The Writings of Luke and the Jewish Roots of the Christian Way (Library of New Testament Studies | LNTS)
Overview
J. Andrew Cowan challenges the popular theory that Luke sought to boost the cultural status of the early Christian movement by emphasising its Jewish roots—associating the new church with an ancient and therefore respected heritage. Cowan instead argues that Luke draws upon the traditions of the Old Testament and its supporting texts as a reassurance to Christians, promising that Jesus’ life, his works and the church that follow legitimately provide fulfilment of God’s salvific plan.
Cowan’s argument compares Luke’s writings to two near-contemporaries, Dionysius of Halicarnassus and T. Flavius Josephus, both of whom emphasized the ancient heritage of a people with cultural or political aims in view, exploring how the writings of Luke do not reflect the same cultural values or pursue the same ends. Challenging assumptions on Luke’s supposed attempts to assuage political concerns, capitalize on antiquity, and present Christianity as an inner-Jewish sect, Cowan counters with arguments for Luke being critical of over-valuing tradition and defining the Jewish people as resistant to God and His messages. Cowan concludes with the argument that the apostle does not strive for legitimisation of the new church by previous cultural standards, but instead provides theological reassurance to Christians that God's plan has been fulfilled, with implications for broader debate.
- Connects Luke’s use of Jewish roots to the development of God’s plan of salvation
- Compares Luke’s writings to the works of T. Flavius Josephus and Dionysius of Halicarnassus
- Surveys major contributions and trends in Lukan studies
- The Old is Good? The Writings of Luke and the Christian Movement’s Jewish Roots in Recent Scholarship
- Dionysius of Halicarnassus and the Ancient Greek Roots of the Roman People
- Josephus and the Antiquity of the Jewish People
- The Writings of Luke and the Jewish Roots of the Early Christian Movement
- Conclusion
- Title: The Writings of Luke and the Jewish Roots of the Christian Way
- Author: J. Andrew Cowan
- Editor: Chris Keith
- Series: Library of New Testament Studies (LNTS)
- Publisher: T&T Clark
- Publication Date: 2019
- Pages: 232
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Topic: Lukan Studies