The Spirit and the 'Other'

Social Identity, Ethnicity and Intergroup Reconciliation in Luke-Acts

Aaron Kuecker

• Publisher: T&T Clark
• Year: 2011
• Print ISBN:
  9780567249142
• eBook ISBN:
  9780567258076
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Studies

In this title, Kuecker uses social identity theory to examine the interface between the Holy Spirit and ethnicity in Luke-Acts . Kuecker uses an artillery of social identity theory to demonstrate that in Luke 's narrative the Spirit is the central figure in the formation of a new social identity. In his argumenation, Kuecker provides extended exegetical treatments of Luke 1-4 and Acts 1-15. He shows that Luke 1-4 establishes a foundation for Luke's understanding of the relationship between human identity, the Spirit, and the 'other' - especially as it relates to the distribution of in-group benefits beyond group boundaries. With regard to Acts 1-15, Kuecker shows that the Spirit acts whenever human identity is in question in order to transform communities and individuals via the formation of a new social identity. Kuecker argues that Luke depicts this Spirit-formed social identity as a different way of being human in community, relative to the normative identity processes of other groups in his narrative. This transformed identity produces profound expressions of interethnic reconciliation in Luke-Acts expressed through reformed economic practice, impressive intergroup hospitality, and a reoriented use of ethnic language. Formerly the Journal for the Study of the New Testament Supplement, this is a book series that explores the many aspects of New Testament study including historical perspectives, social-scientific and literary theory, and theological, cultural and contextual approaches.

The Early Christianity in Context series, a part of JSNTS, examines the birth and development of early Christianity up to the end of the third century CE. The series places Christianity in its social, cultural, political and economic context. European Seminar on Christian Origins and Journal for the Study of the Historical Jesus Supplement are also part of JSNTS.

Table of contents

• CONTENTS
• Acknowledgments
• Abbreviations
• Chapter 1. THE HOLY SPIRIT IN LUKE–ACTS: TRACING THE HISTORY OF RESEARCH
• 1.1. History of Research: Pre-1900–Present
• 1.2. Gaps in the Study of the Spirit in Luke–Acts
• 1.3. The Thesis of this Study
• 1.4. Outline of the Argument
• 1.5. Assumptions Concerning Luke’s Audienceand Occasion for Writing
• Chapter 2. SOCIAL IDENTITY AND THE “OTHER”: A METHODOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
• 2.1. Social Identity Theory
• 2.2. Ethnicity and Social Identity
• 2.3. Ethnic Identity and Israel
• 2.4. Conclusion
• 2.5. Social Identity Theory Glossary
• Chapter 3. EXPANDING THE ETHNIC HORIZON: THE SPIRIT AND ALLOCENTRIC IDENTITY IN LUKE 1–2
• 3.1. Zechariah and Elizabeth: Awakening Israelite Ethnic Identity
• 3.2. The Spirit, John and Jesus: The Nexus of Identity and Activity
• 3.3. The Spirit and the Birth Hymns: Expanding the Field of Ethnic Vision
• 3.4. Conclusion
• Chapter 4. CRITIQUING DEFECTIVE IDENTITIES: SPIRIT-EMPOWERED FIGURES AND IN-GROUP BIAS IN LUKE 3–4
• 4.1. The Spirit and the Baptizer: Critiquing a Distortion of Ethnic Social Identity
• 4.2. The Spirit and Jesus: Identifying the Son of God
• 4.3. Jesus’ Genealogy: Incorporating Ethnic Out-groups
• 4.4. Jesus and Satan: Testing Privileged Identity
• 4.5. Jesus and His Townsfolk: Ethnic Identity, Resource Allocation and the “Other”
• 4.6. Conclusion
• Chapter 5. INITIATING A SCANDAL OF UNIVERSAL PARTICULARITY: THE SPIRIT IN ACTS 1–2
• 5.1. The Spirit and Social Categories in Acts 1:1–11: Initiating an Allocentric Identity
• 5.2. Old Identity Paradigms Before Pentecost: Choosing One Like Us
• 5.3. Pentecost and the Scandal of Universal (Ethno-linguistic) Particularity
• 5.4. Peter’s Pentecost Discourse
• 5.5. Conclusion
• Chapter 6. CONSUMMATING A NEW IDENTITY: THE COMMUNITY SUMMARIES AND THE IDENTITY-FORMING POWER OF A GROUP
• 6.1. Understanding the Baseline Significance of the New Community
• 6.2. The Spirit and the “Other,” Satan and the Self: Barnabas, Ananias and Sapphira as Exemplars of Identity
• 6.3. Conclusion
• Chapter 7. INCORPORATING THE “OTHER”: THE SPIRIT AND SUPERORDINATE IDENTITY IN ACTS 6–9
• 7.1. Acts 6:1–7: Subgroup Salience and Community Dysfunction
• 7.2. Acts 8: Incorporating Those Who Identify Themselves With the God of Israel
• 7.3. Acts 8:26–40: The Ethiopian Eunuch
• 7.4. Acts 9: Spirit-orchestration and Identification for the Incorporation of an Enemy
• 7.5. Conclusion
• Chapter 8. TRANSCENDING ETHNICITY: THE SPIRIT AND TRANS-ETHNIC IDENTITY IN ACTS 10–15
• 8.1. Interpreting Acts 10:1–11:18
• 8.2. Criticism in Jerusalem: Evidence of an Intractable Boundary
• 8.3. Acts 15: The Spirit and the Intragroup Expression of a New Identity
• 8.4. Conclusion
• Chapter 9. CONCLUSION
• 9.1. A Summary of Luke’s Portrait of the Spirit, Social Identity and the “Other”
• 9.2. Social Identity Theory and a Different Way of Being Human in Community
• 9.3. Possibilities for Future Comparative Work on Identity Within the Early Jesus Movement
• 9.4. Possibilities for Contemporary Application
• 9.5. Conclusion
• Bibliography
• Index of References
• Index of Authors