 |
| Italy: Facebook-Travel+Leisure |
UWTSD,
(2009), PhD Viva for Theodicy and Practical Theology (2010).
This is brief a entry in regard to the 2009 Viva where the internal and external reviewers questioned the lack of biblical studies and philosophy work in the thesis, I presented.The reviewers suggested my work was evangelical and perhaps, biblically naive.
I stated I had followed adviser directions and that the University should take responsibility for how I was advised. It was as if the left hand (Wales, tutors) and right hand (Wales, reviewers, internal and external) passed all responsibility on to the advised.
In the end, my revised final, passed thesis, rightly contained far more Reformed theology, philosophy of religion and even some New Testament Greek. The last two academic approaches had been discouraged by my tutors prior to my Viva, in favour of empirical approaches that the reviewers were not very concerned about! My final thesis was superior in quantity to the pre-Viva version. The work below is in the final version with edits for this website. This is added Reformed theology and biblical studies.
The reviewers were largely correct in their assessment, but as a local pastor with a Doctorate that unofficially reviewed my work, stated (paraphrased): 'You had that philosophical work in the thesis, and the tutors asked you to take it out.'
My Viva performance, I was told, demonstrated I knew what I was writing and talking about. The external reviewer told me I could complete the revisions required in three months, but I did even more revisions and took eight months. The internal reviewer was very kind enough to do a final review and between the two of us, we only found a handful of further changes. I then received the PhD. Again, the final thesis is superior in quantity to the pre-Viva version.
PhD Edit
This is brief a entry in regard to the 2009 Viva where the internal and external reviewers questioned the lack of biblical studies and philosophy work in the thesis, I presented.The reviewers suggested my work was evangelical and perhaps, biblically naive.
I stated I had followed adviser directions and that the University should take responsibility for how I was advised. It was as if the left hand (Wales, tutors) and right hand (Wales, reviewers, internal and external) passed all responsibility on to the advised.
In the end, my revised final, passed thesis, rightly contained far more Reformed theology, philosophy of religion and even some New Testament Greek. The last two academic approaches had been discouraged by my tutors prior to my Viva, in favour of empirical approaches that the reviewers were not very concerned about! My final thesis was superior in quantity to the pre-Viva version. The work below is in the final version with edits for this website. This is added Reformed theology and biblical studies.
The reviewers were largely correct in their assessment, but as a local pastor with a Doctorate that unofficially reviewed my work, stated (paraphrased): 'You had that philosophical work in the thesis, and the tutors asked you to take it out.'
My Viva performance, I was told, demonstrated I knew what I was writing and talking about. The external reviewer told me I could complete the revisions required in three months, but I did even more revisions and took eight months. The internal reviewer was very kind enough to do a final review and between the two of us, we only found a handful of further changes. I then received the PhD. Again, the final thesis is superior in quantity to the pre-Viva version.
PhD Edit
In my mind, the concept compatibilism, although the modern philosophical term is not used, is implied in Scripture. The subject of predestination for salvation, for example, is a complex theological discussion and could be a topic for a Biblical Greek thesis. However, within Ephesians 1, ‘predestined’ which is προορίσας (The Greek New Testament 1993: 654), within Ephesians 1: 5, in the context is ‘predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ’ The New American Standard Version Bible (1984: 1322). There is προορισθέντες at Ephesians 1: 11, as in ‘we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to his purpose’ appear to support Reformed compatibilist notions.
The Greek New Testament (1993: 655).
Strong describes proorizw as to limit in advance in figurative terms, and to predetermine, ordain, and predestinate. Strong (1890)(1986: 81). Bauer defines the root word as meaning to decide before hand, predestine of God and applies this definition to Ephesians 1: 5 and 11.Bauer (1979: 709). Minimally, there appears reasonable textual support from this verse that could support a Reformed compatibilistic perspective on how God chooses persons for his ultimate culminated Kingdom.
A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Translated by Eric H. Wahlstrom, Chicago, The University of Chicago Press.
Strong describes proorizw as to limit in advance in figurative terms, and to predetermine, ordain, and predestinate. Strong (1890)(1986: 81). Bauer defines the root word as meaning to decide before hand, predestine of God and applies this definition to Ephesians 1: 5 and 11.Bauer (1979: 709). Minimally, there appears reasonable textual support from this verse that could support a Reformed compatibilistic perspective on how God chooses persons for his ultimate culminated Kingdom.
A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Translated by Eric H. Wahlstrom, Chicago, The University of Chicago Press.
BAUER, WALTER. (1979) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Translated by Eric H. Wahlstrom, Chicago, The University of Chicago Press.
STRONG, J. (1890)(1986) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Pickering, Ontario, Welch Publishing Company.
THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT (1993) Stuttgart, United Bible Societies.
