Show simple item record

dc.contributor.advisorCarter, Warren
dc.contributor.authorRoberts, Ronald Dennisen_US
dc.date.accessioned2014-07-22T18:49:03Z
dc.date.available2014-07-22T18:49:03Z
dc.date.created2013en_US
dc.date.issued2013en_US
dc.identifieretd-05222013-122954en_US
dc.identifierumi-10383en_US
dc.identifiercat-002008957en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://repository.tcu.edu/handle/116099117/4492
dc.description.abstractMost previous treatments of the four mageia-miracle conflicts in Acts (8:4-25; 13:4-12; 16:16-18; 19:8-20) do not adequately account for the socially constructed nature of the Greco-Roman concept of mageia and also fail to make an adequate distinction between modern Western concepts of magic and the ancient Greco-Roman concept of mageia. Employing a social-scientific-critical method, this dissertation engages in a narrative-focused analysis of these four texts and other relevant texts from Acts to understand better the socio-cultural elements in Acts' presentation of both miracle-working characters and their rival wonder-working characters, whom Acts primarily presents as popular magoi. My social-scientific-critical approach primarily depends upon the historical theory of Kimberly Stratton, the theories of the social-scientific study of magic, and the social-scientific study of social deviance (particularly the symbolic interactionist approach to deviance). For Greco-Roman Gentile readers in the regions stretching form Achaia to Asia Minor during the late first to early second centuries, the competitions between miracle-workers and popular magoi in the four mageia-miracle conflicts in Acts would function as more than mere warnings against the syncretizing of the Christ-movement with mageia or the recounting of historical tales of popular magoi who competed against the early Christ-following missionaries; instead, these four episodes contribute significantly to Acts development of a social identity for the relatively undefined social role of Christ-following miracle-worker. This miracle-worker social identity would not only function as a means of countering accusations of popular mageia directed at the Christ-movement but might also serve as a means by which a Christ-following reader of Acts may distinguish between legitimate wonder-workers (that is, miracle-workers) and illegitimate wonder-workers (that is, popular magoi).
dc.format.mediumFormat: Onlineen_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherFort Worth, TX. : [Texas Christian University],en_US
dc.relation.ispartofTexas Christian University dissertationen_US
dc.relation.ispartofUMI thesis.en_US
dc.relation.ispartofTexas Christian University dissertation.en_US
dc.relation.requiresMode of access: World Wide Web.en_US
dc.relation.requiresSystem requirements: Adobe Acrobat reader.en_US
dc.rightsEmbargoed until May 22, 2015: Texas Christian University.
dc.subject.lcshBible. Criticism, interpretation, etc.en_US
dc.subject.lcshMagic Religious aspects Christianity.en_US
dc.subject.lcshMiracles.en_US
dc.subject.lcshDeviant behavior.en_US
dc.titleConflicts of mageia and miracle in the Acts of the Apostles: Social discourse on legitimate and deviant use of spiritual poweren_US
dc.typeTexten_US
etd.degree.departmentBrite Divinity School
etd.degree.levelDoctoral
local.collegeBrite Divinity School
local.departmentBrite Divinity School
local.academicunitBrite Divinity School
dc.type.genreDissertation
local.subjectareaReligion (Brite)
etd.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy
etd.degree.grantorBrite Divinity School


Files in this item

Thumbnail
This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record