Papers by Andrew Harshman
The atonement is a topic that has been discussed and debated for 2,000 years. There are many view... more The atonement is a topic that has been discussed and debated for 2,000 years. There are many views regarding what exactly the death and resurrection of Jesus accomplished with new views being put forward every year. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the major competing views of the atonement, highlighting their different strengths and weaknesses.
The goal of this paper is to examine the major areas of discussion when looking at homosexuality ... more The goal of this paper is to examine the major areas of discussion when looking at homosexuality in the Bible, provide a brief survey of the different approaches used by both affirming and non-affirming scholars, and to make a choice on which arguments seem best.
The topic of hell in Christianity always seems to be on people’s radar. There are many ideas and ... more The topic of hell in Christianity always seems to be on people’s radar. There are many ideas and misconceptions about what it is and what happens there from ideas of red devils with horns and pitchforks to believing that there is no such place as hell. This study is going to examine what Jesus really meant when he mentioned hell, or better yet, Gehenna γέεννα, by taking a look at the Old Testament, intertestamental literature, and the times Jesus mentioned it specifically.
What does and doesn't the Bible say regarding homosexuality? Does it condone it or condemn it? Is... more What does and doesn't the Bible say regarding homosexuality? Does it condone it or condemn it? Is it clear on the issue? What does Paul mean in Rom. 1:26-27, 1 Cor. 6:9, and 1 Tim. 1:10? Unfortunately, it is beyond the scope of this paper to answer all of those questions. Instead, the focus of this paper will be narrowed down to one word, μαλακός, and whether or not modern Bible translations are justified in translating μαλακός as being related to homosexuality in 1 Cor. 6:9.
A comparison of the form (i.e. the literary structure) and points of content (literary and theolo... more A comparison of the form (i.e. the literary structure) and points of content (literary and theological) of Deuteronomy with that of the Hittite Treaties and Neo-Assyrian treaty.
This paper compares and contrasts life and death in The Epic of Gilgamesh, Deuteronomy 30, and Pr... more This paper compares and contrasts life and death in The Epic of Gilgamesh, Deuteronomy 30, and Proverbs 30. It focuses on whether or not one must go on a journey to find meaning.
1 Timothy 2:8-15 is one of the most debated passages in the New Testament. This is an exegetical ... more 1 Timothy 2:8-15 is one of the most debated passages in the New Testament. This is an exegetical analysis which takes a look at all aspects of this passage including genre, background, textual variants, syntactical ambiguities, and semantic ambiguities.
Complementarianism vs. egalitarianism is hotly debated within Christian circles. There is a wide ... more Complementarianism vs. egalitarianism is hotly debated within Christian circles. There is a wide spectrum of opinion in this debate from those who claim that women should never teach a Christian male over 12 years old to people who say that women can hold any office or authority in the church that a man can. Usually the debate revolves around a few select texts that either prove or disprove the opposing side. Instead of looking at those select verses, this paper will look at how Jesus treated women, how women functioned in the early church and Paul’s writings, and what kind of inclusion Paul meant when he says that we are all one in Christ. Afterwards, it will take a brief look at some practical implications that flow out of this. The aim of this paper is to refute the restrictive idea that women are not permitted to be in church ministry and to show that they are equal with men.
The topic of whether Christians are allowed to use physical force to handle conflict is hotly deb... more The topic of whether Christians are allowed to use physical force to handle conflict is hotly debated in Christian circles today. This isn’t a new debate; it has been discussed for nearly all of Church history. There are many theologians who love Jesus and desire to be faithful to his teachings on both sides of this issue. In this last century, the interest in the morality of Christians who bear arms has intensified due to the many wars, armed conflicts, and the increasing ability for countries and individuals to kill each other. Since Christians are citizens of God’s kingdom, they are called to love all people and make peace with everyone, even their enemies, at all times. Christians are called to a different standard of ethic than the rest of the world which will be shown by examining 1) the arguments in favor of peace making and enemy loving, 2) responding to the most common objections, and 3) how to practically apply this to life and ministry.
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Papers by Andrew Harshman