Luke: A Commentary

by John T. Carroll

This new, authoritative commentary on the Gospel of Luke epitomizes the New Testament Library series. Combining scholarly rigor and theological insight, Carroll not only focuses on the Gospel text but also makes frequent reference to Luke's second volume, the Acts of the Apostles, to show how the two writings work together to present a full picture of the life of Christ and the work of the apostles. In addition, Carroll includes several illuminating notions about special topics in Luke's a comparison of the birth announcements to Mary and Zechariah, an examination of the role of women, a discussion of wealth and poverty, and insights on the reign of God and the Roman Empire.

Genres: Christianity

595 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 29, 2012

Reviews

[Joe Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Luke,” Richard Hays remarks in one of his books, “is above all a storyteller” (2016, 275). This characterization, brief as it is, highlights what might be the most important dimension of the lens that Union Presbyterian Seminary professor John T. Carroll brings to the table in his book, Luke: A Commentary, which was published in 2012.

A number of New Testament scholars—maybe most prominent among them James Dunn—have highlighted the importance of remembering that the materials we read in the Gospels were in all likelihood first passed on as oral traditions by the earliest communities of Jesus followers. This insight is important at the very least because it prevents contemporary readers from making anachronistic assumptions about how the canonical Gospel texts were formed, but it doesn’t take away from the fruits that can be gathered by also exploring their literary shape and texture. Recognizing the predominantly oral origins of the Gospels and studying the narrative dynamics of their final forms aren’t mutually exclusive tasks. After all, the Gospel writers, in their own distinctive ways, were creative theologians in their own right, not merely haphazard compilers of community traditions.

This gives us one helpful way of framing how Carroll’s commentary fits into the ongoing stream of scholarship on Luke: while some commentaries devote most of their pages to reconstructing the historical world behind the text, and others delve most deeply into the twists and turns of interpretation history that have developed in front of the text, Carroll focuses his critical efforts on narrative analysis on the nuances of meaning in the text itself (9).

Social Critique and the Empire in Luke

In Carroll’s reading, matters of money, possessions, and social inclusion emerge as prominent concerns in Luke. Over and over throughout the commentary’s pages, Carroll points out the many occasions where encounters with Jesus and his teachings lead to unexpected reversals of social and economic structures (10). A bit further on, Carroll expands on this point and makes clear that, in his eyes, this vision of God’s commitment to justice, faithfulness, and mercy isn’t a novel addition to Israel’s testimony:

Honor, wealth, and power all undergo radical redefinition… in this Gospel. Yet Jesus, in carrying out his ministry—with its vision of a radical social transformation that elevates the poor and powerless and demotes the wealthy and powerful—will not be an innovator, a point that Mary’s Song already makes clear. The social revolution of God’s realm continues an ancient story. It is about a God who remembers mercy and keeps covenant with God’s people. (52)

Carroll is far from alone when he says this. Other writers have also made note of the emphasis on social critique, reversal, and concern for the vulnerable in Luke’s Gospel, including the Protestant theologian Joel Green in The Theology of the Gospel of Luke (1995) and the Catholic scholar Joseph Fitzmeyer in his series of lectures, Luke the Theologian (1989). But Carroll writes on this aspect with both clarity and nuance, making him a useful companion for those using this commentary to become familiar with Luke’s Gospel for the first time.

On a not entirely unrelated note, Carroll also delves into Luke’s portrayal of the relationship between the early communities of Jesus followers and the Roman Empire. As Carroll shows, there is actually no small amount of disagreement about how to best characterize Luke’s portrayal of the empire in both the Gospel and Acts (398-399). It is, for example, true that imperial figures aren’t portrayed in a uniformly negative light by him in the narrative. The centurion in Luke 7 is actually praised for his faith and benefaction (402). Nevertheless, it is fairly clear that for Luke, Caesar’s claim to lordship is relativized and undercut by Jesus’s ultimate identity as Lord. As Carroll puts it, “Loyal service of God trumps all other claims, even Caesar’s” (403). For Carroll, the early Jesus movement’s relation to the Roman Empire shouldn’t be reduced to either resigned submission or open rebellion (400). Rather, it engaged in something more akin to indirect criticism while seeking to embody a peaceful, alternative possibility for life that avoided overt rebellion:

Luke’s audience is introduced to, and invited to participate in, a counterreign defined by alternative practices and a fundamentally different notion of power and status… the alternative political community and discourse and alternative social practices that come into being around Jesus, symbolically enacted in inclusive, status-blending, boundary-crossing meals, are deeply countercultural. (402-403)

In some ways, I think it may be that Luke’s overarching approach reflects a strategy for persuading the surrounding Roman world that early Christians didn’t need to be persecuted or vilified as a dangerous threat. It may also be part of Luke’s relative openness to Gentile inclusion in the young Christian movement. To once again complicate things, though, we do well to keep in mind that all of Luke-Acts takes place under the shadow of the Empire, with first Jesus in the Gospel and then Paul in Acts coming into grave conflict with the authorities (399-400). Clearly this is a complex interpretive question.

While Carroll provides no easy answers, he does orient readers to the various ways contemporary scholars have approached these questions, and I think he does help his audience begin to notice the ways in which Luke seemingly critiques the exploitative socioeconomic aspects of the Empire in his narrative without stepping into open confrontation with it. These are just a few of the interpretive topics Carroll explores, but hopefully they demonstrate his way of using a literary approach and keeping an eye out for social dimensions of Luke’s Gospel to bring out layers in the text that may otherwise be missed.

Conclusion

Luke’s Gospel can arguably be seen as the most linguistically crafted of the canonical gospel accounts. And his attentiveness to the stories Jesus told while on the way to Jerusalem is also distinctive. It is Luke, Eugene Peterson suggests, who “immerses us in the way Jesus uses language as he deals with the ordinary and the occasional” (2008, 17). For a Gospel of this sort, there is much to be gained by paying attention to its literary contours, and with a satisfying amount of scholarly rigor, Carroll takes on this task, and his commentary comes out the better for it. By shedding light on Luke’s use of language and story, Carroll deepens the experience of those who use his commentary as a reading companion, and for this I am certainly grateful.

Other Works Cited

Fitzmyer, Joseph A. Luke the Theologian: Aspects of his Teaching. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1989.

Green, Joel B. The Theology of the Gospel of Luke. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995.

Hays, Richard B. Echoes of Scripture in the Gospels. Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2016.

Peterson, Eugene. Tell it Slant: A Conversation on the Language of Jesus in his Stories and Prayers. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2008.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luke, is an New Testament commentary, written by John T. Carroll published by Westminster John Knox Press. This commentary is one of the most well written volumes in the New Testament Library Commentary, a series which is synonymous with thought provoking critical scholarship, this volume continues this legacy. While Carroll is no stranger to Biblical commentaries this is his first foray into this renowned commentary series.

Luke, begins with the typical study into the introductory matters of this book of the Bible, yet while introductions are common; this introduction is atypical of most commentaries. It is not that this work does dive into history and recent scholarship which Carroll, does a phenomenal job of rather; it is the thoroughness that he takes with these introductory matters which makes this commentary atypical. In a day where these matters are either glossed over to get to the exegesis of the text or are so cumbersome that they become useless, Carroll though has found a good balance in being thorough, communicating depth and attention to recent scholarship, without losing the forest in the trees. In reference to the commentary section on the text of this Gospel, Carroll takes great care in carefully showing the original context of passage while applying it directly to the modern day reader.

With regard of recommending Luke, to others I would recommend this commentary to scholarly students of scripture. By this I mean I recommend this work to Pastors, Scholars, Bible Teachers, Bible College Students, and Seminary Students, there is enough academic weight to this text to understand a particularly issue in the text while giving aid to pastors in preaching the text. For a Pastor who is more on the conservative side I would recommend this commentary in tandem with a commentary which examines the Gospel of Luke from said point of view.

This book was provided to me free of charge from Westminster John Knox Publishing in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.

Luke: A Commentary: The New Testament Library
© 2012 by John T. Carroll
Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press
Page Count: 560 Pages
ISBN: 978-0664221065

[Jimmy Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This commentary is a fairly recent entry in the well-known New Testament Library (NTL) series. Before I received this book, I had heard reports that it was one of the most practical volumes in the series for pastors. Now that I’ve had a chance to get into it, I must agree. It’s a quality midsize commentary for the Gospel of Luke.
After an extensive bibliography, Mr. Carroll gets into his Introduction on Luke’s Gospel. Though rather brief, I felt it covered all the bases well. In fact, it might be the length that many pastors would prefer. He begins by explaining Luke’s impressive qualities, including he says, “Christian historian, gifted storyteller, literary artist, and theologian”. He sees Luke is drawing the picture of Jesus within the Roman world. As you will find in most such commentaries, he outlines what has been believed about Luke being the author of this gospel. He dates Luke’s gospel later than I would. He discusses genre and purpose followed by the suggested approach to reading Luke’s Gospel. He feels that Luke applies his story to Israel’s story. He sees Luke’s gospel as the theocentric and says, “what drives the story as God’s faithful commitment and relentless activity to accomplish the divine purpose for Israel, and through Israel for all people”. Finally, after discussing textual issues of the Gospel of Luke, he gets into the design of the narrative, which covers issues of structure. All in all, it’s an introduction well done.
The commentary itself was well done. He brought in appropriate background material, defined the meaning of words, and did lose track of the narrative flow of the gospel of Luke. Every passage I checked had meaningful, helpful commentary that you could appreciate. In fact, I compared some passages to what I had read in some of my favorite larger exegetical commentaries, and Mr. Carroll had something worthwhile to share in every passage. This is a good resource to add to your shelves.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written from a slightly critical perspective, but one that keeps close to the text and allows it to speak for itself, Carroll provides a good workhorse commentary. In other words, he basically expounds upon the plain sense of the text with little deeper theological analysis or connection with the overall import of the gospel. Given the fact that many commentaries on Luke are 2 to 3 volumes in length, this limitation is perfectly understandable. With this evaluation in mind, I would recommend this book to a busy pastor or interested reader who hasn't done much work in the gospels and Luke specifically. But for the scholar or advanced reader of Luke, I would consult larger works such as Fitzmyer or Bock first before turning to this commentary.

(A fuller interaction with this book will be published on Amazon.com under the review section in the coming months.)

[John Kight · Rating 5 out of 5]

John T. Carroll is the Harriet Robertson Fitts Memorial Professor of New Testament and Director of the Program for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Union Presbyterian Seminary. Carrol received an M.Div. and Ph.D. in New Testament Studies from Princeton Theological Seminary, and has since spent the bulk of his academic career primarily within the arena of Lukan studies. Carroll authored and/or edited a number of books, including, Response to the End of History: Eschatology and Situation in Luke-Acts (1998), The Death of Jesus in Early Christianity (1995), The Return of Jesus in Early Christianity (2000), and The Word in This World: Essays in New Testament Exegesis and Theology (2004). Carroll has also published a long list of articles on Luke-Acts and various topics within New Testament Studies. Most recently, Carroll has contributed this present commentary, a good-sized volume on the Gospel of Luke, released as part of the critically acclaimed New Testament Library series: Luke: A Commentary

Carroll is a fairly well-known scholarly voice within the world of New Testament and Lukan studies, and this commentary visibly parades his expertise. The commentary begins with a bibliography of up-to-date commentaries, monographs, books, and essays related to the Gospel of Luke. If you enjoy these sections, peruse them often, and are well acquainted with Luke-Acts material this section will be reviewable and up-to-date, but far from comprehensive. If none of the above describes your interest, then you can rest assured that Carroll has at least provided a solid and current bibliography of the Third Gospel to catapult your studies. Subsequently, Carroll provides the reader with a useful introduction. Carroll briefly surveys the traditional introductory categories (i.e. authorship, date, purpose, etc.), and addresses how to approach the reading of the Third Gospel and previews the central theological and ethical concerns and commitments therein. The reader will find the introductory section to be a goldmine of helpful information for interacting with Carroll in the commentary ahead. It is an essential and recommended first stop.

The commentary itself is wrought with exegetical and theological insight. Carroll is excellent when it understanding the literary themes and intertextuality within the Gospel of Luke. Each section in the commentary is based on the authors original translation of the Greek text and littered with textual notes. Carroll follows closely with the textual basis of the NA28 and notes clearly when he favors alternative readings. Interestingly, in a number of sections in the commentary Carroll favors the shorter readings attested by the Western text, especially Codex Bezae Cantabrigiensis (D). This is seen in his commentary and translation of several verses within Luke 22 and 24. For example, Carroll does not find Luke 22:43-44 original, but provides a lengthy textual note detailing his decision (p. 444). Because of the flexible text choice within the commentary, many readers will be reluctant to engage Carroll’s work. But this would be an unwarranted endeavor. If anything this should provide added value to your library.

Still the textual decisions may not be the only hindrance for the conservative reader. Carroll affirms “Luke” as the author, but neglects to affirm traditional Lukan authorship. In other words, Carroll names “Luke” as the author but is unwilling to tell affirm that the “Luke” writing the gospel is the individual traditionally understood to be the author (p. 2). Moreover, Carroll is comfortable dating the Third Gospel well into the early second century (75-125 CE). This assertion is largely based on his assumption that Luke consulted the Gospel of Mark (a fair assumption), and that Mark is dated around 70 CE. Therefore, Luke would have had to consult Mark sometime after 70 CE. The problem most will recognize is that there is no real difficulty dating Mark in the mid-50’s. In other words, Luke could have still consulted Mark and completed his gospel account by the early 60’s. Many conservative scholars have argued this point well and in much more depth. But, similar to the textual issue in the prior paragraph, to overlook interaction with Carroll because of these disagreements would be naïve and unwarranted.

Luke: A Commentary is an up-to-date examination of one of the most significant accounts of the person and work of Jesus Christ in all of Scripture. John T. Carroll has provided a well-researched presentation of the current conversation among New Testament scholars, and added additional ground with his sensitivity to literary themes and intertextuality. Carroll’s translation and textual notes are indispensable, and his selective favoritism of Codex Bezae is interesting and helpful for the trained reader. If you are looking for a strong commentary on the Gospel of Luke from a critical perspective, then John T. Carroll has provided you with a commentary that cannot be overlooked. It will be off my bookshelf often.

I received a review copy of these books in exchange for and honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid commentary on the Gospel of Luke, focused especially on its literary themes, presentation, and "intertextuality" within itself and other Biblical literature.

In the introduction the author establishes his belief that the book was written sometime in the final years of the second century and that the commentary will take the text at face value, implicitly suggesting that the "Jesus of faith" as presented by Luke may not accurately represent the Jesus that actually existed. Nevertheless, most of the commentary takes the text seriously and seeks to understand it as intended by its original author in terms of its original audience. On a textual level, the only matter of great concern is the author's penchant for accepting the readings of Codex Bezae (D) even when against the witness of all other texts, particularly evident toward the end of the Gospel, reflecting the influence of Erman and his views on the "orthodox corruption" of Scripture. To the author's credit, even when he does accept D over the other readings, he will discuss the interpretation of the passage both according to his view of omitted sections but also, alternatively, as if the sections really were written by the original author.

The great strength of the commentary is the author's careful attention to language, the rhetorical device used by the author of the Gospel, the parallelisms and evocations of the various events in the Gospel throughout, and the deep connections between how the story of Jesus is told in Luke and the message of God's redemption and rule throughout the Scriptures. Reference is made to the other Synoptic Gospels but mostly in contrast to how Luke presents the story: this is truly a commentary on the Gospel of Luke, and not an exercise in harmonizing the Synoptics.

To this end the commentary is profitable and useful for those seeking to gain better understanding of the Gospel of Luke. Beyond the concerns noted above there is not much influence of modern scholastic liberalism or insistence on the doctrines of particular denominations; the author is writing to a twenty-first century audience and does indicate certain points of contact, but on the whole is content to explore the text as written by its author to its audience.

**--book received as galley for review

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I readily admit that I had not read any of John T. Carroll's other works, so I tried to come into this commentary with as open of a mind as possible to see how deep Carroll would dive into the text and I was pleasantly surprised. Carroll's commentary on Luke is not as in-depth as someone like R.C.H. Lenski's commentary on the same book of the bible, but Carroll provides a sufficient amount of "meat" for any student of the Word who is wanting to dig deeper into the book of Luke. I really appreciated the fact that he tried to stay true to the verses he was exegeting and didn't do what a lot of commentators tend to do and that is take one word out of the verse and create a whole chapter (or two) about that one word trying to give ever instance in the Bible that the Word occurred, all of it's varying meanings, etc.

[Terry Eum · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best Lukan schoalrs, John T. Carroll's long-waited commentary