In Praise of Christian Origins
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
Almost all scholars look to Acts 6:1-8:3 as providing the bedrock of early Christian tradition. The incident between the Hebrews and the Hellenists are understood to reflect real historical and theological problems in the early Jerusalem community, demonstrating the Hellenist role as a historical bridge between Jesus and Paul. Penner's study challenges the fundamental assumptions of this approach. Penner emphasizes the rhetorical and moral dimensions of ancient historiographical theory, especially the centrality of narrative and plot, the use of vivid description, the application of comparison using various type-scenes, and the role of speeches in terms of characterization and the presentation of narrative style.
Key Features
- Provides a big picture study of the growth of the early church in relation to Hellenization
- Adopts an interdisciplinary approach that balances competing claims
- Grounds the thesis in primary ancient sources and contemporary scholarship
Contents
- Foreword: Acts as Epideictic History: A Recommendation of and Response to Todd Penner, by David L. Balch
- Hellenists and Historia: Constructing Christian History and Theology in Modern Scholarship
- Textualizing the Hellenists, Contextualizing Interpretation: Mapping the Exegetical Terrain
- Writing History in Antiquity: Identity, Rhetoric, and Compelling Narration
- Jewish Apologetic Historiography: Cultural Identity and Rewriting the Past
- In Praise of Origins: The Hellenists, Stephen, and the Christian Foundation Narrative
- Epilogue: Historiography, History, and the Academy
Praise for the Print Edition
Among the many arguments in this ambitious book, those that should receive most attention from inspectors of Acts concern the nature of history writing in antiquity. Through this compelling elucidation of ancient historical/rhetorical project, Penner has taught us much about the aim of Luke-Acts.
—Shelly Matthews, Furman University
This book demonstrates a scholar with an impressive grasp of scholarly literature on Acts as well as of relevant literature from the contemporary Greco-Roman world...Penner has written a highly well informed work that all who study the book of Acts hereafter cannot afford to ignore.
—Torrey Seland, Society of the Biblical Literature, 2005
Todd Penner has created a stir among Luke-Acts scholars....Penner has made an important contribution to Acts scholarship. Particularly impressive is his ability to blend together literary, rhetorical, and historical methodologies in a way that models well how these diverse methods can (and should) come together to exegete texts... Scholars will have to engage seriously the contribution that Penner has made here.
—William H. Malas Jr., Society of Biblical Literature, 2005
Product Details
- Title: In Praise of Christian Origins: Stephen and the Hellenist in Lukan Apologetic Histiography
- Author: Todd C. Penner
- Publisher: T&T Clark
- Publication Date: 2004
- Pages: 440
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Topic: Early Church