CONFLICTS OF MAGEIA AND MIRACLE IN THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES: SOCIAL DISCOURSE ...

570 Pages·2012·4.5 MB·English

CONFLICTS OFMAGEIA AND MIRACLE IN THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES:
SOCIAL DISCOURSE ON LEGITIMATE AND DEVIANT
USE OF SPIRITUAL POWER
by
Ronald Dennis Roberts
Bachelor of Arts, 1998
Mississippi College
Clinton, MS
Master of Divinity, 2004
George W. Truett Theological Seminary
Baylor University
Waco, TX
Dissertation
Presented to the Faculty of the
Brite Divinity School
In partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy in Biblical Interpretation
Fort Worth, TX
May 2013
CONCFLICTS OFMAGEIA AND MIRACLE IN THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES:
SOCIAL DISCOURSE ON LEGITIMATE AND DEVIANT
USE OF SPIRITUAL POWER
WARREN CARTER, PH.D._____________________________
Dissertation Director
SHELLY MATTHEWS, D.TH.__________________________
Reader
FRANCISCO LOZADA, JR., PH.D.______________________
Reader
JEFFREY WILLIAMS, PH.D.___________________________
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
JORETTA MARSHALL, PH.D.__________________________
Dean
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CONTENTS
Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
List of Additional Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
List of Figures and Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCINGMAGEIA-MIRACLE CONFLICTS IN ACTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
I. StudyingMagei/a and Magic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
II. Magic in the Social Sciences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
III. The Social Sciences and Ancient Texts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
IV. A Symbolic Interactionist Approach to Magei/a in Acts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
V. Wonder-Working Competitions for Legitimacy and Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
VI. Outline of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
CHAPTER 2: SOCIAL-SCIENTIFIC APPROACHES TO MAGIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
I. James George Frazer’s Intellectualist Theory of Magic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
II. The Sociological Approach to Magic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
III. E. E. Evans-Pritchard’s Approach to African Witchcraft and Magic . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
IV. Symbolist Approach to Magic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
V. Neo-Intellectualist Approach to Magic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
VI. Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
CHAPTER 3: GRECO-ROMAN MAGIC AND MIRACLE IN PREVIOUS
HISTORICAL AND BIBLICAL SCHOLARSHIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
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I. Analysis of Approaches to Magic in the Greco-Roman World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
II. Analysis of Studies of Magic in Acts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
III. Summary Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
CHAPTER 4: ANALYZINGMAGEIA-MIRACLE CONFLICTS IN ACTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
I. Social-Scientific Critical Study of Magic in Acts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
II. Deviance and Identity in Magei/a-Miracle Conflicts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
III. Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
CHAPTER 5: INITIAL DEVELOPMENT OF MIRACLE-WORKER
IDENTITY IN ACTS 1–7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
I. Pentecost: The Coming of the Holy Spirit and Power (Acts 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
II. Miracle-Working in the Jerusalem Church (Acts 3–7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
III. Character Sketch of Miracle-Workers in Acts 1–7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
CHAPTER 6: MAGEIA AND MIRALCES IN SAMARIA (ACTS 8:4–25). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
I. The First Samaritan Mission (Acts 8:4–25) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
II. Developing Further the Miracle-Worker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
III. Plotting Characters from Acts 8:4–25 onto the Model (Diagram 6.1) . . . . . . . . . . 342
CHAPTER 7: PAUL DEFEATS A JUDEANMAGOS
ON CYPRUS (ACTS 13:4–12) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
I. Magei/a-Miracle Conflict between Judeans
among Gentiles (Acts 13:4–12) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
II. Development of the Miracle-Worker Character Type in Acts 13:4–12 . . . . . . . . . 390
III. Plotting the Characters from Acts 13:4–12
onto the Model (Diagram 7.1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 394
CHAPTER 8: PAUL CONFRONTS A MEDIUMISTIC
DIVINER (ACTS 16:16–18) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 399
I. Paul Encounters a Divining Slave in Philippi (Acts 16:16–18) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404
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II. Developing the Identity of Miracle-Workers in Acts 16:16–18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 444
III. Plotting the Characters from Acts 16:16–18
onto the Model (Diagram 8.1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 453
CHAPTER 9: JUDEAN EXORCISTS IN EPHESUS (ACTS 19:8–20) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 457
I. Miracle and Magei/a in Ephesus (Acts 19:8–20) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 464
II. The Development of the Miracle-Worker
Character Type in Acts 19:8–20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 502
III. Plotting the Wonder-WorkingCharacters in Acts 19:8–20
onto the Model (Diagram 9.2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 506
IV. The Development of the Miracle-Worker
Character Type in Acts 20–28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 509
CHAPTER 10: CONCLUSION; THE LEGITIMATION
OF MIRACLE-WORKING IN ACTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 513
BIBLIOGRAPHY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 525
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LISTS ADDITIONAL ABBREVIATIONS
All abbreviations in this dissertation are from the SBL Handbook of Style for Ancient Near
Eastern, Biblical, and Early Christian Studies, eds. Patrick H. Alexander and others (Peabody,
MA: Hendrickson, 1999). The following abbreviations are used in addition to those found in the
SBL Handbook of Style.
Africa Africa: Journal of the International African Institute
ASAM A.S.A. Monographs
BCENT Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
ELH ELH: English Literary History
FN Filologia Neotestamentaria
JPT Journal of Pentecostal Theology
JPTSup Journal of Pentecostal Theology Supplement Series
JRAI Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, formerlyMan (1901–1994)
JRAIGB The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland
(1907–1965), absorbed into Man in 1965
LNTS Library of New Testament Studies
RAIN Royal Anthropological Institute News
TPAPA Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association, former
nameofTransaction of the American Philological Association (TAPA)
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LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES
Figures
2.1. Witch as outsider pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
2.2. Witch as insider pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
4.1. Model for categorizing wonder-workers in Acts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
5.1. Class structure of advanced agrarian societies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
5.2. Model for categorizing wonder-workers in Acts 1–7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
6.1. Model for categorizing wonder-workers in Acts 8:4–25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
7.1. Model for categorizing wonder-workers in Acts 13:4–12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 398
8.1. Model for categorizing wonder-workers in Acts 16:16–18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 456
9.1. Human-spirit social relations in Acts 19:13–16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 482
9.2 Model for categorizing wonder-workers in Acts 19:8–20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 508
10.1 Model categorizing wonder-workers in Acts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 521
Tables
5.1. Poverty scale for Greco-Roman society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
5.2. Characteristics of miracle-workers in Acts 1–7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
6.1. Additional characteristics of miracle-workers in Acts 8:4–25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
7.1. Additional characteristics of miracle-workers in Acts 13:4–12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 393
10.1. Characteristics of a prototypical miracle-worker in Acts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 516
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PREFACE
Much hard work and sacrifice has gone into the production of this dissertation. The majority of
the sacrifices were made by manywhose names are not listed on the title page. The initial ideas
for this study developed in the fall of 2007 during two class taught by Dr. Carolyn Osiek, my
faculty advisor at the time. Papers in these classes formed the basis for chs. 6 and 8. Following
Dr. Osiek’s retirement at the end of my coursework, I asked Dr. Warren Carter to serve as my
dissertation director. I hoped that Dr. Carter’s attention to detail and excellence that were
characteristic of his own academic writing instruction would carry over into his role as
dissertation director, and this certainlyhas been the case. Thus, I would like to thank Dr. Carter
for his diligence and his endurance in reading and commenting on the unpolished, initial drafts of
each chapter of this study. Furthermore, Dr. Carter has my deepest gratitude for his desire to see
excellence in my work and forhis immense patience over the last few years. I would also like to
thank the other members of my dissertation committee, Dr. Shelly Matthews and Dr. Francisco
Lozada, for their time in reading and commenting on this project. Dr. Matthews, whose own
work concentrates on the book of Acts, has provided very valuable, albeit at times challenging
insights. I would like to thank Dr. Jeffrey Willaims, Dean of Academic Affairs at Brite Divinity
School, for his encouragement and prodding aimed at making sure that I finish. In addition, Brite
Divinity School’s NT Testament colloquium discussed ch. 6 in the fall of 2012, and that
discussion not only strengthened ch. 6 but the entire dissertation. Many thanks go to the Context
Group, who have always supported and contributed to my development as a social-scientific
critic of the Bible. Among myfellow students that have provided valuable support,
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threeof them deserve special thanks for their help and friendship—Coleman “J. C.” Baker,
Nathan Barnes, and Jason Lamoreaux.
The hardest work and costliest sacrifices performed for my dissertation, however, have
come from those closest to me. To my parents, Russ and Charlotte Roberts, mere words cannot
express my love and gratitude for your never ending love, encouraging support, and occasional
financial assistance. For my grandmother, who wished I visited more, many thanks for
understanding. To my wife’s family, the Aguilares, I express my thanks for often providing
needed social diversions, baby sitters, and teaching me how to celebrate the really big moments
in life, such as birthdays, vacations, and family holidays. For the two most important people in
my life, Elizabeth and Russell, I reserve the greatest gratitude and love. To Russell, who does not
understand why Daddy was always reading or writing, I apologize for all the missed sunny
afternoons in the park, and I thank you for all your love and hugs. To Elizabeth, who has made
more sacrifices of time, money, opportunities, and thousands of other little things that we take
for granted every day, I say thank you. It was never easy for you, and often, it was simply
unbearable and unfair. Thus, this dissertation is dedicated to Elizabeth who has paid the most for
it. Finally, to God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, be all glory, honor, and praise.
Ronald Dennis Roberts
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