IPS 413-P03 LUKE-ACTS: MAJOR THEMES

Institute of Pastoral Studies, Loyola University Chicago

June 19-23, 2000, 9:00 - 5:00

Instructor: Richard S. Ascough

Telephone: (613) 533-6000 x78066 Address: Queen's Theological College

Fax: (613) 533-6879 Kingston, Ontario

Email: rsa@post.queensu.ca Canada, K7L 3N6

Homepage: http://post.queensu.ca/~rsa

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES

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 marginalized.

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.

TEXTBOOKS

Bible: Almost any version, although the New Revised Standard Version or Revised Standard Version is recommended for study purposes. Read the entire text of Luke-Acts, preferably in one sitting.

Mark Allan Powell, What Are They Saying About Luke? (New York and Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1989). I have heard that this book is going out of print, although both the campus bookstore and Mustard Seed have obtained copies. It is also on reserve at the library.

Jacob Jervell, The Theology of the Acts of the Apostles (New Testament Theology; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996).

John Gillman, Possessions and the Life of Faith (Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1991).I have heard that this book is also going out of print. If you have trouble getting it, it is available as a "sale item" from Liturgical Press (http://www.catalog.litpress.org/). Since this book is inexpensive anyway the discount is wiped out by the shipping costs! It is on reserve at the LUC library.

Barbara Reid, Choosing the Better Part (Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1996).

These books are available for purchase at the campus bookstore or they can be ordered through the Mustard Seed. They are also on 2 hour reserve in the library. Each one of the textbooks needs to be read in its entirety before the class begins.

Recommended Text

Burton H. Throckmorton, Gospel Parallels: A Synopsis of the First Three Gospels (any edition; New York: Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1992).

OR

Kurt Aland, Synopsis of the Four Gospels (London and New York: United Bible Societies, 1983).

If you already have a copy of either work it would be helpful to have it in class.

EVALUATION

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 of 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.

30% Book Summaries: For each of Gillman (1991) and Reid (1996) 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?). Due on the first day of class.

50% Research Paper, 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. This assignment is not a sermon, but an academic paper and should be written in accordance with academic style. The paper can be submitted through the mail, by e-mail, or by fax but must arrive by the due date. Due on July 28, 2000.

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 28, 2000.

10% Class Participation, based on participation in discussions.

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

Return to Richard’s Homepage: http://post.queensu.ca/~rsa