Plots of Epiphany
Prison-Escape in Acts of the Apostles
1st Edition
Published on 1. January 2004
Book
Mixed media product
XII, 335 pages
978-3-11-181864-1 (ISBN)
Description
Past scholarship on the prison-escapes in the Acts of the Apostles has tended to focus on lexical similarities to Euripides' Bacchae, going so far as to argue for direct literary dependence. Moving beyond such explanations, the present study argues that miraculous prison-escape was a central event in a traditional and culturally significant story about the introduction and foundation of cults - a story discernable in the Bacchae and other ancient texts. When the mythic quality and cultural diffusion of the prison-escape narratives are taken into account, the resemblance of Lukan and Dionysian narrative episodes is seen to depend less on specific literary borrowing, and more on shared familiarity with cultural discourses involving the legitimating portrayal of new cults in the ancient world.
Reviews / Votes
"W.s Studie ist eine luzide, methodisch wie inhaltlich uberzeugende Untersuchung der Befreiungswunder der Apg."Theologische Rundschau 3/2008 "A careful study which adduces a wealth of comparative material for understanding Luke's apparently artless narratives."Loveday Alexander in: Booklist 5/2006 "[...] all who specialize in [Luke and) Acts will do well to place Plots of Epiphany on their "must read? lists. Epiphanies await."Richard I. Pervo in: The Journal of Religion 3/2006 "The volume is rounded out by a bibliography and useful indexes opf sources, subjects, and modern authors. Weaver has presented a learned and very readable interpretation of Acts' prison-escape stories as cultic foundation legend. His 'myth-critical apporach' is a stimulating development of older from-critical studies."Heike Omerzu in: Catholic Biblical Quarterly 67/2005More details
Series
Thesis
Doctoral thesis
2004
Emory University
Edition
Reprint 2012
Language
English
Place of publication
Berlin/Boston
Germany
Target group
Professional and scholarly
US School Grade: College Graduate Student
Illustrations
Includes a print version and an ebook
Weight
750 gr
ISBN-13
978-3-11-181864-1 (9783111818641)
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
02/2013
1st Edition
De Gruyter
€149.95
Available for download
Book
10/2004
1st Edition
De Gruyter
€149.95
Shipment within 7-9 days
Person
Ph.D. dissertation under the supervision of Prof. Carl Holladay, Emory University.John B. Weaver is now the Reference and Periodicals Librarian at Pitts Theology Library, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.