Audio quality becomes poor near the end of the recording. Dr. Brevard S. Childs was a leading Old Testament scholar during the 20th century and Professor of Old Testament at Yale Divinity School. The service begins with organ music (00:00-05:05). The speaker gives a word of prayer (05:06-05:45). Brevard S. Childs is introduced as the Spring Lecturer (05:46-09:00). The title of Child’s lecture is the question "Is Biblical Theology Still Possible?" First, Childs addresses the side-lining of biblical theology for historical, philosophical, and dogmatic concerns and evaluation of the Scriptures (09:01-33:54). Second, Childs addresses two new approaches in using the Bible theologically, a sociological model and a philosophical model, and he argues that all these models fail because the Bible shapes the church, not the other way around (33:55-44:44). Finally, Childs admits that Biblical theology is not possible at the present time, but he has hope for the future that Biblical theology can once again be profitable through grassroots faithfulness of the church (44:45-54:55). The speaker gives a benediction at the end of the lecture (54:56-55:35). The service ends with organ music (55:36-59:54).
Malcolm O. Tolbert was Professor of New Testament. The service begins with a word of prayer and the “Doxology” (00:00-01:31). A speaker reads from Psalm 1 and another speaker reads from Matthew 5:13-16 (01:32-04:10). A word of prayer is given (04:11-06:50). President Randall Lolley welcomes everyone to the service, and he introduces Malcolm O. Tolbert as the commencement speaker (06:51-08:37). Tolbert’s sermon centres on the passage of Matthew 5:13-16, and he encourages the graduates to be the salt and light of the earth (08:38-25:59). Lolley recognizes the friends and families of the graduates (26:00-27:01). The Associate of Divinity degrees are conferred (27:02-28:58). The Master of Religious Education degrees are conferred (28:59-30:59). The Master of Divinity degrees are conferred (31:00-44:07). The Master of Theology degrees are conferred (44:08-45:48). The Doctor of Ministry degrees are conferred (45:49-48:59). The service ends with a word of prayer and a benediction (49:00-50:34).
Leila and Paul Stennett were Master of Divinity students. The service begins with the song “Jesus Paid It All” being played on the organ (00:00-02:07). The speaker delivers the Scripture reading from Psalm 95, and a word of prayer is given (02:08-03:43). A song of worship is performed (03:44-07:23). Leila Stennett reads Psalm 139, and she reads a prayer about her spiritual growth towards God (07:24-12:58). Paul Stennett reads from John 14, and he delivers a sermonette about spiritual growth and knowing God (12:59-18:18). Leila Stennett ends the service with a benediction (18:19-18:47).
B. Elmo Scoggins was Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament. The service begins with organ music (00:00-03:11). The speaker gives a word of prayer (03:12-04:50). The choir sings a song of worship (04:51-10:30). Scoggins sermon is about the Holocaust and the humanity of the Jewish people, and he encourages the audience to not forget the evil committed in the Holocaust and to love the Jewish people as members of humanity (10;31-25:17). Organ music is played, and the service ends with a benediction (25:18-28:00).
William P. Clemmons was Associate Professor of Christian Education. The service begins with a Scripture reading from Psalm 139 (00:00-02:46). The speaker leads the audience in a responsive reading (02:47-04:36). Another speaker reads from John 15 (04:37-06:20). William P. Clemmons reads a prayer from the monk Thomas Merton, and he speaks on the importance of identifying ourselves with Christ, the one who emptied himself for us (06:21-16:01). Clemmons leads the audience in a moment of silence and a word of prayer (16:02-19:25).