Bart Bruehler | Indiana Wesleyan University (original) (raw)

Papers by Bart Bruehler

The Catholic Biblical Quarterly

Horizons in Biblical Theology

Previous studies of repentance in Luke-Acts have not adequately accounted for the various element... more Previous studies of repentance in Luke-Acts have not adequately accounted for the various elements that the narrative repeatedly includes in its presentation of this theme. Drawing on the tools of cognitive science, this essay argues that Luke-Acts displays varying configurations of repentance that consistently include elements from four frames (prophetic, apocalyptic, priestly, and wisdom) into a problem-solution structure. These configurations combine recognizable elements in flexible ways from various frames, resulting in a thematization of repentance across the two volumes that is both ideologically coherent and rhetorically effective. The blending of these elements reveals how Luke connects repentance with forgiveness, baptism, and the Holy Spirit.

Biblical Theology Bulletin, Nov 1, 2022

Recent studies on the dynamics and purposes of storytelling have highlighted the ways that storie... more Recent studies on the dynamics and purposes of storytelling have highlighted the ways that stories employ embodied, affective, and conceptual elements in order to reinforce cultural values and prompt further ethical reflection. These aspects of storytelling are supported and enriched by insights from ancient rhetoricians and contemporary cognitive scientists who have shown how vivid description, mental simulation of embodied activity, and conceptual blending work through our bodies and brains to move us affectively and mentally. The sacred stories of the Bible, strengthened by their divine dimensions and existential issues, work with the same elements to move their audiences. Luke 5:27-39 (Jesus's encounter with Levi) and Luke 7:11-17 (Jesus raising a widow's son) are explored as test cases to illuminate the power that embodiment, emotion, simulation, and conceptualization can have in stories that touch upon the sacred, prompting their audiences to ethical reflection and action.

Neotestamentica

Luke's account of the annunciation to Mary (1:26-38) represents key social actors (Gabriel, God, ... more Luke's account of the annunciation to Mary (1:26-38) represents key social actors (Gabriel, God, Mary, and Jesus) through a variety of linguistic forms in a few noticeable patterns. These representations can be categorised and clarified using the social actor network developed by Theo van Leeuwen within the larger field of critical discourse analysis. Using this analytical tool, we see that Gabriel is functionalised as a messenger, God is activated (except in God's role as father), and Mary and Jesus are both represented as passive recipients and key actors in the drama of the coming salvation. The investigation concludes with a consideration of the ethical and ideological implications of these representation patterns.

The long title of this article reflects the multiple dynamics at work in a new type of class comm... more The long title of this article reflects the multiple dynamics at work in a new type of class commonly found in adult degree completion programs in higher education. These characteristics are briefly surveyed in order to show how they impinge upon one another to both limit and complicate strategies for effective learning. These dynamics and complications are illustrated by exploring how they affect an introductory class on biblical interpretation. The article closes by considering some further strategies that may be employed in this highly constrained type of class.

Novum Testamentum

The possibility of the occurrence of resultative ὅτι clauses in the NT has been noted by grammari... more The possibility of the occurrence of resultative ὅτι clauses in the NT has been noted by grammarians and commentators but with a lack of consistency and clarity. Commentators often overlook this exegetical possibility, and a survey of NT Greek grammars displays a wide variety of opinions on the category. Luke 7:47 is a key instance that exemplifies the diffuse debate. A review of possible instances of the resultative ὅτι across the LXX, the NT, and the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs shows that this was a viable way to indicate result clauses in questions and statements within Semitic-influenced Greek during the Hellenistic era. Luke uses resultative ὅτι clauses to indicate a fait accompli in five instances, including Luke 7:47.

Tyndale Bulletin

Luke’s account of Jesus’s healing of the man enslaved to the centurion exhibits a number of unusu... more Luke’s account of Jesus’s healing of the man enslaved to the centurion exhibits a number of unusual and unexpected features: a gentile centurion in a small Jewish village, an odd mixture of miracle and pronouncement stories, striking variations from the precedent story of Elisha, surprising twists in the plot, and others. Rhetoricians of Luke’s day discussed various effects that unexpected elements could have on an audience, and some of these are reflected in this account. Luke has used the multiple unexpected elements of this story to make it interesting to his audience, to intensify it alongside the raising of the dead, to re-engage his audience after the Sermon on the Plain, and to cement this episode in his audience’s memory as a precursor to Cornelius and the larger gentile mission in Acts.

Maximum Registration: 40 Catalog Description: An introduction to (1) the literature of the New Te... more Maximum Registration: 40 Catalog Description: An introduction to (1) the literature of the New Testament in its socio-historical, literary and canonical contexts; and (2) critical study of the New Testament.

Foundations for Sociorhetorical Exploration

Maximum Registration: 40 Catalog Description: An introduction to (1) the literature of the New Te... more Maximum Registration: 40 Catalog Description: An introduction to (1) the literature of the New Testament in its socio-historical, literary and canonical contexts; and (2) critical study of the New Testament.

This course will begin by reviewing the history of the interpretation of Luke and Acts and the re... more This course will begin by reviewing the history of the interpretation of Luke and Acts and the relationship of these two books. This will lay a foundation for surveying several important theological themes found in Luke-Acts. Finally, this course will explore the use of Luke-Acts in contemporary biblical and constructive theology through research, interpretation, and theological synthesis. Course Purpose and Context: This course is part of the offerings for Asbury's Ph.D. in Biblical Studies. Luke-Acts forms approximately one-third of the NT. Acts in particular is unique for its narrative of the early church in the NT. Therefore, trained scholars in Biblical Studies should be familiar with its contents, theological emphases, and history of interpretation. This course stands alongside the study of other major blocks of material in the canon, deals specifically with hermeneutical issues between text and theology, and picks up the history of interpretation in the modern period where the seminar in the history of biblical interpretation ends. Course Objectives Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: State the major issues that shaped the interpretation of Luke-Acts in the ancient and modern contexts and explain how these issues continue to affect the interpretation of Luke's opus.

Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 2014

Both adult and traditional students at Indiana Wesleyan University take an introductory New Testa... more Both adult and traditional students at Indiana Wesleyan University take an introductory New Testament course in conventional, compressed, and accelerated formats and through online and onsite settings. This wide variety of demographics and modalities raises the issues of if and how the various incarnations of this course facilitate the achievement of course and institutional learning outcomes. This investigation surveys the pre-test, post-test, and final paper scores of students in each version of the course. An interpretation of the findings concludes that the course positively impacts the learning of all types of students. However, it also suggests that traditional students who are more familiar with the Bible may be better served by what are typically deemed andragogical approaches while adult students who are less familiar with the Bible may be better served by incorporating what are often deemed pedagogical approaches.

This course offers a concise introduction to inductive Bible study for students enrolled in Maste... more This course offers a concise introduction to inductive Bible study for students enrolled in Master of Arts programs other than those specializing in Bible. The purpose is to introduce students to a systematic and comprehensive approach to Bible study. The course will treat the entire Bible study process from initial observation and interpretation of texts in their literary, historical, and canonical contexts to the contemporary appropriation of these texts. In accord with the principle that students can best understand hermeneutical issues and develop exegetical skills as they engage in rigorous study of specific texts, the course will deal with three specific books (Luke, Micah, and Ephesians) that represent both testaments and a range of literary forms and theological perspectives. Attention will be given to the significance of the interpretation and appropriation of the biblical text within the Wesleyan tradition for the ministerial vocations represented in the various Masters of...

Journal of Greco-Roman Christianity and Judaism, 2019

Christianity’s early growth was at least partially due to its effective religious rhetoric. Socio... more Christianity’s early growth was at least partially due to its effective religious rhetoric. Sociorhetorical interpretation provides tools for dynamically analyzing the imaging, textures and impact of religious discourse in the Mediterranean world. However, the dynamics of how discourse produces rhetorical force has not been fully explained. Insights from rhetorical invention, conceptual blending and counterfactual thinking provide approaches that can be deployed to explore how rhetorical forces flow into, through and out of texts. The annunciation to Mary in Lk. 1.26-38 serves as a test case for the various vectors of rhetorical force: from the reconfiguration of previous traditions in the rhetorical moment of the writing to the ways that this text may have generated persuasive emergent meanings in the midst of later cultural situations.

The Wabash Center Journal on Teaching, 2021

The long title of this article reflects the multiple dynamics at work in a new type of class comm... more The long title of this article reflects the multiple dynamics at work in a new type of class commonly found in adult degree completion programs in higher education. These characteristics are briefly surveyed in order to show how they impinge upon one another to both limit and complicate strategies for effective learning. These dynamics and complications are illustrated by exploring how they affect teaching and learning in an undergraduate class on biblical interpretation. The article closes by considering further strategies that may be employed in this highly constrained type of class.

Erickson, Richard J. A Beginner’s Guide to New Testament Exegesis. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVars... more Erickson, Richard J. A Beginner’s Guide to New Testament Exegesis. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2005. Wallace, Daniel B. The Basics of New Testament Syntax. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000.

This course will begin by reviewing the history of the interpretation of Luke and Acts and the re... more This course will begin by reviewing the history of the interpretation of Luke and Acts and the relationship of these two books. This will lay a foundation for surveying several important theological themes found in Luke-Acts. Finally, this course will explore the use of Luke-Acts in contemporary biblical and constructive theology through research, interpretation, and theological synthesis. Course Purpose and Context: This course is part of the offerings for Asbury's Ph.D. in Biblical Studies. Luke-Acts forms approximately one-third of the NT. Acts in particular is unique for its narrative of the early church in the NT. Therefore, trained scholars in Biblical Studies should be familiar with its contents, theological emphases, and history of interpretation. This course stands alongside the study of other major blocks of material in the canon, deals specifically with hermeneutical issues between text and theology, and picks up the history of interpretation in the modern period where the seminar in the history of biblical interpretation ends. Course Objectives Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: State the major issues that shaped the interpretation of Luke-Acts in the ancient and modern contexts and explain how these issues continue to affect the interpretation of Luke's opus.

Teaching Theology & Religion

The Catholic Biblical Quarterly

Horizons in Biblical Theology

Previous studies of repentance in Luke-Acts have not adequately accounted for the various element... more Previous studies of repentance in Luke-Acts have not adequately accounted for the various elements that the narrative repeatedly includes in its presentation of this theme. Drawing on the tools of cognitive science, this essay argues that Luke-Acts displays varying configurations of repentance that consistently include elements from four frames (prophetic, apocalyptic, priestly, and wisdom) into a problem-solution structure. These configurations combine recognizable elements in flexible ways from various frames, resulting in a thematization of repentance across the two volumes that is both ideologically coherent and rhetorically effective. The blending of these elements reveals how Luke connects repentance with forgiveness, baptism, and the Holy Spirit.

Biblical Theology Bulletin, Nov 1, 2022

Recent studies on the dynamics and purposes of storytelling have highlighted the ways that storie... more Recent studies on the dynamics and purposes of storytelling have highlighted the ways that stories employ embodied, affective, and conceptual elements in order to reinforce cultural values and prompt further ethical reflection. These aspects of storytelling are supported and enriched by insights from ancient rhetoricians and contemporary cognitive scientists who have shown how vivid description, mental simulation of embodied activity, and conceptual blending work through our bodies and brains to move us affectively and mentally. The sacred stories of the Bible, strengthened by their divine dimensions and existential issues, work with the same elements to move their audiences. Luke 5:27-39 (Jesus's encounter with Levi) and Luke 7:11-17 (Jesus raising a widow's son) are explored as test cases to illuminate the power that embodiment, emotion, simulation, and conceptualization can have in stories that touch upon the sacred, prompting their audiences to ethical reflection and action.

Neotestamentica

Luke's account of the annunciation to Mary (1:26-38) represents key social actors (Gabriel, God, ... more Luke's account of the annunciation to Mary (1:26-38) represents key social actors (Gabriel, God, Mary, and Jesus) through a variety of linguistic forms in a few noticeable patterns. These representations can be categorised and clarified using the social actor network developed by Theo van Leeuwen within the larger field of critical discourse analysis. Using this analytical tool, we see that Gabriel is functionalised as a messenger, God is activated (except in God's role as father), and Mary and Jesus are both represented as passive recipients and key actors in the drama of the coming salvation. The investigation concludes with a consideration of the ethical and ideological implications of these representation patterns.

The long title of this article reflects the multiple dynamics at work in a new type of class comm... more The long title of this article reflects the multiple dynamics at work in a new type of class commonly found in adult degree completion programs in higher education. These characteristics are briefly surveyed in order to show how they impinge upon one another to both limit and complicate strategies for effective learning. These dynamics and complications are illustrated by exploring how they affect an introductory class on biblical interpretation. The article closes by considering some further strategies that may be employed in this highly constrained type of class.

Novum Testamentum

The possibility of the occurrence of resultative ὅτι clauses in the NT has been noted by grammari... more The possibility of the occurrence of resultative ὅτι clauses in the NT has been noted by grammarians and commentators but with a lack of consistency and clarity. Commentators often overlook this exegetical possibility, and a survey of NT Greek grammars displays a wide variety of opinions on the category. Luke 7:47 is a key instance that exemplifies the diffuse debate. A review of possible instances of the resultative ὅτι across the LXX, the NT, and the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs shows that this was a viable way to indicate result clauses in questions and statements within Semitic-influenced Greek during the Hellenistic era. Luke uses resultative ὅτι clauses to indicate a fait accompli in five instances, including Luke 7:47.

Tyndale Bulletin

Luke’s account of Jesus’s healing of the man enslaved to the centurion exhibits a number of unusu... more Luke’s account of Jesus’s healing of the man enslaved to the centurion exhibits a number of unusual and unexpected features: a gentile centurion in a small Jewish village, an odd mixture of miracle and pronouncement stories, striking variations from the precedent story of Elisha, surprising twists in the plot, and others. Rhetoricians of Luke’s day discussed various effects that unexpected elements could have on an audience, and some of these are reflected in this account. Luke has used the multiple unexpected elements of this story to make it interesting to his audience, to intensify it alongside the raising of the dead, to re-engage his audience after the Sermon on the Plain, and to cement this episode in his audience’s memory as a precursor to Cornelius and the larger gentile mission in Acts.

Maximum Registration: 40 Catalog Description: An introduction to (1) the literature of the New Te... more Maximum Registration: 40 Catalog Description: An introduction to (1) the literature of the New Testament in its socio-historical, literary and canonical contexts; and (2) critical study of the New Testament.

Foundations for Sociorhetorical Exploration

Maximum Registration: 40 Catalog Description: An introduction to (1) the literature of the New Te... more Maximum Registration: 40 Catalog Description: An introduction to (1) the literature of the New Testament in its socio-historical, literary and canonical contexts; and (2) critical study of the New Testament.

This course will begin by reviewing the history of the interpretation of Luke and Acts and the re... more This course will begin by reviewing the history of the interpretation of Luke and Acts and the relationship of these two books. This will lay a foundation for surveying several important theological themes found in Luke-Acts. Finally, this course will explore the use of Luke-Acts in contemporary biblical and constructive theology through research, interpretation, and theological synthesis. Course Purpose and Context: This course is part of the offerings for Asbury's Ph.D. in Biblical Studies. Luke-Acts forms approximately one-third of the NT. Acts in particular is unique for its narrative of the early church in the NT. Therefore, trained scholars in Biblical Studies should be familiar with its contents, theological emphases, and history of interpretation. This course stands alongside the study of other major blocks of material in the canon, deals specifically with hermeneutical issues between text and theology, and picks up the history of interpretation in the modern period where the seminar in the history of biblical interpretation ends. Course Objectives Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: State the major issues that shaped the interpretation of Luke-Acts in the ancient and modern contexts and explain how these issues continue to affect the interpretation of Luke's opus.

Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 2014

Both adult and traditional students at Indiana Wesleyan University take an introductory New Testa... more Both adult and traditional students at Indiana Wesleyan University take an introductory New Testament course in conventional, compressed, and accelerated formats and through online and onsite settings. This wide variety of demographics and modalities raises the issues of if and how the various incarnations of this course facilitate the achievement of course and institutional learning outcomes. This investigation surveys the pre-test, post-test, and final paper scores of students in each version of the course. An interpretation of the findings concludes that the course positively impacts the learning of all types of students. However, it also suggests that traditional students who are more familiar with the Bible may be better served by what are typically deemed andragogical approaches while adult students who are less familiar with the Bible may be better served by incorporating what are often deemed pedagogical approaches.

This course offers a concise introduction to inductive Bible study for students enrolled in Maste... more This course offers a concise introduction to inductive Bible study for students enrolled in Master of Arts programs other than those specializing in Bible. The purpose is to introduce students to a systematic and comprehensive approach to Bible study. The course will treat the entire Bible study process from initial observation and interpretation of texts in their literary, historical, and canonical contexts to the contemporary appropriation of these texts. In accord with the principle that students can best understand hermeneutical issues and develop exegetical skills as they engage in rigorous study of specific texts, the course will deal with three specific books (Luke, Micah, and Ephesians) that represent both testaments and a range of literary forms and theological perspectives. Attention will be given to the significance of the interpretation and appropriation of the biblical text within the Wesleyan tradition for the ministerial vocations represented in the various Masters of...

Journal of Greco-Roman Christianity and Judaism, 2019

Christianity’s early growth was at least partially due to its effective religious rhetoric. Socio... more Christianity’s early growth was at least partially due to its effective religious rhetoric. Sociorhetorical interpretation provides tools for dynamically analyzing the imaging, textures and impact of religious discourse in the Mediterranean world. However, the dynamics of how discourse produces rhetorical force has not been fully explained. Insights from rhetorical invention, conceptual blending and counterfactual thinking provide approaches that can be deployed to explore how rhetorical forces flow into, through and out of texts. The annunciation to Mary in Lk. 1.26-38 serves as a test case for the various vectors of rhetorical force: from the reconfiguration of previous traditions in the rhetorical moment of the writing to the ways that this text may have generated persuasive emergent meanings in the midst of later cultural situations.

The Wabash Center Journal on Teaching, 2021

The long title of this article reflects the multiple dynamics at work in a new type of class comm... more The long title of this article reflects the multiple dynamics at work in a new type of class commonly found in adult degree completion programs in higher education. These characteristics are briefly surveyed in order to show how they impinge upon one another to both limit and complicate strategies for effective learning. These dynamics and complications are illustrated by exploring how they affect teaching and learning in an undergraduate class on biblical interpretation. The article closes by considering further strategies that may be employed in this highly constrained type of class.

Erickson, Richard J. A Beginner’s Guide to New Testament Exegesis. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVars... more Erickson, Richard J. A Beginner’s Guide to New Testament Exegesis. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2005. Wallace, Daniel B. The Basics of New Testament Syntax. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000.

This course will begin by reviewing the history of the interpretation of Luke and Acts and the re... more This course will begin by reviewing the history of the interpretation of Luke and Acts and the relationship of these two books. This will lay a foundation for surveying several important theological themes found in Luke-Acts. Finally, this course will explore the use of Luke-Acts in contemporary biblical and constructive theology through research, interpretation, and theological synthesis. Course Purpose and Context: This course is part of the offerings for Asbury's Ph.D. in Biblical Studies. Luke-Acts forms approximately one-third of the NT. Acts in particular is unique for its narrative of the early church in the NT. Therefore, trained scholars in Biblical Studies should be familiar with its contents, theological emphases, and history of interpretation. This course stands alongside the study of other major blocks of material in the canon, deals specifically with hermeneutical issues between text and theology, and picks up the history of interpretation in the modern period where the seminar in the history of biblical interpretation ends. Course Objectives Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: State the major issues that shaped the interpretation of Luke-Acts in the ancient and modern contexts and explain how these issues continue to affect the interpretation of Luke's opus.

Teaching Theology & Religion