Sonship in Luke: The Advantage of a Literary Approach

Abstract

‘Teaching about Jesus' sonship is not a characteristic or important aspect of Luke's writing’, claims J. D. G. Dunn.1 Indeed the arguments he adduces to support this statement may have some validity. But nevertheless this paper will propose that the concept of Jesus as son may well be the characteristic and most important aspect of Luke's writing. It is vital to state at the outset then that we do not propose to argue with Dunn on his own terms; this study will rather be devoted to consideration of the Lukan concept of sonship from the rather different approach of his narrative technique.