APPROVAL PAGE

This Thesis has been accepted by the Academic Council of Ebenezer

Theological Seminary, Vengoor, Ayur, Kerala, on the recommendation of the
following:

Rev. (Dr). Abhilash AP, M. Phil, M. Th.

Thesis Mentor

Dr. Jerald Praveen, B.D, M. Th., D. Th.

Second Reader

Program Director

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 DECLARATION

I, Hrudaya Ranjan Pani, do hereby declare that this thesis entitled, “A

STUDY ON THE ROLE AND CHALLENGES OF  (PEOPLE OF

YAHWEH) IN EZRA AND NEHEMIAH PERIOD AND ITS IMPLICATION

TO CHURCHES IN ODISHA” is a genuine work done by me and that this research

has never been submitted for obtaining any other degree in any other educational

institution. All quotations and resource of information have been acknowledged in

terms of footnotes.

HRUDAYA RANJAN PANI

ETS, Vengoor,
February, 2017.

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 CERTIFICATE

It is to certify that the thesis entitled “A STUDY ON THE ROLE AND

CHALLENGES OF  (PEOPLE OF YAHWEH) IN EZRA AND

NEHEMIAH PERIOD AND ITS IMPLICATION TO CHURCHES IN

ODISHA,” which is submitted by Hrudaya Ranjana Pani in partial fulfillment of the

requirements for the degree M. Div. from Ebenezer Theological Seminary (ETS),

Vengor, Ayur, Kerala, is a record of the candidate’s own work carried out by him

under my supervision. The matter embodied in this thesis has not been submitted for

any award of any degree.

February 2017 Rev. (Dr.) Abhilash A.P.

Thesis Guide

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 This thesis is affectionately dedicated to

My Dear loving father Susil Pani and caring mother Premika Pani,

Who raise me up and encourage me all throughout

my study And take care of all

my financial needs

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In fact, I reckon it as a blessed opportunity to acknowledge the abundant

blessing that my living God has shown upon me throughout my studies. It is only by

God’s grace in my life that He has rendered me the accurate stimulus to pursue the

program of Master of Divinity enable me to complete the course. So at the very

outset, I would like to give all the grandeur and dignity to the Almighty God.

I am indebted to my heartfelt gratitude and thank towards Rev. Dr. C.

Thomas, the honorable Man of God, the Founder and Principal of Ebenezer

Theological Seminary whose gracious love has granted me admission to undergo the

M.Div. Degree. Also I extended my thanks to Mrs. Annamma Thomas, the wife of

Principal and the manager of ETS.

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude towards my research supervisor

Rev. Dr. Abhilash AP, who inspire me inspite of his tough schedule showered an

excellence guidance in every area whether in advising, helping, or correcting the

paper from the very beginning till the end of my thesis, and encouraged me to reached

one of my dreams. Without his excellence guidance, this thesis would not have come

out into this form.

And also I am immensely grateful and heartfelt gratitude towards to my

second reader Dr. Jerald Praveen for his valuable guidance in order to correct my

thesis and also helped me to have sufficient materials for my thesis. His suggestion

for my thesis was really helpful for me to finish my thesis and to bring in this form.

And also from the bottom of heart my thanks goes to professors, Dr. Jayasree Jerald

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and Rev. Joymon Varghese for their help in personal library to use for my thesis

references.

I also extend my thanks to Rev. Biju O, Librarian of ETS for granted me to

utilize the library facilities throughout my studies and my research work. Along with

that I would like give thanks to all the faculty members of Ebenezer Theological

Seminary for equipping and molding me for the Lord’s ministry.

I am thankful to all the students of ETS for their constant prayer and

encouragement given to for the completion of my thesis and M. Div. Course.

Especially my thanks go to all the M. Th. and M.Div. Final year Brothers for their

encouragement and help to find out books in the library and prayed for my thesis.

Also to Evg. Samuel and his family for their financial help for my studies.

Finally, no words could adequately convey my gratitude to my parents and

family members for their support. For which they have gladly made in every area that

I could complete my thesis.

Hrudaya Ranjan Pani

ETS, Vengoor

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 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

ABD Anchor Bible Dictionary

ACD Advise Child Development

AD Anno Domino

ATA Asia Theological Association

BCE Before Common Era

BC Before Christ

BMS Baptist Missionaries Society

Col Colossians

CE Common Era

CNI Church Of North India

CSI Church Of South India

Dr Doctor

Dist District

Ed Editor

Ed Edition

ETS Ebenezer Theological Seminary

Ezra Ezra

Feb February

FRC Father (Roman Catholic Priest)

GLS Gospel Literature Society

GMI Grace Mission India

IMC International Mission Council

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IPC Indian Pentecost Church

ISPCK Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge

Jam James

Jn John

JTS Journal of Theological Studies

KJV King James Version

Km Kilometer

Lk Luke

LXX Septuagint

ME Middle English

Neh Nehemiah

No Numbers

N.T. New Testament

O.C Other Caste

O.T. Old Testament

Pet Peter

Ph. D Doctor of Philosophy

Rom Romans

SC Scheduled Caste

ST Scheduled Tribal

TBT Theological Book Trust

Tim. Timothy

V., Vv Verse, Verses

Vol, Vols Volume, Volumes

Www World Wide Web

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