The Characterization of God in Acts

Based on the plot-oriented nature of the Acts narrative, a key thought behind this book is how God is revealed in the deployment of characters and events. God's supreme saving will and mission plan determine the development of human history as well as the narrative; God's sovereign authority and power governs the movement of characters and the development of events and thus assures the fulfilment of his salvific plan. From the carrying out of the divine redemptive plan emerges a God who is invisible-yet-perceivable, dominant-yetcogent, and continuous-yet-changing. 'It only takes a moment of reflection to realise - once it has been pointed out - that God is an extremely important character in Acts. But that he belongs intrinsically to a very different realm from the human characters in the story means that he is not an immediately obvious candidate for characterisation, at least not along the lines used in literary approaches to the study of Acts. Ling Cheng has adapted techniques from literary approaches to make them serviceable for examining in a fresh way the role and character of God in the Book of Acts. New insights emerge and old insights present themselves from a strikingly new angle. God now takes his place as a well-delineated character in this endlessly fascinating story.' John Nolland, Academic Dean, Trinity College, Bristol 'Dr Ling Cheng has provided us with the study we have been waiting for, focusing on the character at the heart of the story of Acts - God! She reads Acts with care, sensitivity and thoughtfulness to identify the central features of the portrait of God and God's involvement with people in this key New Testament book. She is a sure-footed guide to this important topic. Read it. You'll benefit!' Steve Walton, Senior Lecturer in Greek and NT Studies & Director of Research, London School of Theology Ling Cheng received an MA in Exegetical Theology and ThM in Biblical Literature from Western Seminary, Portland, Oregon, her PhD in New Testament Studies from London School of Theology, and an MA in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College, Illinois. She teaches New Testament Studies at Logos Evangelical Seminary in Taiwan.