Rethinking the "Value" of the Enslaved and the "Faith" of the Enslaver in Luke 7: 1-10
Traditional readings of the pericope of the centurion's slave (Luke 7:1-10) have presented the centurion as a model of faithfulness to be emulated by the reader and have depicted the relationship between the centurion and the man he enslaved in benevolent terms. An exploration of the evaluative...
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| Format: | Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
2023
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| In: |
Biblical research
Year: 2023, Volume: 68, Pages: 58-73 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Luke
/ Faith
/ Pistis
/ Trust
/ Value
/ Slavery
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| IxTheo Classification: | HC New Testament |
| Further subjects: | B
centurion
B Slavery B πίστις B ἔντιμος B Faith B Faithfulness B Gospel of Luke B valuable |
| Summary: | Traditional readings of the pericope of the centurion's slave (Luke 7:1-10) have presented the centurion as a model of faithfulness to be emulated by the reader and have depicted the relationship between the centurion and the man he enslaved in benevolent terms. An exploration of the evaluative terms in the pericope demonstrates that the centurion is depicted as a model patron and as a desirable client because of his πίστις. This virtue, however, does not necessarily extend to his relationship with the enslaved man, whom the story describes only as "valuable." While this can indicate that the centurion holds him in high esteem, it is also possible (and even plausible) that the "valuable" enslaved man represents a large economic investment that would be lost by the enslaver should the man die. Thus, the benevolent request of the faithful centurion may be understood suspiciously as entirely self-motivated. |
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| ISSN: | 0067-6535 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Biblical research
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