Journal for the Study of

the New Testament

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Book Reviews : Joseph A. Fitzmyer, The Gospel

according to Luke X-XXIV (The Anchor Bible, 28a), New
York: Doubleday, 1985. $18.00
Christopher Tuckett
Journal for the Study of the New Testament 1986; 9; 124
DOI: 10.1177/0142064X8600902809
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2007
1986 SAGE Publications. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or
unauthorized distribution.

124
A. Fitzmyer, The Gospel according to Luke X-XXIV (The Anchor
Bible, 28a), New York: Doubleday, 1985. $18.00

Joseph

Vol. I of this commentary, published in 1981, has been reviewed already in

this journal (see ISNT 21 [ 1984], pp. 115-17). That review ended by saying
We await the appearance of the second volume with eager expectation. The
appearance of vol. II fully lives up to that expectation. The style and format
of the new volume continue those of the first volume. At every stage the
reader is given an overview of each pericope as a whole, with detailed notes
to follow on each verse. The main stress is still on the meaning of the text at
the level of Lukes intentions (what Fitzmyer calls Stage III). Discussions
about what the stories might have meant earlier in the tradition-history
(whether at the level of Jesus or at earlier pre-Lukan stages, e.g. Q) are
generally shelved. Perhaps one might have welcomed more at this level.
Further, the format of the commentary tends to lead to a slightly atomistic
approach to the text, so that whilst the comments on individual details
within the text are excellent, the discussion of the flow of thought from
pericope to pericope tends to receive less attention. However, one can hardly
carp at the quantity of information in a commentary which runs to more
than 1600 pages in all! Many key I_ukan texts are included in this volume
and all receive careful attention. The discussions of Lukes passion narrative
in general, the Last Supper account, and the resurrection appearance
traditions, are particularly well handled.
All serious readers of Lukes Gospel will be indebted to the riches of
wisdom and learning which we are offered here. This commentary now
completed will undoubtedly constitute a classic for I.ukan studies for many
years

to come.

Christopher Tuckett, Department of Biblical Criticism, Faculty of Theology,

University of Manchester

Downloaded from http://jnt.sagepub.com by Andreas Gerstacker on November 29,

2007
1986 SAGE Publications. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or
unauthorized distribution.