The Person of Christ in the Seventh–day Adventism

242 Pages·2017·1.63 MB·English

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Butoiu, Nicolae (2018) The person of Christ in the Seventh–day Adventism: doctrine–building
and E. J. Wagonner’s potential in developing christological dialogue with eastern Christianity.
PhD thesis, Middlesex University / Oxford Centre for Mission Studies. [Thesis]
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The Person of Christ in the Seventh–day Adventism:
Doctrine–Building and E. J. Wagonner’s Potential in Developing
Christological Dialogue with Eastern Christianity

Nicolae Butoiu
May 2018
ABSTRACT

The feat of salvation and of the everlasting life had been (and still is) one of the most profound
anxieties expressed by the Christian believers, which led to a consistent scrutinizing of the identity of
Jesus Christ.
Titled, “The Person of Christ in the Seventh–day Adventism: Doctrine–Building and E. J.
Wagonner’s Potential in Developing Christological Dialogue with Eastern Christianity,” this thesis
presents the historical context and the essence of the debates in which the Seventh–day Adventists
adopted the belief that Jesus Christ is fully divine and eternal, and abandoned the Arian, and semi-Arian
teachings of its pioneers. The thesis also demonstrates that, with a seasoned Christology in place, the
Seventh–day Adventism is ready to engage a more meaningful Christological dialogue with Orthodox
Christianity, for the purpose of religious coexistence, if nothing else.
The adoption of the Trinitarian Christology by the Seventh–Day Adventists has been widely
debated during the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth, both as matter of
ecclesiastic identity, and as a quest for spiritual salvation. While some argued that by adopting a
Trinitarian Christology that resembled a Catholic creed, Seventh–day Adventism endangered itself of
“returning” to a creedal Catholicism. Others recognized that only a Christ who forever is the true God,
and who also became truly human, can indeed save humanity from the bondage of sin, and grant
everlasting life. As this thesis demonstrates, Waggoner’s arguments that favoured the Trinitarian
Christology were built on the Scripture, and away from any interference of Catholicism.
Beyond historical criticism, this thesis also delves into comparative dogmatics in order to
demonstrate that a similar interpretation of the Scripture by the Seventh–day Adventism, and the
Eastern Orthodox Christianity yielded similar Christological results with regard to the relationship
between the divine nature and human nature of Jesus Christ. Last but not least, in spite of an
apparent contextual disparity that might emerge from the comparison between American
Protestantism and Orthodox Christianity, this thesis also demonstrates that both parties were
concerned with the same questions regarding the identity of Jesus Christ, who, as described by Mark,
“even the wind and the waves obey!” (Mark 4:41)

ii

The Person of Christ in the Seventh–day Adventism:
Doctrine–Building and E. J. Wagonner’s Potential
in Developing Christological Dialogue
with Eastern Christianity

By
Nicolae Butoiu
Theology

Main Supervisor: Dr Damon SO Second Supervisor: Dr Jerry MOON
Director of Studies: Dr David SINGH

A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
in Middlesex University

May 2018
Oxford Centre for Mission Studies

DECLARATIONS

This work has not previously been accepted in substance for any degree and is not being
concurrently submitted in candidature for any degree.

Signed (Candidate)
Date 25 May 2018

STATEMENT 1

This thesis is the result of my own investigations, except where otherwise stated. Where
correction services have been used, the extent and nature of the correction is clearly
marked in a footnote.

Other sources are acknowledged by midnotes or footnotes giving explicit references. A
bibliography is appended.

Signed (Candidate)
Date 25 May 2018

STATEMENT 2

I hereby give consent for my thesis, if approved, to be available for photocopying by the
British Library and for Inter-Library Loan, for open access to the Electronic Theses
Online Service (EthoS) linked to the British Library, and for the title and summary to be
made available to outside organizations.

Signed (Candidate)
Date 25 May 2018