Chair of SBC Studies; divisional associ- ate dean of the Theological and Historical Studies Division; director of the Institute for Faith and the Public Square; and guest editor, Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Dr. Adam Harwood, who normally holds the responsibility of editing this journal is out of the country serving in his additional capacity as Chaplain in the Louisiana Army National Guard. When he was called into active duty, the responsibility of editing the journal came to me. I am happy to fill in for him as he serves both our Lord and our country. On the surface, editing a journal seems so easy until it is your responsibility to do so. I am discov- ering how much work goes into the process. However, Dr. Har- wood did an excellent job of setting things in motion prior to his departure. I am also deeply grateful to my assistant, Gray Clary, for his diligent attention to detail in making this issue a reality. In the opening article, Ben Hutchison explores Martin Luther’s view of death and grieving. For Luther, the Christian’s hope from suffering and death was to focus on Christ and his victory over death. He includes contemporary applications of Luther’s perspec- tive. The next article examines how writers in the Bible used the literary form of lament as hope in God for a hurting world. Jessica McMillan and Ed Steele trace the use of the lament throughout the Bible and include original musical scores for contemporary use. Mario Melendez describes how pre- and post-exilic prophets understood the Davidic Covenant, culminating in a messianic message. Rex Butler looks at Early Church writers, with an em- phasis on Justin Martyr, as they defend the pre-existence and di- vinity of Jesus by interpreting Old Testament theophanies as man- ifestations of Jesus. Joseph Early traces the impact of Greek philosophy, particular- ly Aristotlean and Stoic, on the Jewish Philosopher, Philo of Alex- andria, in his views of women. Philo’s views had significant influ- 2 JOURNAL FOR BAPTIST THEOLOGY AND MINISTRY ence on the allegorically minded Alexandrian school of biblical interpretation and later medieval theology. The purpose of Christian witness has always been to present the never-changing Gospel, to an ever-changing culture, in a way that makes sense to them. Pete Charpentier examines the herme- neutical implications of Paul utilizing pagan beliefs as starting points for his address to the Areopagus in Athens. Preston Nix concludes with what it means to have boldness in evangelism. He presents a study of the word in Greek and provides his definition of going one step beyond one’s comfort level. As you are encouraged in ministry or challenged in academics, please join me in prayer that Dr. Harwood would have a rich and fruitful ministry to our military personnel and that his family would be well. JBTM 18.1 (Spring 2021):3–25 Luther’s Practical Theology of Dying Ben Hutchison Th.M., New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2016 Introduction What more should God do to persuade you to accept death willingly and not dread but to overcome it? In Christ he offers you the image of life, grace, and of salvation so that you may not be horrified by the im- ages of sin, death, and hell. Martin Luther, A Sermon of Preparing to Die, 1519 Martin Luther was a theologian who played a crucial role in changing the dynamics of the Christian church and the world. Lu- ther has been given titles such as prophet and hero for his role in the Protestant Reformation.1 He casts an enormous shadow over church history and the Protestant churches to this day. The day he nailed the 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Witten- berg, October 31, has been celebrated as Reformation Day. There- fore, to many with only a base knowledge of the Reformation, he is given credit for starting the movement. Luther played a major role in the Protestant Reformation, which should not be mini- mized. However, his life was not as dramatic as it has been retold in books and film. His passionate writings, defiant struggle with the Roman Catholic Church, and his own struggle of faith have inspired biographies in print and film. Luther’s thought and belief on faith and the Christian life in- fluenced many people of his day and subsequent generations of believers. However, Luther did not systematize his theology but revealed his beliefs in writings, sermons, and lectures.2 Current 1 Luther was considered a prophet by many during his lifetime and within decades of his death he had been acclaimed a hero of the Reformation in litera- ture. Robert Kolb, Martin Luther as Prophet, Teacher, Hero (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1999), 17, 133. 2 The lack of systemization can be found in a statement by Timothy George asserting that in none of Luther’s writings “is there anything remotely resem- 4 JOURNAL FOR BAPTIST THEOLOGY AND MINISTRY readers of Luther find his theological beliefs in his interpretations of Scripture and treatises along with his correspondences and ta- ble talks. Luther produced volumes of work both for the church and the academic realm that can be mined for his thoughts on many subjects of theological or practical concern. Luther was not only a reformer but a pastor as well. His pasto- ral role and care of those in his congregation filled much of his time and writings. Luther functioned in a pastoral role to friends and relationships beyond Wittenberg. The pastoral role of Luther was not relegated to preaching and teaching but also to baptizing, observing the Lord’s Supper, visiting the sick and dying, and writ- ing letters of counsel.3 Luther’s consolation and encouragement to those facing death is the central feature of Luther as a pastor for the purpose of this study. Historical and Current Context of Dying The people of Germany, and the larger continent of Europe, in the early sixteenth century had frequent contact with dying and death. Europe witnessed the Black Plague decimate the population in the middle of the fourteenth century.4 Deadly diseases remained a constant reality for Luther’s generation although the sweeping plague was a becoming a memory as the population grew. Infant mortality was also a factor in Luther’s time as part of the general lack of knowledge of disease and care for the sick. Not only in- fants but young children often succumbed to disease.5 Death often occurred in the home with the family and friends present. Luther’s home and family were not isolated from painful sickness and death. Two of Luther’s daughters died before adult- hood. His daughter Elizabeth died in August of 1528, less than a bling a systematic theology.” Timothy George, Theology of the Reformers, rev. ed. (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2013), 57. 3 Timothy J. Wengert, “Introducing the Pastoral Luther,” in The Pastoral Lu- ther: Essays on Martin Luther’s Practical Theology, ed. Timothy J. Wengert (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009), 3. 4 The years of 1347-1350 saw one third of the population of Europe die due to the plague. The plague lowered life expectancy to seventeen years during the most devastating period of the epidemic. Rudolph W. Heinze, Reform and Con- flict, The Baker History of the Church, Vol.