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In this study the methods of social concept criticism, poststructuralism, and social memory theory are innovatively and rewardingly combined with a revalued component of Greimas' system, the morpho-syntactic and actantial model. Analysis clearly reveals that the Lukan author reconceptualized social memory of the covenant and employed it as a literary device by following a sequence of the Exodus motifs culminating in the altered Exodus goal of covenant service/worship. The Lukan author also employed the reconceptualized covenant as a theological device that provided thematic links in the logical flow of the story, organizing the collective memory of Israel, through which perceived social needs are addressed and a call is issued for a mimetic response to the salvific activity of servant Jesus. The actantial model accurately illustrates the organizing capacity of the covenant, mapping the covenant's strategic placement and function to structure the plot-episode story and interrelate themes which articulate the servant identity of the Christian community. Researchers and academics alike will engage with this study that demonstrates the organizational capacity of the covenant concept in Lukan compositional design.
List of contents
List of Tables - Series Editor Preface - Author Preface - Introduction - Organizing Principles in Lukan Studies - Principles of Organization in Early Judaic and Ancient Greek Literature - Principles of Organization Under the Terms and Conditions of the Old Covenant - The Covenant Concept's Structuring and Interrelating Function in Luke-Acts - Summary and Conclusion - Bibliography - Index.
About the author
Frank Z. Kovacs earned his PhD from North-West University and teaches New Testament and Greek at the University of Toronto, Knox College, and Tyndale University's Seminary. He is also a Research Associate with the Department for the Study of Religion at the University of Toronto.
Report
"This study convincingly demonstrates how the covenant provides a basis for the relation between the divine and humans in the context of the history of God's salvation, linking history and theology. It makes a valuable contribution to the debate in Luke-Act studies."-Francois P. Viljoen, Professor in New Testament, Faculty of Theology, North-West University, RSA
