On Developing a Thesis for a Research Paper
Identify a burning question and attempt to answer it.
- Example of a burning question: What did Jesus mean when he taught his disciples to pray, "Lead us not into temptation" (Matt. 6:13; Luke 11:4)?
- Ways to approach the problem:
- Exegetical question: What do the Greek words for lead and temptation mean? How does the context in Matthew and Luke help to explain what the Gospel writers understood Jesus to mean? Where else are these words used in Scripture, and where else does Scripture refer to God leading his people into a time of testing? How do these other passages clarify the meaning in Matthew 6 and Luke 11?
- Translation question: In what other way might "Lead us not into temptation" be translated into English that would assist the reader to be less likely to misinterpret Jesus' meaning?
- Theological question: Would a good God tempt his children or deliberately lead them into temptation? How have other theologians attempted to answer this question? What can I learn from their attempts? If I agree with them, why; if I disagree, how?
- Ministry question: How does this theological problem apply to persons or communities that are going through a time of testing?
Issues, Debates & Controversies
- opens new windowBattleground Religion
- EBSCO eBook
- opens new windowContemporary World Issues
- Book series on such issues as homelessness, chemical and biological warfare, counter terrorism, environmentalism, AIDS, hate crimes, Christianity and politics, nuclear weapons, racial and ethnic diversity, and religion in the schools.
- opens new windowCounterpoints
- Book series on such topics as apologetics, baptism, eternal security, church growth movement, creation and evolution, hell, law and gospel, messianic movement, moving beyond the Bible to theology, miraculous gifts, New Testament use of the Old Testament, the Rapture, remarriage after divorce, salvation in a pluralistic world, spectrum of evangelicalism, women in ministry, biblical inerrancy, Christian spirituality, divine providence, the Apostle Paul, historical Adam, and the doctrine of the Trinity.
- opens new windowCulture Wars: An Encyclopedia of Issues, Viewpoints, and Voices
- Credo Reference
- opens new windowDebating the Death Penalty: Should America Have Capital Punishment?
- HV8699.U5 D635 2004 LRC-5
- opens new windowEncyclopedia of Bioethics
- Gale Virtual Reference, 3rd ed., 2004, 5 vols.
- opens new windowThe Evolution-Creation Struggle
- BT712 .R88 2005 LRC-4
- opens new windowHistorical Guides to Controversial Issues in America
- Books series
- opens new windowIssueWeb: A Guide and Sourcebook for Researching Controversial Issues on the Web
- ZA4228 .D53 2004 Reference
- opens new windowOpposing Viewpoints
- Book series
- opens new windowPoints of View Reference Center
- School Prayer
- Religious High Schools & the Status of Openly Homosexual Teachers
- Ordination of Gay Clergy
- Free Speech & Islam
- Female Priests
- Faith-Based Initiatives
- Church & State Separation
- Christianity in the United States
- Atheism
- opens new windowThe Pro-Life/Choice Debate
- HQ767.5.U5H467 2003 LRC-5
- opens new windowSpectrum Multiview Books
- Book series (some print, some electronic)
- Topics include faith and reason, biblical hermeneutics, God and morality, justification, and psychology and Christianity.
- opens new windowTaking Sides
- Book series that presents "clashing views" on such topics as bioethics, education, environment, foreign policy, family and personal relationships, human sexuality, politics, moral and social issues, and economics.
Contrasting Views on Theological Topics
- Baptism: Three Views byCall Number: BV812 .B37 2009
- Christian Faith and Social Justice: Five Views byCall Number: BR115.J8 C47 2015
- From Exorcism to Ecstasy: Eight Views of Baptism byCall Number: BV811.3 .H35 2007
- Grace, Faith, and Free Will: Contrasting Views of Salvation: Calvinism and Arminianism byCall Number: BT751.3 .P53 2002
- The Nature of the Atonement: Four Views byCall Number: BT265.3 .N38 2006
- Perspectives on Israel and the Church: Four Views byCall Number: Ebook CentralPublication Date: 2015
- Perspectives on Our Struggle with Sin: 3 Views of Romans 7 byCall Number: BS2665.52 .P448 2011
- Perspectives on Spirit Baptism: Five Views byCall Number: BT123 .P43 2004
- Predestination and Free Will byCall Number: BT810.2 .P74 1986
- Two Views of Hell byCall Number: BT836.2.F83 2000
Research Starting Points
- CQ Researcher This link opens in a new window
- EagleSearch This link opens in a new window
- Points of View Reference Center This link opens in a new window
- ProCon.orgWeb site
- Theological Journals Search This link opens in a new window
- TOPICsearch This link opens in a new window
News and Current Events
- Newspaper Source Plus This link opens in a new window
- Newswires This link opens in a new window
- US Major Dailies This link opens in a new window
- Web News This link opens in a new window