Shelly Matthews: 2 books
Perfect Martyr
The Stoning of Stephen and the Construction of Christian Identity
Language: English
Release Date: October 4, 2010
Recent studies have examined martyrdom as a means of constructing Christian identity, but until now none has focused on Stephen, the first Christian martyr. For the author of Luke-Acts, the stoning of Stephen-- even more than the death of Jesus-- underscores the perfidy of non-believing Jews, the...
The Acts of The Apostles: An Introduction and Study Guide
Taming the Tongues of Fire
Language: English
Release Date: January 12, 2017
The book of Acts opens with the dramatic story of tongues of flame descending upon believers at Pentecost and the prophecy of an egalitarian dispensation of the Spirit being fulfilled. Yet, as the narrative unfolds, we become aware of a tension between the socially egalitarian promise of the Pentecost...