The ancient world often thought in terms of physiognomicsa "the idea that character can be discerned by studying outward, physical features. That physical descriptions carry moral freight in characterization has been largely missed in modern biblical scholarship, and this study brings that to the forefront. Specifically, this is a study of one particular physical markera "blindness. When we look at Greco-Roman literature, a kind of literary topos begins to emerge, a set of assumptions that ancient audiences would typically make when encountering blind characters. Luke-Acts makes use of such a topos in a way that becomes programmatic, serving as a kind of interpretive key to Luke-Acts that is generally unnoticed in modern scholarship.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Chapter One:
Introduction
Methodology
Outline of Chapters
Chapter Two:
An Introduction to Physiognomy
Physiognomy Defined:
Its History and Practice
Introducing the Sources-Handbooks on Physiognomy
The Methods of the Physiognomists
Physiognomy in Practice:
Examples in Ancient Literature
Conclusion
Chapter Three:
Eyes, Sight, and Blindness:
Learning to See with Physiognomic Eyes
Disability in the Greco-Roman World
The Eyes:
Window to the Soul
Blindness in Greco-Roman Literature: Developing a Topos
Examples of Blindness in Greco-Roman Literature
Conclusion
Chapter Four:
Physiognomy and Blindness in the Old Testament
and Second Temple Judaism
Linking Physiognomy to the Old Testament
Examples of Physiognomy in the Old Testament
and Second Temple Judaism
Blindness in the Jewish Writings
Conclusion
Chapter Five:
Physiognomy and Blindness in the New Testament
and Other Early Christian Literature
Examples of Physiognomy in the NT
and Other Early Christian Literature
Examples of Blindness in the NT and Other Early Christian Literature
Conclusion
Chapter Six:
Physiognomy and Blindness in Luke-Acts
Physiognomy in Luke-Acts
Blindness in Luke-Acts
Chapter Seven:
Conclusion
Bibliography
