Literary Genre of Acts
The Literary Genre of ActsIn his chapter regarding the genre of the book of Acts, Osvaldo Padilla introduces the topic of genre, provides a brief history of genre theory, and proposes several options for the genre of Acts. Padilla correctly asserts that bad genre...The Literary Integrity of Philippians
The Literary Integrity and Purpose(s) of PhilippiansThe literary integrity of Philippians is suspect. Many scholars, according to Stanley Porter, claim that Paul’s letter to the Philippians was not originally a single letter, but instead, a composite of several...Historicity of the Speeches in Acts
The Historical Credibility of the Speeches in ActsIn order to assess the historical accuracy of the speeches contained in the book of Acts, it is necessary to compare Luke’s speeches with the standards of ancient speech writing rather than attempting to force...Judaism in the Book of Acts
The Depiction of Judaism in ActsThe relationship between the Old Testament and the New Testament and, more specifically, between Judaism and Christianity has been debated since the time of Christ. Donald Hagner recognizes that the emphasis between continuity versus...Were Paul’s Letters Politically Subversive?
Paul and the Roman EmpireA running debate between scholars exists regarding the influence of the Roman Empire on Pauline thought and, specifically, regarding the influence of the emperor cult. Not surprisingly, N. T. Wright emphasizes the religious and historical...Baptized for the Dead in 1 Cor. 15:29
Paul and the Practice of BaptismExplaining Paul’s reference to those who were baptized for the dead in 1 Corinthians 15:29 is a conundrum that has faced interpreters for centuries. 1 Corinthians 15:29 states, “For otherwise, what will those do who are...Perfect in 1 Corinthians 13:9-10
Paul and Spiritual GiftsIn the middle of the famous love chapter, an interesting interpretive conundrum arises within 1 Corinthians 13:9-10: “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away” (ESV). The...Destroyer of the Gods: Book Review
During the last couple of centuries, certain scholars, such as those who participate in the History of Religions School, have promoted the idea that Christianity was just another religion that shared similar characteristics with other religions. The implication is...Is Acts Dependable History?
Luke as a HistorianThe question of whether the book of Acts is dependable history has come under fire in the modern era. Osvaldo Padilla asserts that Luke was a theological historian who utilized narrative to write responsible history.[1] Padilla partially relies upon...
Freedom: How Grace Transforms Your Life Now
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