Interweaving Innocence: A Rhetorical Analysis of Luke's Passion Narrative (Lk 22:66-23:49) - Softcover

Gorman, Heather M.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0227176103 ISBN 13: 9780227176108

Publisher: James Clarke, 2016

Synopsis

A study of the rhetorical techniques employed by the passion narrative in the Gospel of Luke, and the light they shed on Luke's themes and narrative sources.

In this study Heather Gorman analyses Luke's portrayal of Jesus' death in light of the ancient rhetorical tradition, particularly the progymnasmata and the rhetorical handbooks. In addition to providing a detailed, up-to-date exegetical study of Luke 22:66-23:49, she argues three things. First, through the strategic placement of rhetorical figures and the use of common topics associated with refutation and confi rmation, Luke structures his passion narrative as a debate about Jesus' innocence, which suggests that one of Luke's primary concerns is to portray Jesus as politically innocent. Second, ancient examples of synkrisis suggest that part of the purpose of Luke's characterisation of Jesus in the passion narrative, especially when set in parallel to Paul and Stephen in Acts, was to set up Jesus as a model for his followers lest they face similar persecution or death. Finally, Luke's special material and his variations from Mark are explicable in terms of ancient compositional techniques, especially paraphrase and narration, and thus recourse to a special Passion Source is unnecessary.

About this title

About the Author

Heather M. Gorman, PhD, is Assistant Professor of New Testament at Johnson University in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Edition details

• Publisher: James Clarke
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0227176103
• ISBN 13: 9780227176108
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 206