Luke (Paideia: Commentaries on the New Testament)
Overview
Renowned New Testament scholar Mikeal Parsons offers a practical commentary on Luke that is conversant with contemporary scholarship, draws on ancient backgrounds, and attends to the theological nature of the texts. This commentary proceeds by sense units rather than word-by-word or verse-by-verse. Students, pastors, and other readers will appreciate the historical, literary, and theological insight Parsons provides in interpreting the Gospel of Luke.
This commentary, like each in the Paideia series, approaches each text in its final, canonical form, proceeding by sense units rather than word-by-word or verse-by-verse. Each sense unit is explored in three sections: (1) introductory matters, (2) tracing the train of thought, (3) key hermeneutical and theological questions.
- Examines cultural context and theological meaning
- Discusses key hermeneutical and theological questions
- Provides notes, outlines, images, and tables
Top Highlights
“And according to John Chrysostom, who served as deacon of Antioch in the late fourth century AD, the city had several synagogues. The archaeological evidence of the Jewish community is limited, however, to a small stone fragment of a menorah and a lead curse tablet referring to the biblical God Yahweh. Furthermore, the narratives of Luke and Acts themselves have led scholars like David Tiede to conclude that ‘the polemics, scriptural arguments, and ‘proofs’ which are rehearsed in Luke-Acts are part of an intrafamily struggle [among Jews] that, in the wake of the destruction of the temple, is deteriorating into a fight over who is really the faithful ‘Israel’ ’ (Tiede 1980, 7).” (Page 8)
“The shared cup symbolizes intimate communion and a shared destiny between Jesus and his followers” (Page 312)
“The one who becomes totally dependent on God’s grace in order to enter the kingdom of God finds that kingdom populated by those marginalized and rendered vulnerable in this life.” (Page 268)
“The meal then that had been a celebration of God’s deliverance of Israel will henceforth point toward the fulfillment of God’s redemptive work in the kingdom’” (Page 310)
“Luke characterizes Jesus’s greatness in terms both of his mighty words and of his mighty deeds” (Page 14)
With this outstanding new commentary on the Gospel of Luke by Mikeal C. Parsons, Paideia: Commentaries on the New Testament adds another stellar volume. This lucid, concise commentary displays the distinctive strengths that Parsons has brought to a distinguished career as scholar and author. With a keen eye for the literary artistry of Luke's narrative, impressive knowledge of Luke's cultural environment, and an ear carefully tuned to the rhetorical design and impact of this Gospel, Parsons provides a reliable guide for readers of Luke. On a variety of selected themes the commentary offers brief and provocative theological reflections that engage the religious imagination and allow the narrative's ethical vision to gain a fresh hearing by contemporary readers. I am pleased to give this book my enthusiastic endorsement.
—John T. Carroll, Harriet Robertson Fitts Memorial Professor of New Testament, Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond, Virginia; co-chair of the SBL Section on the Gospel of Luke
Since his groundbreaking Departure of Jesus in Luke-Acts in 1987, Mikeal Parsons has been a leading voice in Lukan studies, and this outstanding Paideia commentary marks his latest important contribution to the field. Rich with illustrations and informative sidebars, this text not only explores the first-century literary, rhetorical, historical, cultural, and theological contexts of the Lukan narrative but also carefully interprets the final form of Luke section by section and distills critical theological issues raised by the Lukan text. No one is better suited than Parsons for the task of creating such a multifaceted commentary on the Gospel of Luke, and he delivers an innovative and helpful work--brilliant yet succinct and accessible.
—David B. Gowler, Pierce Chair of Religion, Oxford College of Emory University
Mikeal Parsons deftly navigates through Luke's Gospel, attending to its rhetoric, theology, historical context, and interpretive history. His rich engagement with the text itself makes this companion volume to his Acts Paideia commentary a welcome read.
—Brittany E. Wilson, Duke University Divinity School
- Title: Luke
- Author: Mikeal C. Parsons
- Series: Paideia Commentaries on the New Testament
- Publisher: Baker Academic
- Print Publication Date: 2015
- Logos Release Date: 2015
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Bible. N.T. Luke › Commentaries
- ISBNs: 9781441221568, 9780801031908, 1441221565, 0801031907
- Resource ID: LLS:PAIDEIA63LU
- Resource Type: Bible Commentary
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-10-05T17:07:54Z
Paideia: Commentaries on the New Testament approaches each text in its final, canonical form, proceeding by sense units (pericopes) rather than word-by-word or verse-by-verse. Thus, each commentary follows the original train of thought as indicated by the author instead of modern artificial distinctions. Using this approach, one is able to grasp not only the exegetical-historical information of a passage, but also follow a coherent theological expression throughout. Additionally, this series is enormously helpful and practical through its usage of small visual presentations of historical, exegetical, and theological information. Highly user friendly, this is a great resource for college students, pastors, or those who want to take their Bible study to another level.
The Paideia series explores how New Testament texts inform Christian readers by:
- Attending to the ancient narrative and rhetorical strategies the text employs
- Showing how the text shapes theological convictions and moral habits
- Commenting on the final, canonical form of each New Testament book
- Focusing on the cultural, literary, and theological settings of the text
- Making judicious use of maps, photos, and sidebars in a reader-friendly format