Where the Eagles are Gathered The Deliverance

Although many scholars consider Luke 17:22-37 to be "the most important eschatological passage in Luke-Acts, " few agree on the precise meaning of the enigmatic proverb which forms its conclusion (Luke 17:37). Generally, Jesus' logion is taken to convey a macabre image of impending judgement. However, this study offers fresh literary, redactional, and historical evidence to suggest that Luke recast Jesus' saying in order to describe something much more glorious -- the deliverance of the elect. Examination of the material elsewhere in Luke-Acts corroborates Luke's expectation of an ethereal reunion, and suggests that this hope constitutes the most characteristic feature of Lukan eschatology.

Abbreviations

ix

Preface

xiii

Introduction

xv

The Enigma of the αετoι Saying

1

(21)

The Eschatological Discourse (Luke 17.22-37)

1

(2)

Proposed Meanings of the αετoι Saying

3

(17)

Indicative of the Disciples' Ignorance

3

(2)

Indicative of the Nature of Jesus' Return

5

(2)

Indicative of the Nature of the Final Judgment

7

(1)

Indicative of the Location of Jesus' Return

8

(3)

Indicative of the Location of the Final Judgment

11

(2)

In Reference to Those `Left Behind'

13

(2)

In Reference to Those `Taken'

15

(5)

Summary and Thesis

20

(2)

The αετoι Logion and Its Immediate Context (Luke 17.11-18.14)

22

(35)

The Literary Landscape of Luke's Eschatological Discourse

22

(8)

The Grateful Samaritan (Luke 17.11-19)

22

(2)

The Pharisees' Question (Luke 17.20-21)

24

(2)

The Eschatological Discourse (Luke 17.22-37)

26

(2)

The Vindication of the Widow (Luke 18.1-8)

28

(1)

The Two Men in the Temple (Luke 18.9-14)

29

(1)

Synoptic Parallels to Luke's Eschatological Discourse

30

(2)

Redaction-Critical Exegesis of Luke's Eschatological Discourse

32

(23)

The Disappearance and Revelation of the Son of Man (Luke 17.22-24)

32

(6)

The Suffering of the Son of Man (Luke 17.25)

38

(1)

The Day(s) of the Son of Man Likened to the Day(s) of Noah and Lot (Luke 17.26-30)

39

(5)

Exhortation Concerning Evacuation `on that day' (Luke 17.31-33)

44

(3)

The Separation of Humanity (Luke 17.34-35)

47

(2)

The Disciples' Question and the αετoι Saying (Luke 17.37)

49

(6)

Summary and Conclusion

55

(2)

The αετoσ in Antiquity

57

(30)

The Meaning of αετoσ

58

(2)

The Vulture as the Consumer of the Dead

60

(6)

Examples from Antiquity

60

(2)

The Exclusion of Eagles from this Role

62

(3)

The Appearance of αετoι in the Synoptic Tradition

65

(1)

The Role of the Eagle as Transporter of the Soul

66

(10)

Egyptian Origin

67

(1)

Syrian Transformation

68

(2)

Greco-Roman Appropriation

70

(4)

Apotheosis in Luke 17.37?

74

(2)

The Eagle as the Deliverer of the Elect

76

(9)

The Hero-Quest

77

(3)

The Zeus-Cult

80

(1)

Yahweh's Deliverance of Israel

81

(4)

Summary and Conclusion

85

(2)

The Influence of the Jewish Deliverance Tradition on Luke's Eschatological Discourse (Luke 17.22-37)

87

(28)

Exodus 19//Deuteronomy 32

87

(14)

Old Testament Typology

87

(4)

Passover Eschatology

91

(5)

Historical Exemplar

96

(5)

I Enoch

101

(6)

I Enoch and Luke's Eschatological Discourse (Luke 17.22-37)

102

(2)

I Enoch and the Vindication of the Widow (Luke 18.1-8)

104

(2)

1 Enoch and the Two Men in the Temple (Luke 18.9-14)

106

(1)

The Testament of Moses

107

(2)

The Testament of Judah

109

(2)

The Post-Lukan Tradition

111

(2)

Summary and Conclusion

113

(2)

The Deliverance of the Elect in Luke's Synoptic Apocalypse (Luke 21.5-36)

115

(33)

Questions Concerning the Destruction of the Temple (Luke 21.5-7)

116

(2)

The Signs Preceding the Temple's Demise (Luke 21.8-11)

118

(5)

The Persecution of the Disciples (Luke 21.12-19)

123

(3)

The Destruction of Jerusalem (Luke 21.20-24)

126

(5)

The Eschaton (Luke 21.25-28)

131

(9)

The Parable of the Fig Tree (Luke 21.29-33)

140

(3)

Concluding Admonition (Luke 21.34-36)

143

(4)

Summary and Conclusion

147

(1)

Conclusion

148

(3)

Appendix 1 Patristic Commentators on the αετoι Saying

151

(5)

Appendix 2 Exegetical Analysis of `The Pharisees' Question' (Luke 17.20-21)

156

(6)

Appendix 3 Did Pauline (Thessalonian) Eschatology Influence Luke?

162

(19)

Bibliographies

Primary and Reference Works

167

(3)

Secondary Works

170

(11)

Index of References

181

(10)

Index of Authors

191

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Where the Eagles are Gathered The Deliverance of the Elect in Lukan Eschatology

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