The Davidic Messiah in Luke-Acts: The Promise and Its Fulfillment in Lukan Christology

418 Pages·1995·20.08 MB·English

by  Mark L. Strauss

l i b r a ry o f n e w t e s ta m e n t s t u d i e s
THE DAVIDIC
MESSIAH IN
LUKE-ACTS
MARK STRAUSS
JOURNAL FOR THE STUDY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
SUPPLEMENT SERIES
no
Executive Editor
Stanley E. Porter
Editorial Board
Richard Bauckham, David Catchpole, R. Alan Culpepper,
Joanna Dewey, James D.G. Dunn, Craig A. Evans, Robert Fowler,
Robert Jewett, Elizabeth Struthers Malbon, Dan O. Via
Sheffield Academic Press
Sheffield

The Davidic Messiah
in Luke-Acts
The Promise and its Fulfillment
in Lukan Christology
Mark L. Strauss
Journal for the Study of the New Testament
Supplement Series 110
Copyright © 1995 Sheffield Academic Press
Published by Sheffield Academic Press Ltd
Mansion House
19 Kingfield Road
Sheffield, SI 19AS
England
Typeset by Sheffield Academic Press
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available
from the British Library
EISBN 9781850755227
CONTENTS
Preface 9
Abbreviations 11
Parti
INTRODUCTION AND SETTING
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION 14
1. 'Proof from Prophecy' and Lukan Purpose 14
2. Recent Research on the Davidic Messiah in Luke-Acts 15
3. Methodology 31
4. Plan of the Study 34
Chapter 2
SETTING: THE DAVIDIC PROMISE TRADITION IN FIRST-CENTURY
JUDAISM AND EARLY CHRISTIANITY 35
1. Origin and Sources of the Davidic Promise Tradition:
The Old Testament Background 35
2. Post-Exilic and Second Temple Judaism 38
3. The Davidic Promises in Early (Pre-Lukan) Christianity 57
Part II
PROMISE AND FULFILLMENT:
THE DAVIDIC MESSIAH IN THE NATIVITY AND IN ACTS
Chapter 3
THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROMISE ANNOUNCED: THE LUKAN
BIRTH NARRATIVE 76
1. Introduction 76
2. The Significance of the Birth Narrative in the Context of
Luke-Acts 76
6 The Davidic Messiah in Luke-Acts
3. The Davidic Messiah in Luke's Narrative Development 87
4. Conclusion 123
Excursus: 'Son of David' or 'New David'? 126
Chapter 4
THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROMISE ACHIEVED: THE SPEECHES
OF ACTS 130
1. Introduction 130
2. Peter's Pentecost Speech, Acts 2.14-41 131
3. Paul's Sermon at Pisidian-Antioch, Acts 13.16-41 148
4. James' Address at the Council of Jerusalem, Acts 15.13-21 180
5. Conclusion 192
Part III
THE DAVIDIC MESSIAH IN THE GOSPEL NARRATIVE
Introduction to Part III 196
Chapter 5
THE INAUGURATION OF MESSIAH'S MINISTRY: THE NAZARETH
SERMON IN CONTEXT 199
1. Introduction 199
2. The Royal-Messianic Context of the Nazareth Sermon 199
3. The Nazareth Sermon, Luke 4.16-30 219
4. The Role of the Christ in the Nazareth Sermon and in the
Gospel Narrative 250
5. Conclusion 258
Chapter 6
TO JERUSALEM AND BEYOND: THE 'EXODUS' OF THE
ROYAL MESSIAH 261
1. Introduction 261
2. The Transfiguration: Preview of Messiah's Jerusalem
'Exodus' 263
3. The Central Section 272
4. The 'New Exodus' in Lukan Perspective 278
5. Jesus' Royal Approach to Jerusalem 305
6. The Passion of the King as Servant 317
7. Conclusion 333
Contents
Chapter 7
CONCLUSION 337
1. Summary and Conclusions 337
2. Implications for Lukan Purpose and Theology and
Suggestions for Further Research 343
Bibliography 357
Index of References 381
Index of Authors 408

PREFACE
The nature of Lukan Christology has been much debated in recent years,
with various scholars claiming the pre-eminence of such categories as
Lord, Prophet (like Moses), Christ, or Isaianic Servant. In the face of such
diverse views, others have rejected any unity in Luke's presentation,
claiming instead that the author borrows freely and inconsistently from a
variety of traditional perspectives.
The present work is an examination of one major theme within
Luke's christology, Jesus as the coming king from the line of David.
Much of the work is dedicated to establishing the importance and
significance of this royal-messianic theme within Luke's christological
purpose. Even the casual reader of Luke-Acts will recognize, however,
that royal messianism is only one among many Lukan motifs. Themes
such as Jesus' status as saviour, prophet, servant, Son of God, and Lord
are also prominent. A major part of the work is therefore dedicated to
reaching a synthesis between this and other christological motifs. On the
basis of the conclusions reached, Luke's christological presentation may
be seen to be both consistent and unified, playing an integral part in his
wider purpose in Luke-Acts.
This study is a revised and somewhat abbreviated version of a thesis
submitted for the degree of PhD at the University of Aberdeen in 1992.
The most significant alteration to the original is a thorough revision of
Chapter 2, which now contains a brief overview rather than a detailed
study of the Davidic promise tradition in first-century Judaism. At other
points footnotes were omitted and discussion abbreviated. These changes
were meant to bring the work to a more managable size without loss to
the thesis argument.
This work could not have been completed without the support and
encouragement of family and friends. I would like to thank the post-
graduate community at Aberdeen, who were a continual source of both
intellectual stimulation and spiritual support. My wife and I also owe a
great debt to our friends at Deeside Christian Fellowship. Throughout