Choosing the Better Part?

by Reid, Barbara E.

• ISBN13: 9780814654941
• ISBN10: 0814654940
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1996-12-01
• Publisher: Michael Glazier

Summary

This work is a commentary on the passages in the Gospel of Luke in which women figure as characters and in the sayings of Jesus. These include the women of vision and spirit in the Infancy Narratives, the Galilean women who encounter Jesus, and the women empowered to serve. The method makes use of historical-critical, narrative, and feminist-liberationist approaches. This commentary is intended as a resource for students of the New Testament, pastors, seminarians, preachers, retreat directors, and Bible study groups.

Table of Contents

Abbreviations	ix
Preface	xiii
Choosing the Better Part: Methodological Choices	1	(14)
Choosing the Better Part	1	(1)
Luke and Women	2	(2)
Historical Criticism	4	(1)
Social Study	4	(1)
Literary Criticism	5	(1)
Narrative Criticism	5	(2)
Feminist Biblical Interpretation	7	(1)
A Liberationist Approach	8	(1)
A Hermeneutics of Suspicion	9	(1)
A Hermeneutics of Proclamation	9	(1)
A Hermeneutics of Remembrance	10	(1)
A Hermeneutics of Ritualization and Celebration	10	(1)
Limits	11	(1)
Old Texts on New Questions	12	(3)
Luke, His Audience and Purpose	15	(6)
The Author	15	(2)
The Lukan Audience	17	(1)
Sources	17	(2)
Genre	19	(1)
Purpose	19	(2)
Women's Participation in Discipleship and Mission in Luke and Acts	21	(34)
Discipleship	21	(1)
Hearing, Seeing, and Obeying the Word	22	(1)
The Response of a Disciple	23	(2)
Initial Positive Responses	25	(4)
Receiving (dechomai) the Word	25	(1)
Believing (pisteuo)	25	(2)
Repenting and Converting (metanoeo, epistrepho)	27	(1)
Being Baptized (baptizo)	28	(1)
Ongoing Demands of Discipleship	29	(26)
Following (akoloutheo)	29	(1)
Proclaiming (kerysso, anangello, apangello, diangello, katangello)	30	(4)
Witnessing (martyromai)	34	(1)
Praying (proseuchomai)	35	(3)
Sharing Life in Community	38	(3)
Commissioned / Sent Forth (apostello, apoluo, ekpempo)	41	(2)
Teaching (didasko)	43	(1)
Healing (therapeuein, iasthai)	44	(1)
Exorcising	45	(1)
Forgiving (aphesis hamartion)	45	(1)
Serving (diakonein)	46	(1)
Enduring Conflicts and Persecution	47	(2)
Filled With the Holy Spirit	49	(3)
Conclusion	52	(3)
Elizabeth and Mary: Women of Spirit Birthing Hope	55	(31)
Luke 1:5-7	56	(4)
Luke 1:23-24	60	(4)
Luke 1:26-38	64	(6)
Luke 1:39-45	70	(5)
Luke 1:46-56	75	(2)
Luke 1:57-66	77	(3)
Contemporary Questions	80	(6)
Anna: Prophetic Widow	86	(10)
Luke 2:22-24	86	(1)
Luke 2:25-36	87	(3)
Luke 2:36-38	90	(6)
Simon's Mother-in-Law: Healed for Service	96	(7)
Luke 4:38-39	96	(7)
The Widow of Nain: Voiceless Protester Against Death	103	(4)
Luke 7:11-17	103	(4)
The Woman Who Showed Great Love	107	(17)
Luke 7:36-50	107	(17)
Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna: Ministering Galilean Women	124	(11)
Luke 8:1-3	124	(11)
Jairus' Daughter and a Woman with a Hemorrhage: Resuscitation and Bold Faith	135	(9)
Luke 8:40-56	135	(9)
Pitting Mary Against Martha	144	(19)
Luke 10:38-42	144	(19)
Bent No More and Glorifying God!	163	(6)
Luke 13:10-17	163	(6)
A Woman Mixing Dough	169	(10)
Luke 13:20-21	169	(10)
A Woman Searching for a Lost Coin	179	(11)
Luke 15:8-10	179	(11)
A Persistent Widow	190	(5)
Luke 18:1-8	190	(5)
A Widow Who Gives All	195	(3)
Luke 21:1-4	195	(3)
The Galilean Women: Disbelieved Witnesses	198	(7)
Luke 23:44-56	198	(1)
Luke 24:1-12	199	(6)
Conclusions: New Meaning from Ancient Texts	205	(4)
Bibliography	209	(19)
Index of Scripture Quotations	228	(15)
Index of Authors	243