DESCRIPTION: A close reading of selected passages in the Acts of the Apostles, with special attention given to literary, socio-historical, and theological understandings of the second half of the Lukan narrative comprising the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will have demonstrated the ability (1) to employ a range of exegetical approaches relevant to the interpretation of the Acts of the Apostles; (2) to understand the Acts of the Apostles within its socio-historical, literary, and canonical contexts; (3) to identify central issues in the critical study of the Acts of the Apostles; (4) to articulate primary theological and ethical concerns of the Acts of the Apostles; and (5) to demonstrate proficiency in lexical semantics, identify grammatical constructions, engage in syntactical analyses, translate with minimal lexical assistance, and perform rudimentary exercises in text criticism in the Acts of the Apostles.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: Central to Christian discipleship and the various forms of Christian ministry is serious and faithful engagement with the biblical texts read as Christian Scripture. This course focuses on the development of competence among readers of New Testament narratives for this most essential grace of working with these texts.

COURSE FORMAT: This course is concerned with the practice of New Testament exegesis. As a result, participation will require regular preparation and exegetical practice. The course meets twice weekly for two-hour sessions for lectures and regular discussion.

REQUIRED READING: Choose one text from each of the following four sets:

Set 1: Aland, K., et al. The Greek New Testament. 4th ed. United Bible Societies, 1993 [UBS4]; or Nestle, E. & K. Aland. Novum Testamentum Graece. 27th ed. Deutsche Bibelstiftung, 1993 [NA27].

Set 2: Barrett, C.K. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles. 2 vols. ICC. T. & T. Clark, 1994, 1998; Fitzmyer, Joseph A. The Acts of the Apostles. AB 31. Doubleday, 1998; or Johnson, Luke Timothy. The Acts of the Apostles. SP 5. Liturgical, 1992.

Set 3: Bede, The Venerable. Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles. Cistercian, 1989; González, Justo L. Acts: The Gospel of the Spirit. Orbis, 2001; or Wall, Robert W. "The Acts of the Apostles: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections." In The New Interpreter's Bible, edited by Leander E. Keck et al., vol. 10, pp. 1-368. Abingdon, 2002.

Set 4: Finger, Reta Halteman. Of Widows and Meals: Communal Meals in the Book of Acts. Eerdmans, 2007; Robinson, Anthony B., and Robert W. Wall, Called to Be Church: The Book of Acts for a New Day. Eerdmans, 2006; or Walton, Steve. Leadership and Lifestyle: The Portrait of Paul in the Miletus Speech and 1 Thessalonians, SNTSMS 108. Cambridge University Press, 2000.

Students will need to consult the following resources throughout the quarter:

Danker, F.W. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd ed. University of Chicago Press, 2000 [BDAG].

Wallace, D.B. Greek Grammar beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of the NT. Zondervan, 1996.

For further resources, see the Biblical Division bibliography "Linguistic and Exegetical Books Required in the Master of Divinity Programs" available at http://www.fuller.edu/sot/ecds/091/Ling-Exeg-Biblio.html.