Characters and Characterization in Luke-Acts

Like all skilful authors, the composer of the biblical books of Luke and Acts understood that a good story requires more than a gripping plot - a persuasive narrative also needs well-portrayed, plot-enhancing characters. This book brings together a set of new essays examining characters and characterization in those books from a variety of methodological perspectives.

The essays illustrate how narratological, sociolinguistic, reader-response, feminist, redaction, reception historical, and comparative literature approaches can be fruitfully applied to the question of Luke's techniques of characterization. Theoretical and methodological discussions are complemented with case studies of specific Lukan characters. Together, the essays reflect the understanding that while many of the literary techniques involved in characterization attest a certain universality, each writer also brings his or her own unique perspective and talent to the portrayal and use of characters, with the result that analysis of a writer's characters and style of characterization can enhance appreciation of that writer's work.

Frank Dicken is Assistant Professor of New Testament at Lincoln Christian University, USA.

Julia Snyder is Visiting Fellow at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany.

Preface
Acknowledgements
Contents
1. Introduction,
Frank Dicken, Lincoln University, USA and Julia Snyder, Humboldt Universität, Germany
2. 'Levi's Banquet (Luke 5:29-39) as a Key to Group Characterization in Luke-Acts'
John Darr, Boston College, USA
3. A Reader-Response Approach to the Woman Who Anoints Jesus (Luke 7:36-50)
James L. Resseguie, Winebrenner Theological Seminary, USA
4. 'The Rich are the Bad Guys: Lukan Characters and Wealth Management'
Cornelis Bennema, Wales Evangelical School of Theology, UK
5. 'Zechariah and Gabriel as Thematic Characters in the Beginning of Luke (Luke 1.5-20)'
Hannah M. Cocksworth, King Edwards' School, UK
6. 'The Characterization of the Two Brothers in the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32): Their Function and Afterlives'
David B. Gowler, Emory University, USA
7. 'A Cognitive Narratological Approach to the Characterization(s) of Zacchaeus'
Joel B. Green, Fuller Theological Seminary, USA
8. 'Bit-Part Players in the Passion: Simon of Cyrene, the Centurion, and Joseph of Arimathaea'
Helen Bond, University of Edinburgh, UK
9. 'Glad, Mad, Sad, and Scared: Women's Emotions in the Gospel of Luke'
F. Scott Spencer, Baptist Theological Seminary, USA
10. 'Characterization in Hellenistic Bios Literature and Its Implications for Interpretation of Luke-Acts'
Sean Adams, University of Glasgow, UK
11. 'The Reception of Luke's Composite “Herod” in the Second Century and Reflected Understandings of Luke-Acts'
Frank Dicken, Lincoln Christian University, USA
12. 'Jesus, Present and/or Absent? The Presence and Presentation of Jesus as a Character in the Book of Acts'
Steve Walton, St Mary's University, UK
13. 'The Polyvalence of the Name “Simeon” in Acts 15'
Stephen Fowl, Loyola University, USA
14. 'Characterization in Luke-Acts from a Sociolinguistic Perspective'
Julia Snyder, Humboldt Universität, Germany
15. 'Paul as the Subject and Object of Sight: Vision and Characterization in Acts'
Brittany E. Wilson, Duke Divinity School, USA
Bibliography
Index

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