EMT 1 / Michaelmas 2005 / Outline for Sept 21

 

 Theology and ethics in the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles

 

1.                   Christology:

 

 

G                                                      no pre-existence of Christ; HS takes the place of Christ’s presence (cf in Mt.)

G                                                      Functional Christology: Jesus understood in terms of what he has done

G                                                      Spirit-empowered Servant

G                                                      The Prophet like Moses

G                                                      Righteous Martyr– stress on the innocence of Jesus

           

summary:  “Jesus is more than a Spirit-anointed servant who proclaims justice, more than a prophet like Moses, more than a righteous martyr who gives a noble example of faithfulness: he is the one who fulfills the promises implicit in all these scripturally foreshadowed figures.” [120]

 

2          The Church

 

G                                                      Jesus as Paradigm for the Church’s Ministry: in Acts the church carries out what Jesus was anointed to do;  by the HS the apostles bring good news to the poor;   miracles stories in Acts mirror Jesus’ deeds in the Gospel; e.g.  raising of Dorcas by Peter and daughter of Jairus by Jesus;   extends to parallels of righteous martyr

G                                                      The New Community;   salvation  to community not just  individuals;     Church fulfills two ancient ideals (1) true friendship of Greek ideals (2) covenant community of Deuteronomic ideal;    

                        -   Good news for the poor (Luke 4) fulfilled in sharing community

                        -   concern for poor (see Beatitudes; cf Mt 5: 3,6 and Lk. 6:20-21)

                        -   condemnation of rich (Lk 12: 13-21; and 16: 19-31)

                        -   following Jesus leads to generous sharing

                        -   possessions symbolize the response to God: cf.  Zacchaeus and Ananias & Sapphira

G                                                      The Church turns the world upside down;  

Are Jesus and the Church in Luke/Acts  harmless and peaceable (Conzelmann); or is Jesus “a non-violent social dissident”?    Answer to taxation (Lk 20:20-26) is ambiguous; but a different pattern in Acts:   conflict with authorities (ch 4); 5:29:   “The great foundation of Christian civil disobedience”

Summary:  the world is turned upside down not through armed revolution but through the formation of the church as a counter-culture [128]

 

3          Eschatology

 

G                                                      Luke mutes the eschatology of Mark (see emphasis on stewardship; taking up the cross “daily”;   downplaying of Daniel 7; this tends to “defuse any immediate apocalyptic expectation” [130]; this creates a middle period for the role of the Church

G                                                      The eschatological spirit in the Church–the church living by the Spirit brings God’s future into its life;   shown in guidance by the HS for Philip and Jerusalem Council (ch 15)

G                                                      Eschatological reversal; the powerful and the oppressed are changed around [cf Magnificat]; parable of prodigal son;    Role of women in Luke/Acts