God (in) Acts
The Characterization of God in the Acts of the Apostles
Imprint: Pickwick Publications
The Acts of the Apostles reveals a God at work. However, what do God's actions reveal about God's character? This question drives the present study, whose ultimate goal is to discover what portrayal Acts constructs of God through God's actions.
Aarflot demonstrates how Jesus's ascension and the development of the gentile mission prove key to Acts' distinctive portrayal of God. The study explores what happens to the characterization of God when Jesus's character comes to resemble God through the ascension, noting in particular the effect of ambiguous language that might refer to either God or Jesus on the portrayal of God. It also considers how Acts depicts God through actions in Israel's past in relation to the narrative present. This is done by looking at how God is characterized at decisive moments of Acts' plot. The resulting observations are ultimately synthesized in a final chapter presenting the portrayal of God in Acts.
The results of the study have implications for the discussion of the impact of Christology on theology, and furthers the discussion of "God" in the New Testament by delineating a constant, yet developing image of God, and solidifies previous research's observations on the centrality of God's actions to Acts' narrative.
Christine H. Aarflot is a minister in the Lutheran Church of Norway. She received her PhD in New Testament Studies from MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion, and Society in March 2018.
“God (in) Acts is more than a clever title. It identifies the focus of this welcome study on how the Acts of the Apostles portrays God through its narration of God’s actions. On this question, Christine Aarflot proves herself to be a careful, patient guide capable of nuanced and meaningful theological exegesis.”
—Joel B. Green, Fuller Theological Seminary
“Christine Aarflot’s thoughtful analysis brings much-needed clarity to the challenges that beset scholars’ attempts to describe the theology of Acts. It makes a valuable case for considering Lukan Christology and theology hand in hand, and for grasping the ambiguities of the narrative’s theological rhetoric not as obstacles to understanding the theology of Acts but as a means of doing so.”
—Matthew L. Skinner, Luther Seminary
“While many interpreters have noted the centrality of God in Acts, this study goes beyond that observation: By presenting a nuanced and complex mapping of various texts, examined in detail with the overall narrative as framework, we get a more comprehensive image of how God is portrayed in Acts. . . . With her innovative combination of perspectives and text material, this book will contribute to the ongoing discussion on what is at stake in Acts and what role God plays in the narrative, so important to theology and biblical studies.”
—Marianne Bjelland Kartzow, University of Oslo
“Dr. Christine Aarflot reads Acts with great care, attention to detail, and a sharp eye for God’s place in the plot of the book, particularly at critical turning points. She is a sure-footed guide to Luke’s writing and theologizing. Her work will inform, engage, illuminate, and stimulate those who want to learn about the prime subject of Acts—the God of Israel. This book is a great gift to pastors, students, and scholars!”
—Steve Walton, Trinity College, Bristol