scholarship

Is Luke a gospel of symbolism?

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Twelve years ago I presented a paper at the international Society of Biblical Literature comparing the symbolism of Luke with that of John. There has been a widespread view that John is a ‘spiritual’ or symbolic gospel, and that is true at one level, though John often includes more historical and eye-witness detail than the others. So we need to be careful not to see ‘symbolic’ as the opposite of ‘historical’. And we should therefore not immediately assume that this is an area where Luke and John are as far apart as is often assumed.

The paper is now going to be published in an academic volume, so I have revised and expanded it. I offer here part of the paper, looking at the nature of symbolism in Luke, and using the episodes of the miraculous catch of fish in Luke 5 and John 21 to compare the symbolism in Luke and John. You can read the full pre-publication version here: Symbolic Action in Luke and John.

It might seem too obvious to note the differences between Luke and John; after all, the observation of the differences between the fourth gospel and the synoptics has a long history. But the differences have always been in danger of overemphasis, and Luke’s differences with Mark and Matthew, and points of contact with John, neglected. 

Cribbs (‘St. Luke and the Johannine Tradition’ JBL, 90.4, 1971) notes not only points of contact between Luke and John, but what he interprets as places where Luke and John agree over against Mark and Matthew. He lists nine significant examples, including the depiction of Jesus’ ministry beginning in the hill country of Nazareth rather than by the sea (Luke 4.14–16, John 2.1–11), the prediction of Peter’s betrayal happening in the upper room rather than on the way to the Mount of Olives (Luke 22.31–34, John 13.36–38), and Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances being in Jerusalem rather than Galilee (Luke 24.13ff and John 20.11ff). From this, Cribbs suggests that Luke is later than John (or some form of proto-John), and that part of Luke’s goal is to mediate the differences between John and Matthew/Mark. 

Can pastoral ministry be re-united with theological thinking?

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One of the perennial features of theological study and preparation for Christian ministry has been the yawning chasm between scholarship and church leadership over the last century or two. The evidence for this varies from the comment to young Christians: ‘Don’t study theology at university; you will lose your faith’, to a sense that theological … Continue Reading

Tyndale NT Study Group 2026: Call for papers on Paul within Judaism

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The theme for the Tyndale Fellowship New Testament Study Group in 2026 is Paul within Judaism, and we are meeting from Wednesday 1st to Friday 3rd July 2026 at the excellent conference facility of High Leigh Conference Centre, Hoddesdon, UK. It is easily accessible by train from London in about 20 minutes (from Tottenham Hale). … Continue Reading

Tyndale NT Study Group 2025: Eschatology in the New Testament

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Eschatology—the question of the ‘last days’ or ‘last things’—is a central theological theme in the New Testament. It frames Jesus’ proclamation of the kingdom of God in the gospels, and in the epistles provides the grounding of our understanding of both discipleship in the present and hope for the future. In previous generations, its importance has often been marginalised, and in contemporary scholarship and popular reading, many aspects of eschatology are highly contested.

The Tyndale New Testament Study Group is meeting to explore this from Monday 30th June to Wednesday 2nd July 2025 at The Hays Conference Centre in Derbyshire. It is close to the M1 and can be reached by train to Alfreton station.

It is an excellent site, with good accommodation and beautiful grounds, and within easy reach of the beautiful Peak District for walking. We will be meeting simultaneously with other groups, so there a chance to interact with members across the whole of the Tyndale Fellowship.

It promises to be a fascinating exploration, with an international cast of contributors—we hope you can join us! You can book online here, and there are discounted rates available until 7th February 2025.

The programme will include the following:

Discussion: Eschatology in the Thessalonian Letters

 In this session we welcome Bruce Longenecker and Sydney Tooth to share their ongoing research in this area following their 20204 publications. Sydney’s monograph addresses the compatibility of the eschatology of 1 and 2 Thessalonians (Suddenness and Signs: The Eschatologies of 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Mohr Siebeck 2024) and Bruce’s articles reimagine the socio-historical context of the founding of the Thessalonian church (“The Rupture of an Association: Social Conflict and Its Management in the Thessalonian Christ Assembly.” Journal of Biblical Literature 2024; “The Wrath of the Deities and The Privileged Deceased: Narrating Death in the Associational Rupture at Thessalonica.” NTS 2024). We will have a chance to unpack, discuss and debate their work with them as part of our time together.

Other papers:

Aminta Arrington (John Brown University, Arkansas): The Last Shall Be First: Overturning Banquet Etiquette and Enacting Eschatological Reversal in Luke 14

Armin D. Baum (Freie Theologische Hochschule, Gießen, Germany): Where Do the Persistent Disagreements between German-speaking and English-speaking Biblical Scholarship Come from? A Sociological Answer Based on the History of Research on 2 Thessalonians

Richard Hays: Theologian of the Cross, Member of the New Community

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Wesley Hill explores why the New Testament scholar’s legacy echoes beyond the halls of the academy: “[T]he meaning of Scripture is ultimately written on the tablets of fleshy hearts,” wrote Richard Hays in the conclusion to his groundbreaking book Echoes of Scripture in the Letters of Paul. This statement was true not only of the … Continue Reading