I Alone Am Left: Elijah and the Remnant in Luke-Acts

by Jeremy D. Otten

In examining Luke’s multiple appeals to the figure of Elijah, this study not only provides clarity to a fascinating but often misunderstood element of the Lukan narrative, but also provides a helpful model for understanding an even more perplexing question in Lukan studies, namely, the presentation of the nation of Israel. No New Testament author takes more interest in Elijah than Luke, who may allude to the Elijah-Elisha narratives as many as forty times. This study pushes past questions of typology and one-to-one correlation that have stalled scholarly discussion on the topic, examining the theological significance of Elijah in Luke-Acts as a literary motif. It is argued that, in drawing on a common association between Elijah and the Old Testament concept of remnant, Luke appeals to Elijah at key moments in the narrative in order to signal the development of his remnant theology. For Luke, as in the days of the prophets, the concept of remnant holds in tension God’s irrevocable promises to Israel with the widespread rejection of God’s new work of salvation; the faithfulness of a few with a hope for the nation as a whole; and the particular election of Israel with the message of salvation for all nations.

244 pages, Paperback

Published October 15, 2021

Reviews

[Nathan Battey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adapted from a dissertation, this is an advanced read with a somewhat targeted readership. Otten sets out to show that there one-for-one typology does not sufficiently account for the usage of Elijah passages within Luke-Acts. To this end he seeks to show that Luke draws comparisons between Elijah and John the Baptist, Elijah and Jesus, and Elijah and the disciples. To ground his argument he builds a convincing case that Elijah is associated closely with the Remnant in the Old Testament and then tied in the role of the Remnant to the ministries of John, Jesus, and the disciples. In my estimation Otten succeeds in connecting Elijah with the Remnant, John, and Jesus, but fails in chapter 7 to establish Elijah’s connection to the disciples throughout Acts.

On the whole it is a well grounded and researched work, though at times the connections are tenuous at best, or represent an over-reading of the text.