The question of literary genre of Luke's second volume has been the focus of much debate. In this volume, Loveday Alexander examines afresh the Acts texts, by focusing on the ancient readers of the text. The Acts of the Apostles argues that the diversity of the contemporary readers of the text provide rich and varied readings, as the divergent cultural and educational backgrounds of the readers reveal different perceptions of the text. The Acts of the Apostles explores how Acts would have come across to the reader whose intellectual world was shaped by the histories of Herodotus and Thucydides, by the Greek Bible, by Hellenistic biography, or the Greek novel, or politcal apologetic. It shows how these various readings offer new insights into the text itself and also broadens our understanding of the pitfalls of communication in the ancient world and the strategies adopted by the first Christians writers to negotiate them.

The Acts of the Apostles (New Testament Readings)

History

Alexander, Loveday

Court, John

Ancient Civilizations

Routledge

The Preface to Luke's Gospel (Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series)

Religion & Spirituality

Christian Books & Bibles

Cambridge University Press

The Preface to Luke's Gospel (Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series, Series Number 78)

Luke's two-volume work begins with a formal preface unlike anything else in the New Testament, and it has long been academic orthodoxy that Luke's choice of style, vocabulary, and content in this short passage reveal a desire to present his work to contemporary readers as 'History' in the great tradition of Thucydides and Polybius. This study challenges that assumption: far from aping the classical historians, Dr Alexander argues, Luke was simply introducing his book in a style that would have been familiar to readers of the scientific and technical manuals which proliferated in the hellenistic world. The book contains a detailed study of these Greek 'scientific' prefaces as well as a word-by-word commentary on the Lucan texts. In her concluding chapters, Alexander seeks to explore the consequences of this alignment both for the literary genre of Luke-Acts (is it meant to be read as 'history'?) and for the social background of the author and the book's first readers.

Reference

Encyclopedias & Subject Guides

For over one hundred years the International Critical Commentary has had a special place amongst works on the Bible. This new volume on Hebrews brings together all the relevant aids to exegesis - linguistic, textual, archaeological, historical, literary and theological - to enable the scholar to have a complete knowledge and understanding of this old testament book. Philip and Loveday Alexander incorporate new evidence available in the field and apply new methods of studies. No uniform theological or critical approach to the text is taken.

Hebrews I: A Critical and Exegetical Commentary (International Critical Commentary)

Alexander, Philip

T&T Clark

Here, gathered for the first time, is a collection of Loveday Alexander's critically acclaimed essays on the Acts of the Apostles. In this collection of essays, Alexander addresses the central question 'What kind of book is Acts?' She approaches the text of Acts with a finely-tuned sense of the complexities of the conventional codes that governed reading and writing in the classical world, and argues that the differences between New Testament texts and contemporary writings in the Graeco-Roman world can be as revealing as the similarities. The collection begins with Alexander's classic analysis of the literary codes governing the preface to Luke's two-volume work, in which she challenges the dominant consensus that the language and structure of the preface evoke the generic conventions of Greek historiography. That insight opens up the possibility of reading Acts alongside other ancient literary genres: the lives of the Greek philosophers, the Greek novels of Chariton and Xenophon of Ephesus, Roman itineraries, Greek and Jewish apologetic, and Latin epic. The process, like the narrative of Acts itself, becomes a rich and evocative voyage of exploration, shedding light both on the varied social worlds of the author and his first readers, and on the complex communication problems underlying the creation of early Christian discourse. This is volume 289 in the Journal for the Study of the New Testament Supplement series and is also part of the Early Christianity in Context series.

Acts in its Ancient Literary Context

Bloomsbury T&T Clark

Here, gathered for the first time, is a collection of Loveday Alexander's critically acclaimed essays on the Acts of the Apostles. In this collection of essays, Alexander addresses the central question 'What kind of book is Acts?' She approaches the text of Acts with a finely-tuned sense of the complexities of the conventional codes that governed reading and writing in the classical world, and argues that the differences between New Testament texts and contemporary writings in the Graeco-Roman world can be as revealing as the similarities. The collection begins with Alexander's classic analysis of the literary codes governing the preface to Luke's two-volume work, in which she challenges the dominant consensus that the language and structure of the preface evoke the generic conventions of Greek historiography. That insight opens up the possibility of reading Acts alongside other ancient literary genres: the lives of the Greek philosophers, the Greek novels of Chariton and Xenophon of Ephesus, Roman itineraries, Greek and Jewish apologetic, and Latin epic. The process, like the narrative of Acts itself, becomes a rich and evocative voyage of exploration, shedding light both on the varied social worlds of the author and his first readers, and on the complex communication problems underlying the creation of early Christian discourse. This is volume 289 in the Journal for the Study of the New Testament Supplement series and is also part of the Early Christianity in Context series.

Acts in its Ancient Literary Context (The Library of New Testament Studies)

Faithful and effective church leadership requires preparation in prayer, theological reflection and a wide range of pastoral, prophetic and practical skills in order to ensure that what the Church discerns as necessary the Church does. Faithful Improvisation? is both a contribution to a current and sometimes vigorous debate on how the Church trains its leaders and also a practical and theological resource for discerning what the Spirit is saying and then acting upon it in local church contexts. Part One includes the full text of the Senior Church Leadership report from the Faith and Order Commission. Part Two offers reflections by Cally Hammond, Thomas Seville, Charlotte Methuen, Jeremy Morris and David Hilborn, on practices, models and theologies of leadership in different periods of church history which informed the FAOC report. Part Three opens up a broader discussion about present and future leadership within the Church of England. Mike Higton sketches out a dialogue between Senior Church Leadership and Lord Greenâ€™s report, Talent Management for Future Leaders; Tim Harle offers a personal reflection from the perspective of the community of leadership practitioners; and Rachel Treweek concludes with an exploration of the essentially relational character of leadership.

Faithful Improvisation?: Theological Reflections on Church Leadership (Explorations)

Church House Publishing

Luke the Evangelist wrote the Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel according to Luke, which together account for nearly one quarter of the New Testament. In Acts of the Apostles Luke tells a story of journeys. Weaving accounts of perilous travel across vast distances with snapshots of internal faith journeys, Luke chronicles the growth of the Christian church from a humble room in Jerusalem to the far corners of the Mediterranean world. Throughout this story appear a host of individual travelers, apostles, and others, moving back and forth across the Roman Empire and spreading the gospel wherever they go. As we read, we share with the first Christians the unfolding excitement of finding that God is waiting to meet them and surprise them in this world he has called them to change. 
The Daily Bible Commentary A mere reading of the Bible fails to fulfill its ultimate purpose. The Bible's message is meant to transform. The Daily Bible Commentary series distills the best of current scholarship into the straightforward language of a devotional. It skillfully opens each New Testament book and helps readers respond to the eternal truths within. General editors Richard A. Burridge, Dom Henry Wansbrough, and David Winter, together with other renowned scholars from an array of Christian traditions, provide helpful introduction, accessible explanation, and fresh meditations on individual passages. Balancing profound reflection with penetrating insight, the two-page daily readings engage the mind while never failing to touch the heart.

Acts: A Guide for Reflection and Prayer (Daily Bible Commentary)

Hendrickson Pub

Bntc Acts P

Continuum Intl Publishing Grp

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Alexander, Loveday. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Alexander, Loveday

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Alexander, Loveday. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Acts of the Apostles (New Testament Readings)

The Preface to Luke's Gospel (Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series)

The Preface to Luke's Gospel (Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series, Series Number 78)

The Preface to Luke's Gospel (Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series, Series Number 78)

Hebrews I: A Critical and Exegetical Commentary (International Critical Commentary)

Acts in its Ancient Literary Context

Acts in its Ancient Literary Context (The Library of New Testament Studies)

Faithful Improvisation?: Theological Reflections on Church Leadership (Explorations)

Acts: A Guide for Reflection and Prayer (Daily Bible Commentary)

Bntc Acts P