Joseph B. Tyson – författare

Building on recent scholarship that argues for a second-century date for the book of ""Acts"", ""Marcion and Luke-Acts"" explores the probable context for the authorship not only of ""Acts"" but also of the canonical ""Gospel of Luke"". Tyson proposes that both ""Acts"" and the final version of ""Luke"" were published at the time when Marcion of Pontus was beginning to proclaim his version of the Christian gospel, in the years 120-125 C.E. He suggests that although the author was subject to various influences, a prominent motivation was the need to provide the church with writings that would serve in its fight against Marcionite Christianity. Tyson positions the controversy with Marcion as a defining struggle over the very meaning of the Christian message and the author of ""Luke-Acts"" as a major participant in that contest. Tyson concludes that the author of ""Acts"" made use of an earlier version of the ""Gospel of Luke"" and produced canonical ""Luke"" by adding, among other things, birth accounts and postresurrection narratives of Jesus.

Applies literary-critical methods to the two New Testament writings attributed to Luke. The focus is on the death of Jesus. Tyson's clear treatment of Luke's view of the growing opposition to Jesus from the Jewish leadership and his discussion of the circumstances that ultimately led to the crucifixion of Jesus by the Romans provide a deeper understanding of these two important texts.

Addresses the ways in which Jewish people and religious customs are presented in the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Probing questions about the roots of modern anti-Semitism in relationship to the New Testament, Tyson concludes that there is a deep and complex ambivalence in Luke-Acts, making the texts both profoundly pro-Jewish and anti-Jewish.

Surveys the history of critical scholarship on the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles over the past two centuries and draws particular attention to the interpretation of Luke's treatment of Jews and Judaism.