Luke the Theologian

Book excerpt: During the Hilary Term of 1987, the notable New Testament theologian on Luke, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, S.J., was invited to give the Martin D'Arcy Lectures at Campion Hall in the University of Oxford. These eight lectures delivered on Lucan themes have been revised and now appear in this book. 'Luke the Theologian: Aspects of His Teaching' is an excellent study of the major theological themes in Luke and is a further exploration of what Fr. Fitzmyer has presented in his Doubleday Commentary, 'The Gospel According to Luke' (Anchor Bible 28, 28A). The topics include a reconsideration of the authorship of Luke-Acts, problems of the infancy narrative, Mary in Lucan salvation history, John the Baptist as the precursor of the Lord, discipleship in Luke-Acts, Satan and demons in the Lucan writings, the Jewish people and Mosaic law in Lucan thinking, and Jesus' words to the repentant criminal. The Lucan writings form about a quarter of the New Testament and are a veritable mine for early Christian teaching. This superb book brings out some of that wealth.