Finding Herem? A Study of Luke-Acts in the Light of Herem

The concept of Herem is found throughout the Old Testament and presented a problem to the Second Temple Jewish authors. In introducing the concept to their audiences and in applying it to themselves and other nations, they avoided it by reducing or expanding, omitting or changing the concept of Herem. Much evidence in Luke-Acts, however, indicates that Luke deliberately uses the concept of Herem in order to present the life and teaching of Jesus and his disciples. Jesus' death on the cross, resurrection and ascension can be seen as Herem, that redeems God's people. The disciples' thoughts and actions in Acts as well as all the Christ event are based on Jesus' teaching, such as Luke 9:24 and 20:25.Ultimately, this study suggests that readers of Luke-Acts should consider the whole Old Testament so as to understand Lukan use of the Old Testament and its attitude to the Mosaic law. Moreover, this study shows that the ethics of Luke-Acts are not limited to sharing possessions but related to offering or giving what belongs to oneself, even life, without expecting any reciprocal advantage. Furthermore, the concept of Herem detected in Luke-Acts makes it possible to argue that there is an 'atonement theology' in Lukan writings.

• Table of Contents
• Chapter one: Introduction
  • 1.1 Survey of Recent Research
  • 1.2 Methodological Issues
• Chapter Two: Herem in the Old Testament
  • 2.1 Herem in the Pentateuch
  • 2.2 Herem in the Former Prophets
  • 2.3 Herem in the Latter Prophets
  • 2.4 Herem in the Writings
  • 2.5 Conclusion
• Chapter Three: Herem in Second Temple Jewish Literature
  • 3.1 Herem in the Apocrypha
  • 3.2 Herem in the Dead Sea Scrolls
  • 3.3 Herem in the Pseudepigrapha
  • 3.4 Herem in the Works of Josephus
  • 3.5 Herem in the Works of Philo
  • 3.6 Conclusion
• Chapter Four: Herem in Luke-Acts
  • 4.1 Lukan Use of 'the Greek Equivalents' for Herem
  • 4.2 Mandatory Herem and the Related Themes
  • Excursus 1: Israel as Mandatory Herem
  • 4.3 Voluntary Herem and the Related Themes
  • 4.4 Both Mandatory and Voluntary Herem
  • Excursus 2: Jesus' Ascension as Entering into the Heavenly Temple
  • 4.5 Pagan Herem
  • 4.6 Conclusion
• Chapter Five: Theological Implications
  • 5.1 Luke's Use of the OT
  • 5.2 Luke and Law
  • 5.3 An Important Ethical Criterion: the Law/Concept of Herem
  • 5.4 Atonement Theology in Luke-Acts
  • 5.5 Summary
• Chapter Six: Conclusion
• Index