The Book of Acts: Catholic, Orthodox, and Evangelical Readings
Overview
The Book of Acts: Catholic, Orthodox, and Evangelical Readings brings together leading Catholic, Orthodox, and Evangelical theologians to read and interpret the book of Acts from within their ecclesial tradition, while simultaneously engaging one another in critical dialogue.
Combining both theological exegesis and ecumenical dialogue, each chapter is uniquely structured to facilitate a rich reading of Scripture and an engaging though critical dialogue across the traditions. Each chapter begins with a main essay by either a Catholic, Orthodox, or Evangelical theologian on a section of the book of Acts; the main essay is followed by responses from theologians of the other two traditions. The chapter concludes with a final response from the main author. Readers are thus provided with not only a deep and engaging reading of the book of Acts but also the unfolding of a rich theological-ecumenical dialogue centered on Scripture.
Since the essays engage the Book of Acts from both a theological and ecumenical framework, anyone interested in understanding how our ecclesial traditions inform our reading of Scripture would do well to read this book, as would anyone interested in the book of Acts, ecumenical dialogue, and the theological interpretation of Scripture. The contributed essays are scholarly enough to be of value to graduate students and professional scholars, yet are written in a style that will be accessible to the general public.
- Presents a collection of readings of Acts from a variety of theological perspectives
- Emphasizes the ecclesial nature of the early church
- Explores Christ’s ascension, Pentecost, and Paul’s conversion
- Introduction: Reading Acts Together As Catholics, Orthodox, And Evangelicals
- Acts 1 And Christ’s Ascension Into Heaven
- Acts 2, Translating Pentecost: Whitsun Readings
- Acts 7 And The Stoning Of Stephen
- Divine Action And Human Response: Four Theological And Visual Interpretations Of Paul’s Conversion In Acts 9
- Acts Of The Apostles 15
- Acts 17 And Mars Hill
Top Highlights
“Conclusion: It Came through a Revelation of Jesus Christ” (Page 186)
“According to Irenaeus, the gates that ask, ‘Who is this King of glory?’ are the principalities and the angelic ranks:” (Page 11)
“We are not called to simply reduplicate the church of Acts, as if the church in Acts were the only legitimate form” (Page 3)
“the Way to be a movement within first-century Judaism” (Page 4)
- Fr. John Behr
- Hans Boersma
- Dale M. Coulter
- Fr. Brian E. Daley
- Donald Fairbairn
- Douglas Farrow
- Msgr. Thomas G. Guarino
- David Lyle Jeffrey
- Gary W. Jenkins
- Matthew Levering
- Fr. Andrew Louth
- Gerald R. McDermott
- Bradley Nassif
- Fr. Eugen J. Pentiuc
- Marcus Plested
- Charles Raith II
- Fr. Thomas G. Weinandy
- Robert Louis Wilken
- Ralph C. Woo
Offers an assortment of readings of the book of Acts, not from a traditional exegetical position, but from a variety of theological perspectives. Provides an opportunity to genuinely learn from one anothera significant contribution for studies on the interpretation of the book of Acts, as well as the fields of theological hermeneutics and ecumenical interpretation of Scripture.
—D. Jeffrey Bingham, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
This book, an important advance in the quest for Christian unity, presents an ecumenical trialogue. Believing scholars of wisdom from the Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical traditions engage in conversation focused on one of the primary texts of the New Testament.
—Timothy George, Beeson Divinity School and general editor of the Reformation Commentary on Scripture
Some of the most important ecumenical work is today being done beyond official dialogues and in the vigorous engagement of theologians across confessional borders on topics of common interest. The Bible, of course, is central to every tradition. Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants bring their own perspectives on the holy Scriptures; each is called to challenge the other and to learn from the other. This latest in a series of ecumenical discussions of particular books of the Bible is an excellent example of the fruitfulness of such encounter. Acts is the primal history of the Church, and here Charles Raith has gathered together leading scholars in a lively and informative exchange.
—Michael Root, The Catholic University of America
Charles Raith II is presently Director of the Paradosis Center for Theology and Scripture and Assistant Professor of Religion and Philosophy at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. He is author of the book Aquinas and Calvin on Romans: God’s Justification and Our Participation (Oxford University Press). His articles and reviews have appeared in Pro Ecclesia, Nova et Vetera, International Journal of Systematic Theology, Journal for Theological Interpretation, and The Thomist. He is currently working on a book manuscript for Continuum Press entitled Ecumenism: A Guide for the Perplexed.