Ján Barna

Abstract: The present thesis is the first of its kind in attempting to produce a comprehensive systematic analysis and synthesis of the biblical, theological and hermeneutical aspects of the ongoing debate about the role of women in Adventist theology. While studies have investigated already the sociological aspects of the debate no study has yet systematised and investigated in depth the debate with special attention to hermeneutical matters. The thesis is divided into four chapters. After an Introduction which defines the basic elements of the study and provides a literature review, Chapter One provides a historical introduction into the topic of women's ordination in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Particularly historical and ecclesial developments are reviewed from the perspective of the early Adventist situation and the modem context. Chapter Two and Chapter Three are two parallel chapters which analyse and synthesise opponents (Chapter Two) respectively proponents' (Chapter Three) biblical, theological and hermeneutical positions. The analysis in both chapters also specifically investigates the hermeneutical rationales of each side by examining their theories of biblical inspiration, interpretative method and functional aspects of their hermeneutics. The last chapter of the dissertation takes the hermeneutical conclusions from the previous two chapters and assesses them on a meta-hermeneutical level from the perspective of modem hermeneutical developments. The thesis ends with a summary and conclusion which summarises all the main findings of the study. Overall, the thesis not only systematises the ongoing ordination of women dispute but in addition provides an insight into the operation of the Adventist hermeneutical mindset by examining and assessing the theoretical bases on which Adventist hermeneutical thinking operates. This research therefore will be primarily valuable in the field of Adventist studies but non-Adventist scholarship intending to know more about Adventist theology and hermeneutics may also find the thesis helpful.