A Narrative Analysis of the Baptist's Nativity in Luke 1

Abstract:The hoary hypothesis of a Baptist source underlying Luke 1–2 is ventured anew, to see if it might benefit from a narrative appraisal of John's Nativity. The dramatis personae, besides the obvious ones, include the alternately bewildered, fearful, and joyous onlookers, who, with the virtuous parents, represent faithful Israel, deprived of the traditional site and personnel of its worship and finding in the wondrous birth the opening to an eschatological restoration. Parents and observers are joined in the plural voicing of the Benedictus, their exultant celebration of deliverance arriving from on high.

[1]  R. Dillon.  The Hymns of Saint Luke: Lyricism and Narrative Strategy in Luke 1-2 , 2013 .

[2]  Matthew E. Gordley.  Teaching Through Song in Antiquity: Didactic Hymnody Among Greeks, Romans, Jews, and Christians , 2011 .

[3]  R. Dillon.  The benedictus in micro- and macrocontext , 2006 .

[4]  S. Gathercole.  The Heavenly ἀνατολή (Luke 1:78–9) , 2005 .

[5]  C. Jung.  The original language of the Lukan infancy narrative , 2004 .

[6]  François Bovon,et al.  Luke 1: A Commentary on the Gospel of Luke 1:1-9:50 , 2002 .

[7]  Peter Böhlemann.  Jesus und der Täufer : Schlüssel zur Theologie und Ethik des Lukas , 1997 .

[8]  Ulrike Mittmann-Richert.  Magnifikat und Benediktus : die ältesten Zeugnisse der judenchristlichen Tradition von der Geburt des Messias , 1996 .

[9]  K. Berger.  Studien und Texte zur Formgeschichte , 1992 .

[10]  Thomas Kaut.  Befreier und befreites Volk : traditions- und redaktionsgeschichtliche Untersuchung zu Magnifikat und Benediktus im Kontext der vorlukanischen Kindheitsgeschichte , 1990 .

[11]  J. Fitzmyer.  Luke the Theologian: Aspects of His Teaching , 1989 .

[12]  J. Ernst.  Johannes der Täufer : Interpretation, Geschichte, Wirkungsgeschichte , 1989 .

[13]  Walter Radl.  Das Lukas-Evangelium , 1988 .

[14]  J. Neusner.  The Mishnah: A New Translation , 1988 .

[15]  S. Farris.  The Hymns of Luke's Infancy Narratives: Their Origin, Meaning and Significance , 1985 .

[16]  I. Marshall.  The Gospel of Luke : a commentary on the Greek text , 1978 .

[17]  Bruce M. Metzger,et al.  A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament. A Companion Volume to the United Bible Societies' Greek New Testament , 1974 .

[18]  Roland b. Schütz.  Johannes der Täufer , 1967 .

[19]  P. Vielhauer.  Aufsätze zum Neuen Testament , 1965 .

[20]  J. H. Greenlee,et al.  Biblical Greek: Illustrated by Examples , 1964 .

[21]  Ernst Käsemann.  Essays on New Testament themes , 1964 .

[22]  G. Strecker.  Das Judenchristentum in den Pseudoklementinen , 1958 .

[23]  H. J. Cadbury.  The Making of Luke-Acts , 2022 .

[24]  M. Dibelius.  Die urchristliche Überlieferung von Johannes dem Täufer , 1911 .