|
THEO 621 |
Richard Ascough
Assistant Professor of New Testament and Greek
Theological Hall 229
(613) 533-6000
Kingston, ON
Canada, K7L 3N6
x78066
June 3-7, 2002
Green 1995
Jervel 1996
Reid 1996
Tyson 1999
Course Description | Textbooks | Outline and Readings
Assignments | Commentaries on Luke and Acts
Course Resources (http://post.queensu.ca/~rsa/resources.htm)
| Course Description |
Major literary, theological, and socio-cultural themes in Luke’s double work will be explored, including such topics as the sharing of possessions, the roles of women in Jesus’ ministry and the early church, characterization and plot development, Luke’s view of salvation history, and attitudes towards the Jewish people and Judaism.
The specific objectives of the course are:
- to become familiar with the contours of Luke-Acts and Luke's theology and to gain a knowledge
of the social world within which Luke-Acts was written
- to gain skill and confidence in understanding and interpreting the text of Luke-Acts
- to facilitate the application of the texts to various theological and pastoral situations in our own day.
Note: The instructor reserves the right to change any aspect of the course at any point during the duration of the course.
| Textbooks |
Bible: Almost any version, although the New Revised Standard Version or the Revised Standard Version are recommended for study purposes. Do not use the King James Version or the Living Bible (or any other paraphrase). See my guide to English Versions of the Bible for help in choosing a translation.
Joel B. Green, The Theology of Luke (New Testament Theology; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995). ISBN 0-521-46932-5.
Jacob Jervell, The Theology of the Acts of the Apostles (New Testament Theology; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996). ISBN 0-521-42447-x.
Barbara E. Reid, Choosing the Better Part: Women in the Gospel of Luke (Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1996). ISBN 0-8146-5494-0.
Joseph B. Tyson, Luke, Judaism, and the Scholars: Critical Approaches to Luke-Acts (Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press, 1999). ISBN 1-57003-334-x.
Recommended: Either Kurt Aland, Synopsis of the Four Gospels (London and New York:
United Bible Societies, 1983) or Burton H. Throckmorton,
Gospel Parallels: A Synopsis of the First Three Gospels
(any edition; New York: Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1992). You do not need both. If you are
purchasing one, the Aland volume is to be preferred.
| Outline |
Timetable
- 9:00 - 12:15 Morning Session (3.25 hrs)
- 12:15 - 1:45 Lunch (1.5 hrs)
- 1:45 - 5:00 Afternoon Session (3.25 hrs)
Topic Outline
-
Monday
a.m. Introduction
p.m. Preparing the Way (Luke 1-3)Tuesday
a.m. Inaugural Sermon (Luke 4)
p.m. Restoration of the Oppressed (Luke 5-9)Wednesday
a.m. Concern for the Marginalized (Luke 10-18)
p.m. The Jews in Luke-Acts (Luke 19-24)Thursday
a.m. Christian Communalism (Acts 1-5)
p.m. To all the Gentiles (Acts 6-15)Friday
a.m. Mission Strategy (Acts 16-28)
p.m. Discipleship
| Assignments |
10% Reaction Paper: Read the entire text of Luke-Acts, preferably in one sitting. Write a 2 page reaction paper to your reading of Luke-Acts. What did you like about the story? What did you dislike? What questions or issues were raised for you for the study of Luke-Acts? What passages in particular did you find particularly troubling? Due on the first day of class.
20% Book Comparison: Luke and Acts are thought by most scholars to have been written by the same author. After reading Green (1995) on the theology of Luke and Jervel (1996) on the theology of Acts write a 3-4 page paper discussing whether the theology of each of Luke and Acts is consistent or, alternatively, whether there are significant theological differences between the two volumes. Be sure to reference Green and Jervel in your arguments. Due on the first day of class.
30% Book Summaries: For each of Reid (1996) and Tyson (1999) write a 2 page summary and critical reaction paper (i.e., one for each book). About half of each paper should be devoted to summarizing the thesis and major arguments of the book while the other half should be a critical evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the book (i.e., did the author prove his/her thesis?). You may find helpful my online guide to Writing Book Reviews (http://post.queensu.ca/~rsa/Book_Reviews.htm). Due on the first day of class.
40% Exegetical or Thematic Essay, 10-12 pages, double spaced. A paper written on any passage in Luke-Acts (about 15 verses) or on a specific historical or theological topic arising from Luke-Acts. The focus of the paper should be the critical exegetical issues in the text or the critical historical and/or theological issues surrounding the topic. You should consult (and reference) at least four scholarly works on your passage/topic (e.g., books, articles, essays, or commentaries; this does not include the course textbooks, although you are free to reference these as well as the other four). To find these resources you can use the American Theological Library Association (ATLA) database, available through the Queen's Library web page (the librarians will assist you in learning how to use this tool). This assignment is not a sermon, but an academic paper and should be written in accordance with academic style. See my online Course Resources page (http://post.queensu.ca/~rsa/resources.htm) for guides for doing exegesis and writing research papers. The paper can be submitted through the mail, by e-mail, or by fax but must arrive by the due date. Due on July 10, 2002.
OR
Bible Study Guide, 10-12 pages, double spaced. Choose any passage in Luke-Acts (about 15 verses) and develop a Bible study guide for the passage. Begin by briefly describing your audience and stating the primary learning goals of the study. Include the questions that you will use to frame the discussion. For each question provide brief summaries of the type of things you would like to bring out of the group in each of the questions. Also include information that you will provide to the group to help them understand the social and literary context of the passage. Include any handouts or visual helps you might use. Be sure to also include "so what" questions that connect the passage to the group's situation(s). This assignment is not to read like a sermon but a guide to group discussion. At the same time, I do expect full sentences and an academic style when discussing exegetical and contextual issues for each question. The paper can be submitted through the mail, by e-mail, or by fax but must arrive by the due date. Due on July 10, 2002.
For an indication of how I grade written assignments see my Evaluation Guide
Please do not hand in assignments enclosed in a
covering of some sort (e.g., binder, plastic sleeve); just
place a staple in the top left corner.
Academic Integrity: Academic dishonesty is a serious offense and can result in a grade of F and a notation in the student's record. All use of sources in any form, paper or electronic, must be acknowledged and documented in both written and oral presentations. This includes indirect use of another's ideas as well as direct quotation. Please be sure to read Queen's University's Policy on Academic Dishonesty (http://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/senate/policies/acaddish.html).
(http://post.queensu.ca/~rsa/evaltion.htm)
| Commentaries on Luke and Acts |
Commentaries on Luke
Craddock, Fred B. 1990. Luke. Interpretation. Atlanta: John Knox. A good, pastoral commentary. It is grounded in solid exegesis but aimed at the pastor who needs to preach this material.
Ellis, E. Earle. 1974. The Gospel of Luke. 2nd Edition. Grand Rapids and London: Eerdmans and Marshall, Morgan & Scott. A solid, conservative reading of Luke, somewhat dated.
Evans, C. F. 1990. Saint Luke. Trinity Press International New Testament Commentaries. London and Philadelphia: SCM Press and Trinity Press International. A solid, but quite technical commentary from a historical-critical perspective. Many references to Greek words.
Evans, Craig A. 1990. Luke. New International Bible Commentary 3. Peabody: Hendrickson. A knowledgeable but fairly general commentary, somewhat thin in places.
Fitzmyer, Joseph A. 1981. The Gospel According to Luke. 2 Vols. Anchor Bible 28. New York: Doubleday. By far the best historical critical commentary on Luke. Although now 20 years old many of the observations hold today. There is much reference to Greek, but it is still accessible to the non-user of Greek and is worth looking at for exegetical questions. Fitzmyer is a Roman Catholic and a Jesuit priest.
Green, Joel B. 1997. The Gospel of Luke. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. One of the most up-to-date commentaries on Luke. Green is an evangelical, and sometimes his readings are a bit conservative. However, his interaction with the text is excellent and he is on top of most of the recent secondary literature. It is somewhat technical, but if you are going to purchase a commentary I'd suggest this one will serve you well as a resource.
Johnson, Luke Timothy. 1991. The Gospel of Luke. Sacra Pagina 3. Collegeville: Liturgical Press. A conservative Catholic, Johnson's exegesis is solid and this commentary is very readable.
Marshall, I. Howard. 1978. The Gospel of Luke. New International Greek Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. This commentary by a British evangelical is well respected in the field, although the secondary discussion is dated. Uses Greek but it still accessible.
Nolland, John. 1989-93. Luke. 3 Vols. Word Biblical Commentary 35. Waco: Word. Solid American conservative, evangelical commentary, highly detailed, particularly in its use of the Greek text. Also available electronically on a CD-ROM.
Ringe, Sharon H. 1995. Luke. Westminster Bible Companion. Louisville: Westminster John Knox. A readable, up-to-date commentary that takes a distinctly feminist perspective and pays attention to the social world of the texts. A good balance to the historical critical emphasis of most other commentaries
Talbert, Charles H. 1982. Reading Luke: A Literary and Theological Commentary on the Third Gospel. New York: Crossroad. A readable commentary from a literary critical perspective.
Tannehill, Robert C. 1986. The Narrative Unity of Luke-Acts: A Literary Interpretation. Vol. 1. The Gospel According to Luke. Philadelphia: Fortress. Takes a thematic approach to the study of Luke's gospel and employs a narrative interpretive method. It is a good read and highlights some important issues in the text, but is not easy to use for consulting concerning a particular verse.
Tannehill, Robert C. 1996. Luke. Abingdon New Testament Commentaries. Nashville: Abingdon. This commentary is a nice blend of historical critical, literary, and social world approaches. Because of this wide range it does not treat passages in depth. However, it is accessible and solid. I have used it as a textbook in a Luke course in the past.
Commentaries on the Acts of the Apostles
Barrett, C. K. 1994. The Acts of the Apostles. International Critical Commentary. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark. A solid but technical (Greek) historical critical commentary. Barrett is always careful and balanced in his approach.
Bruce, F. F. 1988. The Book of the Acts. New International Commentary on the New Testament. 2nd edition. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. A conservative, evangelical who is well-respected for his biblical exegesis. He tends to cautiously affirm the veracity of the Acts account.
Conzelmann, Hans. 1987. ActsHermeneia. 2nd edition. Philadelphia: Fortress. A somewhat technical historical critical reading of Acts.
Fitzmyer, Joseph A. 1998. The Acts of the Apostles. Anchor Bible 31. New York: Doubleday. A recent, thus, up-to-date commentary by the Catholic Jesuit Lukan scholar. Reflects the best of the historical critical approach.
Haenchen, Ernst. 1971. The Acts of the Apostles: A Commentary. Oxford: Blackwell. A technical and well-respected historical critical commentary coming out of the liberal German exegetical tradition.
Johnson, Luke Timothy. 1992. The Acts of the Apostles. Sacra Pagina 5. Collegeville: Liturgical Press. As with his commentary on Luke, Johnson's exegesis is solid and this commentary is very readable.
Luedemann, Gerd. 1987. Early Christianity According to the Traditions in Acts: A Commentary. Minneapolis: Fortress. By employing the historical critical methodology Luedemann attempts to identify for each passage of Acts that which is redactional (i.e., written by Luke), that which comes from tradition, and that which is historically accurate.
Talbert, Charles H. 1997. Reading Acts: A Literary and Theological Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles. New York: Crossroad. A readable commentary from a literary critical perspective.
Tannehill, Robert C. 1990. The Narrative Unity of Luke-Acts: A Literary Interpretation. Vol. 2. The Acts of the Apostle. Minneapolis: Fortress. Not as valuable as his first volume on the gospel. Tannehill reverts to a section-by-section approach which makes the volume easier to use but loses the strength of the earlier volume's narrative emphasis.
Witherington III, Ben. 1998. The Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand Rapids and Cambridge & Carlisle: Eerdmans & Paternoster. This evangelical commentary is one of the most thorough and up-to-date. While not always (or even often) agreeing with Witherington's conclusions, I find that he lays out the problems and various solutions clearly. He makes good use of historical critical and social-cultural methods and situates the texts in their social worlds.