Perceptions of the Divine in Greek Historiography

Writing history in the shadow of the Homeric tradition and drama, Greek historians contended with each other about issues such as the choice of subject, genre, and style. A persistent question concerned the legitimate use of perceptions and experiences of the divine sphere in historical discourse. A hermeneutical dilemma arose from this and was approached in different ways from the inception of Greek historiography with Herodotus, Thucydides and Xenophon, continuing well into the first century CE with authors such as Flavius Josephus, Plutarch, and Luke. This book surveys this enduring feature of history-writing, proposes an interpretative narratological model for reading historians theologically, and then applies it to the works of Herodotus and Luke, who, despite their differences, exemplify how historiography exhibited tradition and innovation through theological reflection for their audiences’ edification and entertainment.