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The Social World of Luke-Acts: Models for Interpretation

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I first became aware of THE SOCIAL WORLD OF LUKE ACTS when I was studying scripture, but purchased it when I conducted a Bible Study based on Luke's Gospel knowing it would be an important addition to my collection of books. Since that time I've referred to it on many occasions because while it's written for a serious student or scholar, many of the articles put a human face on scripture study which by nature easily finds a way into pastoral ministry.

This volume is a collection of articles by scholars such as Jerome Neyrey, Bruce Malina, Douglas Oakman and Richard Rohrbaugh, to name a few, names well known in New Testament studies. The articles themselves focus primarily on the social science aspects of Luke and Acts. The articles illustrate different aspects of the social world of the author of Luke Acts which help us understand the role the Gospel played in that context and helps us place it in our day and age. Some of the articles I have found most helpful are Oakman's article on the country side in Luke Acts, Neyrey's article on meals in Luke's Gospel and his writings about the ancient world's understanding of personality. The articles fill a void in the basic historical-critical methods still very much in the forefront of scripture study but can often become somewhat dry and devoid of humanity. Though the articles focus on issues that arise in Luke-Acts, many of the articles can help in understanding the whole of the New Testament.

While the book could be used by anyone interested in a more in depth look at Luke and Acts, it's not a book that easily leads to spirituality or prayer as some books on scripture do. It is a well written book but one that is meant for more serious study and scholarly work and would be ideal for anyone conducting scripture study and adult education classes. It would also be helpful for preachers who are looking for something different fro a Sunday morning or churches involved in social justice ministries.

Jerome H. Neyrey's The Social World of Luke-Acts: Models for Interpretation is a collaborative effort of a group of scholars to apply the social sciences to the Sitz im Leben of the Luke-Acts narratives. Broadening the scope of the historical-critical method, the authors employ a systems approach to examine the social structures of early Roman Palestine during the time of Christ and the early church. Intended to unearth the embedded cultural meanings implicit in Luke's two-volume work, the authors explore the values, social institutions, modes of social interaction, perceptions, expectations, and conventions of first century Mediterranean society, illuminating readers to the distance and difference between the worlds of New Testament society and contemporary culture. Without such awareness, the authors contend that modern readers are impaired in their understanding of the meanings behind the texts and can incongruously apply their textual interpretations from an anachronistic or ethnocentric perspective. To avoid the hazards of reading modern cultural beliefs and practices back into the text, basic social scientific methodologies are employed to enable a proper historical-critical interpretation of the biblical narratives. Through the lens of social scientific criticism, which views the broad social system and the coherence and interrelation of its components, readers are better able to understand how Luke's texts and context shape the author's perspective, compositional strategy, and message. Divided into three sections, the book surveys the basic societal institutions, social psychology, and the mediations of culture. For the purpose of this review, a chapter from each section that has served to effectively increase comprehension of the Lukan narratives and community is highlighted.