Theology as History, History as Theology: Paul in Ephesus in Acts 19

388 Pages·2005·15.305 MB·English

by  Scott Shauf

Scott Shauf
Theology as History, History as Theology
Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die
neutes tarnen tliche Wissenschaft
und die Kunde der älteren Kirche
Herausgegeben von
James D. G. Dunn · Carl R. Holladay
Hermann Lichtenberger · Jens Schröter
Gregory E. Sterling · Michael Wolter
Band 133
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Walter de Gruyter · Berlin · New York
Scott Shauf
Theology as History, History as Theology
Paul in Ephesus in Acts 19
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DE
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Walter de Gmyter · Berlin · New York
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Cover design: Christopher Schneider, Berlin
Foreword
This book is a revision of my Ph.D. dissertation completed at Emory Univer-
sity in the spring of 2004. Many colleagues, mentors, and other supporters
have been involved in the process of its production and in the shape of the
final form of the work. Many thanks are thus due.
This work began life as two separate papers written for the Acts and Jew-
ish Backgrounds seminars in the Graduate Division of Religion at Emory
during the spring semesters of 1999 and 2000. To my colleagues who partici-
pated in those seminars I am indebted for their comments that shaped my
thoughts and the work itself in its initial stages. Moreover, the entire academic
community of Emory has been of inestimable value in forming who I am as a
scholar today, especially of course the Graduate Division of Religion itself.
Before my time at Emory I likewise was taught and shaped richly by the
faculty at Duke University Divinity School.
My dissertation committee was of course central in the composition of the
dissertation. I am especially grateful to my director, Carl R. Holladay, who
gave me the first nudge towards Acts 19, encouraged me to set theology at the
heart of the work, and provided all sorts of encouragement, suggestions, and
insights along the way that would take far too long to enumerate but without
which I would have floundered terminally. The other members of the commit-
tee, viz. Luke Johnson, Gail O'Day, and John Hayes, also offered numerous
comments that permitted many improvements to be made to the final shape of
the dissertation.
The last stages of work on the dissertation and revisions to the dissertation
itself have been completed since I have been on the faculty at Bluefield College
in Virginia. My colleagues and the administration at Bluefield have been
immensely supportive of my work, for which I am greatly appreciative.
The BZNW editors provided critical feedback that enabled further im-
provement upon the work. For this as well as their sharp eyes that saved me
the embarrassment of many typographical and lexical errors I am indeed
grateful. For their enthusiasm about publishing the work and for their patience
and diligence in working with me in the process I am again appreciative.
The greatest thanks goes to my wife April, whose support, encouragement,
love, and sacrifice know no bounds. My children Jonathan and Katrina will not
remember anything about the production of this book, but their presence and
unknowing encouragement were nonetheless crucial both in keeping me
moving and in providing needed breaks! And without the life-long support of
my parents and brother, I could never have reached the point where I would
vi
be capable of writing anything close to a book. I dedicate this book to all of
these, as well as to the memory of my first child Joshua (March 14-15, 2001),
the experience of whose brief life continues to shape my own understanding of
God's work in history.
December 2004 Scott Shauf
Contents
Introduction 1
Chapter One: What is the Problem? Theology and Historiography in
the Study of Luke-Acts 4
1.1 The Study of Lukan Theology in Scholarship 4
1.1.1 The Tradition of Conzelmann and Its Influence 4
1.1.1.1 The Definition of Theology 6
1.1.1.2 The Split Between Kerygma and Narrative 8
1.1.1.3 Redaction Criticism and Speeches 9
1.1.1.4 The Context of Theology: The Development of Early
Christianity 11
1.1.1.5 History as a Problem 14
1.1.2 The Response to Conzelmann 17
1.1.2.1 Four Representative Responses 18
1.1.2.1.1 Helmut Flender 18
1.1.2.1.2 Eric Franklin 19
1.1.2.1.3 I. Howard Marshall 21
1.1.2.1.4 Jacob Jervell 23
1.1.2.2 Important Trends 27
1.1.2.3 A Significant Strand: The Prophetic Character of
Luke-Acts 31
1.1.3 New Approaches 36
1.2 The Theology of Acts: A Methodological Proposal 41
1.2.1 What is "Theology"? 41
1.2.2 What is "The Theology" of a New Testament Writing? 43
1.2.3 What is "The Theology" of Acts? 48
1.2.3.1 The Present Proposal 48
1.2.3.2 The Present Proposal and the Tradition of Lukan
Theological Interpretation 50
1.3 Historiography 57
1.3.1 Composition and Historicity 57
1.3.2 The Place of Acts in Ancient Literature 59
1.3.3 The Function of Acts for Ancient Readers 63
1.3.4 The Representation of Historical Events 66
1.3.4.1 Recent Philosophy of History 66
1.3.4.2 History, Narrative, and Acts Scholarship 75
1.3.5 Conclusion 80
1.4 Historiography and the Theology of Acts 80
viii Contents
Chapter Two: Acts 19 as a Challenge to the Interpretation of the
Theology of Acts 85
2.1 How to Proceed? 85
2.2 Acts 19 in Theological Study? 88
2.2.1 The Use (and Lack Thereof) of Acts 19 in the Study of
Theology in Acts 88
2.2.1.1 19:1-7 88
2.2.1.2 19:8^0 91
2.2.1.3 Reasons for the Neglect of Acts 19 in Theological
Study 92
2.2.2 Acts 19 as a Theology-Soaked Narrative 94
2.3 The Interpretation of Acts 19 95
2.3.1 Acts 19 as a Unit 96
2.3.2 19:1-7 105
2.3.3 19:8-12 110
2.3.4 19:13-17 114
2.3.5 19:18-20 118
2.3.6 19:21-22 119
2.3.7 19:23-40 120
2.3.8 Conclusion 122
Chapter Three: Acts 19: Interpreting the Story 123
3.1 Context and Setting 123
3.1.1 Acts 19 in the Context of the Acts Story 123
3.1.2 The Setting: Ή πρώτη και μεγίστη μητρόπολις τ% 'Ασία? 127
3.1.3 Paul's First Stop at Ephesus (18:19-28) 136
3.1.4 The Structure of Acts 19 141
3.2 The Strange Disciples Brought In (19:1-7) 144
3.2.1 Overview and Structure 144
3.2.2 Who are the τιυα? μαθητά?? 146
3.2.3 Does This Conversation Make Sense? 149
3.2.4 The Baptist, the Spirit, and Paul 153
3.2.5 Conclusion 158
3.3 To Synagogue, Σχολή, and Beyond (19:8-12) 161
3.3.1 Overview 161
3.3.2 Business as Usual 162
3.3.3 The Synagogue and the Pattern 165
3.3.4 The Great Spread of the Word 169
3.3.5 The Uncommon Power 170
3.3.6 The Pattern of Word and Deed 173
3.4 The Inimitable Power (19:13-17) 177
3.4.1 Magic and Exorcism, Then and Now 178
Contents ix
3.4.1.1 The Use of the Term "Magic" in Recent Scholarship 178
3.4.1.2 "Magic" in the Greco-Roman World 183
3.4.1.3 Exorcism and Magic in the Greco-Roman World 188
3.4.2 Magic and Exorcism in Luke-Acts 190
3.4.2.1 Simon and Elymas: Magicians 190
3.4.2.2 Exorcism in Luke-Acts 193
3.4.2.2.1 Luke 9:37-^3 193
3.4.2.2.2 Luke 9:49-50 194
3.4.2.2.3 Luke 11:14-23 195
3.4.3 The Seven Sons of Sceva as Exorcists—and Magicians? 196
3.4.3.1 The Seven Sons and the Traits of Magicians 196
3.4.3.2 Exorcism, Adjuration, and the Argument of Garrett 199
3.4.3.3 Horkömotoi and the Adjuration of the Exorcists in
Acts 19:13 210
3.4.3.4 A Summary of the Problems with the Anti-Magic
View 217
3.4.4 Sceva's Sons and Paul: Through Whom Does God Work? 218
3.4.5 Appendix: The Western Text of Acts 19:14 225
3.5 Confession and Conflagration (19:18-20) 226
3.5.1 Overview 226
3.5.2 What Are Πράξε is? 227
3.5.3 Who Does What? 229
3.5.4 Why Confess and Burn? 231
3.5.5 Designed to Impress 232
3.6 Paul Plans to Leave (19:21-22) 234
3.6.1 19:21 —The Beginning of a New Section in Acts? 235
3.6.2 The Meaning of εν τώ πυεύματι and the Importance of δεΤ 237
3.7 The Riot of the Pagans (19:23^0) 240
3.7.1 Overview and Structure 240
3.7.2 Artemis of Ephesus and the Claims of Demetrius (19:23-27) ....241
3.7.3 The Riot (19:28-34) 247
3.7.4 The Clerk's Speech (19:35-10) 254
3.7.5 An Apology? 258
3.7.6 Artemis of the Ephesians, Paganism, and "the Way" 262
3.8 The Speech to the Ephesian Elders (20:17-38) 263
Chapter Four: Acts 19: Historiography and Theology 271
4.1 Acts 19 as Historiographical Narrative 272
4.1.1 The Historiographical Structure of Acts 19 272
4.1.2 Selection and Historical Representation 278
4.2 Paul and the Divine: Acts 19 as Theological Historiography 285
4.2.1 Paul and the Divine in Acts 286
x Contents
4.2.2 Paul's Success as Divine Performance in Acts 19 291
4.3 History, Theology, and Identity 299
4.3.1 Divine Action and Human History 299
4.3.2 Biblical History and Hellenistic Accommodation 305
4.3.3 Identity Formation: Author, Audience, and Historical
Events 309
4.3.4 Historiography and the Symbolic Universe 313
Chapter Five: Conclusion 318
5.1 Summary of Results 318
5.2 Acts, History, and Theology: Reflections for the Present 324
5.2.1 Theological Historiography Today 324
5.2.2 The Call of Acts 329
Bibliography 333
Index of References 358
Index of Modern Authors 368
Index of Names and Subjects 375