Full Description
This study contributes to debate about the portraits of Paul in Acts and his epistles by considering Paul's Miletus speech (Acts 20.18b-35) and identifies and compares major themes in Luke and Paul's views of Christian leadership. Comparisons with Jesus' speeches in Luke show how Lukan the speech is and, with 1 Thessalonians, how Pauline it is. The speech calls the Ephesian elders to service after Paul's departure to Jerusalem, focusing on: faithful fulfilment of leadership responsibility; suffering; attitudes to wealth and work; and the death of Jesus. Paul models Christian leadership for the elders. Parallels in Luke highlight his view of Christian leadership - modelled by Jesus and taught to his disciples, and modelled by Paul and taught to the elders. Study of 1 Thessalonians identifies a remarkably similar portrait of Christian leadership. The Miletus speech is close in thought, presentation and vocabulary to an early, indubitably Pauline letter.
Contents
Acknowledgements; Abbreviations; 1. Why study the Miletus speech?; 2. Are parallels in the eye of the beholder?; 3. The Miletus speech in context; Excursus 1: the text and translation of acts 20.28b; 4. The Miletus speech and Luke's Gospel; Excursus 2: the text of Luke 22.17-20; 5. The Miletus speech and 1 Thessalonians; 6. The Miletus speech, Ephesians and 2 Timothy; 7. Concluding reflections; Bibliography; Index of ancient texts; Index of modern authors; Index of subjects.
