Scriptural Interpretation and Community Self-Definition in Luke-Acts and the Writings of Justin Martyr

349 Pages·2011·1.62 MB·English

by  Susan J. Wendel

Scriptural Interpretation and Community
Self-Definition in Luke-Acts and the
Writings of Justin Martyr
Supplements
to
Novum Testamentum
Editors
M.M. Mitchell
Chicago
D.P. Moessner
Dubuque
Editorial Board
L. Alexander, Sheffield – F. Bovon, Cambridge MA
C. Breytenbach, Berlin
J.K. Elliott, Leeds – C.R. Holladay, Atlanta
M.J.J. Menken, Tilburg – J. Smit Sibinga, Amsterdam
J.C. Thom, Stellenbosch – P. Trebilco, Dunedin
VOLUME 139
Scriptural Interpretation and
Community Self-Definition in
Luke-Acts and the Writings of
Justin Martyr
By
Susan J. Wendel
LEIDEN • BOSTON
2011
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Wendel, Susan J.
Scriptural interpretation and community self-definition in Luke-Acts and the
writings of Justin Martyr / By Susan J. Wendel.
p. cm. — (Supplements to Novum Testamentum ; v. 139)
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
ISBN 978-90-04-18920-1 (hardback : alk. paper)
1. Bible. N.T. Luke—Theology. 2. Bible. N.T. Acts—Theology. 3. Judaism
(Christian theology)—Biblical teaching. 4. Justin, Martyr, Saint—Views on Judaism.
5. Judaism (Christian theology)—History of doctrines—Early church, ca. 30–600.
6. Bible. N.T. Luke—Relation to the Old Testament. 7. Bible. N.T. Acts—Relation to
the Old Testament. 8. Bible. O.T.—Relation to Luke. 9. Bible. O.T.—Relation to Acts.
10. Justin, Martyr, Saint—Views on the Old Testament. 11. Bible. O.T.—Criticism,
interpretation, etc.—History—Early church, ca. 30–600. I. Title. II. Series.
BS2589.6.J44W46 2011
230’.0415—dc22
2010051691
ISSN 0167–9732
ISBN 9789004189201
Copyright 2011 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Koninklijke Brill NV incorporates the imprints BRILL, Hotei Publishing,
IDC Publishers, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers and VSP.
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Fees are subject to change.
For Bruce, Richard, Joshua, Elizabeth, and Jason

CONTENTS
Acknowledgements ............................................................................ ix
Introduction ........................................................................................ 1
1. History of Scholarship ............................................................. 4
The Literary Relationship between Luke and Justin .......... 4
Date of Writing ........................................................................ 7
Previous Comparisons of Luke and Justin .......................... 12
The Use of Scripture in the Writings of Luke and Justin 15
2. Aims, Rationale and Plan of Study ....................................... 18
Why Compare Luke and Justin? ........................................... 19
“Judaism” and “Christianity” ................................................. 20
Luke and the Second Century? ............................................. 22
Plan of Study ............................................................................ 23
PART ONE
AUTHORITATIVE SCRIPTURAL INTERPRETATION
AND GROUP IDENTITY
Chapter One Early Jewish Exegetes and Community Identity 27
1.1 Introduction .......................................................................... 27
1.2 Recent Studies of Early Jewish Scriptural
Interpretation ....................................................................... 28
1.3 Exegesis as a Mode of Revelatory Experience ................ 33
1.4 Scriptural Interpretation and Community
Self-Definition ...................................................................... 44
1.5 Conclusion ............................................................................ 78
Chapter Two Exegesis and Community Identity in the
Writings of Luke and Justin ........................................................ 81
2.1 Introduction .......................................................................... 81
2.2 A Common Emphasis: Scriptural Interpretation and
the Christian Message ......................................................... 83
2.3 Authoritative Instruction and Revelatory Illumination 89
viii contents
2.4 Important Differences between the Exegesis of Luke
and Justin .............................................................................. 103
2.5 Conclusion ............................................................................ 124
Chapter Three Competing for Identity within a
Greco-Roman Milieu .................................................................... 125
3.1 Introduction .......................................................................... 125
3.2 The Jewish Scriptures in the Writings of the Early
Apologists .............................................................................. 129
3.3 Justin: Recovery of Primordial Truth ............................... 137
3.4 Luke: Competition with Jews ............................................ 142
3.5 Conclusion ............................................................................ 150
PART TWO
THE RECIPIENTS OF SCRIPTURAL PROMISES
Chapter Four Revelation at the End of the Age ....................... 157
4.1 Introduction .......................................................................... 157
4.2 End-Time Revelation and Darkening in Luke-Acts ...... 159
4.3 End-Time Revelation and Darkening in the Writings
of Justin ................................................................................. 170
4.4 Differing Configurations of Insiders and Outsiders ...... 181
4.5 Differing Applications of the Deuteronomistic
Principle ................................................................................ 188
4.6 Conclusion ............................................................................ 205
Chapter Five Whose Promises Are They? .................................. 207
5.1 Introduction .......................................................................... 207
5.2 History of Scholarship ........................................................ 208
5.3 Abrahamic Promises ........................................................... 214
5.4 Isaianic Promises ................................................................. 235
5.5 The Promise of the Spirit ................................................... 255
5.6 Conclusion ............................................................................ 276
Conclusion .......................................................................................... 279
Bibliography ........................................................................................ 283
Index of Ancient Texts ..................................................................... 311
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am pleased to acknowledge those who have helped me throughout
the various stages of this project. I am especially indebted to the mem-
bers of my dissertation committee at McMaster University who offered
essential guidance during the completion of an earlier version of this
study. My supervisor, Stephen Westerholm, provided wise and timely
advice throughout my research. I am deeply grateful for his thorough
feedback; he inspired me to think carefully and honestly about my work.
The counsel of the other members of my committee, Eileen Schuller
and Peter Widdicombe, was also invaluable for the completion of this
study. At critical points along the way, they read drafts of the manu-
script and offered penetrating comments that helped me to clarify my
ideas. I also wish to express thanks to the editors of the Supplements
to Novum Testamentum series, David Moessner and Margaret Mitchell,
for their helpful suggestions for revision and for their acceptance of
my monograph.
The colleagues and friends who contributed to the project while it
was in the process of being transformed into a monograph also deserve
recognition. David Miller and Wes Olmstead kindly read complete
drafts of the manuscript and offered helpful suggestions. Autumn
Essington proof-read all of the Hebrew and Greek texts with care and
precision, and Rhoda Cairns generously read portions of the English
text to assist me with stylistic improvements.
Most of all, I want to thank my family. My husband, Bruce, provided
me with constant support, proof-read the entire manuscript, and spent
several hours discussing different aspects of my research with me. Our
children, Richard, Joshua, Elizabeth, and Jason, were also a continual
source of encouragement and made the entire project more enjoyable.
Finally, I am grateful to my parents—Elmer and Edna Lesher—who
faithfully provided me with early opportunities to interpret the scrip-
tures, even before I could read the texts myself.