Gospel of Luke ST. PAUL S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Transcription

1 Gospel of Luke 9AM ADULT FORMATION LUKE 1 ST. PAUL S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

2 Intentions for Series Compare the Gospel stories What is similar, what is different? What is the point the author is making? Who is the primary audience? Where does the action take place? Who are the main characters other than Jesus? How does the power structure come into play?

3 Background: Timing 4 BCE 30 CE: Life of Jesus CE: Letters of Paul CE: Mark 70: Destruction of 2 nd Temple CE: Luke, Matthew 95 CE: John 120 CE: Thomas, Peter, etc.

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5 Basic Information Biblical Exegesis Exegesis (/ˌɛksəˈdʒiːsɪs/; from the Greek ἐξήγησις from ἐξηγεῖσθαι 'to lead out') is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, particularly a religious text. Traditionally the term was used primarily for work with the Bible; however, in modern usage "biblical exegesis" is used for greater specificity to distinguish it from any other broader critical text explanation. (from Wikipedia)

6 Types of Exegesis Textual Criticism: The Quest for the Original Wording Seeks to understand the original intent. Some sources include the Qumran texts, where original versions can be compared to modern translations. Historical Criticism: The Setting in Time and Place History in the Text What people, places and customs are referenced? What insights do they provide? History of the Text How was the text created? It is now widely recognized that many of the writings of the Bible were edited rather than written by a single individual.

7 Types of Exegesis Literary Criticism: The Composition and Rhetorical Style of the Text Encompasses all questions pertaining to the composition of a text, including its authorship, historical setting, purpose for writing and the overall structure, or form, that gives shape to the writing. Often this type of exegesis is used to argue about which letters of Paul are authentic. Exegesis with a Special Focus: Cultural, Economic, Ethnic, Gender, and Sexual Perspectives Consider Liberation Theology, Feminist Interpretation, Postcolonial Interpretation, African and African American Interpretation.

8 Gospel of Luke Winged Ox

9 Who was Luke? Not much is known read Luke 1:1-4 Tradition says that he was a physician and an artist from Syria. Many feel that he may have known Paul see Act 20-28, Col 4:14, Phil 1:24. Based on his work, he was highly educated, influential in the early church, aware of geography, and history

10 Who is Luke? Think of what we would have without Luke: Christmas without shepherds or a baby in the manger Liturgy without the Magnificat No Ascension or Pentecost No Mary and Martha, Zacchaeus, the good Samaritan, the prodigal son

11 The Adoration of the Shepherds Andrea Mantegna, 1430 Without Luke, no shepherds, no manger

12 The Ascension From The Hours of Etienne Chevalier (ca. 1445) by Jean Fouquet Only Luke tells about the Ascension of Christ (Luke 24:51)

13 Walk in the Park, Laila Shawa (1989) Luke includes more stories about women than the other Gospels.

14 Luke s Community Apparently, no one is sure. Greek speaking, acquainted with scripture, already Christian, and largely gentile. He is thought to have been speaking to a community of God Fearers, Jews who followed Christianity.

15 Comments: Luke s gospel is also fundamentally concerned with addressing social and theological issues of crucial importance to the church of the author s own time. Key among these is the relation of Christian communities to the salvific legacy of Israel, and to the political, religious and social milieu of the Roman-dominated world. (from Harper Collins Study Bible)

16 Luke an apology: An apology was writing in which the author would mount either a self-defense or a defense of a social group in the face of accusations. Scholars who maintain that Luke and the Acts are apologetic literature use the term in a formal sense. These books were written by a highly educated Christian who wanted to show that the life of Jesus was exemplary, as was the Christian church that emerged in his wake, and that both Jesus and his followers were deserving of better treatment from the hands of the government.

17 Content of Luke s Gospel Historical Focus Historiographic prefaces in Greco-Roman literature typically indicate that the author has done extensive research of the historical topics under discussion.

18 How Luke and Matthew used the Markan material Mark s Gospel uses two major phases: (1) the story of the adult life and ministry; and (2) the story of his passion. Where did Luke and Matthew add additional material: Genealogies and birth stories (Matt 1-2, Luke 1-2) Resurrection stories (Matt , Luke 24: 13-52) Additional material (Q and other sources) Matthew decided to break up the story of Jesus ministry by having him deliver five long speeches or sermons (5-7; 10; 13; 18; 24-25) Luke decided to put most of the extra material in the part of his narrative that relates a long journey of Jesus to Jerusalem (9:51 19:44)

19 Compare Read the Miracle Story of the Woman with a Hemorrhage Matthew 9:20-22 Mark 5:25-34 Luke 8:43-48

20 Questions 1. Which versions tells the story in the most powerful way? 2. How do you see Jesus in each story? Would it be scary to have turn around and ask who touched him? 3. Do you think that it is this simple to be healed by Jesus?

21 References Ehrman, Bart D., The New Testament, Oxford University Press, New York, 2008 New Testament, New Collegeville Bible Commentary, Daniel Durken, Series Editor, Order of St. Benedict, Collegeville, MN, 2009 The Harper Collins Study Bible, Harper Collins Publishers, Powell, Mark Allan, Introducing the New Testament, Baker Academic, 2009