Luke

Above all else Luke is a document of incomparable story-telling set within a distinctive theological framework. This commentary will concentrate on the rich contribution that the Gospel of Luke has made to the life and history of Christianity in this regard, where many of the best-known and well-loved stories about the life of Jesus found only in Luke. The story of the Road to Emmaus, the Annunciation, the Good Samaritan are just some examples of stories which either only appear in Luke or are only told in full in this rich and particularly human gospel. In particular, Luke has occupied an unrivalled place as a source book for artists, painters, sculptors, musicians, and writers of both prose and poetry across two thousand years of history. This commentary offers a unique place to demonstrate the cultural contribution that Luke has made over the centuries. Film makers have drawn extensively on Luke and the volume will draw on over 10 years of research on biblical imagery and cinema, offering something never found in a commentary before.
Aside from its artistic inspiration, the volume will stress the importance of Luke's theme of salvation-history as a key theological idea for subsequent generations of religious and political thinkers, from the Desert Fathers right through to the liberation theologians of the 20th century. Luke has offered a unique blend of theology and artistry which puts it at the cutting-edge of theological thinking today. The special role that is accorded women have the gospel is also a matter which will be addressed.