Paul Among Jews

Wenxi Zhang

Description

This book challenges a popular and influential thesis in Lukan scholarship presented by the Tubingen School: Paul is a rival of Peter and Paul is an anti-Jewish apostle. Consequently, he is solely an apostle to Gentiles in Acts.
Through a narrative-critical method, Wenxi Zhang studies Paul's inaugural speech in Antioch of Pisidia and its literary function in relation to Paul's missionary activity among Jews in Acts. He concludes (1) that this inaugural sermon functions as an interpretative key to understand the narrative of Paul's missionary activity among his fellow Jews; and (2) that Paul is not anti-Jewish. He remains a faithful Jew who proclaims to his fellow Jews the fulfillment of God's promise to David in Jesus' resurrection. Consequently, Acts is not anti-Jewish document.

Sujets

• Jesus
• Jesús de Nazaret
• Jésus de Nazareth
• Christianity
• Biblical studies

Informations

• Publié par: Wipf and Stock Publishers
• Date de parution: 17 octobre 2011
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9781498269940
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Paul Among Jews

A Study of the Meaning and Significance of Paul’s Inaugural Sermon in the Synagogue of Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:16–41) for His Missionary Work among the Jews


Wenxi Zhang


Paul Among Jews
A Study of the Meaning and Significance of Paul’s Inaugural Sermon in the Synagogue of Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:16–41) for His Missionary Work among the Jews

Copyright © 2011 Wenxi Zhang. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical publications or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Write: Permissions, Wipf and Stock Publishers, 199 W. 8th Ave., Suite 3, Eugene, OR 97401.

Wipf & Stock
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ISBN 13: 978-1-61097-295-6
EISBN 13: 978-1-4982-6994-0

Manufactured in the U.S.A.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.






List of Abbreviations
ABAnchor Bible
ACFEBAssociation catholique française pour l’étude de la Bible
ACNTAugsburg Commentary on the New Testament
AnBibAnalecta biblica
ANTCAbingdon New Testament Commentaries
ANTJArbeiten zum Neuen Testament und Judentum
BAFCSThe Book of Acts in Its First Century Setting
BARBiblical Archaeologist Reader
BBBBonner Biblische Beiträge
BBRBulletin for Biblical Research
BETLBibliotheca Ephemeridum theologicarum Lovaniensium
BibBiblica
BSacBibliotheca Sacra
BTBBiblical Theological Bulletin
BWA(N)TBeiträge zur Wissenschaft vom Alten und Neuen Testament
BZNWBeihefte zur Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft
CahRBCahiers de la Revue biblique
CBQCatholic Biblical Quarterly
ConNTConiectanea neotestamentica
CTMCurrents in Theology and Mission
EBibÉtudes bibliques
ETLEphemerides theologicae Lovanienses
ExpTimExpository Times
FBForschung zur Bibel
FilolNTFiologia neotestamentaria
FRLANTForschungen zur Religion und Literatur des Alten und Neuen Testaments
HTRHarvard Theological Review
ICCInternational Critical Commentary
IntInterpretation
JBLJournal of Biblical Literature
JETSJournal of the Evangelical Theological Society
JSNTJournal for the Study of the New Testament
JSNTSupJournal for the Study of the New Testament Supplement Series
JSOTJournal for the Study of the Old Testament
JSOTSupJournal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement Series
JTSJournal of Theological Studies
KEKKritisch-exegetischer Kommentar über das Neue Testament (Meyer-Kommentar)
LDLectio Divina
MayMayéutica
NeotNeotestamentica
NICNTNew International Commentary on the New Testament
NJBCR. E. Brown et al. (eds.), New Jerome Biblical Commentary
NovTNovum Testamentum
NTGNew Testament Guides
NTSNew Testament Studies
NTTNew Testament Theology
PDParole de Dieu
RBRevue biblique
RTPRevue de théologie et de philosophie
SacPagSacra Pagina
SBBStuttgarter biblische Beiträge
SBLBSNASBL, Biblical Scholarship in North America
SBLDSSBL Dissertation Series
SBLMSSociety of Biblical Literature Monograph Series
SBLSPSociety of Biblical Literature Seminar Papers
SBLSymSSBL Symposium Series
ScrBScripture Bulletin
SemSemitica
SJLAStudies in Judaism in Late Antiquity
SNTSMSSociety for New Testament Studies Monograph Series
StANTStudien zum Alten und Neuen Testament
TDNTG. Kittel and G. Friedrich (eds.), Theological Dictionary of the New Testament
TSTheological Studies
TynBulTyndale Bulletin
TynNTCTyndale New Testament Commentaries
VTSupVetus Testamentum Supplements
WBCWord Biblical Commentary
WUNTWissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament
ZNWZeitschrift für die Neutestamentliche Wissenschaft


Preface
M y special interest in Paul and his speeches in the Acts of the Apostles began in the spring semester of 2007 during a doctoral seminar on Acts with Dr. Frank Matera at the Catholic University of America. On the one hand, I was deeply interested in Paul’s speeches in Acts. On the other hand, I was fascinated by the complicated relationship between Paul and his fellow Jews in Acts.
I found that there had been much research done either on Paul’s speeches in Acts or on his dealing with Jews. But there has not yet been a thorough and comprehensive narrative analysis of Paul’s inaugural speech in Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:16–41) in relation to Paul’s mission to the Jews in Acts. How does this speech unify Paul’s missionary work among the Jews as a whole? How does this speech function as a model speech that Paul delivers to the Jews? How does this inaugural speech relate to Paul’s missionary work among the Jews in Acts?
Many authors have been profoundly influenced by the so-called two-period theory. The first period is the proclamation of the good news to the Jews (Acts 2–13); the second period is the proclamation to the Gentiles (Acts 14–17). Therefore, the speech of Paul to the Jews in Antioch of Pisidia is the last call to the Jews. The end of the speech marks the end of Paul‘s missionary work to the Jews and the turning point of Paul’s mission from the Jews to the Gentiles. I think this view should be explored further.
This book examines the meaning and significance of Paul’s inaugural sermon at Antioch of Pisidia in order to understand its literary function in Paul’s ministry among Jews according to the Acts of the Apostles.
In chapter 1, I provide a history of research of the speeches in Acts in general and Paul’s inaugural speech in particular (Acts 13:16–41). I conclude that, since this is Paul’s inaugural sermon, a study of the literary function of Jesus’ and Peter’s inaugural sermons may shed some light on the literary function of Paul’s inaugural sermon.
In chapter 2, I study the literary function of Jesus’ inaugural sermon at Nazareth (Luke 4:16–30), and in chapter 3, I analyze Peter’s inaugural sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:14–40). I conclude that both sermons have a parallel literary function in the narrative of Luke-Acts and are significant for understanding the ministries of Jesus and Peter in Luke-Acts.
In chapter 4, I examine Paul’s inaugural sermon, noting that the full content of his preaching is reserved for his inaugural sermon. In this sermon, he argues from the Scriptures that God fulfilled his promise to David by raising Jesus from the dead.
In chapter 5, I investigate, from a narrative critical point of view, the literary function of Paul’s inaugural sermon in relation to the narration of his ministry to Israel in Acts.
In chapter 6, I draw two conclusions from my study of Paul’s inaugural sermon. First, Paul’s inaugural sermon has a significant literary function for understanding his ministry to Israel in Acts; namely, this sermon functions as the model for how Paul regularly preaches to Jews in Acts. Thus, it unifies the different narratives of Paul’s ministry among Jews in Acts. Second, through this inaugural sermon and its related narrative, Luke demonstrates that Paul is a missionary to both Jews and Gentiles in the Acts of the Apostles.
Now that I have finished my study in the US, I want to acknowledge the help and support that I have received from so many people and several institutions.
First and foremost, I own much to Rev. Larry Lewis, MM, the coordinator of Chinese Seminary Teachers and Formators Project, who generously offered me scholarships to finish my MA and PhD degrees in the United States. He always showed his understandings, support, and encouragement to me. I cannot thank him enough for his kindness.
This year is the centennial anniversary of the Maryknoll Society (1911–2011) and the twentieth anniversary of the Chinese Seminary Teachers and Formators Project (1991–2011). I send my warmhearted congratulations, sincere thanks, and best wishes to the Maryknoll Society and to Fr. Larry Lewis for their wonderful ministries in the whole world. In the past twenty years, the Maryknoll Society has helped more than 100 Chinese priests, Sisters, and lay persons study in the US and now working in different diocese and congregations all over China. The Maryknoll Society has already created history for the Church in China. I also give thanks to Ms. Anli Lin, Fr. Larry’s assistant, and to Sr. Janet Carroll, the former director of U.S China Catholic Bureau, for their kindness and support to me.
I offer heartfelt thanks to my director, Dr. Frank Matera, who has been the most helpful person for me from the beginning of my research to the completion of this dissertation. My thanks are beyond words for his scholarly guidance, instructive criticism, challenging remarks, and very generous availability. His way of doing research in balance, sober judgment, and clarity has influenced my way of doing research. I also owe much to my readers, Professor Francis Gignac, SJ and Professor John Paul Heil, who were very generous with their time and gave me helpful suggestions and encouragements.
Studying at CUA was chall