Thesis (Ph. L.)--Catholic University of America, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 90-94).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1989.

Thesis (Ph. L.)--Catholic University of America, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 90-94).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1986. / Also available in print.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1989. / Also available in print.

This thesis will investigate the extensive Graeco-Roman characteristics of the Lystra speech and in so doing convey some clarity in the otherwise widely differing opinions held about it. This will be achieved by showing that Lystra was a Hellenistic city of some importance with a varied population. It will be argued that the initial reaction of the Lystrians to the miraculous healing of the cripple is to be understood as representing typical Graeco-Roman notions. This will include Luke's use of a legend which not only adds local colouring to the narrative but also introduces Graeco-Roman themes such as the blurring of the distinction between humans and gods and the custom of sacrifice. This contextualization immediately portrays the Graeco-Roman nature of the Lystrians' behaviour and attitudes. In addition to these themes it will be argued that the Lystrians are shown to being reliant on secondary notions of God, which when exposed to the proclamation of the apostles will prove to be inadequate. It will also be argued that the speech of the apostles is structured in a typically Graeco-Roman rhetorical form, where the errors are first exposed before the truth is presented. In conjunction with this structure it will be argued that the philosophical concept of which Dibelius has shown to be clearly presupposed in the Areopagus speech, is not only present in the Lystra speech but forms the philosophical basis on which it is structured. This concept explains the insistence by the apostles that they are human and that God has no need of such worthless things as sacrifices. It also explains the presentation of God's activity in creation and providence as an antithesis to a god who is in need. The Graeco-Roman aspects are brought to a close with the discussion of idea that an awareness of God does not depend on secondary notions acquired from legends or customs but that the truth is grasped through a process of reflection on creation and providence. This is an important notion in the speech for it exposes the Lystrians as being in need of a reorientation of their beliefs in God, away from those which are secondary to those which are primary and compatible with the truth.

Drawing on insights from sociolinguistics, the thesis investigates the relationship between speech patterns and social context in three ancient Greek narratives: the Acts of the Apostles, Acts of John, and Acts of Philip. The thesis explores how characters’ speech patterns correlate with their Christian status, and with the Christian status of their addressees. The relationship between speech patterns and gentile/Jewish identity is also assessed. Linguistic variables include plural forms of address and third-person references to Jesus and the Christian god. The thesis shows that Christian characters are portrayed as speaking differently amongst themselves than when addressing non-Christian characters. It also demonstrates that parameters of sociolinguistic variation in each text point to differing understandings of Christian identity. It is argued that attention to sociolinguistic relationships highlights the importance of ascetic practices and baptism in the Acts of Philip, the gradual nature of Christian conversion in the Acts of John, and the close relationship between Jewish and Christian identity in the Acts of the Apostles. The thesis also examines characterization and implied audience, and argues that attention to social context is necessary to appreciate the full significance of an author’s choice of words.

There are a large number of character speeches in Acts. Scholars have used various means and methods to contribute to a feasible and plausible answer regarding the functions of speeches in Acts. Unfortunately, the studies have often been focused on the authenticity of the speeches: were they Luke's creation or simply his compilation? This dissertation presents another set of tools for scholars to revisit Luke's speeches in Acts in order to add insight into their questions, and also to broaden the realm of this narrow focus. In particular, I will implement and demonstrate how to use modern linguistics, namely discourse analysis based on Halliday's Systemic Functional Linguistics. The present study ventures to apply this linguistic insight by focusing on two speeches in the Acts of the Apostles, Acts 2:14-36 and 17:22-31. If scholars wish to study the speeches of Acts further, or any New Testament speeches, hopefully this dissertation will provide a helpful approach to meet their needs. Thus, analyzing and comparing the author's functionally linguistic choices in these two speeches with regards to similarities and differences will describe his specific use of these speeches. The most notable contribution of the dissertation will be found in implementing a new approach to the study of speeches in Acts. I also hope such a due recognition of the language will motivate and inspire further linguistic explorations into various areas, which remain perplexed by other approaches.

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo o estudo das invalidades dos atos processuais no processo civil. Para isso, é destacado que as formas processuais são importantes, por conceder previsibilidade e organização ao procedimento, porém é certo que elas não representam um fim em si mesmo, já que o processo tem como escopo principal a entrega da prestação jurisdicional de forma célere, justa e eficaz. Nesse sentido, o trabalho identifica os atos processuais dentro do contexto geral dos atos jurídicos, todavia iluminados pelas regras de sobredireito processual: o princípio da instrumentalidade, o princípio do prejuízo, o princípio do interesse e a regra da presunção de validade dos atos. Assim, após a análise das sistematizações mais importantes feitas pela doutrina acerca das invalidades no processo civil, o trabalho destaca os passos cognitivos de um juízo de invalidação, testados em algumas das invalidades cominadas. Por fim, são apresentados alguns vícios da sentença e as suas peculiaridades. / The dissertation explores the invalidity of procedural acts in Brazilian civil procedure. In that sense, while underscoring that procedural form is important, providing predictability and organization to the proceedings, it does not represent an end in and of itself, since the main goal of civil justice is to give a definitive resolution to the dispute in a manner thatnnis timely, just and efficient. Down this path, the dissertation qualifies procedural acts within the general framework of legal acts, but subject to meta-rules of civil procedure: the principle of its instrumental role, the harmless error test (pas de nullité sans grief), the identification of the protected interest and the presumption in favor of validity. After analyzing the most important doctrinal constructions on the topic, the dissertation proposes a framework to organize the cognitive steps of judgments on invalidity of procedural acts, tested and applied in connection with nullity cases. Lastly, the dissertation classifies defects relating to judgments and their peculiarities.

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo o estudo das invalidades dos atos processuais no processo civil. Para isso, é destacado que as formas processuais são importantes, por conceder previsibilidade e organização ao procedimento, porém é certo que elas não representam um fim em si mesmo, já que o processo tem como escopo principal a entrega da prestação jurisdicional de forma célere, justa e eficaz. Nesse sentido, o trabalho identifica os atos processuais dentro do contexto geral dos atos jurídicos, todavia iluminados pelas regras de sobredireito processual: o princípio da instrumentalidade, o princípio do prejuízo, o princípio do interesse e a regra da presunção de validade dos atos. Assim, após a análise das sistematizações mais importantes feitas pela doutrina acerca das invalidades no processo civil, o trabalho destaca os passos cognitivos de um juízo de invalidação, testados em algumas das invalidades cominadas. Por fim, são apresentados alguns vícios da sentença e as suas peculiaridades. / The dissertation explores the invalidity of procedural acts in Brazilian civil procedure. In that sense, while underscoring that procedural form is important, providing predictability and organization to the proceedings, it does not represent an end in and of itself, since the main goal of civil justice is to give a definitive resolution to the dispute in a manner thatnnis timely, just and efficient. Down this path, the dissertation qualifies procedural acts within the general framework of legal acts, but subject to meta-rules of civil procedure: the principle of its instrumental role, the harmless error test (pas de nullité sans grief), the identification of the protected interest and the presumption in favor of validity. After analyzing the most important doctrinal constructions on the topic, the dissertation proposes a framework to organize the cognitive steps of judgments on invalidity of procedural acts, tested and applied in connection with nullity cases. Lastly, the dissertation classifies defects relating to judgments and their peculiarities.