This book proposes a fresh understanding of the literary composition of Luke-Acts. Picking up on the ancient practice of literary mimesis, the author argues that Lukeâs two-part narrative is subtly but significantly modeled on the two-part narrative found in the books of Samuel-Kings and Chronicles. Specifically, Lukeâs gospel presents Jesus as the promised, ultimate Davidide, while the Book of Acts presents the disciples of Jesus as the heirs of the kingdom of David. In addition to the proposal concerning the composition of Luke-Acts, the book offers compelling insights on the genre of Luke-Acts and the purpose of Acts.
Mark S. Giacobbe, Ph. D. (2018), Westminster Theological Seminary, is Teaching Pastor at Citylight Church, Philadelphia, PA. He also serves as adjunct faculty at Dallas International University in the Applied Linguistics Department.
Acknowledgements List of Figures and Tables Abbreviations
1 Introduction
â1âRationale for the Study
â2âHistory of Research
â3âThe Samuel-Kings Narrative Arc
â4âMethodology: Narrative Criticism
â5âMethodology: Philosophy and Argumentation Theory
â6âPlan of the Study
â7âAssumptions and Clarifications
â8âConclusion
2 Lukeâs Literary Environment: Second Temple Judaism
â1âLukeâs Text of Samuel-Kings and Chronicles
â2âSamuel-Kings: Contents, Structure, Themes
â3âChronicles: Contents, Structure, Themes
â4âThe SKNA, Revisited
â5âSamuel-Kings and Chronicles in Second Temple Jewish Literature
â6âSummary and Conclusion
3 Lukeâs Greco-Roman Literary Environment
â1âGenre and Text
â2âMimesis in the Greco-Roman Literary World
â3âLuke and Mimesis
â4âSummary and Conclusion
4 Luke the Chronicler: Fixed Points
â1âLukeâs Knowledge of Samuel-Kings and Chronicles
â2âCore SKNA Themes in Luke-Acts
â3âThe Infancy Narrative
â4âSummary and Conclusion
5 The Disciples: Heirs of the Davidic Kingdom
â1âHeirs of the Davidic Kingdom
â2âRoyal Characterization throughout Luke-Acts
â3âAdditional Observations and Considerations
â4âSynthesis: Royal Figures in SKNA 2 and Luke-Acts
â5âSummary and Conclusion
6 Luke the Chronicler: Structural Features
â1âLukeâs Theological Geography and the SKNA
â2âThe Sequence of Major Characters in Acts
â3âSpeeches, Prayers, and Summaries in Acts
â4âLukeâs Approach to Historiography
â5âSummary and Conclusion
7 Luke the Chronicler: Beginnings and Endings
â1âThe Beginning of Luke: Lukeâs Preface
â2âThe Ending of Luke: Preparing for Kingdom and Temple
â3âThe Beginning of Acts: The New Temple
â4âThe Ending of Acts: A King at the End of the Earth
â5âSummary and Conclusion
8 Conclusion
â1âSummary
â2âThe SKNA in Luke-Acts: Collected Parallels
â3âThe Samuel-Kings Narrative Arc
â4âHermeneutical Implications
â5âTheological Implications
â6âFor Further Study
â7âConclusion: Luke the Chronicler and the Purpose of Acts
Appendix: Bayesâ Theorem Bibliography
Academic libraries, graduate and post-graduate students, biblical scholars in the fields of Old and New Testament and Second Temple Judaism.