Eschatology, history and mission in the social experience of Lucan Christians : a sociological study of the relationship between ideas and social realities in Luke-Acts
The subject of this thesis is the relationship between eschatology and history in the Christian community for which Luke-Acts was written. Chapter 1 formulates the problem in terms of Luke's eschatology. It argues that Luke and his community thought of the End as 'near' and that Luke's historical perspective affected his eschatology. Luke-Acts represents a community that held a relevant eschatological hope and was aware of continuing history. This is the interpretive problem this thesis seeks to enlighten. The perspective to be used in approaching this problem is that of sociological analysis. Chapter 2 explores the use of sociological perspectives in New Testament study and the benefits to be achieved by the use of the sociology of knowledge. Chapter 3 is a sociological analysis of the community in terms of date, location, stratification, racial composition, boundaries, social institutions, and charismatic roles and functions. This material suggests that mission was an important community task. Chapter 4 establishes a sociology of mission for the community, investigating commitment as the mechanism that motivated community members to pursue mission, the importance of mission to the community, the motivation
Martin, Thomas William
Criticism, interpretation, etc. ; Church history ; Eschatology ; Biblical teaching ; Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600
Eschatology, history and mission in the social experience of Lucan Christians : a sociological study of the relationship between ideas and social realities in Luke-Acts. The subject of this thesis is the relationship between eschatology and history in the Christian community for which Luke-Acts was written. Chapter 1 formulates the problem in terms of Luke's eschatology. It argues that Luke and his community thought of the End as 'near' and that Luke's historical perspective affected his eschatology. Luke-Acts represents a community that held a relevant eschatological hope and was aware of continuing history. This is the interpretive problem this thesis seeks to enlighten. The perspective to be used in approaching this problem is that of sociological analysis. Chapter 2 explores the use of sociological perspectives in New Testament study and the benefits to be achieved by the use of the sociology of knowledge. Chapter 3 is a sociological analysis of the community in terms of date, location, stratification, racial composition, boundaries, social institutions, and charismatic roles and functions. This material suggests that mission was an important community task. Chapter 4 establishes a sociology of mission for the community, investigating commitment as the mechanism that motivated community members to pursue mission, the importance of mission to the community, the motivation
eschatology history mission social_experience lucan christians sociological_study relationship idea social_reality luke_acts subject relationship eschatology history christian_community luke_acts write formulates problem term luke eschatology argues luke community think end near luke historical_perspective affect eschatology luke_acts represent community hold relevant eschatological hope aware continue history interpretive problem seek enlighten perspective use approach_problem sociological analysis explores use sociological_perspective new_testament study benefit achieve use sociology_knowledge sociological analysis community term date location stratification racial composition boundary social_institution charismatic role_function material suggest mission important community task establishes sociology mission community investigate commitment mechanism motivate community member pursue mission importance mission community motivation