Interpreting the Book of Acts (Guides to New Testament Exegesis) , livre ebook

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72 pages

English

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Description

Tools to help students understand the purpose, structure, themes, and cultural background of the book of Acts.

Sujets

Philosophie et théologie

Informations

Publié par	Baker Publishing Group
Date de parution	01 septembre 1995
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781441206497
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	1 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0576€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

© 1995 by Walter L. Liefeld
Published by Baker Academic a division of Baker Publishing Group P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287 www.bakeracademic.com
Ebook edition created 2012
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4412-0649-7
Scripture quotations labeled NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
Scripture quotations labled NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
To my students over three decades
at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and
to my colleagues in the New Testament Department
Guides to New Testament Exegesis
Scot McKnight, General Editor
Introducing New Testament Interpretation Interpreting the Synoptic Gospels Interpreting the Gospel of John Interpreting the Book of Acts Interpreting the Pauline Epistles Interpreting the Book of Hebrews Interpreting the Book of Revelation
Contents

Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Series Page
Editor’s Preface
Preface
List of Abbreviations
Introduction
1. The Purpose of Acts
2. The Structure of Acts
3. Narrative as Theology
4. The Speeches in Acts
5. Major Themes in Acts
6. The Background of Acts
7. From Exegesis to Application
Selected Bibliography
Notes
Editor’s Preface

T he New Testament is composed of four literary types (genres): the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the Letters, and the Apocalypse. Each genre is distinct, and, as has been made abundantly clear by contemporary scholars, each requires different sensitivities, principles, and methods of interpretation. Applying the same method to different genres will often lead to serious misunderstandings. Consequently, students need manuals that will introduce them both to the specific nature of a particular genre and to basic principles for exegeting that genre.
The Guides to New Testament Exegesis series has been specifically designed to meet this need. These guides have been written, not for specialists, but for college religion majors, seminarians, and pastors who have had at least one year of Greek. Methods and principles may change, but the language of the New Testament remains the same. God chose to speak to people in Greek; serious students of the New Testament must learn to love that language in order better to understand the Word of God.
These guides have a practical aim. Each guide presents various views of scholars on particular issues. Yet the ultimate goal of each is to provide methods and principles for interpreting the New Testament. Abstract discussions have their proper place, but not in this series; these guides are intended for concrete application to the New Testament text. Various scholars, specializing in particular areas of New Testament study, offer students their own methods and principles for interpreting specific genres of the New Testament. Such diversity provides a broader perspective for the student. Each volume concludes with a bibliography of essential works for further study.
Although different genres require different methods and principles, a basic exegetical approach that can be adapted to various genres is also essential. Therefore, an introductory volume to the series covers the general methods and principles applicable to any genre. The individual exegetical guides will then introduce the student to more specific procedures for a particular genre.
The vision for this series comes from Gordon Fee’s introduction to New Testament exegesis. [1] Without minimizing the important contribution Fee has made to New Testament study, this series goes beyond what he has presented, by providing exegetical handbooks for each of the genres of the New Testament. [2]
Finally, this series is dedicated to our teachers and students, in thanksgiving and hope. Our prayer is that God may use these books to lead his people into truth, love, and peace.
Scot McKnight
Preface

T he hotel room where I am writing this preface offers a beautiful view of Pikes Peak towering just west of Colorado Springs. The expansiveness of this view, including the long stretch of foothills, stands in striking contrast to the narrowness of the pages of biblical text on which I have been focusing over the past week. I am part of the NIV translation committee that has been meticulously working over the biblical text in the interest of accuracy, contemporary clarity, and fidelity to its meaning. The narrow focus of this demanding and delightful task stands not only in visual contrast to the surrounding expanse of scenery but also in literary contrast to the broader field of biblical studies.
My book begins where translation and detailed textual study taper off and the peaks of larger interpretive issues emerge. It provides an aerial view of the mountains of exegetical insight that arise from a detailed study of Acts. Fresh perspectives on the biblical text—its literary features, historical and cultural background, doctrinal teaching, and practical application—are presented to the non-specialist who reads this guide. Just as in the case of Bible translation, however, these approaches to the text call for careful study, personal devotion, and dependence on the Holy Spirit as we seek to apply personally what we learn from Scripture.
This work is the fruit of an appreciation for the Book of Acts that began to grow when I was a student of Greco-Roman literature and has matured through successive phases of teaching and pastoral ministry. Acts excites me because it vibrates with the thrill of adventure, conflict between good and evil, vivid travel scenes comparable to National Geographic , characters more real than those that flicker from our TV screens, and, above all, the direct activity of the Holy Spirit. All this is found in a document that is divinely inspired, historically real, and personally relevant. May it speak to you, the reader, as it has to me.
I am delighted to acknowledge the special part the following friends have had in the research and writing of this book:
Douglas S. Huffman added valuable bibliographical research for this book to the list of reasons for which I have appreciated him as my doctoral student and friend. My other students in doctoral seminars in Acts and in New Testament backgrounds also provided companionship and stimulation in my studies.
The congregation of Christ Church Lake Forest, recognizing the importance of biblical research and writing as part of my ministry among them, generously allowed me time to finish this project.
Scot McKnight, former student, professional colleague, and editor of the series, encouraged me to undertake this book. Jim Weaver and Wells Turner of Baker Book House contributed both editorial expertise and personal encouragement to the value of its contents.
You, the “implied reader” of this book, were always in mind as I wrote, providing motivation for the task. May this study help us all to increase in our love for the Lord and his Word.
Walter L. Liefeld
Abbreviations

AB
Anchor Bible
AnBib
Analecta Biblica
ANRW
Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt
BC
The Beginnings of Christianity , part 1, The Acts of the Apostles . 5 vols., ed. Frederick John Foakes Jackson and Kirsopp Lake (London: Macmillan & Co., 1920–33)
BETL
Bibliotheca Ephemeridum Theologicarum Lovaniensium
Bib
Biblica
BJRL
Bulletin of the John Rylands University Library of Manchester
BR
Biblical Research
BTB
Biblical Theology Bulletin
BZ
Biblische Zeitschrift
CBQ
Catholic Biblical Quarterly
CTM
Concordia Theological Monthly
CurTM
Currents in Theology and Mission
DBI
A Dictionary of Biblical Interpretation , ed. R. J. Coggins and J. L. Houlden (Philadelphia: Trinity Press International, 1990)
EBC
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary
ETL
Ephemerides Theologicae Lovanienses
EvQ
Evangelical Quarterly
FFNT
Foundations and Facets: New Testament
FFSF
Foundations and Facets: Social Facets
FRLANT
Forschungen zur Religion und Literatur des Alten und Neuen Testaments
GBSNTS
Guides to Biblical Scholarship, New Testament Series
GNS
Good News Studies
GNTE
Guides to New Testament Exegesis
HNTC
Harper’s New Testament Commentaries
HTR
Harvard Theological Review
IBC
Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching
Int
Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology
ISBE
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia , rev. ed., 4 vols., ed. Geoffrey W. Bromiley (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1979–88)
JETS
Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
JSNT
Journal for the Study of the New Testament
JSNTSup
Journal for the Study of the New Testament—Supplement Series
KJV
King James Version
LCBI
Literary Currents in Biblical Interpretation
LS
Louvain Studies
NAC
New American Commentary
NCBC
New Century Bible Commentary
NIBC
New International Biblical Commentary
NICNT
New International Commentary on the New Testament
NIDNTT
The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology , 3 vols., ed. Colin Brown (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1975–78)
NIV
New International Version
NovT
Novum Testamentum
NovTSup
Novum Testamentum, Supplements
NRSV
New Revised Standard Version
NTG
New Testament Guides
NTS
New Testament Studies
NTTS
New Testament Tools and Studies
OBT
Overtures t