The Gospel of Luke: Jesus’ Identity and the Nature of Discipleship

– Requirements. Students who wish to take the course are required to possess a good knowledge of Biblical Greek, as well as the ability to offer an idiomatic translation of the Greek text into a modern language. At least a general knowledge of narrative method is required. Students who are unfamiliar with the method should consult one of the manuals on the narrative criticism.

– Goal and methodology. The course aims to familiarize the students with Jesus’ teaching in its narrative context. The methodology used in this course is the narrative criticism.

Luke 9:1-50 is clearly distinguished from the previous context on the basis of its portrayal of discipleship and concern for Jesus’ identity. The question of Jesus’ identity reaches the circles of Herod (Luke 9,7-9) while Peter professes his faith in Jesus, the Messiah of God (Luke 9,18-21).
Luke 9 begins to develop the disciples of Jesus less as companions and more as characters in their own right within the larger narrative of Luke-Acts. Thus, the themes of Christology and discipleship  are closely intertwined, for they are mutually interpretative. One cannot become disciple of Jesus with full rights unless one perceives faithfully the nature of Jesus’ person and work and vice versa. One cannot understand Jesus’ work and person unless he becomes his genuine disciple. This section ends the itinerant ministry of Jesus in Galilee in order to begin the account of his journey to Jerusalem. Consequently, the unit is considered as a transitional which concludes the ministry in Galilee and sets the stage for the next major part of his public ministry.

Oral exam. The student may instead opt to write a paper of approximately twenty-five pages; bibliography excluded. Those who wish to write a paper must communicated their preference in advance. A specific and more detailed bibliography that pertains to their pericope of choice will be provided.

Students are encouraged to choose one of the best commentaries in their own language. These may be accompanied by:

• G.C. Bottini, Introduzione all’opera di Luca. Analecta. 35. Jerusalem 1992
• F. Bovon, Luke the Theologian: Fifty-Five Years of Research (1950-2005). Waco TX, 2006
• F. Bovon, Das Evangelium nach Lukas. EKKNT III. Neukirchen 1989-2009
• J.A. Fitzmyer, The Gospel according to Luke. AB 28-28A. New York NY, 1981-85
• D.L. Bock, Luke 1:1—9:50, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids MI, 1994
• J.B. Green, The Gospel of Luke. Grand Rapids MI, 1997
• J. Nolland, Luke. WBC 35. Dallas TX, 1993
• M.C. Parsons, Luke. Paideia Commentaries on the New Testament. Grand Rapids MI, 2015
• J.R. Edwards, The Gospel according to Luke, The Pillar New Testament Commentary, Nottingham 2015
• F. Mickiewicz, Ewangelia według świętego Łukasza. Rozdziały 1—11, Nowy Komentarz Biblijny, Nowy Testament, Częstochowa, 2011
• J. Resseguie, Narrative Criticism of the New Testament. An Introduction, Grand Rapids MI 2005.

The rest of the bibliography, articles and monographs will be presented at the beginning of the course.