Lascelles G B James | Northern Caribbean University (original) (raw)

Books by Lascelles G B James

A fresh analytical look at reasons why the New Testament Writers wrote the way they wrote

Papers by Lascelles G B James

Discipleship and Witnessing, 2022

A very brief biblical treatise on the absolute importance of witnessing to the disciple of Jesus ... more A very brief biblical treatise on the absolute importance of witnessing to the disciple of Jesus Christ applicable for all Christians in every generation.

Within the “Acts” of the apostoloi there are theoretical and practical exemplars which the contem... more Within the “Acts” of the apostoloi there are theoretical and practical exemplars which the contemporary church may pattern to navigate a pathway to fruitful evangelism and sustainable growth. The exemplars discussed here, though not exhaustive, may serve as models for an operational framework.
They are: reliance upon the Holy Spirit; christocentric preaching; fellowship; fasting and prayer; mission-orientation; appointed servants; training and delegation; nurture and retention; and provision for material needs.

Many advocate that the Ten Commandments are absolute and deontological, while some purport that t... more Many advocate that the Ten Commandments are absolute and deontological, while some purport that they are relative. Arguments for absoluteness propose that Christians are duty-bound to obey these laws without exception, while arguments for relativity propose that the laws are relative in their application within the parameters defined by, semantics, culture, generalism and overarching love.

Proverbs seems to have a number of authors and was compiled over an extended period of time. Bibl... more Proverbs seems to have a number of authors and was compiled over an extended period of time. Bible scholars differ in their opinions concerning the authorship and date of compilation of the book. There are a number of critics who believe that references to the names of some authors of Proverbs are symbolic. There are others who believe that the final compilation date of the book was around the 2nd century B.C.
On the other hand, there are those who believe that the names of the authors in question are literal and denote actual persons who really existed. There are also some who refute the 2nd century date of final compilation and instead advocate a final compilation date of around the 7th century B.C. Evidence would favour literal names for the authors in question and an earlier final compilation date of around 7th century B.C as opposed to symbolic names and final compilation date of the 2nd century.
It is the purpose of this paper to present evidence to support literal names and final compilation date in the 7th century.

Christianity emerged in a world immersed in Greek Philosophy and Hellenistic hegemony that framed... more Christianity emerged in a world immersed in Greek Philosophy and Hellenistic hegemony that framed its development. Unavoidably, Christianity was expressed using many ideas that existed within that framework of thought but maintained its uniqueness because it was different.

A short historical reflection and objective examination that relates the genesis and subsequent d... more A short historical reflection and objective examination that relates the genesis and subsequent development of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to the synergy of 19th century social, economic, and political factors that were catalysts to the movement. These determinate factors were the detonators that ignited the explosion of other religious denominations that proliferated in that era.

The “call” of Abram is the continuation of the theology of the remnant seen in the experience of ... more The “call” of Abram is the continuation of the theology of the remnant seen in the experience of Noah and his family. It is an intimation of God’s ultimate purpose for mankind and the exemplar of the final gathering to heavenly Canaan. The narrative is foundational to New Testament eschatology and the concept of the remaining ones that will inherit the “New Jerusalem” espoused by the N.T. book of Revelation.

This is the “Table of Contents” and “Introduction” to the book, The New Testament Writers: Why Th... more This is the “Table of Contents” and “Introduction” to the book, The New Testament Writers: Why They Wrote How They Wrote." The book examines New Testament writers thought and language based on ancient, recent, current and futuristic models from which reasonable deductions can be made to moderate discussions on New Testament authorship and theology and also to reasonably assess innovative trends in the application of ultra-modern technology to areas of study that combine psycho-linguistics and the Christian scriptures together for balanced views in related discussions.

A philosophy of language that incorporates the manifestation of divinity shed liberally upon the ... more A philosophy of language that incorporates the manifestation of divinity shed liberally upon the psyche of humanity without violence or chaos as in that which is common to the powers and sovereignties of human beings is critical to the understanding of Holy Writ. The discourse presented here is primarily intended to foster a better general understanding of the divine directive given to Mosheh by Yahweh to build the wilderness sanctuary in order to objectify his majestic presence among them and draw their attention periodically to his Shekinah glory. It is the author’s deep desire to encourage ministers of religion, students and teachers of theology, linguistics, philology, and grammar, to develop an approach to biblical studies that take into account the biblical languages that were the sheaths for the sword of the word. A cursory reading of this script should generate active interest in these languages.

This chapter highlights some features of New Testament prose and narrative which lent sophisticat... more This chapter highlights some features of New Testament prose and narrative which lent sophistication to the expressions. The elements discussed and exemplified here are: cognition and communication, time and tense, and use of recursion and chiastic structures. Of course, the nomenclature used to describe some of their techniques is generally modern but the methodologies were common to writers then.

The New Testament Canon came into existence through the assembly of three main constituents over ... more The New Testament Canon came into existence through the assembly of three main constituents over a period of time. During the time of Christ and the Apostles the only scripture that were considered authentic and used in the synagogues were the Old Testament scripture or the earliest Canon. Gradually, the New Testament Canon came into existence by way of a conglomeration books and letters whose authorship was attributed to the Disciples and the Apostles of Jesus Christ.

The silken garments of the High Priest are an indication of just how specific G-d is regarding th... more The silken garments of the High Priest are an indication of just how specific G-d is regarding the necessary work of intercession. Intercession links the divine with the earthly and both interface in the process. Man is not able to rid himself of sin. He is a simpleton in the web of evil cleverly designed by its progenitor and mobilizer, a former covering cherub precociously referred to as “the adversary” Ha-Satan in Numbers 22:22, 1 Samuel 29:4, and Psalms 109:6. The methodology that God chose for its elimination may seem convoluted to the casual observer; but the nature of sin is such that G-d did not risk trivializing its eradication from among His own. While simplicity has its place, sin has no rival for its tortuous complexity when its fibrous roots and shoots intertwine with human affairs and existence.

Faith and Science are often misconstrued to be at odds. However, faith involves both the intellec... more Faith and Science are often misconstrued to be at odds. However, faith involves both the intellect and the heart. Science also involves the heart as it seeks answers. Unfortunately, some in the faith community have sidelined cerebral matters as merely tangential to faith, while too often, the scientific community cancels out the faith factor which generates the formula for the creation and sustenance of life. Arguably, the most documented life-changing inventions and innovations have been accomplished by individuals of faith equipped with the tools of scientific research, motivated by their zeal to improve the well-being of their fellow-humans, and driven by their relentless quest to understand more about their creator and His creation.

This study will present a semantic analysis of the word yôm in the Pentateuch and will include ar... more This study will present a semantic analysis of the word yôm in the Pentateuch and will include arguments against interpreting yôm as a literal day, and arguments for interpreting yôm as a literal day. The arguments against a literal translation will be refuted and shown to be inadequate by the analysis.

The grammatical forms and material of the book of Revelation suggest a complex interplay of Old T... more The grammatical forms and material of the book of Revelation suggest a complex interplay of Old Testament and 1 st century literature and language. As well, the book does not lack its own peculiarity and character that is unparalleled in the literate world. Various analytical tools including historical-comparative methodologies have been employed to reconstruct the linguistic paradigm of the book and to chart a more accurate understanding of the speech community that produced this symbolic discourse. The expressions generally are fraught with symbolism and typology. The understanding and practice of Christianity should never be limited by convention or tradition. Science and technology have benefitted from the contributions of numerous Christians throughout history who have connected religion and science to push the horizon of human understanding to new heights. Artificial intelligence and its derivatives are just other ways of probing the symbology of the book of Revelation.

This terse analysis of Christianity may help to provide a basis for understanding its true meanin... more This terse analysis of Christianity may help to provide a basis for understanding its true meaning and application. The authentic and foundational texts of 1 Corinthians 2:16, and Philippians 2:5 as well as Biblical Christian marriages are used here as exemplars that illustrate the definitive elements of the phenomena and its practice.

Despite the need for more study on the theory, linguistic relativity may help towards understandi... more Despite the need for more study on the theory, linguistic relativity may help towards understanding the inter-relatedness of society, culture, and language by looking at the phenomenon of linguistic relativity as it may have affected New Testament writers. The ideas discussed should provide useful information for further research into the application of modern linguistics to New Testament hermeneutics, systematic theology, and biblical exegesis. The implications of linguistic relativity theory applied to this genre of literature are of extreme importance in light of resurgence in interest and work in biblical languages and modern linguistics in the last quarter of a century. This discussion circumscribes the salient elements of the Sapir/Whorf hypothesis and its application to New Testament autographs by focusing on: transcription of oral tradition, the influence of languages on the autographs, and the implications of linguistic relativity for exegesis.

A linguistic perspective of how the spoken word of 1st century Christians became the written word... more A linguistic perspective of how the spoken word of 1st century Christians became the written word we call the New Testament and the difficulties the writers faced in order to accomplish this task of transcription.

A fresh analytical look at reasons why the New Testament Writers wrote the way they wrote

Discipleship and Witnessing, 2022

To be afforded the privilege of theological study and the articulation of philosophies relevant t... more To be afforded the privilege of theological study and the articulation of philosophies relevant to the field is often unappreciated. The capital for financing and supporting the study and publication of theological matter comes from the church. The church must be continually nurtured and made viable by individuals who practice excellence in pastoral ministry. Excellence requires deliberate effort and consideration of the magnanimity of the task. Recommendations are here presented by an experienced minister and lecturer, Dr. Newton Cleghorne, for delivering practical Christ-centered pastoral care and leadership.

There exists recognizable qualities in literature, the fine arts, and other activities that go by... more There exists recognizable qualities in literature, the fine arts, and other activities that go by the name Romanticism. The Romantic period (1785-1830)was one of social upheaval and political turbulence. It was bordered by two cataclysmic revolutions in America and France, and by Parliamentary reform in Britain. The genesis of the modern industrial state, the abolition of slavery in the colonies, and the revolutions were significant events of the epoch. In order to capture the “soul of the Romantic period” and to discover what it means to be a Romantic, the essay considers the literary genre of the era, the effects of the French Revolution, the socio-economic and political forces in Britain, and Romanticism in the 21stcentury.

Research papers often bring to light previously unknown perceptions that may change views or stim... more Research papers often bring to light previously unknown perceptions that may change views or stimulate further research. Knowledge is dynamic and the pursuit endless. There will always more that is unknown than what is known. Silence is the din of knowledge not yet revealed and the loud cry of feelings unexpressed. "The half has never been told" is the adage of the unexpressed, telling us that the unsaid is more and weightier that the said. This poem, "Unspoken" speaks loudly to the adage and urges the researcher to dig deep into the "bottomless pit" of knowledge, forage in the bin of the forgotten, roam the forest of new frontiers, and listen to the whispers of ancient wisdom.

University life is always stressful and too soon forgotten. This poem tells the story in 15 humor... more University life is always stressful and too soon forgotten. This poem tells the story in 15 humorous lines. It was written in the heat of battle.

Generations of human beings have populated earth since primordial times. The surety of death is n... more Generations of human beings have populated earth since primordial times. The surety of death is nullified in the ability of the human to multiply and bear offspring. In this perpetuity, life rejoices and death mourns.

Andrew Pitts believes that Martin Hengel’s work will substantially impact New Testament studies. ... more Andrew Pitts believes that Martin Hengel’s work will substantially impact New Testament studies. Pitts declares that his contributions have been among the most important to the study of Christian origins using the relevant primary sources.

This brief note on Secularization and Theologization in Judaism infers from the thoughts of Eckar... more This brief note on Secularization and Theologization in Judaism infers from the thoughts of Eckart Otto that Judaism was able to survive because its proponents were able to use the methodical order created in secular societies by those authorities. Instead of allowing them to suppress their buoyant theology they used the “lyrics” of secularization to promote and restore theological thinking.