The 'poor and the rich' in Luke-Acts : a socio-cultural and ideological analysis of Luke's social vision for the new Christian community

• Main Author: Nomdo, Gideon John
• Other Authors: Wanamaker, CA
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: University of Cape Town 2014
• Subjects: Religious Studies
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9689

Includes bibliographical references. === This study examines the biblical texts of Luke-Acts in an attempt to reconstruct the general first century eastern Mediterranean context in which Luke wrote. Specific features of urban Greco-Roman society will be analysed. These include the social, cultural, political, economic and religious dimensions, all of which will be used to construct a particular understanding of Luke’s attitude to the issues of wealth and poverty in his own setting. I argue that the specific features of urban Greco-Roman society gave rise to a particular type of Lucan ideology which aimed to secure and legitimate the role and place of the poor in the Christian community. Within this process I will trace the traditional understanding of wealth and possessions within the Greco- Roman world and link it to the manner in which Luke wished it to be used within the Christian community. I specifically make use of techniques and models developed by the social sciences in the construction of my argument. The purity and honour codes, as well as the model of patronage, form a significant part of my analysis. Finally, I use my construction of Luke’s understanding of wealth and poverty and its religious significance, and extract from this, via the process of hermeneutics, a message which is relevant for Christians in South Africa today. I argue that Christians in South Africa need to become involved in the process of reconstruction and development by adopting a 'critical solidarity' stance towards society. Christians are reminded of what true Christian fellowship entails and that spirituality is embedded in a 'concrete' reality. The role which Christians can play in the 'healing' process of our country, especially in their adoption of appropriate biblical attitudes to the use of wealth in their homes, churches and communities, is a prime concern.