Leadership and Lifestyle
The Portrait of Paul in the Miletus Speech and 1 Thessalonians

This book identifies and compares major themes in Luke and Paul's views of Christian leadership.

Steve Walton (Author)

9780521036382, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 30 April 2007

272 pages
21.6 x 14 x 1.7 cm, 0.354 kg

'In addition, Walton's volume contributes to the understanding of Christian leadership in the NT …' European Journal of Theology

This study contributes to debate about the portraits of Paul in Acts and his epistles by considering Paul's Miletus speech (Acts 20.18b-35) and identifies and compares major themes in Luke and Paul's views of Christian leadership. Comparisons with Jesus' speeches in Luke show how Lukan the speech is and, with 1 Thessalonians, how Pauline it is. The speech calls the Ephesian elders to service after Paul's departure to Jerusalem, focusing on: faithful fulfilment of leadership responsibility; suffering; attitudes to wealth and work; and the death of Jesus. Paul models Christian leadership for the elders. Parallels in Luke highlight his view of Christian leadership - modelled by Jesus and taught to his disciples, and modelled by Paul and taught to the elders. Study of 1 Thessalonians identifies a remarkably similar portrait of Christian leadership. The Miletus speech is close in thought, presentation and vocabulary to an early, indubitably Pauline letter.

Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
1. Why study the Miletus speech?
2. Are parallels in the eye of the beholder?
3. The Miletus speech in context
Excursus 1: the text and translation of acts 20.28b
4. The Miletus speech and Luke's Gospel
Excursus 2: the text of Luke 22.17–20
5. The Miletus speech and 1 Thessalonians
6. The Miletus speech, Ephesians and 2 Timothy
7. Concluding reflections
Bibliography
Index of ancient texts
Index of modern authors
Index of subjects.

Subject Areas: Biblical studies & exegesis [HRCG]