Does the New Testament imitate Homer? : four cases from the Acts of the Apostles / Dennis R. MacDonald.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

MacDonald, Dennis R., 1946-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Homer. Iliad.

Homer.

Bible. Acts--Extra-canonical parallels.

Bible.

Greek literature--Relation to the New Testament.

Greek literature.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (1 online resource (x, 227 p.))

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

New Haven, CT : Yale University Press, c2003.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In this provocative challenge to prevailing views of New Testament sources, Dennis R. 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.

Contents:

Front matter

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Part One: The Visions of Cornelius and Peter and Iliad 2

1. Cornelius and Peter

2. Lying Dream and True Portent

3. More Dreams and Portents

4. The Visions of Cornelius and Peter

5. Local Legend or Homeric Imitation?

Part Two: Paul's Farewell at Miletus and Iliad 6

6. Hector's Farewell to Andromache

7. Paul's Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

8. Jewish Testament or Homeric Imitation?

Part Three: The Selection of Matthias and Iliad 7

9. The Selection of Ajax to Face Hector

10. The Selection of Matthias to Replace Judas

11. Jerusalem Legend or Homeric Imitation?

Part Four: Peter's Escape from Prison and Iliad 24

12. Priam's Escape from Achilles and Its Imitators

13. Alexander's Escape from Darius

14. Peter's Escape from Herod

15. Hellenistic Legend or Homeric Imitation?

Conclusion

Appendix. Greek and Latin Parallels

Abbreviations

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. 209-219) and index.

ISBN:

9786611722395

9781281722393

1281722391

9780300129892

0300129890

OCLC:

1013944805