Heike Braun analyzes the text of the Stephen episode in its biblical context based on considerations of the overall structure of the biblical canon in a dialog with historical-theoretical approaches concerning the identity-establishing function of history.

The Old and the New Testament are an important basis for the development of Christian identity. This is demonstrated in the reception of particular texts, such as for example the Stephen episode in Acts 6:1-8:3. On the one hand, the veneration of the figure of Stephen as the first Christian martyr is derived from this pericope, and on the other hand it is interpreted as a paradigm of Christian superiority over Judaism. To what extent does the text of the Stephen episode justify this reception? In order to answer this question, the author analyzes the text of the Stephen episode in its biblical context based on considerations of the overall structure of the biblical canon in a dialog with historical-theoretical approaches concerning the identity-establishing function of history. She deals with the depiction and function of the figure of Stephen as well as the image of Israel's history conveyed by the text, discusses the ambivalent reception of this text and shows the connection between the reflections on Israel's history in biblical texts and Christian identity.

Autorentext
Geboren 1977; 1997-2001 Studium der Sozialen Arbeit an der KSFH und der Katholischen Theologie an der PTH in Benediktbeuern; 2001-2004 Studium der Katholischen Theologie an der Universität Regensburg; 2004-2005 Pastoralpraktikantin in der Pfarrei St. Bonifaz/St. Georg, Regensburg; seit 2005 Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin am Lehrstuhl für Exegese und Hermeneutik des Neuen Testaments, Universität Regensburg.