Biblical Languages and Literature

In Stories of Early Christianity, author vanThanh Nguyen brings to life the struggles and adventures of the less-familiar characters found in Acts of the Apostles: Mary from Nazareth, Matthias, Rhoda, John Mark, Cornelius, Barnabas, Dionysius the Areopagite, Lydia, Priscilla and Aquila, and Luke. These narratives of faith and history reveal the miraculous and unpredictable workings of the Holy Spirit in the lives of real people who were saints
as well as sinners—and who mirror the lives of all Christians.

A literary and narrative analysis of the story of Peter and Cor- nelius in Acts 10:1-11:8 will unveil how Luke as a biblical writer and a master storyteller resolves the crucial crisis moment con- cerning the inclusion of the Gentile mission. According to Luke’s theological agenda, the mission to the Gentiles is initiated and le- gitimated by God; hence, readers must accept it as the normative interpretation of the story and should respond appropriately. Understanding the theological significance of this watershed sto- ry in Luke-Acts is tremendously insightful for theological and missiological studies today.

vanThanh Nguyen, S.V.D., S.Th.D., is Associate Professor of New Testament Studies  and Director of the Master of Divinity Program at Catholic Theological Union, in Chicago, Illinois. He is an Associate Editor of the Journal of the International Association of Mission Studies. He is the author of Peter and Cornelius: A Story of Conversion and Mission (Pickwick Publications, 2012) and Stories of Early Christianity: Creative Retellings of Faith and History (Liguori Publications, 2013). His forthcoming book (co-edited) is entitled, God’s People on the Move: Biblical and Global Perspectives of Migration and Mission (Pickwick Publications, summer 2014). For more biographical info see: http://www.ctu.edu/academics/vanthanh-nguyen-svd, S.V.D., S.Th.D., is Associate Professor of New Testament Studies  and Director of the Master of Divinity Program at Catholic Theological Union, in Chicago, Illinois. He is an Associate Editor of the Journal of the International Association of Mission Studies. He is the author of Peter and Cornelius: A Story of Conversion and Mission (Pickwick Publications, 2012) and Stories of Early Christianity: Creative Retellings of Faith and History (Liguori Publications, 2013). His forthcoming book (co-edited) is entitled, God’s People on the Move: Biblical and Global Perspectives of Migration and Mission (Pickwick Publications, summer 2014). For more biographical info see: http://www.ctu.edu/academics/vanthanh-nguyen-svd

This article begins by clarifying that real “interculturality” is more than just co-existing side by side with people from different nationalities or cultures. More than just a cross-cultural encounter, interculturality encourages and promotes people from different cultures to interact with each other and thereby mutually enrich and transform each other and those around them. With this understanding, the author turns to the Bible by examining several paradigmatic figures that illustrate ideal intercultural interaction, namely Abraham-Sarah, Jesus and Paul. The aim is to show that real interculturality is found throughout the Bible. The article concludes by suggesting twelve intercultural texts from the Bible and offering a set of guided questions to be used in an intercultural (or cross-cultural sensitive) reading and sharing of the Bible.

On the highways and byways of every continent, hundreds of millions of immigrants are constantly on the move. Because of growing inequalities of wealth caused by unregulated economic globalization, political and ethnic conflicts, environmental degradation, instant communication, and viable means of transportation, more and more people are migrating than ever before. Crossing international borders, whether compelled or voluntarily, is a major characteristic of our present epoch. No countries or regions are immune from this reality. Facing the growing scope, complexity and impact of the current worldwide phenomenon, God's People on the Move seeks to develop appropriate biblical and missiological responses to the issue of human migration and dislocation. The book is divided into two major sections. Part one, "Biblical Perspectives on Migration and Mission," contains six essays that focus on various biblical themes or texts that deal with migration and mission. Part two, "Contemporary Issues of Migration and Mission," contains six essays that address different immigration issues around the world. The contributors to this volume are women and men from different ethnic backgrounds, working and living on five continents. The internationality of the contributors gives this volume a unique global perspective on migration and mission.