Browsing by Author "Van Groeningen, David "

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    Luke’s use of Abraham as a social identity marker in Luke-Acts
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2024-03 ) Van Groeningen, David ; Nel, Marius Johannes; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Old and New Testament.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation aims to explore the significance of the figure of Abraham as a social identity marker in the Gospel according to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. The study analyses each passage in which Abraham is presented in Luke-Acts in order to understand how he is used as a social identity marker in each passage. The verses in which Abraham is present are the following: Luke 1:55, 73; 3:8; 13:16, 28; 16:19–31; 19:9; 20:37; Acts 3:13, 25; 7:1–8; 13:26. In each passage, that Abraham functions in some ways as a uniting figure and in others as a dividing figure. In some cases, he shows that those who act against the well-being of the group “Children of Abraham” are actually outside of this group, even though they thought themselves to be part of the group. In other cases, the boundaries of the group are widened to include people who were previously beyond the boundaries of the group. Abraham is thus used to make clear who is part of the social group “Children of Abraham” and who is not. Questions regarding the relationship between Jewish people and Gentiles, and about how Abraham speaks to these questions, are also raised in the dissertation. As will be discussed in the dissertation, scholars have raised questions regarding Luke’s relationship with Judaism, with one suggesting that Luke reaches a mostly Jewish audience almost to the exclusion of Gentiles while another suggests that Luke intends to do away with Judaism entirely, with other views in between. Because of the importance of the figure of Abraham to Judaism, the researcher believes that analysing Luke’s use of Abraham as a social identity marker can contribute to answering these questions. In the final chapter, the dissertation will summarise the content that has been discussed, discuss how the research question has been answered, and suggest areas for further research.