# Does the New Testament Imitate Homer?: Four Cases from the Acts of the Apostles - Hardcover

by **Dennis Ronald MacDonald** (Author)

In this provocative challenge to prevailing views of New Testament sources, Dennis R. MacDonald argues that the origins of passages in the book of Acts are to be found not in early Christian legends but in the epics of Homer. MacDonald focuses on four passages in the book of Acts, examines their potential parallels in the _Iliad,_ and concludes that the author of Acts composed them using famous scenes in Homer's work as a model.  
Tracing the influence of passages from the _Iliad_ on subsequent ancient literature, MacDonald shows how the story generated a vibrant, mimetic literary tradition long before Luke composed the Acts. Luke could have expected educated readers to recognize his transformation of these tales and to see that the Christian God and heroes were superior to Homeric gods and heroes. Building upon and extending the analytic methods of his earlier book, _The Homeric Epics and the Gospel of Mark,_ MacDonald opens an original and promising appreciation not only of Acts but also of the composition of early Christian narrative in general.

### Author Biography

**Dennis R. MacDonald** is John Wesley Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins, Claremont School of Theology, and director of the Institute of Antiquity and Christianity, Claremont Graduate University.

**Number of Pages:** 240

**Dimensions:** 0.77 x 9.72 x 6.24 IN

**Publication Date:** February 09, 2004

## Details

- **Price:** 131.4 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 131.40 USD | In stock |

## Images

- Does the New Testament Imitate Homer?: Four Cases from the Acts of the Apostles - Hardcover

---

> Source: [Smart supply deals](https://smartsupplydeals.com/products/does-the-new-testament-imitate-homer-four-cases-from-the-acts-of-the-apostles-hardcover)
> Updated: 2026-07-21