Bibliography
| Title: Jews and Gentiles. A narrative and rhetorical analysis of the implied audience in Acts Type: Thesis Year: 1992 Abstract: "The single polarity "Jew-Christian" is often used to interpret Acts, but this does not allow for an individual to be both Jew and Christian. Luke uses a double polarity: (1) Jew - Gentile, and (2) believer - unbeliever. Individuals are characterized as: "believing Jews", "unbelieving Jews", and "believing Gentiles" (Acts 14:1-2). Part One summarizes presuppositions of scholars (Cadbury, Dibelius, Haenchen, Conzelmann, Jervell, etc.) regarding Luke's audience and introduces the modern literary distinction between "real audience" and "implied audience". Part Two is narrative analysis. The majority of characters named in Acts are believing Jews. Peter and Paul, the main Jewish characters, dominate the action. Though Peter initiates a mission to Gentiles, Paul does mission work primarily in synagogues. Believing Gentiles are few in number, and, except for Cornelius, are surprisingly passive. Luke's characterization of twenty-three group names follows the same pattern. Jewish groups dominate the action. Group name include: Jews, people, apostles, elders, Gentiles, Greeks, God-fearers, brethren, disciples, and church. Plot analysis shows conflict occurring primarily between groups of Jews. Unbelieving Jews try to silence believing Jews. Believing Jews argue among themselves about mission to Gentiles and table fellowship with Gentiles. Part Three is rhetorical analysis. Luke includes twenty-two speeches by believing Jews but no speeches by believing Gentiles. Luke's use of scripture in the early speeches, his polemic against idolatry in the middle speeches, and his defense of Paul as a law-abiding Jew in the later speeches imply a reading audience associated with the synagogue (Jews and God-fearers). Part Four identifies potential "real" audiences. It is plausible that Luke's first century real audience consisted primarily of "believing Jews" and God-fearers. Luke's 20th century real audience consists primarily of Gentiles who have difficulty appreciating stories of conflict between groups of Jews. To better understand Acts Gentile readers must become familiar with Judaism". Keywords: New Testament / Early Christianity |