The Gospel of Luke (The New International Commentary on the New Testament | NICNT)

by Joel B. Green

Publisher:

Eerdmans

, 1997

Overview

This highly original commentary on the Gospel of Luke is unique for the way it combines concerns with first-century culture in the Roman world with understanding the text of Luke as a holistic, historical narrative. Focusing primarily on how each episode functions within Luke’s narrative development, Joel B. Green provides countless fresh perspectives on and new insights into the Third Gospel. His extended examination of Luke’s literary art and Luke’s narrative theology allows the Evangelist to address clearly and convincingly both ancient and contemporary readers.

Insisting on the narrative unity of Luke-Acts, Green highlights in this volume the centrality of God’s purpose to bring salvation to all people. Against the backdrop of the conflicted first-century world of the Mediterranean, Green proposes that the purpose of Luke-Acts would have been to strengthen the early Christians in the face of opposition by assuring them in their interpretation and experience of the redemptive purpose and faithfulness of God and by calling them to continued faithfulness and witness in God’s salvific project.

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Key Features

• Verse-by-verse commentary
• In-depth discussion of textual and critical matters
• Introduction to the authorship, date, purpose, structure, and theology of Luke

Contents

Top Highlights

“having been welcomed into a home, the itinerant apostle is to remain there until the time of departure from the village.” (Page 359)

“Luke’s position is somewhat different. He is not so much concerned with the technology of prayer as he is with the shaping of prayer in relation to an accurate recognition of the one to whom prayer is offered. That is, Luke shaped this narrative unit not with an eye to the ‘how-to’ of pray, but with a central emphasis on the worldview leading to and informing prayer.” (Pages 445–446)

“‘Children of this age,’ he observes, understand how the world works and use it to their benefit; why do ‘children of light’ not understand the ways of the kingdom of God?” (Page 593)

“Against this backdrop, we propose that the purpose of Luke-Acts would have been to strengthen the Christian movement in the face of opposition by (1) ensuring them in their interpretation and experience of the redemptive purpose and faithfulness of God and by (2) calling them to continued faithfulness and witness in God’s salvific project. The purpose of Luke-Acts, then, would be primarily ecclesiological—concerned with the practices that define and the criteria for legitimating the community of God’s people, and centered on the invitation to participate in God’s project.” (Pages 21–22)

“Because the disciples have to do with such a God, they are liberated to ask, to search, and to knock (vv 9–10), knowing that God will not answer their prayers with harmful gifts but with good (vv 11–13).” (Page 446)

Endorsements

In a market flooded with commentaries, Green’s stands out as exceptional. He is a discerning and reliable guide to Luke’s Gospel: with clarity and verve he points readers to the subtleties of the narrative and to the power of its theological vision. His commentary demonstrates the considerable potential of a reading informed by knowledge of Luke’s cultural world and by the best of current scholarly methods. Erudite yet passionate, sophisticated yet lucid—this is rich fare indeed.

—John T. Carroll, Harriet Robertson Fitts Memorial Professor of New Testament, Union Presbyterian Seminary

This commentary makes the Gospel of Luke come alive for contemporary readers. Green accomplishes in an admirable fashion the challenging task of interpreting Luke as persuasive narrative (utilizing and contributing to social-scientific and literary insights into Luke-Acts) and composing a verse-by-verse commentary with careful attention to linguistic, historical-critical, and theological data.

—Edgar V. McKnight, research professor, Furman University

My shelf is filled with solid exegetical commentaries on Luke. This one exceeds them all in one respect—its vivid presentation of the good news this Gospel reveals.

—Mark Allan Powell, Robert and Phyllis Leatherman Professor of New Testament, Trinity Lutheran Seminary

Product Details

• Title: The New International Commentary on the New Testament: The Gospel of Luke
• Author: Joel B. Green
• Series: The New International Commentary on the New Testament (NICNT)
• Publisher: Eerdmans
• Publication Date: 1997
• Pages: 1,020

About Joel B. Green

Joel B. Green has been associate dean for the Center for Advanced Theological Studies since 2008 and professor of New Testament interpretation at Fuller since 2007; prior to that, he served for 10 years at Asbury Theological Seminary as professor of New Testament interpretation, as dean of the School of Theology, and as provost.

Green has written or edited 30 books, including four that have won awards: In Search of the Soul: Four Views of the Mind-Body Problem (with Stuart Palmer), Introducing the New Testament: Its Literature and Theology (with Paul J. Achtemeier and Marianne Meye Thompson), The Gospel of Luke, and Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (with Scot McKnight).