Luke's Literary Creativity

A combination of two classic discussions in New Testament scholarship, the contributions in this volume shed light on the still unsolved synoptic problem by using the well-coined concept of rewriting to describe the relationship between the synoptic gospels. The contributions work with the hypothesis that the synoptic tradition can be conceived of as a process of rewriting: Matthew rewrote Mark and Luke rewrote Mark and Matthew. This approach to the synoptic problem dismantles the grounds for the otherwise widely accepted two-source theory. If it can be shown that Luke knew Matthew's Gospel the Q-hypothesis is superfluous.

One group of articles focuses on the general question of Luke's literary relation to the other gospels. In these essays, the concept of rewriting describes Luke's use of his sources. The second part of the collection examines a number of texts in order to shown how Luke rewrites specific passages. In the final section the contributions concern Luke's relation to Roman authorities. It is shown that Luke's literary creativity is not limited to his predecessors in the gospel tradition. Rewriting is his literary strategy.

• Table of contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• Abbreviations
• Introduction: Mogens Müller and Jesper Tang Nielsen
• Part 1: Luke Rewriting
  • 1. Luke Uses/Rewrites Matthre: A Survey of the 19th Century Research: Vadim Wittkowski, Humboldt University, Germany
  • 2. Re-walking the “Way of the Lord”: Luke's use of Mark and his Reaction to Matthew: Mark Goodacre, Duke University, USA
  • 2. Luke Rewriting and Rewritten: Francis Watson, University of Durham, UK
  • 4. Inclusive and exclusive agreements - towards a neutral comparison of the Synoptic Gospels, or: Minor Agreements as misleading category: Werner Kahl, University of Hamburg, Germany
  • 5. Acts as Biblical Rewriting of the Gospels and Paul's Letters: Mogens Müller, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
• Part 2: Luke Rewriting Old Testament Themes and Passages
  • 6. Rewritten Prophecy in Luke-Acts: Lukas Bormann, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany
  • 7. The Lord Elijah in the Temple as in Malachi 3.1: 'Overkilling' Elijah Tradition in Luke 2: Lotta Valve, Abo Akademi, Finland
  • 8. Luke's Use of the Old Testament in the Sending of the Seventy(-Two): A Compositional Study: Joseph Michael Lear, University of Aberdeen, UK
• Part 3: Luke's Rewriting Gospel Themes and Passages
  • 9. Luke's Rewriting of the Markan Mélange of Christological Titles (Mark 8:27-33 par., 12:35-37 par., 14:55-64 par.): Daniel Gustafsson, Uppsala University, Sweden
  • 10. Re-written Stereotypes: Scripture and Cultural Echo in Luke's Parable of the Widow and the Judge: Marianne Bjelland Kartzow, University of Oslo, Norway
  • 11. Luke's Portrait of Jesus and the Political Authorities in his Passion Narrative. A Rewriting of the Passion Narratives of the Other Gospels: Niels Willert, Aarhus University, Denmark
• Part 4: Luke's rewriting of Roman authorities
  • 12. Paul in the Presence of Power: Depictions of social interactions in Acts and in the Hellenistic historians: Martin Friis, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
  • 13. Luke's readers and Josephus: Paul and Agrippa II as Test Case: Stefan Nordgaard, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
• Bibliography
• Indexes