This Thesis Has Been Submitted in Fulfilment of the Requirements for a Postgraduate Degree (E.G
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This thesis has been submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for a postgraduate degree (e.g. PhD, MPhil, DClinPsychol) at the University of Edinburgh. Please note the following terms and conditions of use: This work is protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights, which are retained by the thesis author, unless otherwise stated. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the author. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author. When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given. Understanding the Messiah: The Rhetoric of Perception in Luke-Acts Joshua L. Mann Submitted in Satisfaction of the Requirements for the Degree of PhD in the University of Edinburgh 2016 Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................ v Signed Declaration ..................................................................................................... vii Acknowledgments ....................................................................................................... xi Abbreviations ............................................................................................................ xiii 1 Research Question, Context, and Approach .......................................................... 1 1.1 Observations Giving Rise to the Question ...................................................... 1 1.2 Previous Research on the Rhetoric of Perception in Luke-Acts ..................... 4 1.3 Methodology ................................................................................................. 13 1.4 Structure of This Study ................................................................................. 21 2 Narrative Beginnings (Luke 1–9) ......................................................................... 23 2.1 The Preface and Purpose of Luke (Luke 1:1–4) ........................................... 23 2.2 Zechariah and Mary Question Gabriel .......................................................... 30 2.3 Simeon Sees the Messiah (Luke 2:25–35) .................................................... 38 2.4 Jesus Reads from Isaiah (Luke 4:14–30) ...................................................... 45 2.5 Parable of the Sower and the Lamp (Luke 8:4–21) ...................................... 51 2.6 ‘Seeing Jesus’, the Messiah (Luke 9:7–36) .................................................. 71 2.7 The Concealed Meaning of Jesus’ Statement (Luke 9:43b–45) .................. 83 2.8 Conclusion .................................................................................................... 93 3 From Misunderstanding to Illumination (Luke 10—24) ..................................... 99 3.1 ‘Blessed Are the Eyes that See’ (Luke 10:21–24) ...................................... 100 3.2 The Revelation of the Son of Man (Luke 17:20–37) .................................. 105 3.3 Misunderstanding the Passion (Luke 18:31–34) ......................................... 113 3.4 Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41–44) .......................................... 122 3.5 Slow Hearts and Opened Minds (Luke 24) ................................................ 127 3.6 Conclusion .................................................................................................. 154 4 The Rhetoric of Perception in Acts .................................................................... 163 4.1 A Survey of Perception Rhetoric in Acts 1:1—28:16 ................................ 164 4.2 Closed Eyes and Open Preaching (Acts 28:16–31) ................................... 197 4.3 Conclusion .................................................................................................. 222 5 Conclusion .......................................................................................................... 227 6 Bibliography ....................................................................................................... 237 iii Abstract This thesis argues that the rhetoric of perception opens and closes the Gospel of Luke and its sequel, the Acts of the Apostles, and occurs throughout both narratives as a central plot device. The epistemological theme created by this involves how characters understand the major events of the narrative, especially what seems to be a central element: Jesus’ identity as the Messiah and the scriptural necessity of his suffering and resurrection. The suspense created by the rhetoric of perception allows the author to both communicate key tenets of his theology, as well as offer the audience a model for accomplishing the purpose of his writing, to ‘recognise the certainty’ of his story (Luke 1:1–4). In the Gospel of Luke, suspense is created by the juxtaposition of divine revelation to the disciples and the divine concealment that produces their misunderstanding. This conflict reaches its resolution in the Gospel’s final scenes, in which Jesus opens the mind of the disciples to understand the Scriptures, enabling them to understand what was earlier concealed, the scriptural necessity of the Messiah’s death and resurrection. In Acts, the conflict of misunderstanding is no longer primarily internal to the disciples but external: It is a characteristic of those who do not believe, those to whom the disciples-turned-apostles preach, and it must be overcome through the repentance and belief of the hearers. The resolution provided by the conclusion of Acts is much more negative than that of the Gospel: In the Empire’s capital city, far from that place of illumination where the disciples earlier came to understanding, the proclamation of the gospel is essentially rejected by a Jewish audience to whom is applied the description of Isaiah 6:9–10, rich in its epistemological metaphor. v Signed Declaration I hereby affirm that I have composed this thesis and that the work is my own. The work has not been submitted for any other degree or professional qualification. _______________________________ _____________ Joshua L. Mann Date vii Morning by morning Walking in the shadow of Castle Rock Ascending the Mound That I might be found Worthy when I sit in the Dock — Inspired by the walk from Stockbridge to New College in Edinburgh ix Acknowledgments A project of this magnitude is only possible with the favour of numerous individuals. I would like to thank the following people: Prof Paul Foster, my PhD supervisor, for his gracious oversight throughout my studies; Prof Helen Bond, my secondary supervisor, who kindly read my work at various points; the ‘regulars’ of the BNTC Acts Seminar at the British New Testament Society’s annual meeting, especially Prof Steve Walton, Dr Matthew Sleeman, Dr Peter Doble, and Dr Sean Adams; Dr Neil Nelson who first taught me Greek; Dr F Alan Tomlinson who convinced me at an early stage to dive deep into Greek grammar and syntax (and epigraphy); Dr Ronald Huggins who encouraged me in countless ways, one of which was to be a scholar, not only an exegete; and Rodney Gilbert who set me on this academic trajectory in the first place when I was a teenager. I am also grateful for the committees responsible for awarding me two University of Edinburgh scholarships—the Edinburgh Global Research Council award and a College of Humanities and Social Science award—which combined to cover my tuition fees and provided an annual research stipend. To Dr Peter Phillips, the director of Durham University’s CODEC Research Centre for Digital Theology, where I work as a Research Fellow, and to my other colleagues there, I am grateful for the encouragement to finish my thesis while also contributing to the research of the Centre. I am above all grateful to my spouse, who, from the first day of our relationship, has encouraged me in my studies, and to my children who have helped me keep my work in perspective by virtue of their play. xi Abbreviations AB Anchor Bible ABG Arbeiten zur Bibel und ihrer Geschichte ACNT Augsburg Commentary on the New Testament AGJU Arbeiten zur Geschichte des antiken Judentums und des Urchristentums AnBib Analecta Biblica ANRW Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt ANTC Abingdon New Testament Commentary BDAG Danker, Frederick W., Walter Bauer, William F. Arndt, and F. Wilbur Gingrich. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000 (Danker-Bauer-Arndt-Gingrich). BDF Blass, Friedrich, Albert Debrunner, and Robert W. Funk. A Greek Grammar of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1961. BECNT Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament BETL Bibliotheca Ephemeridum Theologicarum Lovaniensium Bib Biblica BibInt Biblical Interpretation BNTC Black’s New Testament Commentary BTB Biblical Theology Bulletin BZNW Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die Neutestamentliche Wissenschaft und die Kunde der Älteren Kirche CBQ Catholic Biblical Quarterly CBQMS Catholic Biblical Quarterly Monograph Series CBR Currents in Biblical Research CGTC Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary CurTM Currents in Theology and Mission ESEC Emory Studies in Early Christianity ExpT Expository Times HNT Handbuch zum Neuen Testament