Download or read book The Samaritan Mission in Acts written by V. J. Samkutty and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2006-08-24 with total page 277 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The portrait of the Samaritan mission in Acts 8:4-25 is the climax of various Lukan episodes involving the Samaritans. This work shows that the function of this portrait makes better sense in light of the historical context of the Samaritans up to and including the New Testament period, and of Luke's special interest in the Samaritans as depicted in his Gospel. A review of the socio-ethnic and religious contexts of the Samaritans points to the conclusion that they struggled to establish the legitimacy of their identity and status as a people. In some Jewish circles, they were considered as socially outcasts, ethnically foreigners, and religiously apostates, syncretists and idolaters. From a Jewish point of view, any unplanned and unauthorised mission of the church to Samaritans could cast doubts on the legitimacy of the mission itself and of nascent Samaritan Christianity. In his Gospel, Luke uses the Samaritan references to defend the legitimacy of the Samaritans and their status as part of Israel, and to portray Jesus' anticipation of a future mission to them. His literary ability and theological interest includes the Samaritans in the anticipated eschatological and soteriological plan of God. Thus, he attempts to reverse the popular anti-Samaritan feelings of some Jews, as well as the saying in Mt.10:5, making them 'neighbours', who show mercy and also true worshippers of God, who obey the Law. In Acts 8:4-25, Luke defends the divine origin and legitimacy of both the mission and Samaritan Christianity. He sets the mission in accordance with the commission of Jesus and in the divine context of persecution. He shows the kerygmatic and pneumatic legitimacy of Philips's ministry, the apostolic legitimacy of the Jerusalem apostles, and the purity of the new community in the way Simon was dealt with. This rhetorical and theological function of Acts 8:4-25 using an anticipation-legitimation device may suggest an apologetic purpose of Luke.
Download or read book The Samaritan Mission in Acts written by V. J. Samkutty and published by A&C Black. This book was released on 2006-10-24 with total page 294 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A review of the socio-ethnic and religious contexts of the Samaritans points to the conclusion that they struggled to establish the legitimacy of their identity and status as a people.
Download or read book The Samaritan Mission in Acts written by Vanmelitharayil John Samkutty and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Acts of the Apostles written by P.D. James and published by Canongate Books. This book was released on 1999-01-01 with total page 93 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Acts is the sequel to Luke's gospel and tells the story of Jesus's followers during the 30 years after his death. It describes how the 12 apostles, formerly Jesus's disciples, spread the message of Christianity throughout the Mediterranean against a background of persecution. With an introduction by P.D. James
Download or read book The Beginnings of the Church written by Frederick J. Cwiekowski and published by Paulist Press. This book was released on 1988 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Beginnings of the Church is a brief and marvelously readable summary of the dramatic shifts that have taken place in the way scholars understand the first generations of the Christian church.
Download or read book Matthew and his Christian Contemporaries written by David C. Sim and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2008-05-30 with total page 222 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume aims to compare the author of Matthew's Gospel with a selection of contemporary Christian authors and/or texts. Recent Matthean scholarship has highlighted the distinctiveness of this early Christian writer by emphasising his clear Jewish perspective in addition to his Christian affiliation. He can accurately be perceived as both Jewish and Christian because he holds that Christian commitment demands both observance of the Mosaic Law and faith in Jesus as the Messiah. But if Matthew is distinctively Jewish and Christian, how does he compare with other early Christian writers? Much of the New Testament literature was composed by Paul himself or by his later followers, and these Christians held the view that the Mosaic Law no longer had relevance in the light of the Christ event. Other New Testament texts that are not Pauline, e.g. the Gospel of John and the letter to the Hebrews, appear to agree with Paul on this point. Consequently, Matthew stands apart from other texts in the canon with the possible exception of the letter of James. The volume will therefore establish the distinctiveness of Matthew by comparing his theological perspective with his major sources, Mark and Q, and with the two remaining Gospels, the Pauline epistles, the letter to the Hebrews and the epistle of James. The comparison of Matthew with non-canonical texts, the Didache and the letters of Ignatius of Antioch, is important because much work has been done in these areas recently. Given Matthew's distinctive portrayal of Jesus, a comparison of Matthew and the historical Jesus is also demanded in the context of this volume.
Download or read book Attitudes to Gentiles in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity written by David C. Sim and published by A&C Black. This book was released on 2014-01-16 with total page 321 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume describes the attitudes towards Gentiles in both ancient Judaism and the early Christian tradition. The Jewish relationship with and views about the Gentiles played an important part in Jewish self-definition, especially in the Diaspora where Jews formed the minority among larger Gentile populations. Jewish attitudes towards the Gentiles can be found in the writings of prominent Jewish authors (Josephus and Philo), sectarian movements and texts (the Qumran community, apocalyptic literature, Jesus) and in Jewish institutions such as the Jerusalem Temple and the synagogue. In the Christian tradition, which began as a Jewish movement but developed quickly into a predominantly Gentile tradition, the role and status of Gentile believers in Jesus was always of crucial significance. Did Gentile believers need to convert to Judaism as an essential component of their affiliation with Jesus, or had the appearance of the messiah rendered such distinctions invalid? This volume assesses the wide variety of viewpoints in terms of attitudes towards Gentiles and the status and expectations of Gentiles in the Christian church.
Download or read book The Plan of God in Luke Acts written by John T. Squires and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 1993 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study examines one significant theological theme in Luke-Acts, that of 'The plan of God'. It traces the way this theme is developed throughout Luke-Acts, both through direct statements by the writer and through various associated means such as divine appearances, signs and wonders, the fulfilment of prophecy, and indications of fate as of necessity. Dr Squires locates Luke's use of this theme in the context of the history-writing of the Hellenistic period, noting numerous passages in those works which illumine Luke's theological purposes. His book shows how the notion of the plan of God is used by Luke as he writes to confirm his readers' faith, encouraging them to bear witness to this faith, and equipping them for the task of defending it.
Download or read book The Church on Mission written by Craig Ott and published by Baker Academic. This book was released on 2019-05-21 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this scripturally rich exploration, senior missiologist Craig Ott unpacks the mission statement of the church: to glorify God by multiplying transformational churches among all people. This concise yet robust biblical-theological treatment focuses on God's glory, a strong ecclesiology, the importance of Scripture, and practical implications for congregational and mission practice. Ideal for launching discussion and reflection, the book helps readers refocus their vision and reignite their commitment to fulfilling God's purposes for their church or mission.
Download or read book Luke s Portrait of Gentiles Prior to Their Coming to Faith written by Christoph W. Stenschke and published by Mohr Siebeck. This book was released on 1999 with total page 488 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Christoph W. Stenschke examines Luke's portrait of the Gentiles' state prior to their coming to Christian faith. Following the history of research, he commences with Luke's direct references to the Gentiles prior to faith and then draws conclusions concerning their state from the Gentile encounter with Jesus and Christian salvation. This includes Luke's notes on the condition of Gentiles and on their appropriation of salvation. Finally conclusions from Luke's portrayal of Gentile Christians are drawn.With his approach Christoph W. Stenschke challenges some previous contributions to Lukan anthropology. He argues that the main study in the field (J.-W. Taeger, Der Mensch und sein Heil) does not sufficiently consider all the evidence. By concentrating on the Gentiles in Luke-Act (including Samaritans and God-fearers) the author's thesis covers all the relevant material. Contrary to Taeger, who suggests that Gentiles do not need 'salvation' as much as 'correction', he discovers that Luke portrays Gentiles prior to faith in a condition requiring God's saving intervention. Thorough correction has to accompany and follow this salvation. Though allowing for distinct Lukan emphases, this portrait is not essentially at odds with that of other NT authors.These results further show that the Areopagus speech needs to and can be satisfactorily interpreted in its context and in conjunction with similar statements. The author further argues that Luke's narrative sections and the characterization they present should no longer be neglected in favour of the speeches. Luke's portrayal of Gentiles prior to faith also bears on his understanding of sin and provides additional justification for the Gentile mission. Christoph W. Stenschke challenges proposals of Luke's alleged anti-Judaism and provides some hitherto little-noticed correctives.
Download or read book The Bible and Other Faiths written by Ida Glaser and published by Langham Global Library. This book was released on 2012-03-14 with total page 221 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In today's world, when Christians think about other religions, numerous questions and issues arise - and their convictions about Christ and about other religions can have a significant influence on their understanding of how God relates to people, and what their own conduct towards them should be. From her wealth of inter-cultural and inter-faith experience, Ida Glaser believes that the most urgent questions for Christians focus on their own responsibilities and other peoples' welfare. Responding to Micah 6:8 - 'And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God' - Dr Glaser explores biblical perspectives on other faiths and their adherents, with clarity, sensitivity and challenging insights for all Christians.
Download or read book The Samaritans written by Alan David Crown and published by Mohr Siebeck. This book was released on 1989 with total page 900 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Vox Petri written by Gene L. Green and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2019-11-12 with total page 512 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Peter stands at the beginning of Christian theology. Christianity's central confessions regarding the person of Jesus, the cross, salvation, the inclusive nature of the people of God, and the end of all things come to us through the apostle who was not only the church's leader but also its first theologian. Peter is the apostle for the whole church and the whole church resonates with his theology. We sing his song, though we may not have glanced at the bottom of the page in the hymnbook to see who wrote the words and composed the tune. Peter is the "lost boy" of Christian theology, a person overlooked as a theological innovator and pillar, but his rightful place is at the head of the table. If we look closely, however, we may recognize that he has been seated there all along.
Download or read book The Church and the Good Samaritan written by Frank Nash Westcott and published by . This book was released on 1905 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Illustrated Guide to the Bible written by J. R. Porter and published by Chartwell Books. This book was released on 2016-09-15 with total page 290 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Examines the Biblical narratives in their historical, social, archaeological, and mythological contexts and provides a section with a book-by-book summary of the Bible.
Download or read book Acts written by Craig S. Keener and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2020-04-02 with total page 719 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Makes more widely available and accessible the research behind Keener's monumental, acclaimed, 4500-page commentary on Acts.
Download or read book Exemplary Life written by Andy Chambers and published by B&H Publishing Group. This book was released on 2012-11-01 with total page 236 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Exemplary Life articulates Luke’s vision for life together in a local church using key passages from Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-35; and 5:12-16 (known as “summary narratives”) as the starting point of reference. Although Luke is rightly acclaimed as the church’s first historian, he was a powerful writer and theologian as well. He also planted churches with Paul and had definite convictions about what life together in the church should look like. Yet, Luke’s theology of church life is underemphasized in modern scholarship, downplayed by issues rising from the historical-critical method. However, when the summary narratives are studied through the lens of narrative and rhetorical criticism, Luke’s strategy is unmistakable. Those passages cast a vision for life together in an exemplary church, drawn from the historical circumstances of the church in Jerusalem. These narratives also serve as a starting point for studying church life throughout Acts. When the church planting movements in Samaria, Antioch, Ephesus, and Troas are examined, we find echoes of the narratives almost constantly. These amplify and drive home Luke’s message in the summary narratives. Taking this path, twenty distinct characteristics of exemplary church life emerge. From repentance and Scriptural authority to praying together and earning the respect of neighbors, each one is thoughtfully presented here by author Andy Chambers to reassert Luke’s voice in 21st century conversations about the faithful formation of New Testament churches.
