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A Socio-Narratological Approach to the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)

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A Socio-Narratological Approach to the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA Tormented in Hades: A Socio-Narratological Approach to the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) A DISSERTATION Submitted to the Faculty of the School of Theology and Religious Studies Of The Catholic University of America In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree Doctor of Philosophy © Copyright All Rights Reserved By John A. Szukalski Washington, D.C. 2012 Tormented in Hades: A Socio-Narratological Approach to the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) John A. Szukalski, Ph.D. Director: Frank J. Matera, Ph.D. The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31 is unique and problematic. It is the only canonical parable referring to a character by a proper name and portraying a scene in the afterlife. The permanent reversal of fortunes at death depicts the rich man in torment in Hades and the poor man in bliss in Abraham’s bosom, a reversal that appears to be based solely upon their respective economic standings in life—a disturbing criterion of judgment. This uniqueness has occasioned divergent, even contradictory, conclusions regarding the parable’s literary and conceptual background, its unity and authenticity, and its function within the overall Lucan narrative. This study employs the socio-narratological method, integrating insights from both literary and cultural analyses of biblical narratives. This approach is well suited to a fresh understanding of the parable from within its narrative and social contexts because it provides the crucial tools required to make explicit the often implicit dynamics of narrative character development and operative cultural scripts—culturally conditioned patterns of perceiving and behaving. This study asserts that the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus is one of a subset of seven parables in the Lucan Travel Narrative, which this dissertation calls philargyroi parables—special “L” parables that evince a rhetorical strategy of persuading the rich to repentance by utilizing parabolic dynamics that move the reader away from an established vision of reality that is exclusive and elitist and toward an alternate vision of reality that is inclusive, egalitarian, and associated with Jesus’ preaching of the kingdom of God. These parables exhibit coherent profiles of the unrepentant rich who display stereotypical behaviors and attitudes that are antithetical to the alternative kingdom of God vision of reality, along with recurring and convergent social concerns that require transformation. The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus demonstrates the ultimate fate of the unrepentant rich—to be tormented with the memory of their former wealth and honor, and to be permanently excluded from afterlife reward for their failure to obey the Law and the Prophets regarding their obligation to care for the poor. This dissertation by John A. Szukalski fulfills the dissertation requirement for the doctoral degree in Biblical Studies approved by Frank J. Matera, Ph.D., as Director, and by John Paul Heil, S.S.D., and Francis T. Gignac, D.Phil., as Readers. ___________________________________ Frank J. Matera, Ph.D., Director ___________________________________ John Paul Heil, S.S.D., Reader ___________________________________ Francis T. Gignac, D.Phil., Reader ii To my father and mother, John T. and Anna Szukalski, on the occasion of their forty-sixth wedding anniversary, June 4, 2012 iii Table of Contents Dedication . iii Abbreviations . vii Acknowledgments . viii Chapter One: Summary of Modern Research on the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) . 1 A. The Search for a Parallel . 7 1. Gressmann’s Proposal—An Egyptian Parallel . 7 2. Hock’s Counterproposal—Greco-Roman Parallels . 12 3. Nickelsburg—Resonances with Jewish Apocalyptic Texts . 17 4. Lehtipuu—Resonances with Contemporary Imagery and Motifs . 23 B. Modern Literary Approaches . 26 1. Literary and Theological Context in Luke’s Gospel . 27 2. Literary and Theological Context in the Lucan Travel Narrative . 31 3. Character Building and Rhetoric . 36 C. Modern Social Approaches . 40 1. Cultural Studies . 40 2. Economic and Social Conflict . 42 3. Social-Science Models . 46 D. Socio-Narratological Approach . 49 Chapter Two: The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus and the Lucan Travel Narrative Parables for the Repentance of the Rich . 52 A. Lucan Travel Narrative Parables for the Repentance of the Rich . 53 1. The Good Samaritan (10:30-35) . 55 2. The Rich Fool (12:16-20) . 56 3. The Great Banquet (14:16-24) . 58 4. The Prodigal Son (15:11-32) . 59 5. The Dishonest Steward (16:1-8) . 61 6. The Rich Man and Lazarus (16:19-31) . 62 7. The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (18:10-14) . 63 iv B. Parabolic Dynamics in Lucan Travel Narrative Parables for the Repentance of the Rich 65 1. The Established Vision of Reality . .. 65 2. An Alternate Vision of Reality . 69 3. Challenge and Subversion of the Established Order . 73 4. Responses Adequate to the Alternate Vision of Reality . 75 C. The Text of the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus . 77 1. Translation . 78 2. Significant Textual Variants . 80 3. Structure and Brief Exegetical Notes . 84 4. Narrative Context . 94 D. Conclusion . 98 Chapter Three: Socio-Narratological Analysis of Selected Lucan Travel Narrative Parables and Selected Works from Lucian of Samosata . 101 A. Socio-Narratological Method . 102 1. Step One: Character Analysis . 103 2. Step Two: Cultural Scripts . 108 B. Character Analysis of the Rich in Selected Lucan Travel Narrative Parables . 115 1. The Good Samaritan (10:30-35) . 117 2. The Rich Fool (12:16-20) . 121 3. The Great Banquet (14:16-24) . 123 4. The Prodigal Son (15:11-32) . 126 5. The Dishonest Steward (16:1-8) . 130 6. The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (18:10-14) . 133 C. Operative Cultural Scripts in Selected Lucan Travel Narrative Parables . 136 1. The Good Samaritan (10:30-35) . 138 2. The Rich Fool (12:16-20) . 141 3. The Great Banquet (14:16-24) . 142 4. The Prodigal Son (15:11-32) . 145 5. The Dishonest Steward (16:1-8) . 148 6. The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (18:10-14) . 149 D. Character Analysis of the Rich and Operative Cultural Scripts in Selected Works from Lucian of Samosata . 152 1. The Downward Journey or the Tyrant . 153 2. The Dream or the Rooster . 155 E. Conclusion . 157 v Chapter Four: Socio-Narratological Exegesis of the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) . 160 Prologue: Identification of the Pharisees as Fila,rguroi (Luke 16:14-18) . ..
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