Prayer and Vindication in Luke – Acts: The Theme of Prayer within the Context of the Legitimating and Edifying Objective of the Lukan Narrative

This is a comprehensive study of the literary function of prayer in Luke-Acts, employing narrative critical methodology and focusing on the theme's relation to Luke's historiographical aims Holmas asserts that the distribution of strategically-placed prayer notices and prayers throughout Luke-Acts serves a twofold purpose. First, it is integral to Luke's project of authenticating the Jesus-movement as accredited by Israel's God. Holmas shows that Luke presents a consistent pattern of divine affirmation and redemptionm attending the tenacious prayers of the faithful ones throughout every major phase of his narrative - in turn demonstrating continuity with the pious Israel of the past. Secondly, most importantly the 'ultimate' purpose of Luke's emphasis on prayer is didactical. In Luke's gospel Jesus summons his disciples (and implicitly his readers) to confident and persistent prayer before the Eschaton, assuring them of God's readiness to answer their entreaties. Luke's historical account as a whole provides narrative reinforcement of this affirmation. Just as God has been consistent in responding to the diligent prayers of his faithful ones in recent history, satisfying and fulfilling Israel's hopes for redemption in the Jesus movement, he will assuredly secure ultimate vindication at the end of time for those who persist in prayer. It was formerly the Journal for the Study of the New Testament Supplement, a book series that explores the many aspects of New Testament study including historical perspectives, social-scientific and literary theory, and theological, cultural and contextual approaches. The Early Christianity in Context series, a part of JSNTS, examines the birth and development of early Christianity up to the end of the third century CE. The series places Christianity in its social, cultural, political and economic context. European Seminar on Christian Origins and Journal for the Study of the Historical Jesus Supplement are also part of JSNTS.

• Table of contents
• Acknowledgements
• Abbreviations
• Chapter 1 - Introduction
  • I. Problem and Purpose
  • II. Previous Monographs on Lukan Prayer
  • III Method and Outline
• Part One: Laying The Foundations
  • Chapter 2 - Delimiting The Scope Of The Study: Semantic Considerations And Text Selection
    • I. Introduction: The Challenge of Defining Lukan Prayer
    • II. Lexical Field and Semantic Range
    • III Syntagmatic Field
    • IV Conclusion: Delimiting the Perimeters of the Study
  • Chapter 3 - Outlining The Controlling Agenda Of Luke-Acts: Lukan Prayer Within The Context Of The Historiographical Aims Of The Double Work
    • I. Introduction
    • II. Luke-Acts as Ancient Historia and the Bearing of Luke's Historiographical Aims on the Presentation of Prayer
      • A. Luke-Acts as Apologetic Historiography: Legitimating the Jesus Movement
      • B. Luke-Acts and the Educative Function of Ancient Historia
      • C. The Rhetorical Situation of Luke-Acts and the Makeup of Luke's Intended Readers
      • D. The Theme of Prayer within the Context of the Legitimating and Edifying Objective of Luke-Acts: A Preliminary Sketch
• Part Two: The Theme Of Prayer In The Gospel Of Luke
  • Chapter 4 - Prayer And Israel'S Hope At The Opening Of Luke's Gospel (Luke 1-2)
    • I. Luke 1-2 as the Beginning of the Lukan Narrative
    • II. Text Analysis
      • A. Prayer in the Opening Episode of Luke's Gospel (1.5-25)
      • B. Jerusalem Prophets at Prayer: Simeon and Anna (Luke 2.25-38)
  • Chapter 5 - The Pray-Er Par Excellence: The Lukan Portrait Of The Praying Jesus (Luke 3-24)
    • I. Prayer in the Life and Mission of Jesus: Overview and Procedure
    • II. The Function of the Lukan Portrait of the Praying Jesus-A New Proposal
    • III Text Analysis
      • A. Jesus' Practice of Prayer During His Public Ministry (Luke 3-11)
      • B. Jesus' Passion Prayers (Luke 22-23)
    • V Conclusion
  • Chapter 6 - Modeling Prayer: Prayer And Discipleship In The Period Of Jesus
    • I. Introduction: The Profile and Character of the Prayer Didactic Emphasis in Luke's Gospel
    • II. Prayer and the Formation of the Disciples Under the Tutelage of Jesus: Overview
    • III. Text Analysis
      • A. The Galilean Phase (Luke 4.14-9.50): Preliminaries
      • B. The Travel Narrative (Luke 9.51-19.44) and the Pre-Passion Jerusalem Phase (Luke 19.45-21.38): Extensive Prayer Instruction
      • Excursus I: The General Teaching On Prayer And Luke's Intended Readership
      • C. The Passion Crisis (Luke 22-23): Failure to Pray
    • IV. Conclusion and Outlook
• Part Three: The Theme Of Prayer In The Book Of Acts
  • Chapter 7 - Persistent Prayer And The Formation And The Formation And Expansion Of The Restored People: Prayer In The Life And Mission Of The Early Community In Acts (Acts 1-12)
    • I. Prayer in the Book of Acts and the Unity Issue: Methodological Considerations
      • A. The Scholarly Discussion of the Unity of Luke-Acts
      • B. The Unity of Luke-Acts and the Theme of Prayer
      • C. Procedure
    • II. Prayer and the Formation and Growth of the Messianic People in Jerusalem and Beyond (Acts 1-12): Overview
    • III. Text Analysis
      • A. The Apostles and the Early Believers in Jerusalem in Prayer (Acts 1-7)
      • Excursus Ii: Prayer And The Holy Spirit In The Acts Narrative
      • B. Beyond Jerusalem: Praying 'Servants of the Word' and Praying Would-Be Believers (Acts 8-11)
      • C. A Final Time: The Jerusalem Community Importuning God (Acts 12)
    • IV. Conclusion
  • Chapter 8 - Between Hardship And Hope: Prayer In The Context Of Paul's Mission And Trial (Acts 13-28)
    • I. Paul and his Companions in Prayer - Paul on Prayer: Overview
    • II. Text Analysis
      • A. Commended to the Lord-Prayer Surrounding Paul's Diaspora Mission (Acts 13.1-21.16)
      • B. Worshipping God according to the Way: Prayer and Paul the Defendant (Acts 21.17-28.31)
    • III. Conclusion
• Chapter 9 - Conclusions
• Bibliography
• Indexes