This interpretation of Luke encourages in-depth study of the text and genuine grappling with the theological and sociohistorical questions it raises. It draws on a range of methodological interests (author-, text-, and reader-centered) as complementary rather than mutually exclusive ways of understanding the text. It also recognizes the importance of the reception history of biblical texts, increasingly viewed as a vital aspect of interpretation rather than an optional extra.
Throughout Discovering Luke, Joel Green gives readers strategies for reading the Gospel of Luke and guides them through Luke's world in its historical, ideological, political, and economic contexts. Green reviews key issues raised by the Gospel and connects these issues to questions of how Luke should be interpreted today.
Industry Reviews
"A comprehensive account of Luke's Gospel from an established and respected interpreter, Discovering Luke will be an indispensable resource for those studying Luke, the Gospels, and the New Testament. As he engages with timeless questions and interlocutors from every era, Green has produced a must-read volume for our generation." -- Amy Peeler Wheaton College "Solidly grounded in scholarship, this new introduction lifts the horizon beyond the familiar debates and invites us into a refreshed vision of Luke's multifaceted message(s) for the church, both then and now. You thought you knew Luke's Gospel? Think again! Highly commended for students, teachers, and preachers both within and without the academy." -- Loveday Alexander University of Sheffield "Joel Green has crafted a remarkable invitation into the worlds of the Gospel according to Luke. Green's career-long engagement with the literary character, theology, and ethical vision of Scripture is in evidence throughout this volume. It is a brilliant addition to this series, and it admirably fulfills its goals." -- David A. deSilva Ashland Theological Seminary "Green brings to bear his distinctive combination of theological awareness, literary sensitivity, and historical expertise on the interpretation of Luke's Gospel. He treats the interpretative traditions of the church with love and respect but recognizes that 'the grain of the text' may sometimes run contrary to these and deserves to be traced carefully. The result is a study that is rich and often surprising but always readable." -- Grant Macaskill University of Aberdeen Review of Biblical Literature "Discovering Luke will prove a valuable resource for scholars seeking orientation to Lukan scholarship or fresh insight into familiar passages, as well as for teachers looking for a narrative-theological introduction to Luke's Gospel--or, perhaps, to New Testament interpretation more generally. Without sacrificing readability, this book moves from analyzing past and present modes of interpretation to explaining and modeling Green's own, all the while demonstrating a depth of narrative and theological perceptivity that prompts renewed reflection on Luke's Gospel." The Living Church "Discovering Luke excels in what it chooses to do, clearing its own path and supplementing and complementing more-worn alternatives, sending the reader back once again to the Gospel."
