In this study, Daniel B. Glover evaluates the deification scenes in the Book of Acts by locating them within the broader ancient Mediterranean context of deification. He offers a fresh reading of Acts that situates each of the five scenes within a distinct literary pattern recognizable to its earliest readers.
Five times throughout the course of Luke's narrative in Acts, an individual character is identified as (a) god. Rarely have scholars read these deification scenes within their narrative and historical settings with sufficient care. With regard to the narrative setting, scholars working on the deification scenes tend to take one or another as normative and read the remaining acclamations in light of a particular interpretation of that one pericope. However, such reading strategies run aground when they arrive at the final acclamation (28:1-10), which breaks the exegetical bow of the interpretive ship.
In this study, Daniel B. Glover evaluates the deification scenes in the Book of Acts by locating them within the broader ancient Mediterranean context of deification. He offers a fresh reading of Acts that situates each of the five scenes within a distinct literary pattern recognizable to its earliest readers.
Table of contents:
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 Problems to be Addressed
1.2 Review of Recent Scholarly Trends
1.3 The Argument of This Study
1.4 Methodology
1.5 Presuppositions
1.6. Plan of Study
Chapter 2: Defining Divinity (Part 1): Understanding Divinity in Mediterranean Antiquity
2.1 What Makes a God a God?
2.2 Concepts of Divine Humans in Mediterranean Antiquity
2.3 Conclusion
Chapter 3: Defining Divinity (Part 2): Deification and Jewish Monotheism
3.1 Jewish Monotheism in Recent Debate
3.2 Moses as a Divine Figure in Hellenistic Judaism
3.3 Judaism, Monotheism, and Mosaic Deification: A Summary
3.4 Conclusion
Chapter 4: Desiring Divinity: Self-Deification and Its Functions
4.1 Self-Deification in the Ancient Mediterranean
4.2 Simon the Samaritan
4.3 Herod Agrippa I
4.4 Conclusion
Chapter 5: Denying Divinity: Denials of Divine Claims in Mediterranean Antiquity
5.1 Denying Divinity in the Ancient Mediterranean
5.2 Peter's Refusal of Cornelius's Worship
5.3 Paul and Barnabas, »gods” in Lystra?
5.4 Conclusion: Peter, Paul, and Their Divine Denials
Chapter 6: Discerning Divinity: Paul «the god” in Malta
6.1 A Critical Review of Scholarship on Acts 28:1-10
6.2 Discerning Divinity on Malta
Excursus: Shadows, Cloths, and Garments - Localized Divine Power in Luke/Acts
6.3 The Power at Work in Paul and Paul's Divinity
6.4 Conclusion
Chapter 7: Conclusion: Summary and Paths for Future Engagement
7.1 Summary of Study
7.2 Paths for Future Engagement
7.3 Final Thoughts
