Does the New Testament Imitate Homer? - Four Cases from the Acts of the Apostles (Hardcover, New)


In this provocative challenge to prevailing views of New Testament sources, Dennis MacDonald argues that the origins of passages in the book of "Acts" are to be found not in early Christian legends but in the epics of Homer. MacDonald focuses on four passages in the book of "Acts", examines their potential parallels in the "Iliad" and concludes that the author of "Acts" composed them using famous scenes in Homer's work as a model. Tracing the influence of passages from the "Iliad" on subsequent ancient literature, MacDonald shows how the story generated a vibrant, mimetic literary tradition long before Luke composed the "Acts". Luke could have expected educated readers to recognize his transformation of these tales and to see that the Christian God and heroes were superior to Homeric gods and heroes. Building upon and extending the analytic methods of his earlier book, "The Homeric Epics and the Gospel of Mark", MacDonald opens an original and promising appreciation not only of "Acts" but also of the composition of early Christian narrative in general.

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Product Description

In this provocative challenge to prevailing views of New Testament sources, Dennis MacDonald argues that the origins of passages in the book of "Acts" are to be found not in early Christian legends but in the epics of Homer. MacDonald focuses on four passages in the book of "Acts", examines their potential parallels in the "Iliad" and concludes that the author of "Acts" composed them using famous scenes in Homer's work as a model. Tracing the influence of passages from the "Iliad" on subsequent ancient literature, MacDonald shows how the story generated a vibrant, mimetic literary tradition long before Luke composed the "Acts". Luke could have expected educated readers to recognize his transformation of these tales and to see that the Christian God and heroes were superior to Homeric gods and heroes. Building upon and extending the analytic methods of his earlier book, "The Homeric Epics and the Gospel of Mark", MacDonald opens an original and promising appreciation not only of "Acts" but also of the composition of early Christian narrative in general.

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Product Details

General

Imprint

Yale University Press

Country of origin

United States

Release date

February 2004

Availability

Expected to ship within 12 - 17 working days

First published

November 2003

Authors

Dimensions

234 x 256 x 19mm (L x W x T)

Format

Hardcover

Pages

227

Edition

New

ISBN-13

978-0-300-09770-2

Barcode

9780300097702

Categories

LSN

0-300-09770-0



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