A Study of the Concept and Experience of Temptation in the Synoptic Gospels
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Durham E-Theses A study of the concept and experience of temptation in the synoptic Gospels Grinbergs, Elna Dagmara How to cite: Grinbergs, Elna Dagmara (1973) A study of the concept and experience of temptation in the synoptic Gospels, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/10210/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 A. STUDY OP THE CONCEPT AND EXPERIENCE OF TEMPTATION IN THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS BY ELNA DAGMARA GRINBERGS Thesds> for the Degree; of Master of Arts submitted to the University of Durham Department of Theology, University of Durham, July, 1973. Durham. TABLE OP CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT' . i ABBREVIATIONS ........ iii INTRODUCTION Chapter One? THE H lr ) PA£ HOE OP JESUS! IN THE GOSPEL OF MARK A. The Temptation of Jesus . T: B. Demons and the Practice of Exorcism . 16 C. Jesus* Exorcisms in the Gospel of Mark (With References to the Synoptic Parallels;) ...... 32 D. Jesus1 Encounter with P±6 frDS Caused by Human Agents; ' . 6f. I. The Beelzebul Controversy . 61 II. Caesarea Philippi. 72- III. Gethsemane ..... 78 E. Crucifixion as Self-Exorcism . 107 P. Appendix: Crucifixion From a. Medical Perspective . 126 Chapter Two PARTICULAR EMPHASES IN THE GOSPEL OF LUKE AND THE CONCEPT OP ]7 E I PALM Q L A. Historical and Theological Reasons for the Composition of Luke' s. Gospel . ... 132 I. Apology ...... 134 1 . Political Apology and the Imperium . 1Jk 2. Apology and Judaism . 139 II. An Outline of the Parousia Postponement . 140 Page B. Traces of the Parousia Postponement in the Synoptics ..... 144 C. Luke's Interpretation of the Parousiai Postponement ...... 161; D. Heilsgeschichte in Luke , 182:. I. Jesus and the Heilsgeschichte . 182'. 1. The Mission of Jesus and the Heilsgeschichte; 182 2. Christological Titles . 186 II. The Framework of the Heilsgeschichte? 193 E. Evidence of Satan's and Demonic Presence within the So-Called Heilsgeschichte in Luke .... 219 F. Evidence of Satan's Presence Outside the So-Called Heilsgeschichte in Luke 234 G. The Idea of Temptation in Luke's Gospel Reflected by Other Word Groupss 268 Chapter Three CONSIDERATIONS OF JESUSJ_ TEACHING AND ATTITUDE IN CONNECTION WITH ft E J P/t I/*|#£3ENSTANCES IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW A. The Sixth and Seventh Petitions in Matthew's Version of the Lord's Prayer . 279 I. Introduction . 279 II. The Sixth and the Seventh Petitions in Matthew's Version of, the Lord's? Prayer ....... 280 B. Jesus' Attitude Towards Marriage and Dxvorce as II 6 IP<±6 jU os; Situaxot n xn Matthew 293 C. Taxes to Caesar 303 D. The Great Commandment . E. Appendix, to the Temptation Problem BIBLIOGRAPHY . i ABSTRACT At the very outset the first chapter considers Jesus' temptation in Mark and the main concepts related to it. This; chapter presents also a short outline of demonology and of the practice of exorcism. Secondly, it focuses attention upon Jesus' exorcisms in the gospel of Mark, cf. also parallels. Thirdly, Jesus' encounter with temptation caused by human agents is considered, cf. the Beelzebul controversy, Caesarea Philippi, and the Gethsemane narrative. Fourth, Jesus' crucifixion in Mark is interpreted from a temptation perspective. The chapter is concluded with an appendix, which interprets Jesus' crucifixion from a modern medical point of view. Chapter two covers four areas of thought: (i) apology, (2) Parousia postponement, (3) Hejlsgeschichte, and (4) the problem of temptation. The investigation of Luke's apology is a presentation of historical reasons, which influenced Luke to compose his gospel. Luke's apology is traced within the framework of the gospel. The division of the Pardusia postponement deals with the investigation of C~~S..> theological reasons, which caused Luke to compose his gospel. The Parousia postponement problem is presented from two points of view. First, a general Synoptic approach to this problem is considered. Secondly, the study emphasizes Luke's particular approach to the Parousia postponement problem. The subdi• vision Heilsgeschichte is a short consideration of Jesus' mission and person, according to Luke, and also a consideration of the framework, within which the gospel is embedded. The; XX problem of temptation in Luke is; approached from two points of view. Namely, first, attention is paid to Satan's and demonic activity within the Heilsgeschichte proper (Lk.4:13-22; 3)» Secondly, the activity of Satan and of demons is traced outside the so-called Heilsgeschichte. Finally, a short appendix is added, which considers the idea of temptation presented by other word groups in Luke's gospel. The third chapter investigates the sixth and the seventh petitions of the Lord's prayer in Matthew's gospel from a historical and theological point of view. It is a consideration / of the eschatological ft £ \ OS of an individual and a. community just before the eschatological End. Secondly, chapter three focuses attention upon Jesus' teaching about marriage and divorce in a situation, which can be designated as temptation. A short outline is presented also of Jewish and Gentile attitudes towards the problem of marriage and divorce. Thirdly, the question about taxes; payable to Caesar is considered from a temptation perspective. Fourth, attention is paid to Jesus' interpretation of the Commandment of Love in a situation, which can be characterized as? IT<£I^U6JHOS . The chapter is concluded with an appendix, which considers; several short references to temptation in Matthew's gospel. : in Angl. Theol. Rev. Anglican Theological Review; BZ Biblische Zeitschrift Deutsche Theol. Deutsche Theologie Expj? Times Expository Times Ev. Theol. Evangelische Theologie HThR Harvard Theological Review JBL Journal of Biblical Literature Journ. of Theol. Stud. Journal of Theological Studies NTS New Testament Studies Nov. Test. Novum Testamenturn Syn. Stud. Synoptische Studien Stud. Ev. Studia Evangelica Schweitzerische Theol. Schweitzerische Theologische Umschau Um&chau"% SJT Scottish Journal of Theology Theol. Zeitschrift Theologische Zeitschrift Theol. Literaturzeitung Theologische Literaturzeitung Theol. Quart. Theologische Quartalschrift T.D.N.T. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament Theol. Blatter Theologische Blatter Theol. Theology ZAlf Zeitschrift fur die Alttesta- mentliche Wissenschaft ZNW- Zeitschrift fur die Neutesta- mentliche ¥issenschaft ZSTh Zeitschrift fur die Systematische Theologie ZThK Zeitschrift fur die Theologie und Kirche INTRODUCTION; This study is an investigation of the "fj £ i ^J.C^0£ concept in the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke. However, at the same time it is not a comparative study of the Synoptics in their treatment of this theme. Bach of the three chapters presents an independent approach to the particular Gospel concerned. References in this study are made to all three Synoptics, however, only so far as it seems necessary for interpretation of some problem. The first chapter deals with Mark's Gospel. The back• ground of this Gospel is the fierce battle, already raging, between God and Satan. The hour is coming and is almost imminent, when God will destroy all Satanic forces. For this reason Jesus appears in Mark as a disguised, but mighty, warrior, whose duty is to fight and destroy Satan and demons. In Mark the great battle starts with the temptation of Jesus and ends with Jesus self-exorcism on the cross. Because of Mark's emphasis upon Satan and demons, this particular study presents also a short outline of the development of demonology and of exorcism practices in the pre-Christian empires of the Middle East. The second chapter of this study deals with the Gospel of Luke, which was written circa A.D.70-90, i.e.j later than Mark, circa A.D.65-70. Consequently, Luke had to face problems, theological and historical, in which Mark was not involved. For this reason, the first half of the second chapter is a consideration of problems peculiar to Luke, and only the second part of the second chapter discusses Luke's Gospel from the TJ £ C £U 6yH6$an£le« After the events of A.D.64, the burning of Rome^ and A.D.70, the destruction of Jerusalem, Christianity emerged from obscurity. At this moment Luke, apparently, felt very strongly that the meaning of Christianity has to be explained to the Romans and also to the Jews. Luke's apology has a twofold goal: (i) it aims at an understanding of Christianity that would protect Christians from assaults and persecutions, and (ii) it aims at increasing the number of Christian converts• Further, because of the delay of Parousia, Luke had to consider also theological problems. Consequently, he does three things: (i) fije solves the eschetological problem by providing an interpretation of the postponement of the Parousia; (ii) he describes Jesus' mission as the event of salvation, or Heil, and (iii) he admonishes Christians to be concerned much more about Christian living than about speculations in relation to the date of the Parousia. There are modern scholars, such as H. Conzelmann, E. Gratsser, and G. Harder, who hold the view that Satan and temptation are absent between Luke 4:13 and Luke 2^:3» i.e., during the Heilszeit.