Spirit and Word: Dual Testimony in Paul, John and Luke

Description

A number of New Testament passages depict the Holy Spirit acting in conjunction with gospel preaching or other forms of humanly given communication about Jesus, yet there is considerable disagreement about how these passages should be interpreted. Unresolved exegetical debates about the correlative action (the ‘dual testimony’) of the Spirit and the humanly conveyed word plague the interpretation of whole writings, extended sections of individual works, and important themes. This book examines this contested motif in a focused and comprehensive way. It begins by taking the Pauline, Johannine, and Lucan writings in turn, subjecting the central texts that express dual testimony to detailed exegetical analysis. On the basis of this exegetical work it then moves to a big-picture analysis of the way each corpus expresses and uses the dual-testimony motif, identifying individual emphases and tendencies as well as shared elements that can be observed across the three bodies of writing. Two final chapters offer brief reflections on possible developmental scenarios and points at which the preceding exegetical findings may impinge on questions of contemporary theology. Cover Title Copyright Contents Acknowledgements Abbreviations 1. Introduction 2. Gospel Preaching and the Spirit’s Power I. The gospel comes to Corinth: 1 Corinthians 2.4– 5 II. The gospel comes to Thessalonica: 1 Thessalonians 1.4– 5 III. Note on Romans 15.18– 19 IV. Note on 2 Corinthians 6.6– 7 3. Two Metaphors I. Letter writing: 2 Corinthians 3.3 II. Priestly service: Romans 15.16 4. Knowing God I. God’s love: Romans 5.5– 8 II. God’s glory: 2 Corinthians 4.6 III. The love of Christ: Ephesians 3.16– 19 5. Transformation, Worship and Warfare I. Transformation: 2 Corinthians 3.18 II. Worship: Ephesians 5.18– 19 III. Warfare: Ephesians 6.17 6. Revelation and Interpretation I. Getting it: 1 Corinthians 2.10– 16 II. Unveiling: 2 Corinthians 3.6, 12– 17 III. Criteria: 1 Corinthians 12.3 and 14.37 IV. Note on Romans 15.4–5 and 13 V. Note on 1 Corinthians 14.5, 13, 26– 28 7. Two Witnesses to Jesus 8. Jesus’s Words and the Teaching of the Paraclete I. Guidance and instruction, part 1: John 14.25– 26 II. Guidance and instruction, part 2: John 16.12– 15 9. Jesus’s Words and the Life– Giving Action of the Spirit I. Life: John 6.63 II. Birth: John 3.1– 15 III. Worship: John 4.23– 24 10. The Spirit and the From- The-Beginning Message I. The ‘we’ group and the ‘from the beginning’ message: 1 John 1.1–4, 5; 2.7, 24; 3.11; 4.6, 14 II. Dual witness and discernment: 1 John 2.18– 27 III. Dual witness and discernment revisited: 1 John 4.1– 6 IV. Dual witness and assurance: 1 John 3.23– 24; 4.13– 15 V. Water, blood, and Spirit: 1 John 5.6–8 11. Apostles and Spirit I. An explicit formulation: Acts 5.32 II. A carefully designed structure: Acts 1– 2 III. A two- pronged argument: Acts 15.1– 35 12. Individual Features and Common Ground I. Dual testimony in Paul II. Dual testimony in John III. Dual testimony in Luke IV. Common features 13. Developments and Antecedents I. From Spirit and gospel to Spirit and Christ II. From Synoptic saying to Johannine theology? III. Antecedents IV. Messiah, Spirit, and gospel 14. The New Testament and Contemporary Issues Bibliography Index of Authors Index of References