Teaching the Ineffable Through Narrative

Abstract

The concept of faith is a dominant motif in both Jewish and Christian Scriptures and yet the authors never chose to give faith a clear, concise definition in propositional formulations. Both Testaments repeatedly refer to its importance but only approach the subject by telling stories where this valued aspect is present or absent. Luke follows suit with the rest of the Gospels and the precedent set in the Jewish Scriptures. It heralds faith’s importance and necessity but never defines faith with theological statements. Using aspects of Structural Analysis, an adaptation of Form Criticism, the narratives in Luke will be investigated for how faith was taught and by whom.