PART ONE
According to Powell, who is Theophilus (most likely)?
Theophilus refers to a friend of God or someone loved by God. Moreover, Powell tries to explain that it is a generic title that is used by the majority of the Christians. It is also a roman Christian to whom the two gospels, the Acts of the Apostles and Luke was dedicated to.
According to Powell, when was the Gospel of Luke written (most likely)?
Between 70s and 80s BC
According to Powell, how does Luke’s Gospel portray salvation?
According to the gospel of Luke, salvation is something that is gained through forgiving, repenting, believing and acknowledging and acknowledging Jesus Christ as the true savior. This will have to take into account the number of miracles He performed here on earth, dying on the cross so as our sins will be forgiven, rose from death, and ascended to heaven. All, this has the potential of proving that He is the true son of God and salvation for humankind will have to come through following His footsteps (Hendrickson, 2012).
Why does Powell compare the opening of Luke’s Gospel to a musical?
The reason for that is because Luke ended up writing beautifully about the message of God. It is that strategy that makes those who read or listen to it to fill motivated and ready to know more about the entire book. Ideally, it makes the reader or the listener to perceive that he or she is a symphony conductor who has the potential to modulate and harmonize sounds into pleasing ones.
According to Powell, what might be a suitable title for the book of Acts besides “Acts of the Apostles”?
Life, Hope, and Truth
According to Powell, what is the “basic and obvious goal” of the book of Acts?
The book of Acts was written for the purpose of giving people hope. That hope was to come once the people (Israelite) had accepted repenting their sins so as to receive God’s kingdom. Moreover, in documenting the downfall of mankind, it was intended to show that the church is something that ought to be established in heaven (Hendrickson, 2012).
According to Powell, what is the expectation that shapes Paul’s ethics?
Paul had once rejected Jesus but finally became saved by Him. Therefore, one of the main expectations of Paul ethics is that the Jews could have the propensity of acknowledging Jesus Christ as the true promised messiah.
According to David deSilva, how is the New Testament’s portrayal of God different from the cultural expectations of God as patron (in the patron-client dynamic)?
God is ready to forgive our sins if only we are ready to seek salvation from Him.
Why is the small church that Paul founded in Philippi considered to be important by historians?
The reason as to why that church is important to historians is because it is the one that gave birth to other Christian churches. Ideally, before being saved, the church tells many stories regarding Paul and the Philippians during his adventures.
Who were Euodia and Syntyche, and how are they connected to the book of Philippians?
The reason as to why they are connected to the book of Philippians is because they played a significant role in the church. Ideally, they had contended together with Paul in spreading the gospel to the Philippians (Hendrickson, 2012).
Provide 4-5 examples of instances in which the book of Luke shows special concern for outcasts and victims of oppression.
- When Jesus Christ entered into a house of a man who was suffering from leprosy
- When four men brought a paralytic man to Jesus Christ to be healed
- When a woman described as a prostitute visited Jesus when He was dining with friends in Simon’s house
- When Jesus encountered a man possessed with demons in Gerasenes near the lake of Galilee (Hendrickson, 2012).
What is “supersessionism”?
Biblically, supersessionism is basically a Christian doctrine that is used for the purpose of affirming that through Jesus Christ, the new covenant meant for the Christians ultimately surpasses the old covenant that was exclusively meant for the Jewish community (Vlach, 2010).
What does Powell say in response to those who cite passages in Acts to support this heresy?
The main purpose of Jesus Christ here on earth was to show people the best way of obtaining salvation. He proved that true life, dying on the cross, and resurrecting after three days.
PART TWO
Share 4-5 ideas that pertain to this subject from the chapter entitled “Honor and Shame” by Moxnes.
How does an understanding of honor and shame in the Mediterranean world illuminate aspects of New Testament texts
Honor and shame assist in governing the behavioral patterns that circle around the external responses of the society to external deeds of a person. Ideally, a person will not have honor just because of his or her adherence to rigid moral standards, but because their immediate communities identify him or her as having honor. Honor and shame cultures in the Mediterranean world used to be based on how the community honors a person. Therefore, this implies that reputation is the main operating concept here. A person in honor and shame environment is compelled to perform with regard to the reputation they have to avoid or maintain.
References
Hendrickson. (2012). Kjv large print bible. Hendrickson Publishers Inc
Vlach, M. J. (2010). Has the church replaced Israel?: A theological evaluation. Nashville, Tenn: B & H Academic.
