DESCRIPTION:

Speeches comprise nearly one-third of the material in Acts. This course examines many of those speeches in the Greek text of Acts, giving particular attention to their content, themes, christological perspective, and rhetorical form. Most important is the way the speeches function in the wider context of Acts to serve the author's theological and literary purposes, showing how both "word" and "event" combine to advance the mission to the ends of the earth.

Proclamation occupies center stage in the story world of Acts. As a missional and literary strategy, speeches occur at crucial moments in the narrative, interpreting events in the past and foreshadowing events to come. The interplay between audience situation and rhetorical strategy is a constant one in Acts and poses interesting questions for anyone interested in the effective communication of the gospel today.

The format of the course will consist of both in-class Greek translation and class lectures. The class will meet weekly for three-hour sessions.

Powell, Mark Allan. What Are They Saying about Acts? Paulist Press, 1991.

Witherington, Ben, III. The Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Eerdmans, 1998.

See the Biblical Division bibliography "Linguistic and Exegetical Books Required in the Master of Divinity Program" available in the SOT Academic Advising office.

Bruce, F. F. The Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text with Introduction and Commentary. Wipf and Stock, 2000.

Dodd, C. H. The Apostolic Preaching and Its Developments. Baker, 1980 (reprint).

Liefeld, Walter L. Interpreting the Book of Acts. Baker, 1995.

Willimon, William H. Acts. John Knox, 1988.

Soards, Marion L. The Speeches in Acts: Their Content, Context, and Concerns. Westminster/John Knox, 1994.

Martin, Ralph P. and Peter H. Davids, eds. Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments. InterVarsity, 1997.

1. Regular translation of Greek text in written and/or oral form (25%).

2. Individual speech summary and analysis (25%).

3. A 10-12 page research paper on a major speech in Acts, utilizing all the appropriate steps and tools of Greek translation and exegesis (25%).

4. A final examination OR written expository sermon based exegetical paper (25%).

NS501 and NE502.

Meets M. Div. core requirement in New Testament Exegesis (NTE).

Yes.