The Gospels and Acts: Fortress Commentary on the Bible Study Edition

Description

This concise commentary on the Gospels and Acts, excerpted from the Fortress Commentary on the Bible: The New Testament, engages readers in the work of biblical interpretation. Contributors from a rich diversity of perspectives connect historical-critical analysis with sensitivity to current theological, cultural, and interpretive issues. About the Author Margaret Aymer is associate professor of New Testament at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Cynthia Briggs Kittredge is dean and president and professor of New Testament at Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas. David A. Sanchez is associate professor of theological studies at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Introductory articles describe the challenges of reading the New Testament in ancient and contemporary contexts, as well as exploring other themes ranging from the Jewish heritage of early Christianity to the legacy of the Apocalyptic. These are followed by the survey "Jesus and the Christian Gospels." Each chapter (Matthew through Acts) includes an introduction and commentary on the text through the lenses of three critical questions: The Text in Its Ancient Context. What did the text probably mean in its original historical and cultural context? The Text in the Interpretive Tradition. How have centuries of reading and interpreting shaped our understanding of the text? The Text in Contemporary Discussion. What are the unique challenges and interpretive questions that arise for readers and hearers of the text today? The Gospels and Acts introduces fresh perspectives and draws students, as well as preachers and interested readers, into the challenging work of interpretation. Abbreviations ix Series Introduction 1 Reading the Christian New Testament in the Contemporary World Kwok Pui-lan 5 Negotiating the Jewish Heritage of Early Christianity Lawrence M. Wills 31 Rootlessness and Community in Contexts of Diaspora Margaret Aymer 47 Th e Apocalyptic Legacy of Early Christianity David A. Sánchez 63 Jesus and the Christian Gospels Raymond Pickett 83 Matthew Warren Carter 127 Mark Raquel S. Lettsome 173 Luke Robert L. Brawley 217 John Adele Reinhartz 265 Acts as a History of the Early Church Demetrius K. Williams 309 Th e Acts of the Apostles Michal Beth Dinkler 327