The Kingdom according to Luke and Acts: A Social, Literary and Theological Introduction

This substantial, reliable introduction examines the character and purpose of Luke and Acts and provides a thorough yet economical treatment of Luke's social, historical, and literary context. Karl Allen Kuhn presents Luke's narrative as a "kingdom story" that both announces the arrival of God's reign in Jesus and narrates the ministry of the early church, revealing the character of the kingdom as dramatically at odds with the kingdom of Rome. He explores the techniques Luke employs to create his impressively crafted and rhetorically charged narrative, covering the background, literary features, plotting, and thematic emphases of Luke and Acts while also incorporating the freshest approaches.

• Contents
• Introduction: The Heart of Luke's Witness to the Kingdom
• Part 1: Luke and His World
• 1. Imperium Romanum: An Empire of Disparity and Want
• 2. Israelite Visions of the Kingdom
• 3. Luke's Place in Caesar's Kingdom: The Social Location of the Third Evangelist
• Part 2: Luke's Narrative Artistry
• 4. The Building Blocks of Luke's Narrative
• 5. Plotting through Parallels
• 6. The Kingdom Story through Speech and Theme in Luke's Infancy Narrative
• 7. The Kingdom Story through Speech and Theme: Luke 24 and Acts of the Apostles
• 8. The Power and Prominence of Luke's Pathos
• Part 3: Luke's Kingdom Story
• 9. Yahweh Is King and Lord of All
• 10. The Corruption and Redemption of Creation
• Conclusion: Discerning Luke's Purpose
• Indexes