The development of early Christian pneumatology with special reference to Luke-Acts
The author seeks to demonstrate that Paul was the first Christian to attribute soteriological functions to the Spirit and that this original element of Paul's pneumatology did not influence wider (non-Pauline) sectors of the early church until after the writing of Lk-Acts. Three interrelated arguments are offered in support of his thesis. In Part One he argues that soterological functions were generally not attributed to the Spirit in intertestamental Judaism. The Spirit was regarded as the source of prophetic inspiration, a donum superadditum granted to various individuals so they might fulfil a divinely appointed task. The only significant exceptions to this perspective are found in later sapiential writings (1QH, Wisd). In Part Two he argues that Luke, influenced by the dominant Jewish perception, consistently portrays the gift of the Spirit as a prophetic endowment which enables its recipient to participate effectively in the mission of God. Although the pimitive church, following in Jesus' footsteps, broadened the functions traditionally ascribed to the Spirit in first-century Judaism and thus presented the Spirit as the source of miracle-working power (as well as prophetic inspiration), Luke resisted
Menzies, Robert Paul
Philosophy
The development of early Christian pneumatology with special reference to Luke-Acts. The author seeks to demonstrate that Paul was the first Christian to attribute soteriological functions to the Spirit and that this original element of Paul's pneumatology did not influence wider (non-Pauline) sectors of the early church until after the writing of Lk-Acts. Three interrelated arguments are offered in support of his thesis. In Part One he argues that soterological functions were generally not attributed to the Spirit in intertestamental Judaism. The Spirit was regarded as the source of prophetic inspiration, a donum superadditum granted to various individuals so they might fulfil a divinely appointed task. The only significant exceptions to this perspective are found in later sapiential writings (1QH, Wisd). In Part Two he argues that Luke, influenced by the dominant Jewish perception, consistently portrays the gift of the Spirit as a prophetic endowment which enables its recipient to participate effectively in the mission of God. Although the pimitive church, following in Jesus' footsteps, broadened the functions traditionally ascribed to the Spirit in first-century Judaism and thus presented the Spirit as the source of miracle-working power (as well as prophetic inspiration), Luke resisted
development early_christian pneumatology special_reference luke_acts author seek paul first christian attribute soteriological function spirit original element paul pneumatology influence wider non pauline sector early_church write acts interrelated argument offer_support thesis part_one argue function generally attribute spirit judaism spirit regard source prophetic inspiration grant various individual might fulfil divinely appoint task significant exception perspective find later writing part_two argue luke influence dominant jewish perception consistently portray gift spirit prophetic endowment enables recipient participate effectively mission god although church follow jesus broaden function traditionally ascribe spirit first_century judaism thus present spirit source miracle working power well prophetic inspiration luke resist