Introduction
This page contains notes for some of the breakout chapels hosted by the Department of Bible and Theology at Southwestern Assemblies of God University.
Women in Ministry and Leadership: A Biblical Survey (January 28, 2021)
Is hierarchy in gender part of God’s design for creation? Does the Bible prohibit women from positions of leadership? What are some good resources for sorting out these biblical questions? Dr. Peter Reynolds and Rev. Amy VanPay answer these questions and more in our first breakout chapel in Spring 2021. The presentation presents an egalitarian position on gender and provides a framework for further discussion.
Home is Where the WiFi Connects Automatically: On the Intersection of
Theology & Technology
(September 4, 2020)
This is the first breakout chapel in Fall 2020, which makes it the first breakout chapel in context of the SARS-Cov-2 Pandemic. Dr. Espinoza put this presentation together to revisit the idea of how internet-connected technology affects the way we gather together as a body of believers, especially in light of our shared experience of the 2020 Quarantine. The PowerPoint file contains the visuals that accompanied the presentation; the videos and links on this page should be considered as show notes and as recommended bibliography for further reflection on the topic. #alonetogether.
Show Notes
Smithsonian article on the “Cairo Toe,” a nearly 3,000 year old prosthetic toe: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/study-reveals-secrets-ancient-cairo-toe-180963783/
The Pew Research Center “Internet/Broadband Fact Sheet” presents the data on American Internet and Broadband use as of 2019-2020.
Martyn Casserly, “iPhone vs Android Market Share.” Feb. 8, 2019. Macworld. Online: https://www.macworld.co.uk/feature/iphone/iphone-vs-android-market-share-3691861/
Further Reading
Dr. Espinoza created CyberChristianity-blog.tumblr.com in 2014 as a scrollable webpage exploring the intersection of the physical world, digital world, and Christian practice. That page contains ample links and videos that explore these issues from various perspectives.
The following videos are some of the many examples of artists reflecting on the human experience of being #AloneTogether.
Bible Translations & The Passion Translation
(February 6, 2020)
Drs. Terance Espinoza and Peter Reynolds created this breakout chapel presentation to answer two questions: 1) Which Bible do you recommend?, and 2) What about The Passion Translation?
The short answer to the first question is that it depends on what type of reading you are doing, whether it is private or public, quick or detailed, and so forth. See the three questions outlined in the presentation for further guidance.
As to the second question, TPT is not a viable Bible translation that should be used for any reason. It is too flawed in its methodology to even count as a translation. As an artistic paraphrase it is more like an impressionistic or cubist painting in that the source has been so obscured that the painting is a creation unto itself.
A list of the Hebrew and Aramaic words that actually appear in transliteration in the Greek New Testament has been posted to BibTheo.com/AramaicGNT.
The PowerPoint is available for you to download and freely use, or you can just scroll through the pictures of the slides.
Material Culture Breakout Chapel
(January 18, 2018)
The Material Culture Breakout Chapel featured three activity centers. The Scriptorium featured real Egyptian papyrus, goose-feather quills, bamboo styluses, dip pens, fountain pens, a Chinese brush set, and various colors of India ink. The Ostracon Center featured all manner of modern broken pottery, Sharpies & other pens, and design ideas from the ancient Near East. The Clay Sculpting Center featured different types of air-dry modeling clay, modeling tools, and instruction on how to create oil lamps, cuneiform script, Egyptian scarabs, as well as molds to press your own clay Tyrian Shekel, Denarius, and Mite/Lepta.
Scriptorium
Papyrus Manufacturing
Parchment Manufacturing
Writing Materials
Advanced Papyrological Information System (APIS)
This site provides online access to the papyrological collection at the University of Michegan as well as collections from other universities such as Columbia, Duke, and Yale.
Ostracon Center
In 2013, SAGU students were part of an excavation team that unearthed an important piece of Philistine pottery, shown below:
Sample ostraca from a Hebrew student at SAGU:
Click here to download the handout displayed at the Ostracon Center.
Clay Sculpting Center
Oil Lamps
Ancient Coins
Scarabs
Cuneiform Script
Click here for guidance on Old Persian Cuneiform
Click here to download the handout displayed at the Clay Scultping Center.
BibTheo 