Taking away the pound : women, theology and the parable of the pounds in the Gospel of Luke / Elizabeth V. Dowling.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Dowling, Elizabeth V.

Series:

Library of New Testament studies ; 324.

T & T Clark library of biblical studies

Library of New Testament studies ; 324

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bible. Luke--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bible.

Bible. Luke.

Women in the Bible.

Physical Description:

xi, 252 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

London : T&T Clark, [2007]

Summary:

In Taking Away the Pound Elizabeth Dowling presents the argument that the Parable of the Pounds (Lk. 19.11-28) is a story about the use and abuse of power. She contends that it is the story of those who suffer adverse consequences when they oppose unjust power structures. This suppression of challenge to oppressive structures in the Parable of the Pounds fits a pattern that can be seen to operate in other parts of the Lukan text.

One can therefore read the Parable of the Pounds as a paradigm for the stories of those Lukan characters who 'lose their pound' when they challenge an oppressive structure, wherein 'pound' becomes a metaphor for what one has that can be potentially taken away by those in a position of power. Furthermore, Dowling argues that this pattern of 'taking away the pound' is also seen within stories of women characters who resist patriarchal ideals and expectations. The Parable of the Pounds is thus used as a new lens through which to view the characterizations of Lukan women, providing fresh opportunities for perception and insight.

Contents:

1 Hermeneutical Framework and Methodology 3

2 Women and Slaves in the Greco-Roman World 11

3 The Oppression of Silencing 18

4 Public and Private Space 31

5 Outline of Chapters 44

Chapter 1 The Parable of the Pounds and Lukan Women: The Current State of Scholarship 46

1 Scholarship on the Parable of the Pounds 46

a The Failure of the Third Slave 46

b Honoring the Third Slave 52

c Conclusions from the Literature Review of the Parable of the Pounds 59

2 Scholarship on Women in the Gospel of Luke 60

a The Gospel for Women 60

b The Need for Watchfulness 63

c Conclusions from the Literature Review of the Lukan Women 68

Chapter 2 Reading the Parable of the Pounds 69

1 The Nature of 'Parable' 69

2 The Matthean Parable of the Talents 73

3 Lukan Context for the Parable of the Pounds 75

4 Structure of the Parable of the Pounds 77

5 Reading the Parable - The Opposition of the Citizens 80

6 Reading the Parable - Calling the Slaves to Account 85

Chapter 3 Lukan Theology and the Parable of the Pounds as Metaphor 97

1 Lukan Theology 97

a Visitation and Hospitality 99

b Proclaiming and Embodying Release 100

c Social Justice Ethos 102

d Death and Resurrection 105

e Salvation 108

2 The Parable as Metaphor 110

a John the Baptist 112

b Jesus 113

c Reading Metaphorically 115

d The Characterization of Women 117

Chapter 4 The Characterization of Women in the Narrative of Luke 1-2 119

1 Elizabeth Introduced 120

2 Mary Introduced 123

3 The Meeting of Elizabeth and Mary 126

4 Elizabeth Names Her Son 130

5 Mary Gives Birth 133

6 Anna in the Temple 135

7 Mary Speaks in the Temple 138

8 Other References to Mary 139

Chapter 5 The Characterization of Women in the Narrative of Luke 3-24 142

1 Simon's Mother-in-law 142

2 The Widow at Nain 144

3 The Woman who Anoints Jesus' Feet 146

4 Women With Jesus 149

5 Jairus' Daughter and a Woman With a Hemorrhage 156

6 Martha and Mary 160

7 A Woman in the Crowd 165

8 The Woman With a Spirit of Infirmity 167

9 The Widow With Two Coins 169

10 A Slave-Woman 170

11 The Daughters of Jerusalem 171

12 The Women from Galilee 172

13 Women in Parables 178

a The Woman With Ten Coins 179

b The Widow Seeking Justice 182

Chapter 6 Women, the Parable of the Pounds and Lukan Theology 186

1 What is 'Gained'? 187

2 The Pound Taken Away 189

a Women Disbelieved by Other Characters 189

b Women Corrected 190

c Women's Words Not Recorded 192

d Women as Demon-Possessed 194

e Women Who Do Not Speak 196

3 The Cumulative Narrative Effect 197

4 Women in Lukan Parables 201

5 Women's Resistance 202

6 Power Inequities 204

7 Release for the Oppressed? 206

8 Acclamation 208

2 Implications for the Twenty-first Century 213

1 Ancient Texts and Translations 216

2 Grammatical Tools 217.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [216]-237) and indexes.

ISBN:

0567043649

9780567043641

OCLC:

155673282