How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (4th Edition)
Chapter 6
Acts: The Question of Historical Precedent
(Underline the answers to these questions in the text (numbering each answer)
1. What is the “problem” of historical precedent as it relates to Acts? pp. 112-113
THE EXEGESIS OF ACTS
Acts as History
2. What two questions must be included in an exegesis of Acts? p. 115
3. Why is the question of Luke’s intent the most important question? p. 115
The First Step
Acts: An Overview
4. What clue serves as the basis for the author’s six sections of Acts? p. 116
5. What is the crucial factor in the sense of movement in Acts? pp. 117-118
Luke’s Purpose
6. According to Fee, what is the key to understanding Acts? p. 118
7. What five reasons did the authors give for their key to understanding Acts? pp. 118-119
8. In what limited sense does Fee believe that Acts is intended to serve as a model? p. 119
An Exegetical Sampling
9. What three textual questions must one repeatedly ask in Acts? p. 120
10. Why do the authors feel the opening narrative (6:1-7) is not given to tell us about the
first organization of the church? p. 121
11. As relates to the conversion of the Samaritans, what problem did Luke create for
readers of a much later time? p. 122
THE HERMENEUTICS OF ACTS
12. With what one question is the hermeneutics of Acts concerned? p. 123-124
13. How do almost all biblical Christians treat precedent? p. 124
Some General Principles
14. What assumption do the authors make about biblical narrative? p. 124
15. What exception clause do the authors make to their italicized assumption on p. 124?
16. Why does Fee feel observance of the Lord’s Supper to be primary, but frequency of
observance secondary? p. 125
17. What does Fee feel Luke’s broader intent was in writing? p. 126
18. Why do the authors think that the specific details in Acts should not serve as
normative models? p. 127
19. God’s word for us in the Acts narrative is primarily related to what? p. 127
20. What is the difference between normal church practice and normative church
practice? pp. 128-130
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How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (4th Edition)
Some Specific Principles
21. What three specific principles are offered as to the hermeneutics of biblical
precedents? pp. 128-130
22. What three considerations should guide a decision as to whether certain practices or
patterns are repeatable? pp. 130-131
The Case for a Normative Hermeneutic
(Write your answers below.)
23. In 1 Corinthians 11:2, why did Paul praise the Corinthians?
24. To what type of traditions does “everything” (11:2) refer? See 1 Corinthians 11-14?
25. What application could be drawn from the fact that the word “traditions” (11:2) is
plural?
26. What does 1 Corinthians 11:16 indicate in principle about the role of custom in New
Testament churches?
27. How does 14:36 constitute a chide?
28. How do Paul’s questions in 1 Corinthians 14:36 reveal that a uniformity of practice
was customary throughout New Testament churches?
29. What were the Thessalonians commanded to do (2Th 2:15)?
30. What conclusion can be drawn about God’s desire for the modern church to follow
New Testament patterns for church practice?
Stephen E. Atkerson
NTRF.org
Revised 03/22/2017
Revised 02/09/2023
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