Acts and the Isaianic New Exodus

by Pao, David W.

• ISBN13: 9780801024962
• ISBN10: 080102496X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-05-01
• Publisher: Baker Academic

Summary

New Testament scholars have long recognized the use of Isaiah in the Lukan narrative. While previous studies have focused on isolated quotations and allusions, Acts and the Isaianic New Exodus provides a fresh reading that examines the wider relationship between Isaiah and the Book of Acts. David Pao recognizes the "new exodus" program of Isaiah as a hermeneutical key that offers important clues to the structure and function of Acts and the entire Lukan narrative.

Author Biography

David W. Pao (Ph.D., Harvard University) is assistant professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Table of Contents

Preface	v
Introduction	1	(36)
Approaches to the Study of the Acts of the Apostles	1	(4)
The Scriptural Story and the Narrative of Acts within the Context of Lukan Scholarship	5	(12)
The ``Use'' of Scripture in the Lukan Writings	5	(5)
Isaianic New Exodus and the Narrative of Acts	10	(7)
The Plan of the Present Study	17	(3)
Historical Plausibility	20	(17)
Authorial Context	20	(6)
Temporal Context	26	(3)
Literary Context	29	(8)
Continuity and Discontinuity: The Significance of Isa 40:1-11 in the Lukan Writings	37	(33)
Introduction	37	(1)
The Presentation of the Isaianic Program in Luke-Acts	38	(3)
The Evocative Power of Isa 40:3-5: The New Act of God	41	(4)
Isaianic Themes in the Lukan Construction of an Identity Claim	45	(6)
Isa 40:1-2: The Restoration of the People of God	46	(1)
Isa 40:3-5: Universal Revelation of the Glory/Salvation of God	47	(1)
Isa 40:6-8: The Power of the Word of God and the Fragility of the People	48	(2)
Isa 40:9-11: The Restoration of the People of God	50	(1)
Isaiah 40-55: The Redefinition of the People of God and the Evocation of the Foundation Story of Ancient Israel	51	(8)
Isa 40:1-11 and the Introduction of the Exodus Paradigm	52	(3)
The Transformation of the Exodus Paradigm in Isaiah 40-55	55	(4)
Who is the ``True Israel''? Oδoc-Terminology as an Identity Claim in Acts	59	(10)
Conclusion	69	(1)
Isaiah and the Hermeneutical Framework of Acts: Statements that Frame the Narrative	70	(41)
Introduction	70	(1)
Luke 4:16-30	70	(14)
The Text of the Isaianic Quotation in Luke 4:18-19	71	(3)
The Evocation of Isa 61:1-2: The New Age for the People of God	74	(4)
The Reinterpretation of Isa 61:1-2: The Lukan Redefinition of the People of God	78	(6)
Luke 24:44-49	84	(7)
The Allusion to Isa 49:6 in Luke 24:46-47	84	(2)
Isaiah and the Extension of the Markan Story of Jesus	86	(3)
Isaiah and the Justification of the Gentile Community: The Lukan Characterization of the Early Christian Movement	89	(2)
Acts 1:8	91	(5)
Allusions to Isaiah in Acts 1:8	91	(2)
Isaiah and the Groundplan of Acts: Isaianic New Exodus as the Hermeneutical Grid for the Story of Acts	93	(2)
The Use of the National Story of Israel: The Establishment of the Kingdom of the People of God	95	(1)
Acts 13:46-47	96	(5)
The Text of the Isaianic Quotation in Acts 13:47	96	(2)
The Transformation of the Isaianic New Exodus: The Accomplishment of the Lukan Redefinition of the People of God	98	(2)
The Ecclesiological Focus of the Isaianic Program: From the Stories of Jesus and the Apostles to the Story of the Community	100	(1)
Acts 28:25-28	101	(8)
The Text of the Isaianic Quotation in Acts 28:25-28	102	(2)
Isaiah and the Lukan Justification of the Rejection of the Prophetic Movement: The Development of the Competitive Claim concerning the People of God	104	(1)
From Luke 3 (Isaiah 40) to Acts 28 (Isaiah 6): The Dramatic Reversal of the Isaianic Program	105	(4)
Conclusion	109	(2)
The True People of God: The Restoration of Israel	111	(36)
Introduction	111	(1)
Isaiah and the Restoration of Israel	112	(10)
The Reconstitution of Israel	112	(1)
The Ingathering of the Exiles	113	(2)
The Community of the Spirit	115	(2)
The Rebuilding of the Davidic Kingdom	117	(1)
Repentance and the Turn to the Lord	118	(2)
The Inclusion of the Outcasts	120	(2)
Acts and the Restoration of Israel	122	(21)
The Reconstitution of Israel	123	(6)
The Ingathering of the Exiles	129	(2)
The Community of the Spirit	131	(4)
The Rebuilding of the Davidic Kingdom	135	(3)
Repentance and the Turn to the Lord	138	(2)
The Inclusion of the Outcasts	140	(3)
Conclusion	143	(4)
Excursus: The Continuing State of Exile	143	(4)
The Agent of the New Exodus: The Word of God	147	(34)
Introduction	147	(3)
The Process of the New Exodus: The Conquest of the Word	150	(17)
The Itinerary of the Word of God	150	(10)
The Hypostatization and the Power of the Word	160	(7)
The Goal of the New Exodus: The Creation of the Community of the People of God	167	(9)
The Growth of the Word and the New Community of the Exodus Traditions	167	(4)
The Early Christian Community as the Sole Possessor of the Word	171	(5)
Conclusion	176	(5)
Excursus: The Word of God in Context	177	(4)
The Lord of the Nations: The Anti-Idol Polemic	181	(36)
Introduction	181	(1)
Anti-Idol Polemic and the Isaianic New Exodus	182	(11)
The Powerlessness of the Idols and the Nations in Isaiah 40-55	183	(6)
The Sovereignty of Yahweh in Isaiah 40-55	189	(4)
Anti-Idol Polemic and the New Exodus in Acts	193	(19)
The Powerlessness of the Idols and the Nations in Acts	193	(16)
The Sovereignty of the Risen Jesus in Acts	209	(3)
Conclusion	212	(5)
Excursus: Isaianic Influence on Second Temple Jewish Idol Parodies	213	(4)
The Transformation of the Isaianic Vision: The Status of the Nations/Gentiles	217	(32)
Introduction	217	(1)
The Nations/Gentiles in the Isaianic New Exodus	218	(9)
The Universalistic Concern for the Nations in Isaiah	218	(2)
The Particularistic Emphasis on Israel in Isaiah	220	(1)
Universalism and Nationalism in Isaiah	221	(6)
The Gentiles in the New Exodus in Acts	227	(18)
The Focus on the Mission to the Gentiles in Acts	227	(9)
The Impartiality of God and the Soteriological Equality of Jews and Gentiles	236	(7)
The Response of the Jews and the Mission to the Gentiles	243	(2)
Conclusion	245	(4)
Excursus: Jews and Gentiles in the Final Age	245	(4)
Conclusion	249	(6)
Summary	249	(2)
Implications for the Study of the Lukan Use of Scripture	251	(1)
Implications for the Study of the Theology and Narrative of Acts	252	(3)
Bibliography	255	(30)
Index of Ancient Sources	285	(17)
Index of Authors	302	(6)
Subject Index	308