Echoes of Scripture in Luke-Acts: Telling the History of God's People Intertextually(The Library of New Testament Studies)

Litwak challenges previous studies of the use of the Old Testament in Luke-Acts as inadequate. In contrast to previous studies that consider only quotations or obvious allusions, he examines intertextual echoes of the Old Testament at strategic points in Luke-Acts, as well as quotations and allusions and echoed traditions. Thus, this study's database is larger. Previous studies generally argue that Luke's use of the Scriptures is in the service of christology. This leads to the exclusion of scriptural citations, such as those of the temptation (Luke 4.1-13) which have different emphases. Litwak views ecclesiology as the overall purpose behind Luke's use of the Old Testament, but he does not skip or avoid intertextual references that may lie outside an ecclesiological function. Whilst other studies contend that Luke uses the Old Testament according to a promise-fulfillment/proof-form-prophecy hermeneutic, Litwak argues that this fails to account for many of the intertextual references. Other studies often subsume all of Luke's use of the Scriptures of Israel under one theme, such as the 'New Exodus', but this study does not require that every intertextual echo maps to a specific theme. Rather, the many intertextual references in strategic texts at the beginning, middle and end of Luke-Acts, and Luke's use of the texts, are allowed to dictate the 'themes' to which they relate. JSNTS 282

About the Author :
Kenneth D. Litwak completed his Ph.D. at Trinity College, University of Bristol.

Review :
Review ~ International Review of Biblical Studies, vol 51, 2004/05 "This study of Luke-Acts wants to trace in a fresh way the influence of the Old Testament on Luke's two-volume work. Litwak is not content to study only direct quotations or evident allusions but wants to take into account what he calls "echoes" of the Old Testament, especially at key junctures in Luke's work. He also wants to throw the net wide thematically, being alert to the variety of purposes Luke has in citing, alluding to, or echoing Israel's Scriptures."- The Bible Today, January/ February, 2006 'this is a helpful...insightful, book for researchers in Luke-Acts to engage with.' ~ Peter Doble, Vol 28.5, 2006 "That there is a continuity between the Old Testament, or the Scriptures of Israel, and one of the largest parts of the New Testament, Luke-Acts, is one of the central messages of the book under review. From the beginning it is clear that Litwak presents his study as different. He stressed that other scholars often reduce Luke's use of the Scriptures of Israel to a relatively small number of isolated phenomena but that he will show that these Scriptures pervade Luke-Acts from its beginning to its end: Scriptures play a hermeneutical role in shaping Luke-Acts." - RBL, January 2006   Litwak's work explores the influence of the "OT" on Luke-Acts. The author of Luke-Acts makes few overt references to Jewish Scripture (ca. 25), which has led many scholars to conclude that Luke-Acts, unlike Matthew, was not written to a Jewish audience. Litwak argues that there are pervasive allusions to Jewish sacred texts in Luke-Acts; these allusions are deliberate intertextual moments and are intended to be more than stylistic imitation; they are criticalhermeneutical signatures, vital for an accurate understanding of Luke-Acts. Litwak insists that Luke-Acts must be read as a complete narrative. He argues that Luke's overarching theme is the nature and development of God's chosen community and people. "Luke's" narrative focuses on the continuity of God's fellowship. With such at its center, Luke-Acts argues its message both overtly (by an explicit statement and citation) and by analogy (through an allusionto the Jewish Scriptures)... Litwak's study is appropriate for intermediate students. It will be of most value to scholars interested in narrative criticism and in the purpose and genre of Luke-Acts. Robert Paul Seesengood University of North Carolina at Pembrokev