Bibliography
| Title: Paul's opponents in Acts in light of Gentile descriptions of Jews Type: Thesis Year: 1987 Abstract: "The purpose of the dissertation was to analyze Gentile descriptions and characterizations of Jews in relation to their setting in the early Roman empire. Chapter 1 introduces these questions and the problem of the description of Paul's opponents in Acts, including a discussion of methodology and the use of material alleged to be parallel to the New Testament. Chapter 2 discusses various Greco-Roman writers with particular focus on Cicero, Diodorus, Tacitus, Horace, and Juvenal. These writers single out Jews for primarily political reasons--Rome has demonstrated its superiority over the Jews in a recent war. Some descriptions, referring to Jews in Rome, draw attention to superior Roman culture. The focus of these descriptions, however, is the superiority of Rome, not special antagonism to Jews because of their practices or dedication to their God. Chapter 3 discusses Philo and Josephus because they furnish the most information about Jews in the early empire and their perspective shapes the perspective of many scholars who interpret the role of Jews in the early empire. Although Philo and Josephus argue that the Jews have had special privileges because of the nature of their religion, in fact they present the case that Jews have privileges at the discretion of Rome. Philo and Josephus focus on the religious aspects of these privileges. Chapter 4 discusses Luke's presentation of Paul's opponents in light of tensions between Jews and Gentiles in the cities. Each episode is analyzed for the depiction of Paul, his followers, the worshippers in the synagogues, the opponents themselves, and the representatives of Rome. Suggestions are made for how Luke relates Paul and the early church both to Jewish tradition and to their setting in Roman cities. Chapter 5 concludes with a summary and description of the distinctives of Luke's depiction of Paul's opponents in light of Gentile descriptions of Jews. The chapter discusses Luke's references to Jewish customs, especially circumcision and the Sabbath and the role of Roman officials and their actions toward Paul in the narrative of Acts". Keywords: New Testament / Early Christianity |