The Holy Spirit As Legitimator of Mission in Luke-Acts by Francis
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1 Overcoming Resistance: The Holy Spirit as Legitimator of Mission in Luke-Acts by Francis Innocent Otobo BST, GradDip (Biblical Studies) A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Divinity 2019 2 Abstract This thesis argues that the Holy Spirit in Luke-Acts functions to legitimate the mission to the nations for the Jewish followers of Jesus, whilst at the same time engaging with Greco-Roman pneumatic experiences to encourage Gentile (‘ethnic’) believers in their acceptance of the faith. This is a more unifying reading of the role of the Holy Spirit in Luke-Acts than has been proffered by earlier scholars in that it also affirms previous insights into Lukan connections with the ‘Spirit of the Lord’ and prophecy in the OT, and with broader mission themes. Using a narrative approach together with careful exegesis of selected texts, I show that the Spirit is used to address the challenges of ethnic diversity in the implied audience of the Lukan communities — for both the resisting Jewish Christian reader and those from diverse ethnic backgrounds. The thesis builds on the work of many scholars who have argued for the relationship of the Spirit in Luke-Acts to missiological themes (Conzelmann, Penney, Turner, Leeper, Hur, Gibbs, Zwiep); the connection between the Spirit and prophecy (Conzelmann, Menzies, Turner) and to the OT traditions in particular (Shepherd, Hur, Stronstad); the Spirit and the Jews and Gentiles (the ethnē) (Evans, Kuecker); and the legitimating role of the Spirit in more general terms (Shepherd, Turner, Bonnah). In so doing, I argue that the presence of the Spirit at key points of the narrative in both the Lukan Gospel and Acts legitimates the mission to the ethnē in contexts where there is ongoing resistance, both for those resisting and those who are being attracted by the signs of the Spirit. 3 Declaration of Originality I hereby declare that this PhD thesis is my own original research. It has not been submitted in any form for another degree or diploma at any other University or institution. I certify that the intellectual content of this study is the product of my own research, and all sources which have aided this thesis have been duly acknowledged. Signed: Date: 7th August 2019 4 Acknowledgment My appreciation and gratitude first of all is to God, the source of my being and the author of all wisdom and knowledge. I also acknowledge and appreciate Archbishop Christopher Prowse, Bishop Michael Apochi and Bishop Patrick O’Regan who permitted, supported and encouraged me to undertake this level of study. Worthy of special recognition is Fr Hugh Brown O’Carm, who lit the initial fire for this study and supported me to the end. To you all, I remain grateful. In a very unique way, I wish to acknowledge and appreciate my supervisors, Associate Professor Keith Dyer and Rev Dr Chris Monaghan, CP, for their availability at all times and for their patience in supervising my thesis. Their continuous support, the sharing of their knowledge and experience and their scholarly advice gave focus to this dissertation. To them I remain grateful. Many thanks also to Associate Prof Michael A. Kelly, CSsR, my College Research and Postgraduate Coordinator, for his unquantifiable and invaluable advice from the very beginning. To all the students and staff of Yarra Theological Union, and the Research office of the University of Divinity, I say thank you for creating an academic environment that fosters and facilitates learning and research. Special thanks also to the HDR students for their great support especially at those times when we had the HDR students’ seminars. I received a lot of support, inspiration and wisdom from those meetings. I must not fail to acknowledge the thoughtful contributions of all my friends, especially Sr Mercy Akor, Rev Dr Idoko B. Idoko, Fr Joseph Abutu and Fr George Ogah for their motivation. I wish to also express my profound gratitude to my family for their great support, especially, Mr Akor Otobo, Prof Mrs B. O. Ker and Prof I. A. O. Ujah. God bless you all. There are, of course, many others who have been of great support in different ways and at different times in this journey. I remain grateful to you all. 5 Abbreviations Journals, Periodicals and Series ABD The Anchor Bible Dictionary AJPS Asian Journal of Pentecostal Studies AshTJ…. Ashland Theological Journal BBR Bulletin for Biblical Research BTB Biblical Theology Bulletin CBQ Catholic Biblical Quarterly CJT Canadian Journal of Theology CTM Concordia Theological Monthly EQ Evangelical Quarterly EstBib Estudios Biblicos ExpTim Expository Times IBS Irish Biblical Studies JAC Jahrbuch für Antike und Christentum JBL Journal of Biblical Literature JETS Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society JNTS Journal for the Study of the New Testament JPT Journal of Pentecostal Studies JTS Journal of Theological Studies LTQ Lexington Theological Quarterly NJBC The New Jerome Biblical Commentary NovT Novum Testamentum NTS New Testament Studies RTR Reformed Theological Review RvExp Review and Expositor SBL Society of Biblical Literature TS Theological Studies 6 WTJ Westminster Theological Journal ZNW Zeitschrift für die Neutestamentliche Wissenschaft Abbreviations of Biblical Books and all other abbreviations in this thesis follow the Society of Biblical Literature Style Guide (2014). 7 Table of contents 1. Introduction and review of literature ............................................................................10 1.1 Aims and objectives of the thesis……………………………………………………………………………15 1.2 Outline of the thesis……………………………………………………………………………………………….16 1.3 Review of literature………………………………………………………………………………………………..18 1.3.1 The Spirit and Conversion (J. D. G. Dunn)………………………………………………18 1.3.2 The Spirit and Prophecy (H. Conzelmann, R. Menzies, M. Turner)…………20 1.3.3 The Spirit and Mission (H. Conzelmann, J. M. Penney, M. Turner, G. Leeper, J. Hur, E. Gibbs, A. W. Zwiep)……………………………………………………23 1.3.4 The Spirit and the OT (W. H. Shepherd, J. Hur, R. Stronstad)…………………27 1.3.5 The Spirit, Jews and Gentiles (C. A. Evans, A. Kuecker)………………………….29 1.3.6 The Spirit and Legitimation (W. H. Shepherd, M. Turner, G. Bonnah)……32 1.3.7 Questions that still need to be explored……………………………………………….33 1.4 Statement of research methodology………………………………………………………………………34 1.5 Summary and conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………..36 2. The challenge of ethnic diversity in the Lukan communities ....................................37 2.1 Luke’s implied audience: Jewish and Gentile …………………………………………………………40 2.2 Tensions over an inclusive missionary enterprise……………………………………………………46 2.2.1 Luke’s Gospel and ethnic tensions…………………………………………………………48 2.2.2 The grumbling of the Hellenists (Acts 6:1)…………………………………………….51 2.2.3 The circumcised believers criticise Peter (Acts 11:1-3)………………………….55 2.2.4 The resistance to Gentile inclusion at Antioch (Acts 13:42-52)……………..61 2.2.5 The crises leading up to the Jerusalem council (Acts 15:1-5)…………………65 2.3 Summary and conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………..70 3. Luke’s use of the Spirit to engage Gentile Christians …………………………………………………74 3.1 The narrative of Luke-Acts and Gentile Christians…………………………………………………..75 3.2 The religious environment of Greco-Roman society………………….……………………………77 3.2.1 Greco-Roman mystery religions and Christianity…………………………………..78 3.2.2 Mediums of communication from the gods…………………………………………..83 8 3.3 Greco-Roman spirit concepts: resonances in the narrative of Luke-Acts…………………94 3.3.1 Being filled with the Holy Spirit and spirit-possession……………………………94 3.3.2 The Spirit of prophecy and the oracles……………………………………………….100 3.4 Summary and conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………………………97 4. Luke’s use of the Spirit to engage Jewish Christians ………………………………………………102 4.1 Luke and the Old Testament…………………………………………………………………………………103 4.2 The Spirit motif in the Old Testament…………………………………………………………………..108 4.2.1 Spirit endowment and mission (Num 11:14-17, 24-30)……………………….113 4.2.2 The Spirit, anointing and mission (Isa 61:1-3)………………………………………119 4.2.3 The future promise of the Spirit and mission (Joel 2:28-29)…………………122 4.3 The Spirit motif in the Old Testament and parallels in Luke-Acts………………………….126 4.4 Summary and conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………130 5. The Holy Spirit’s role in legitimating the mission of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke …….132 5.1 Jesus’ conception: an action of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35)……………………………………133 5.2 Jesus’ baptism: public endorsement by the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:21-22)………………….138 5.3 Jesus’ temptation: leading of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1)…………………………………………145 5.4 The Nazareth synagogue episode: anointing with the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:16-30)….148 5.5 Summary and conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………167 6. The Holy Spirit’s role in legitimating the mission of the church in Acts ………………….170 6.1 The opening preface (Acts 1:2-5)………………………………………………………………………….172 6.2 The commissioning (Acts 1:6-8)…………………………………………………………………………….175 6.3 The Pentecost event (Acts 2:1-47)………………………………………………………………………..178 6.4 The Holy Spirit as legitimating mission to the wider world……………………………………192 6.4.1 The call of Paul (Acts 9:1-19)……………………………………………………………….193 6.4.2 The Cornelius episode (Acts 10:1-11:18)……………………………………………..197 6.4.3 The Church in Antioch (Acts 13:1-4)…………………………………………………….212 6.4.4 The Jerusalem Council (15:6-35)………………………………………………………….214 6.4.5 The community in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-7)…………………………………………….217 6.4.6 Paul’s speech in Rome (28:1ff)…………………………………………………………….219