Transcript Luke The Messenger

Be my Witneses
Acts 1:6ff
6 Then
they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at
this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the
Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power
when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses
(martyr in Greek) in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and
to the ends of the earth.”
• “witness” today mean “tell others about Jesus”. But in Luke,
“witness” means “testify as eye witness”.
Acts 1:21ff
•
21 Therefore
it is necessary to choose one of the men who
have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was
living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to
the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of
these must become a witness (Greek martyr) with us of his
resurrection.”
• 23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas
(also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed,
“Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these
two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry,
which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast
lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the
eleven apostles.
Luke 24:45
•
45 Then
he opened their minds so they could understand the
Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The
Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,
47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be
preached in his name to all nations, beginning at
Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses (Greek martyr)of these
things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has
promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed
with power from on high.”
From the Beginning – Jesus intention
This concept of disciples whose witness spans from John’s
baptism to the ascension is not limited to Luke. It stems from
Jesus.
John 15:26-27
26 “When
the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from
the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the
Father—he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify,
for you have been with me from the beginning.
Maximal Qualitification Embbedded in
Mark, Luke, John
• Mark focused on Peter
• Mark utlizes an “inclusio” to highlight Peter’s fulfillment of the
maximal requirement.
(Peter …....................................................................Peter)
3:16 “As Jesus passed along the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and
Simon’s brother Andrew casting a net … Jesus said to them,
“follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”
16:7 Women at the empty tomb told to tell “disciples AND Peter
that he is going ahead of you to Galilee, there you will see him.”
Mark’s Gospel as Peter’s Witness
• External Testimony
Papias AD 95-120 – “Mark, in his capacity as Peter’s
interpreter, wrote down accurately as many things as he
[Peter?] recalled from memory.
• Internal evidence
from 1:16 – 14:72 Peter was there till trial scens
6:14-29 (about Herod)
10:35-40 (James and John asked Jesus to sit at his sides)
14:1-2 , 10-11, 55-56 (oppoents plotting to kill Jeus)
Luke’s Inclusio
• Luke affirms Mark’s Inclusio of Peter: Peter was the first
disciple named, as well as lqast disciple named. (4:38, 24:34)
• Luke added Inclusio of women:
8:2-3Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had
come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s
household; Susanna; and many others (femine) These women
were helping to support them out of their own means.
24:9-10 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these
things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary
Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others
(feminie) with them who told this to the apostles.
(Peter
(women
[resurrection]
women)
Peter)
John’s Inclusio
• John 21:20-24 20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom
Jesus loved was following them. ..24 This is the disciple who
testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know
that his testimony is true.
• John 1:40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two
who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus.
41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and
tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).
42 And he brought him to Jesus.
Who is the other one? John subtly suggested to readers he was the
one.
Early Church identified the beloved disciple to be John.
Mark 6
An example of the beauty of multiple attestation
35 By
this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him.
“This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late.
36 Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding
countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”
37 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”
They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s
wages[e]! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to
them to eat?”
38 “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”
When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”
Mark 6
39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in
groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of
hundreds and fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish
and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.
Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He
also divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and
were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of
broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who
had eaten was five thousand.
Example: Apostolic Multiple Attestation
Feeding of the 5000
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Mark 6:31 many people were coming and going
Mark 6:39 in groups on the green grass
John 6:4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.
John 6:5 Jesus asked Philip where to buy bread
John 6:7-8 Philip and Andrew replied
John 1:44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from Bethsaida
Luke 9:10 The feeding took place near Bethseida
• John explains Mark (“many people” – Passover time, “green
grass” – Green is green in spring after winter rain of
Mediterranean climate)
• Luke explains why Jesus as Philip and why Andrew chimed
because the location is their home town
Named and Unnamed Characters in 4
Gospels
General statistics – about 50%/50% for named/unamed in each
Gospel.
General categories:
(1) Public persons were named. E.g. Herod, Pilate, Augustus
Caesar
(2) Recipients of miracles/healings not named
(3) Apostles named.
(4) One-timers not named.
(2) And (4) – so if exceptions are named, why?
Theories:
• Novelistic Interest
• As Eyewitnesses who can vouch for the truth of the story in
which the names were embedded.
Naming of Characters – Novelistic
Interest? Novelistic Inventions?
• The 3 Wisemen
– Western Christianity - Melchior, Casper, Balthazar
– Syrian Christianity - Larvandad, Gushnasaph, and Hormisdas
– Ethiopian Christianity - Hor, Karsudan, and Basanater
– Armenians Christinaity - Kagpha, Badadakharida and
Badadilm
• Psedo-Philo, Biblical Antiquities (AD 100?) Cain’s wife has
name, Samson’s mother, Witch of Endor, etc.
• Apocryphal Infancy Gosepl of Thomas – Jesus’ school teacher
named Zachaeus, playmate named Zenon
Mark
1.23
1.40
2.03
3.01
5.02
7.25
7.32
8.22
9.17
10.17
11.01
anonymous
demoniac
leper
paralyzed man with friends
man with withered hand
demoniac
Syrophoenician woman and
daughter
deaf and dumb man
blind man
man with epileptic son
rich man
two disciples
Luke
4.23
5.12
5.18
6.06
5.27
Matthew
8.02
9.02
12.10
8.28
15.22
0.65
9.38
18.18
19.29
17.15
19.16
21.01
12.42
14.03
14.13
14.14
14.14
14.47
14.47
14.51
14.54
14.66
15.27
15.39
poor widow
woman who anoints Jesus
2 disciples
man with water jar
owner of house
man who draws sword
slave of high priest
young man fled naked
high priest
servant girl
two bandits
centurion
21.02
26.07
22.08 Peter,
John
22.1
22.11
22.5
22.5
22.56
23.32
23.47
26.18
26.51
26.51
no
26.58
26.69
27.38
27.54
Named Persons in 4 Gospels
Excluding public figures, apostles, parents of Jesus, names in
genealogies or OT quotes
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Jairus ande daughter
James, Joses, Judas, Simon, bros of Jesus
Susanna
Mary Magdalene, Joanna wife of Chuza, Susanna
Zacchaeus
Nicodemus
Bartimaeus
Simon of Cyrene. Father of Alexander and Rufus
Malchus
Mary mother of James and Joseph
Mary of Clopas
Cleopas
Mary, Martha, Lazarus
Simon the leper
Observations
• Many of these named individuals were in Jerusalem before
or after the resurrection
• Many of them were witnesses of Christ’s resurrection
• The concentration of witnesses in Jerusalem should be
understood in light of Jesus’ command “you shall ne my
witnesses in Jerusalem …”
• Passing on the tradition (written or oral) is an essential part
of “witnessing”
• I Cor 11:23, 15:3, John 21:24
• Erhman’s “telephone game” is a bad model for the writing
of the Gospels. A better model – A parent teaching a child
something, with constant reminders, and write down
instructions.
Cases of named witnesses
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Cleopa
Simon of Cyrene
Mary, Martha, Lazarus
Sergius Paulus
Publius
James the Just
Simon his brother, and other brothers I cor 9:5
Saul – student of Gamaliel – Paul’s rabinnic
training is all over the pages
Jesus’ as miracle worker
• Scholars have identified the following
references in the Talmud that some
conclude refer to Jesus:[81]
• Jesus as a sorcerer with disciples (b Sanh
43a-b)
• Healing in the name of Jesus (Hul 2:22f;
AZ 2:22/12; y Shab 124:4/13; QohR 1:8; b
AZ 27b)
• As a torah teacher (b AZ 17a; Hul 2:24;
Observations about Named Persons
• 1. Luke and Matthew show no tendency to attach
names due to “novelistic interest”.
• 2. It is only natural for the Gospel writers to name
individuals because they function as validators of
the Gospel acct.
• 3. Many of these names were located at or near
Jerusalem – thus providing a readily accessible
source of the origin of these accounts, and the ongoing validation of the oral/written till thse people
passed away. (Gospels subject to internal Quality
Control!)