The Snag of The Sword: An Exegetical Study of Luke 22:35-38 (New Testament Studies in Contextual Exegesis. Neutestamentliche Studien zur kontextuellen Exegese)

Lk 22:35-38 is peculiar because it is never proclaimed except on Palm Sunday in the Year C. Although it is a pragmatic instruction on mission, it puzzles us like the Apostles in the Upper Room. The Lord shortly before his arrest, asserting the importance of the teaching, mandates preparedness for mission in the post-resurrectional period of the Church. The shepherd must be prepared to defend the sheep under his/her care, even to the extent of being called "lawless" according to world standards. Lk 22:35-38 thus in no way contradicts the prior mission training sendings, rather endows the missionary with greater strategic responsibility and commitment in pastoral care. The book highlights the contextual, hermeneutical, and theological dimensions in the final teaching of Jesus in the Lukan narration. Cover Acknowledgement Table of Contents General Introduction Chapter One. Sword in the Bible: General Terminology of Weapons in the Bible Introduction 1.1 Weapons in the Old Testament 1.2 Weapons in the New Testament 1.3 Sword Conclusion Chapter Two. Comparative Study of Some Texts in the NT: Mt 10:34; Lk 2:34–35; Eph 6:17; Heb 4:12; Rev 1:16, 2:12, 2:16 Introduction 2.1 Matthew 10:34 2.2 Luke 2:34–35 2.3 Ephesians 6:16–20 2.4 Hebrews 4:12 2.5 Revelation 1:16 2.6 Revelation 2:12 2.7 Revelation 2:16 Conclusion Chapter Three. Conundrum and Snag of the Sword in the Scene of Jesus’ Arrest (Mt 26:51–54; Mk 14: 45–47; Lk 22:49–51; Jn 18:10–11) Introduction 3.1 The Gethsemane Scene in Matthew 3.2 The Gethsemane Scene in Mark 3.3 The Mount of Olive Scene in Luke 3.4 The Garden Scene in John Conclusion Chapter Four. The Zealots and the "Sicarii" Introduction 4.1 The Zealots 4.2 The "Sicarii" 4.4 The Robbers 3.1 The Socio-Political Concept of Jesus Conclusion Chapter Five. Exegetical Study of Lk 22:35–38 Introduction 5.1 The Context of Luke 5.2 The Source of the Discourse 5.3 Exegetical Study of Lk 22:35–38 5.4 New Rules for a Time of Crisis (22:35–38) 5.5 The Exegesis 5.6 Luke and the Use of Scripture 5.7 Discipleship and Martyrdom 5.8 Delayed "Parousia" in Luke 5.9 Literary Form 5.10 The Source 5.11 The Newness of the Teaching 5.12 Some Theological Concerns of Luke 5.13 Jesus’ Vision of a New Society Conclusion Hermeneutical Reflections and the General Conclusion Introduction 6.1 The Existential Reality of the Church Today 6.2 Trust in Providence 6.3 Fight or Flight? 6.4 Self or Communal-defence 6.5 Marga of Ahimsa and Satyagraha 6.6 Symbolic Relevance 6.7 Psychological Relevance 6.8 The Strategic Relevance Bibliography Exegesis of Lk 22:35-38 teaches us about the pragmatic mandatory mission strategy. It resolves the snag and puzzle of the appearance of the sword in the Gospels. To a Church that is persecuted, Jesus instructs the need to be prepared to defend the believers. It helps us to contextualize our theologizing the Word of God.