Soteriological worship: a theological and exegetical analysis of the doctrine of worship within the reformed evangelical tradition

Percival, Philip Gordon (2024). Soteriological worship: a theological and exegetical analysis of the doctrine of worship within the reformed evangelical tradition. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

The Christian doctrine of worship has commonly been understood from ecclesiological, anthropological and soteriological perspectives. Within the Reformed evangelical tradition, each of these aspects have variously been given emphasis depending on the hermeneutical approach employed to understand scripture as a whole, or what I refer to as a ‘biblical theology.’ This thesis argues that a soteriological approach to worship makes the best sense of Christ’s abrogation and fulfilment of Old Testament worship, seen particularly in John’s Gospel and Hebrews. This is against the view of other writers within the tradition, who variously take a ‘covenantal’ view (which looks for OT patterns of corporate worship which are then retained by the church), or a Christological approach (which emphasizes all-of-life worship and edification within the gathering). Against both, I question whether there is appropriate exegetical warrant to view ‘corporate’ and ‘all-of-life’ worship as the best outcomes of biblical theology—even though these concepts are regualarly promoted within the literature. I argue, alternatively, that a better outcome is a soteriological model of worship which has elements of congruence with Paul’s doctrine of union with Christ. This doctrine better understands a life of service as the ongoing response of those who are ‘in Christ,’ as well as establishing an appropriate context for preaching, prayer, praise and thanksgiving within the gathering.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):