Luke

Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture #3

by Arthur A. Just Jr. (Editor)

For the church fathers the Gospels did not serve as resources for individual analysis and academic study. They were read and heard and interpreted within the worshiping community. They served as sources for pastoral counsel and admonition for those who were committed to the Way. Although Matthew and John were generally the preferred Gospels, Luke, because of his particular interests and unique contributions, took pride of place during the Christmas season as well as during Easter and other major feasts. During the early patristic period, the tradition of continuous reading ( lectio continua ) through the Gospels developed, such that over a course of time a complete Gospel was read in sections, and sermons were preached on the readings either at weekly or midweek worship and Communion liturgies or during morning and evening prayer services. Among such sermons that have survived, this commentary includes selections from Origen and Cyril of Alexandria. Aside from sermons, we find that the fathers addressed exegetical issues in theological treatises, pastoral letters and catechetical lectures. Among these, as in other ACCS volumes, readers will find materials ranging from East to West and from the first to the eighth centuries. Among well-known fathers cited are Ambrose, Athanasius, Augustine, the Cappadocians, John Chrysostom, John of Damascus and Bede the Venerable. Among lesser-known fathers are John Cassian, Philoxenus of Mabbug and Theophylact. This volume, edited by Arthur A. Just, opens up a treasure house of ancient wisdom that allows these faithful witnesses, some appearing here in English translation for the first time, to speak with eloquence and intellectual acumen to the church today.

Genres: Reference, Scripture, Biblical Studies, Christian, Theology

472 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2003

About the author

Dr. Arthur A. Just Jr. is professor of exegetical theology and dean of the chapel at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana. He studied at Union College in Schenectady, New York (B.A.), Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, Indiana (M.Div.), Yale Divinity School in New Haven, Connecticut (S.T.M.), and the University of Durham, England (Ph.D.).

Reviews

[Laura G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued to examine how great Christians from a millennia ago were reading and thinking about the Bible, and just happened to start at Luke. It was dense, but it was interesting. The church fathers see the works with far more symbolism, and get layers that a modern mind will not see. An example I enjoyed: that the parable of the Good Samaritan was seen as Jesus being the one who rescued us on the road, when the law and prophets failed us. (But Origen takes it so much farther: the man is Adam, Jerusalem is paradise, Jericho is the world, the inn is the church, etc.) I also appreciated seeing the emphasis on prayer, fasting and alms giving that can often be lacking. It’s a different perspective, and it was a challenging exercise to see the Bible through their eyes.

[Jonathan]

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