An Introduction to the Study of Luke-Acts (T&t Clark Approaches To Biblical Studies Series)

This is not a commentary or a survey of the text, but is focused on the various critical approaches used in interpreting Luke-Acts. It gives many helpful themes that unite the text and emphasise that it is a single work. Because of its focus on historical, exegetic and social-critical methods, this is not a book to get an understanding of Luke-Acts. It gives you the tools and approaches you need to exegete the text yourself and to critically evaluate what others say. \\r\\n\\r\\nIf you are reading a commentary on Luke or Acts, this would be an excellent additional read. It will help you to understand how scholars approach the text, and it corrects the misunderstandings you can get of either book studying it in isolation. Surveys can obscure Acts' deep and embryonic relation to the third gospel. As for commentaries, they rarely approach Luke-Acts as a unity, giving each book a separate volume. \\r\\n\\r\\nShillington writes well, without footnotes to interrupt things (this is an introduction and does not descend into controversies). His greatest strength is that he covers the latest critical approaches, and evaluates their use and limitations. Obviously, historical criticism gets a strong showing. Shillington is very interested in the social and religious themes of Luke that carry across (strikingly!) into Acts. Scholarship has come a long way in recognising the wealth of insight gained by placing Luke and Acts side by side. This book does a commendable job bring the fruits of…