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Robert K. Atkin

Writing • Theology • Speculative Fiction

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Writing • Theology

On these pages you will find a selection of my theological writing. These are essays I wrote while studying for a theology degree from the University of Chester.

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Worship & Holiness

15 November 2017 By Robert Atkin Leave a Comment

Isaiah saw a vision of YHWH enthroned in glory and he was commissioned with an unusual task for a prophet ­– that is to harden the hearts of the people. Judgement had been passed on Israel and Isaiah was charged with communicating the verdict to the people in a manner that would ensure they would not repent. After examining the various scholarly proposals for the hardening motif in Isaiah 6, I will offer my own proposal that the commission to harden the hearts is as a direct result of the idolatry of the people. I will go on to describe how the hardening motif functions in this passage and in the rest of Isaiah.

Filed Under: Essays, Old Testament Tagged With: Bible, Holiness, Isaiah, Theophany, Worship, YHWH

With reference to a biblical text of your choosing, critically assess the role of genre in biblical interpretation.

1 November 2017 By Robert Atkin Leave a Comment

Different types of literature can be categorised by their form, style or content. This is known as genre. The meaning of the text is embedded within the genre. The Bible contains literature from a number of genres. After providing a description of genre, I will assess its role in biblical interpretation using a pericope from Mark’s Gospel to demonstrate how genre impacts reading and meaning. I will conclude with describing the effect that genre has on teaching from this text.

Filed Under: Essays, Hermeneutics, New Testament Tagged With: Bible, Genre, Hermeneutics, Progressive Christianity

Evaluate N.T. Wright’s ‘five-act’/kingdom hermeneutical lens and use it to offer a contemporary interpretation of a biblical concept of your own choosing.

18 October 2017 By Robert Atkin Leave a Comment

The question of how to read the Bible today is one of how we view the authority of Scripture. Can the stories in the Bible be applied to our present situation, and if they can how should we interpret them today? N.T. Wright has suggested that the Bible is a drama in five acts – Creation, Fall, Israel, Jesus and the Church. The fifth act is unfinished and it is for the reader to enter into the drama and then to complete the story.

Filed Under: Essays, Hermeneutics Tagged With: Authority, Bible, Drama, God, Hermeneutics, Metanarrative, N. T. Wright, Scripture

Critical review, response and application of reading based on Fowler’s theory on stages of faith

27 June 2014 By Robert Atkin Leave a Comment

Developmental psychologists have attempted to understand if there is a discernible universal pattern to how a person’s values and perspectives change at different stages in their life. James Fowler developed a theory of six stages in his 1981 book Stages of Faith where he describes how an individual’s faith matures as they age.

Filed Under: Essays Tagged With: James Fowler, Pastoral Studies, Stages of Faith

Christ, Creation and the Church in the Colossian Hymn (Colossians 1:15-20)

20 June 2014 By Robert Atkin Leave a Comment

The Letter of Paul to the Colossians contains six verses which form a hymn or poem in praise of Christ. This Christ Hymn is a densely packed statement of Paul’s Christological monotheism. Christ is exalted as sovereign over creation, the church and new creation. The letter was written in response to the false philosophy that the church in Colossae was in danger of following.

Filed Under: Essays, Jesus, New Testament Tagged With: Christ, Christology, Colossians, Jesus, Monotheism, Paul

Exegesis of Romans 1-3

13 June 2014 By Robert Atkin Leave a Comment

In Romans 1-3, Paul writes to the Christians in Rome about a major theme in his theology, the righteousness of God which has been revealed through the gospel. In this passage Paul describes the universal sinfulness and guilt of humanity that results in the wrath of God, before beginning to reveal the solution – faith in Jesus the Messiah.

Filed Under: Essays, New Testament Tagged With: Bible, Paul, Righteousness, Romans

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Robert Atkin is a writer, website designer, theology student, father and husband. At present he runs a website design business and is researching for a couple of books. This website is a collection of essays and other writing projects. Read More…

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