In Luke 24:44-47, Jesus references all that is written about Him in the Law, Prophets, and Psalms, the three divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures. While much scholarship has explored the connections between Luke’s Gospel and the Law, Prophets, and Psalms, Jesus’ mention of this three-fold division invites us to consider the entire Writings (Ketuvim) as well. What insights do Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ruth, the Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, Esther, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, and Chronicles offer in understanding Jesus?
This paper uncovers how Luke’s Gospel distinguishes itself as a wisdom gospel, drawing on wisdom themes not only from the Psalms, Job, and Proverbs but also from the broader wisdom texts embedded in the Writings. By tracing these connections, it reveals how the wisdom thread running through the Writings (Ketuvim) helps shape Luke’s portrayal of Jesus—His teachings, actions, and identity as the fulfillment of divine wisdom. For example:
• Jesus and his many parables (Proverbs)
• Jesus, the wisdom of God (Lady Wisdom in Proverbs 1-9)
• Wise young Jesus (the son in Proverbs 1-9)
• Jesus as the son of Adam and Son of David (Chronicles)
• Jesus’ innocent suffering (Job)
• Jesus, the Preacher of vanity (Ecclesiastes)
• Mary, mother of the Davidic redeemer (Ruth)
• Jesus’ weeping over Jerusalem (Lamentations)
• Jesus’ teaching about the reversal of fortunes (Esther)
In terms of methodology, I will adopt the guidelines from Schnittjer/Harmon’s How to Study the Bible’s Use of the Bible and Richard Hays’ Echoes of Scripture in the Gospels. The plan of the paper is to lay out the argument for adopting the Writings (Ketuvim) in reading Luke, demonstrate how certain wisdom texts of the Writings shape Luke’s Gospel, and consider the implications for reading Luke.
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Schnittjer, Gary Edward. 2024. How to Study the Bible’s Use of the Bible: Seven Hermeneutical Choices for the Old and New Testaments. Edited by Matthew S. Harmon. Zondervan Academic.
Hays, Richard B. 2016. Echoes of Scripture in the Gospels. Baylor University Press.