Most Biblical scholars think that Luke and Acts are the work of one author. If that is the case, then we have a very valuable resource to use as a companion to Acts. Many Christian denominations throughout the ages have been guilty of ignoring or downplaying the book of Acts...a crime that we in the churches of Christ could never be convicted of. We have studied and exalted Acts. Followed its examples, commands and inferences to the letter and generally been heavily influenced by this Lukan volume in ways that most Christians
cannot claim.
Critics might say that we would be well served to spend as much time reading Luke's first book as a lens through which we interpret his second. I guess that is a valid observation, isn't it? Which one of us would start at book two of a modern series such as Harry Potter or others and not take the time to read the first? Or better yet...which one of us would watch episode two of a season’s worth of TV shows and not watch the first? It is in the first where we learn about the characters and their development and begin to see why they behave the way they do in episode two or season two.
Of course, we have not ignored Luke...we have read it just as much as we have the other gospels. But this fall, we want to focus on Luke's writings and look for clues that can help make more sense of this thing we call the church (the entity we see develop so rapidly and amazingly in Acts) and to help us make more sense of this thing we call the Christian life.
cannot claim.
Critics might say that we would be well served to spend as much time reading Luke's first book as a lens through which we interpret his second. I guess that is a valid observation, isn't it? Which one of us would start at book two of a modern series such as Harry Potter or others and not take the time to read the first? Or better yet...which one of us would watch episode two of a season’s worth of TV shows and not watch the first? It is in the first where we learn about the characters and their development and begin to see why they behave the way they do in episode two or season two.
Of course, we have not ignored Luke...we have read it just as much as we have the other gospels. But this fall, we want to focus on Luke's writings and look for clues that can help make more sense of this thing we call the church (the entity we see develop so rapidly and amazingly in Acts) and to help us make more sense of this thing we call the Christian life.
Mark
No comments:
Post a Comment