The Kingdom according to Luke-Acts: A Social, Literary, and Theological Introduction
Overview
This substantial, reliable introduction examines the character and purpose of Luke and Acts and provides a thorough yet economical treatment of Luke’s social, historical, and literary context. Karl Allen Kuhn presents Luke’s narrative as a "kingdom story" that both announces the arrival of God’s reign in Jesus and describes the ministry of the early church, revealing the character of the kingdom as dramatically at odds with the kingdom of Rome. Kuhn explores the background, literary features, plotting, and themes of Luke and Acts but also offers significant, fresh insights into the persuasive force of Luke’s well crafted and rhetorically charged narrative.
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Get more cutting-edge scholarship on Luke-Acts with Princeton Monographs on Luke-Acts (5 vols.) and Craig Evans’ Luke and Scripture: The Function of Sacred Tradition in Luke–Acts.
- Provides a comprehensive theological interpretation of Luke-Acts
- Juxtaposes the Kingdom of God with the empire of Rome
- Draws on historical, literary, and theological themes
- Luke and His World
- Imperium Romanum: An Empire of Disparity and Want
- Israelite Visions of the Kingdom
- Luke’s Place in Caesar’s Kingdom: The Social Location of the Third Evangelist
- Luke’s Narrative Artistry
- The Building Blocks of Luke’s Narrative
- Plotting through Parallels
- The Kingdom Story through Speech and Theme in Luke’s Infancy Narrative
- The Kingdom Story through Speech and Theme in Luke 24 and Acts of the Apostles
- The Power and Prominence of Luke’s Pathos
- Luke’s Kingdom Story
- Yahweh Is King and Lord of All
- The Corruption and Redemption of Creation
Top Highlights
“Yet I concur with others who find that Luke intended nothing of the sort. Instead, as indicated regarding Acts 17, the gospel proclaimed by Luke is one that calls upon all humanity to turn their allegiance from Caesar and the kingdom of Rome to another realm and another as Lord. Luke’s aim was not accommodation but resistance. He considered the reign of God to be not a benign reality but a deeply subversive and disturbing force that was already undermining the foundations of Rome and all earthly claims to power. Luke was promoting nothing less than an entirely new way of life that offered incredible blessing for both peasant and elite.” (Page xvii)
“Here I propose that it is best to understand the early Christian usage of this term as signifying not a distinct concept but rich formulations—narrative in shape and function—of the arrival of God’s long-awaited reign. The ‘kingdom stories’ proclaimed by Jesus and his early followers were adaptations of those told by Israelites before them. In the centuries leading up to the Common Era (CE), these stories were characterized by both incredible variation and their shared enactment of three fundamental claims: (1) Yahweh is King of Israel and Ruler of the universe; (2) the current order of creation and state of God’s people are not in alignment with God’s will; and (3) God will act to reorder creation into alignment with God’s intentions.” (Pages xv–xvi)
“In fact, one could justly argue that to merely use the terms ‘religion’ and ‘politics’ with reference to the ancient world is anachronistic.” (Page xiv)
Karl Kuhn’s groundbreaking monograph on Luke-Acts will reset modern interpretation of these books and influence New Testament studies for years to come.
—Mark Alan Powell, Robert and Phyllis Leatherman Professor of New Testament, Trinity Lutheran Seminary
Kuhn provides a rich introduction to Luke’s two-volume work, carefully unraveling its thick, interwoven tapestry of literary patterns, rhetorical strategies, social networks, political tensions, and theological themes.
—F. Scott Spencer, professor of New Testament and biblical interpretation, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
Building on recent conversations about early Christian resistance to the Roman Empire, Kuhn provides us with a well-written, thorough, and helpful introductory textbook for the study of Luke and Acts.
—Andrew Arterbury, associate professor of Christian Scriptures, George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University
- Title: The Kingdom according to Luke and Acts: A Social, Literary, and Theological Introduction
- Author: Karl Allen Kuhn
- Publisher: Baker Academic
- Print Publication Date: 2015
- Logos Release Date: 2016
- Pages: 336
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Bible. N.T. Luke › Criticism, interpretation, etc; Bible. N.T. Acts › Criticism, interpretation, etc; Kingdom of God › Biblical teaching
- ISBNs: 9781441222466, 9780801048876, 1441222464, 0801048877
- Resource ID: LLS:KNGDMCCRDNGLCTS
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T01:01:50Z