Witness to the Gospel: The Theology of Acts / Edition 1

by I. Howard Marshall, David Peterson

Overview

A distinguished group of scholars here provides a comprehensive survey of the theology of the early church as it is presented by the author of Acts. These twenty-five essays, designed to show the current state of scholarship in ways accessible to students of the New Testament, discuss the main themes in the theology of Acts: God's plan of salvation, the call of God and the spreading of the Word, the renewing work of the Holy Spirit, the relationship of Jews and Gentiles in the church, and more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802844354
Publisher:	Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company
Publication date:	11/06/2003
Series:	Theology, Biblical Studies Series
Pages:	626
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.39(d)

About the Author

I. Howard Marshall (1934–2015) was professor emeritus of New Testament exegesis and honorary research professor at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. His many books include New Testament Theology: Many Witnesses, One Gospel and Beyond the Bible: Moving from Scripture to Theology.

Table of Contents

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

1. HOW DOES ONE WRITE ON THE THEOLOGY OF ACTS?
   Howard Marshall

I. Was Luke a 'theologian'?
II. What do we mean by 'the theology of the book of Acts'?
III. What can we learn from previous investigators?
IV. Why are we attempting this book?

PART I: THE SALVATION OF GOD

2. THE PLAN OF GOD
   John T. Squires

I. Introduction
II. The plan of God in Acts
III. Conclusion

3. SCRIPTURE AND THE REALISATION OF GOD'S PROMISES
   Darrell Bock

I. Introduction
II. Hermeneutical axioms
III. Five scriptural themes in Acts
IV. Conclusion

4. SALVATION-HISTORY AND ESCHATOLOGY
   John Nolland

I. Introduction
II. Parousia hope
III. Kingdom as present and future
IV. Repetition and escalation in salvation-history
V. Jewish unbelief not the basis for good news to Gentiles

5. SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH: GOD AS THE SAVIOUR IN THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
   Joel B. Green

I. Introduction
II. 'The message of this salvation'
III. 'God has brought a saviour'
IV. 'What must I do to be saved?'
V. 'You and your entire household will be saved.'

6. THE DIVINE SAVIOUR
   H. Douglas Buckwalter

I. Introduction
II. A survey of Luke's christology
III. A deity who reigns supreme
IV. A deity who waits on tables
V. Conclusion: the christological pulse of Acts

7. THE NEED FOR SALVATION
   Christoph Stenschke

I. Introduction
II. How and why people need to be saved
III. Forgiveness of sin
IV. Luke's 'generation' and humanity in general
V. Repentance
VI. Some clues from Acts 2 (prior to Acts 2:37)
VII. Conclusion

8. SALVATION AND HEALTH IN CHRISTIAN ANTIQUITY: THE SOTERIOLOGY OF LUKE-ACTS IN ITS FIRST CENTURY SETTING
   Ben Witherington III

I. Introduction
II. Salvation in a Graeco-Roman mode—spared, healed, blessed
III. Helped, cured, delivered in Luke-Acts
IV. The means of salvation in Luke-Acts
V. The meaning and the benefits of salvation in Luke-Acts
VI. Conclusions and corollaries

PART II: THE CALL OF GOD

9. THE ROLE OF THE APOSTLES
   Andrew Clark

I. Introduction
II. The twelve Apostles
III. Peter as representative of the Twelve
IV. The roles of the twelve Apostles
V. Paul and Barnabas
VI. Peter and Paul parallels
VII. Conclusion

10. MISSION AND WITNESS
    Peter Bolt

I. Introduction
II. Vocabulary
III. The witnesses and their witness
IV. Mission, witness and the readers of Acts

11. THE PROGRESS OF THE WORD
    Brian Rosner

I. Introduction
II. Progress anticipated
III. Progress confirmed
IV. The author of progress
V. Patterns of progress
VI. Unending progress
VII. Conclusion

12. OPPOSITION TO THE PLAN OF GOD AND PERSECUTION
    Brian Rapske

I. Introduction
II. Jewish opposition
III. Christian opposition
IV. How the persecuted fulfill the plan of God
V. Conclusion

13. THE PREACHING OF PETER IN ACTS
    Hans F. Bayer

I. Introduction
II. The context of the Petrine speeches and the emerging portrait of Peter
III. Peter as a preacher of repentance and salvation
IV. Peter as a preacher of Christ: the christology of the collective apostolic witness with some Petrine emphases
V. Conclusion

14. THE SPEECH OF STEPHEN
    Heinz-Werner Neudorfer

I. Introduction
II. Context and meaning of Stephen's speech
III. Stephen's speech as an 'historical review' in the context of Jewish literature
IV. Theological motives and building-blocks in Stephen's speech
V. Concerning the theological roots of Stephen's speech
VI. Conclusion

15. THE PREACHING AND DEFENCE OF PAUL
    G. Walter Hansen

I. Introduction
II. Mission speech to Jews
III. Mission speeches to Gentiles
IV. Defence speeches
V. Conclusion

PART III: THE RENEWING WORK OF GOD

16. THE 'SPIRIT OF PROPHECY' AS THE POWER OF ISRAEL'S RESTORATION AND WITNESS
    Max Turner

I. Introduction
II. The Spirit as the 'Spirit of Prophecy' in Acts
III. The gift of the Spirit and conversion-initiation
IV. A Donum Superadditum or a soteriological necessity
V. Conclusion: Luke's pneumatology and the theology of Acts

17. THE NEW PEOPLE OF GOD
    David Seccombe

I. A revolutionary transformation
II. Israel's restoration begins
III. The remnant of Israel
IV. A messianic people
V. Leadership of the new people
VI. God in their midst
VII. Condemnation of Israel's rulers
VIII. A creed for the people of God
IX. Assembling the outcasts
X. Gentile breakthrough
XI. Severance of church and synagogue
XII. The culture of the new people of God
XIII. An appeal to the Jews
XIV. A partial hardening of Israel
XV. The new people of God

18. THE WORSHIP OF THE NEW COMMUNITY
    David Peterson

I. Introduction
II. The earliest disciples in the temple
III. The challenge to the Gentile world
IV. Homage and service under the new covenant
V. The character and function of early Christian gatherings
VI. Conclusion

19. THE CHRISTIAN AND THE LAW OF MOSES
    Craig Blomberg

I. Introduction
II. Analysis
III. Conclusion

20. MISSION PRACTICE AND THEOLOGY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (ACTS 18-20)
    Philip H. Towner

I. Introduction
II. Formative events and patterns
III. Modification of the pattern and developments in Corinth and Ephesus: Acts 18-19 (20)
IV. Conclusion

21. ISRAEL AND THE GENTILE MISSION IN ACTS AND PAUL: A CANONICAL APPROACH
    Robert Wall

I. Introduction
II. Israel and the Gentile mission in Acts
III. Israel and the Gentile mission in Romans 9-11

22. SOCIOLOGY AND THEOLOGY
    Stephen C. Barton

I. Prologomena
II. Sociology and theology in Acts: two case studies
III. A theological postscript

23. THE INFLUENCE OF JEWISH WORSHIP ON LUKE'S PRESENTATION OF THE EARLY CHURCH
    Brad Blue

I. Introduction
II. Jewish antecedents
III. Apostles, Christian benefactors and early gatherings
IV. Conclusion

24. RECIPROCITY AND THE ETHIC OF ACTS
    Brian Capper

I. Introduction
II. Literary resonances and the narrative tension of Acts
III. Friendship, reciprocity, and meal-fellowship

CONCLUSION

25. LUKE'S THEOLOGICAL ENTERPRISE: INTEGRATION AND INTENT
    David Peterson

I. Introduction
II. Some brief preliminaries
III. Integrating the themes of Acts
IV. Luke's intention

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEXES
Index of Authors
Subject Index
Index of Biblical References

Editorial Reviews

Bibliotheca Sacra
"Although the literature base for Luke-Acts studies has grown impressively during the last decade, this volume surely merits careful consideration for its unique goal and composition. . . For serious readers of Acts this book will prove helpful in identifying thematic streams running through the narrative and in developing an understanding of how various approaches to creating a theology of the Book of Acts lead to differing, yet complementary, conclusions."

Calvin Theological Journal
"A very valuable work. There is a wealth of insightful theological material here. It will be very enriching to anyone pursuing the study of Acts."

Internationale Zeitschriftenschau für Bibelwissenschaft und Grenzgebiete (IZBG)
"The encyclopaedic nature of the book, the high standard of the papers, the copious notes, the long bibliography, and the indexes all contribute to making this a standard manual on the book of Acts."

Religious Studies Review
"This book provides us with valuable examinations of numerous themes in Acts."

Journal of Theological Studies
"The book makes an important contribution to the specialist study of Acts at the same time as providing a foundation teaching tool."

From the Publisher

This book provides us with valuable examinations of numerous themes in Acts.

Religious Studies Review

The encyclopaedic nature of the book, the high standard of the papers, the copious notes, the long bibliography, and the indexes all contribute to making this a standard manual on the book of Acts.

IZBG: Issues in Law & Medicine

Although the literature base for Luke-Acts studies has grown impressively during the last decade, this volume surely merits careful consideration for its unique goal and composition.... For serious readers of Acts this book will prove helpful in identifying thematic streams running through the narrative and in developing an understanding of how various approaches to creating a theology of the Book of Acts lead to differing, yet complementary, conclusions.

Bibliotheca Sacra

A very valuable work. There is a wealth of insightful theological material here. It will be very enriching to anyone pursuing the study of Acts.

Calvin Theological Journal

The book makes an important contribution to the specialist study of Acts at the same time as providing a foundation teaching tool.

Journal of Theological Studies