Christian Social Responsibility Based on the Characteristics of Jesus' Ministry in the Third Gospel: Narrative-Biographical Analysis on Luke 4:16-30

Susanto, Herry (2016) Christian Social Responsibility Based on the Characteristics of Jesus' Ministry in the Third Gospel: Narrative-Biographical Analysis on Luke 4:16-30. Masters thesis, Asia Graduate School of Theology.

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Abstract

Understanding Christian social responsibility is crucial for the ministry in the context where poverty is rampant. Therefore, the present research tries to elaborate the responsibility by taking the characteristics of Jesus’ ministry as the foundation. The study will focus on the Third Gospel, particularly the narrative of Nazareth (Luke 4:16–30). In the study of the present research, the text is read as the narrative of Greco-Roman biography in order to appreciate the nature of the Gospel as story and ancient writings. With this method, the characteristics of Jesus’ work would be considered as important value in shaping Christian ministry. Narrative criticism is significant tool for the interpretation of the Gospels. However, the interpreter should also consider the antiquity of the Gospels. Thus, it is essential to associate them with the genre in their context. There are two aspects that possibly correlate the Gospels with the genre of Greco-Roman biography. In terms of the content, the Gospels and ancient biographies focus on one main figure—the public career has big portion in the narrative. In addition, regarding the function, we have factors that indicate, as the way Greco-Roman biography is utilized, the Gospels do not just present the story regarding the life of the main character, who is Jesus. Rather, through the important parts of the life of the main character, especially his public career, the evangelists convey some important values to be adopted by the readers. In the text analysis, by observing how Luke 4:16–30 is correlated with the surrounding passages, the present research suggests the narrative of Nazareth has programmatic function. It shows the nature of Jesus’ ministry in the whole of Third Gospel in a nutshell. Therefore, Luke 4:16–30 is appropriate source to understand the characteristics of Jesus’ ministry. In the narrative of Nazareth, there are two important traits of Jesus’ messianic work: it is part of a bigger theological framework, namely God’s work, and it has a strong social dimension. Isaiah 61:1–2, which is combined with 58:6 (Luke 4:18–19), has connected Jesus’ work with God’s work that has concern toward the low class people. What we find in the Isaianic quotation is strengthened by the allusion of the ministry of Elijah and Elisha (Luke 4:25–27). The connection between Jesus’ mission and God’s work that has social concern is significant for understanding Christian social responsibility, which has important implication for the ministry of church. From the characteristics of Jesus’ mission we may suggest that Christian social responsibility is divine calling and, since it has been associated with relationship with God, it is also the expression of Christian spirituality. This fact implies that, in Christian ministry, social concern is integral part of the mission of church. We must focus on the holistic restoration, individual and social restoration. Introducing the eternal life should be conducted integrally with social act to fulfill people’s physical needs. Principally and practically, the church should have non-dualistic ministry, which does not separate spiritual and physical concern. Such ministry is necessary for the context of Asia, especially in the places where poverty is one of prominent social issues.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BR Christianity B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BS The Bible B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BV Practical Theology
Divisions:	Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences > School of Humanities
Depositing User:	Herry Susanto
Date Deposited:	05 Feb 2021 02:13
Last Modified:	09 Feb 2021 02:57
URI:	http://repositori.tiranus.ac.id/id/eprint/18

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