Review Essay For Profit or Delight? Richard Pervo's Contributions to Lukan Studies
[Article]
Martin William Mittelstadt
Leiden
Brill
Given Pentecostal proclivity to (Luke-) Acts, it should come as no surprise that Pentecostals consider the work of the prolific Richard Pervo. In this essay, I offer a synopsis and evaluation of his work, particularly four recent volumes, on Acts for the Pneuma readership. On one hand, Pervo proves controversial (not only for Pentecostals) concerning questions about authorship, date, and historicity. On the other hand, Pervo offers fine insight on literary conventions and thematic motifs employed by the author of the Third Gospel and Acts. In the end, I suggest that a careful reading of Pervo produces some profit for readers. As for delight, this will depend on the reader's needs and interests. Given Pentecostal proclivity to (Luke-) Acts, it should come as no surprise that Pentecostals consider the work of the prolific Richard Pervo. In this essay, I offer a synopsis and evaluation of his work, particularly four recent volumes, on Acts for the Pneuma readership. On one hand, Pervo proves controversial (not only for Pentecostals) concerning questions about authorship, date, and historicity. On the other hand, Pervo offers fine insight on literary conventions and thematic motifs employed by the author of the Third Gospel and Acts. In the end, I suggest that a careful reading of Pervo produces some profit for readers. As for delight, this will depend on the reader's needs and interests.