The restoration of all of God’s children : the Gentile mission and the salvation of black-skinned people in Luke/Acts.

Abstract

The author of Luke and Acts links his discussion of the salvation of the Gentile nations and even the restoration of Israel to the salvation of black-skinned people. Against the background in which Luke is writing, it appears that Luke employs divine-filial language to say Israel and the nations are God's children who have lost their status. Luke identifies Jesus as God’s child from birth and is parallel with Adam, also called God’s child. Luke emphasizes in their practice (Luke 6:35) and in their resurrection (Luke 20:36) that Jesus’s followers would be known as God’s children. Luke’s use of divine-filial language, it is most probable, is part of an effort to identify Jesus as another Adam, the divine Son of God, who restores Israel and the nations to a renewed divine-filial status. Luke’s Christology, Jesus is God’s Son, defines anthropology, all humans are God’s children through Adam, and rationalizes the mission for the world, God’s children must return home to God. Luke epitomizes this return to God through the rescue of black-skinned people.