spring08:Summer 05.qxd.qxd - Concordia Seminary

Graduate Studies
Bulletin
Spring 2008 Concordia Seminary • 801 Seminary Place • St. Louis, Missouri 63105
2008 Commencement and Annual Banquet
Our congratulations and praise goes out to this year’s graduating class, which was the largest class in many
years. The annual banquet in honor of the graduates was held on Thursday, May 15, in Koburg Dining Hall.
A violinist and oboist supplied beautiful music throughout the evening as faculty, family, friends, and graduates
celebrated the class’s achievements. A special thank-you goes out to Beth Hoeltke for planning the evening of
food and fellowship and to all of the graduates for their hard work.
The Graduates:
• PhD graduates: Jonathan Blanke, Marty Conkling, Carol Geisler, Samuel Liu, Makito Masaki, Joel Pless,
and Carl Rockrohr.
• STM graduates: David Andrus, Sarah Arthur, Priestly Balasingh, Rod Benkendorf, Anselmo Graff,
Matt Hoehner, Jeremiah Johnson, Paul Philp, Fritz Raedeke, Charles Schaum, and Tim Winterstein.
• MA graduates: Jessica Fouts, Annette Frank, Rosie Adle, Nadine Grayl, Kelly Hardt, Carl Honore,
Carolyn Leinberger, Jeff Schoettlin, Karl Schuler, Kyle Schwan, Peter Spallek, Joseph Western, Krista
Whittenburg, and John Wilke.
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’07-’08 Prospectuses, Proposals, and Dissertations
This year the Graduate School was pleased to see the successful submission of four prospectuses, three proposals,
and four dissertations.
Prospectuses:
• Jeff Dukeman, “Beyond the Hierarchical and Egalitarian Trajectories: Towards a Word-Centered
Differentiated Social Model of the Trinity Fruitful for Understanding the Translocal Nature of
Congregations”
• Andre Snavely, “A Biblical/Trinitarian Account of Life in the Spirit: True Human Personhood
according to a Post-Constantinian Christological Pneumatology”
• Philip Penhallegon, “The Narrative and Theological Function of the Prayers in Nehemiah”
• Jon Vieker, “‘The Father’s Faith, The Children’s Song’: Missouri Lutheranism Encounters
American Christianity in Its Hymnals and Hymns, 1889–1912”
Proposals:
• Kevin Golden, “The Waves of the Deluge Breaking on Jonah: A Textually Based Methodology for
Intertextuality”
• John Hellwege, “The American Lutheran Theological Interpretations of Pre-War Nazi Germany”
• Larry Lacher, “John Wesley’s Liturgical Revision: A Pattern for Reshaping Worship for Post-Christian
America”
Dissertations:
• Carol Geisler, “An Obedient Defense of Disobedience: The Brothers of the Common Life and the
Boundaries of Religion”
• Makito Masaki, “Luther’s Two Kinds of Righteousness and His Wartburg Postil (1521): How Luther
Exhorted People to Live Christian Lives”
• Carl Rockrohr, “Jesus’ Sacrifice Death in an African Context”
• Joel Pless, “The Doctrine of the Ministry in the Writings of George Stoeckhardt”
Finishing Strong—Thoughts from Dr. R. Lessing
1 Kings 11:3 states of Solomon, “He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred
concubines, and his wives led him astray.”
This brings to mind the old adage, “It’s easy as pie to begin; it’s tougher than nails to finish.” Pick your pie;
it seems that easy for Solomon. Pretenders to the throne Amnon, Absalom and Adonijah had been hosed.
Enemies of the throne Joab, Abiathar and Shimei had been slam-dunked. Anointed as king of Israel by Zakok
at the Gihon Spring, Solomon came out of the starting blocks like a greyhound after jack-rabbits. All the
money was on Solomon, the tenth of David’s seventeen sons.
In 1 Kings 3:7 he calls himself a kid, but we would say Solomon was a kid wonder. He spoke 3,000
proverbs and his songs numbered 1,005. He described plant life from the cedars of Lebanon to the hyssop that
grows out of walls. He gained control of two main international trading routes; the Via Maris along the
Mediterranean Coast and the King’s Highway that connected Elath to the south with Damascus to the north.
The result was 1 Kings 4:25: “From Dan to Beersheba, Judah and Israel lived in safety, each man under his
own vine and fig tree.”
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Solomon didn’t need any lessons in Greek or Hebrew, lectures on eschatology or angelology, Latin, nor
German. If there was ever a sure-fire candidate for success it was Solomon! For the first ten chapters of 1 Kings
he’s awesome! But 1 Kings 11:3 says, “He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines,
and his wives led him astray.”
It is relatively easy to begin a graduate degree. I see it all the time; so do you. Students begin with unbridled
enthusiasm, high energy, and a never-say-die spirit. Like hot knives into butter, they tear into new classes, language
exams, and comprehensive tests. But then there is a setback, or two … or three (call it the Proposal
Hearing?). And discouragement sets in. “It’s easy as pie to begin; it’s tougher than nails to finish!”
So how did so many finish this month? One reason comes from Matthew 12:42 – “One greater than
Solomon is here.” This King began strong and he finished even stronger. And for him it was tougher than nails.
Because, in addition to the nails, there was scourging, mocking, spitting, beating, slapping, sweating, bleeding
and crowing with thorns. Still, he finished; in spite of his disciple’s kiss of betrayal, in spite of his friends running
for cover, in spite of his countrymen clamoring for his death, and in spite of his Father’s abandonment.
If the life of Solomon, David’s great Son goes to show it’s easy as pie to begin. Then the life, death, and resurrection
of Jesus Christ, David’s greatest Son, proves that he finished for us though it was tougher than nails.
Dear students, “Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses ... Let us run with endurance the
race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Beginner and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy set
before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider
him who endured such opposition from sinful men so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Heb.12:1-3)
In this cloud of witnesses is Moses; Moses who registered last for classes and got Advanced Obscurity,
Remedial Waiting, Loneliness 101, and Introduction to Working for Your Father-In-Law for 40 Years. But he
finished strong. At the end of his life, Deut. 34:7 –“Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyes were
not weak nor his strength gone.”
Also in this cloud is Joshua, surrounded by ten spies, who needed a check-up from the neck up, whose first
assignment was a forty-year stint in the Sinai desert; but he finished strong. At the end, Joshua 24:15 –”Chose
this day whom you will serve. As for me and my house we will serve Yahweh.” And then these words for the
ages – “Five times I received from the Jews forty lashes minus one, three times I was beaten with rods, once I
was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, J spent a night and a day in the open sea.” In the dark, dank,
Mamertine Prison in Rome, Paul finished strong. 2 Tim. 4:7 reads, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished
the course, I have kept the faith.”
Finishing strong doesn’t mean finishing first—it doesn’t mean finishing without blood, sweat and tears. And
it doesn’t always mean finishing on time. Finishing strong means personal discipline, a love for learning, and a
strong desire to improve the gifts God has given you. Finishing strong also means claiming this promise: “He
who began a good work in you, will finish it on the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil 1:6).
This month we celebrate with those whose work at Concordia Seminary is finished, even as we encourage
those who still labor toward the completion of their degrees. If you are finished — Sing hallelujah! If you are
still in the race, “do not grow weary or lose heart!” For everything we do is in light of the one who will finish
everything he began. Count on it!
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2008 Graduate to Present at the International Association for
Mission Studies
Newly graduated Concordia Seminary Ph.D., Carl Rockrohr, has accepted an invitation
to give a sectional paper for the International Association for Mission Studies, which
will hold its twelfth quadrennial international conference at Balaton, Hungary in August
2008. Dr. Rockrohr, a professor of theology at Concordia University at Ann Arbor and
chair of its theology department, has entitled his paper “Relationships in Witnessing.” The
paper develops ideas on which Rockrohr worked in his dissertation, “Jesus’ Sacrifice
Death in an African Context.”
Dr. Robert Kolb, Rockrohr’s Doktorvater comments, “Lutheran contributions to
Missiology have been too few in the last generation. Carl’s participation in this conference
is one important step to our making the kind of contacts and giving the kind of witness to
the potential for Lutherans to contribute to the worldwide missiological discussion that is
necessary for Lutherans in our time.”
Student Presentations
Four of our graduate students presented papers at this year’s Annual Central States Regional Meeting of the
Society of Biblical Literature. Tom Hobson presented his paper entitled “Moral Felonies: A Comparison of
the Death Penalty in the Torah with the Penalty ‘Cut Off from (One’s) People.’” Jeffrey E. Brickle presented
“Have You Heard the Text? The Implications of First Century Orality for New Testament Studies” and Beth
Hoeltke presented “Complementary Aspects, Unique Distinctions, and Mutual Gifts of Male and Female in
Reading Genesis 1-2.” At an international law conference at the Royal University of Law and Economics in
Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Cordell Schulten presented the paper “Judaism and the Foundations of American Law.”
Also, David Coe presented “Kierkegaard: Justifications for an Attack upon Christendom” at the 2007 Concordia
Seminary Theological Symposium. Finally, In Hee Cho presented the paper, “The Matthean Theology of the
Death of Jesus Seen Through the Lens of Irony.”
Brickle also presented several other papers. At the Society of Biblical Literature’s Annual Meeting in San
Diego, California, he presented “Oral Design
and Coherence in the Prologue of First John.”
At the Society for Pentecostal Studies in
Durham, North Carolina, his paper “Oral Design
in the Prologue of First John” was presented. He
has also been asked to present at the Society of
Biblical Literature upcoming Annual Meeting in
Boston, Massachusetts and will offer “The
Analysis of Sound Patterns: Exploiting Aural
Exegesis of Ancient Texts.”
Hobson Hoeltke
Cho
Almost Unpacked—Recent Developments for the Graduate
School
On Monday, May 26, the Graduate School offices officially switched locations on campus. Our newly-renovated
offices are located in building J on the first floor. They are offices J-15, 16, 17, and 18. The boxes are
almost unpacked, and we are enjoying the new facilities.
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Rockrohr

Conference Grants
Beginning with the 2008-2009 academic year, graduate students may apply for a grant of up to $50 when
presenting a paper at local regional conferences and up to $250 for a major or national/international
conference.
Important Dates and Deadlines
• New and returning student registration packets sent to student CSL accounts are due in the middle of July.
• Web Registration for fall classes will be on Monday, August 25.
• New, first-time students will be able to register on Monday, August 25.
• Fall Quarter classes for the ’08-’09 school year will begin on Monday, September 8.
• The Day of Exegetical Reflection is on Monday, September 22 followed by the Theological Symposium
on Tuesday, September 23, and Wednesday, September 24. Call (314) 505-7487 for information about
both events.
• Graduate School winter quarter registration will take place on Monday, October 20.
• Fall quarter ends after classes on Friday, November 14th.
Day of Exegetical Reflection
On Monday, September 22, Concordia Seminary will host its annual Day of Exegetical
Reflection. The featured speaker is distinguished Paulinist Dr. Thomas R. Schreiner, a
member of the faculty at Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. For more
information please call (314)505-7487 or e-mail: marrsr@csl.edu. This day is connected
with the Theological Symposium which runs from Tuesday, September 23 to Wednesday,
September 24.
Thomas R. Schreiner
James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation (1997); Associate
Dean, Scripture and Interpretation
Schreiner
Education:
• B.S., Western Oregon University
• M.Div., Th.M., Western Conservative Baptist Seminary
• Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary
Dr. Schreiner joined the Southern Baptist Seminary faculty in 1997 after serving 11 years on the faculty at
Bethel Theological Seminary. He also taught New Testament at Azusa Pacific University. Dr. Schreiner, a
Pauline scholar, is the author or editor of several books including: Romans; Interpreting the Pauline Letters; The
Law and Its Fulfillment: A Pauline Theology of Law; The Race Set before Us: A Biblical Theology of
Perseverance and Assurance; Still Sovereign: Contemporary Perspectives of Election, Foreknowledge, and
Grace; Women in the Church: A Fresh Analysis of I Timothy 2:9-15; Paul, Apostle of God’s Glory in Christ: A
Pauline Theology; 1 and 2 Peter; Jude and his latest work New Testament Theology: Magnifying God in Christ.
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