The Function of the Allusion to Aristophanes’ Birds in the Parable of the Unjust Steward (Lk 16:1–8)

Bartosz Adamczewski

doi:10.21697/ct.2021.91.2.02

Published: 2021-07-20

Vol. 91 No. 2 (2021)

The Function of the Allusion to Aristophanes’ Birds in the Parable of the Unjust Steward (Lk 16:1–8)

Bartosz Adamczewski

Collectanea Theologica

Section: Articles

https://doi.org/10.21697/ct.2021.91.2.02

Abstract

The allusion to Aristophanes’ Birds plays an important role in the intertextual-illustrative rhetoric of the Lucan parable of the unjust steward (Lk 16:1–8). People generally assume that good legal systems promote moral honesty and legal justice. Against this background, the Pauline idea of the presence of the law, but also its ineffectiveness in giving righteousness (Gal 3:19b; cf. 3:21), is quite difficult to explain. In order to illustrate this Pauline idea in his sequential hypertextual reworking of the Letter to the Galatians, Luke used the allusion to Aristophanes’ comedy, which presented the classical Athenian legal system as likewise ineffective against the activity of the morally corrupt legal agent, the sycophant. The Lucan unjust steward not only uses the language of the Athenian sycophant, but also engages in similar, apparently legal but morally unjust activity, thus questioning the effectiveness of the whole legal system in promoting righteousness. The reworking of the sequence of Pauline ideas explains the meaning of the enigmatic parable of the unjust steward (Lk 16:1–8).

Keywords:

Gospel of Luke, Aristophanes, Letter to the Galatians, law, grace, intertextuality

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 > >>

Download files

PDF

Citation rules

Adamczewski, B. (2021). The Function of the Allusion to Aristophanes’ Birds in the Parable of the Unjust Steward (Lk 16:1–8). Collectanea Theologica, 91(2), 21–36. https://doi.org/10.21697/ct.2021.91.2.02

Cited by / Share

References

Adamczewski, B., The Gospel of Luke: A Hypertextual Commentary (EST 13), Frankfurt am Main [et al.] 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3726/978-3-653-06278-6
Google Scholar

Adamczewski, B., “Księga Amosa i Listy Pawłowe w Dziejach Apostolskich,” Collectanea Theologica 85 (2015) no. 4, 125–144. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21697/ct.2015.85.4.06
Google Scholar

Bendemann, R. von, Zwischen ΔΟΞΑ und ΣΤΑΥΡΟΣ: Eine exegetische Untersuchung der Texte des sogenannten Reiseberichts im Lukasevangelium (BZNW 101), Berlin–New York 2001. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110820782
Google Scholar

Baergen, Rene A., “Servant, manager or slave? Reading the parable of the rich man and his steward (Luke 16:1–8a) through the lens of ancient slavery,” Studies in Religion 35 (2006), 25–38. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/000842980603500102
Google Scholar

Bindemann, W., “Ungerechte als Vorbilder? Gottesreich und Gottesrecht in den Gleichnissen vom „ungerechten Verwalter“ und „ungerechten Richter“,” Theologische Literaturzeitung 120 (1995), 955–970.
Google Scholar

Bovon, F., Das Evangelium nach Lukas, vol. 3 (EKK 3/3), Düsseldorf–Zürich–Neukirchen-Vluyn 2001.
Google Scholar

Brobst-Renaud, A., “Soliloquy in Chariton and Luke,” Perspectives in Religious Studies 46 (2019), 269–284.
Google Scholar

Burkett, D., “The Parable of the Unrighteous Steward (Luke 16.1–9): A Prudent Use of Mammon,” New Testament Studies 64 (2018), 326–342. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0028688518000048
Google Scholar

Cowan, J.A., “Paul and Socrates in Dialogue: Points of Contact between the Areopagus Speech and the Apology,” New Testament Studies 67 (2021), 121–133. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0028688520000223
Google Scholar

Fitzmyer, J.A., The Gospel According to Luke (X–XXIV): Introduction, Translation, and Notes (AYB 28A), New Haven–London 2005.
Google Scholar

Goodrich, J.K., “Voluntary Debt Remission and the Parable of the Unjust Steward (Luke 16:1–13),” Journal of Biblical Literature 131 (2012), 547–566. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/23488254
Google Scholar

Griffith, R.D., “Paul’s Knowledge of Aristophanes,” Journal for the Study of the New Testament 39.4 (2017), 459–471. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0142064X17705017
Google Scholar

Hoeren, T., “Das Gleichnis vom ungerechten Verwalter (Lukas 16.1–8a) – zugleich ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Restschuldbefreiung,” New Testament Studies 41 (1995), 620–629. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0028688500021731
Google Scholar

King, F.J., “A Funny Thing Happened on The Way to the Parable: The Steward, Tricksters and (Non)sense in Luke 16:1–8,” Biblical Theology Bulletin 48 (2018), 18–25. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0146107917746578
Google Scholar

Kloppenborg, John S., “The Dishonoured Master (Luke 16,1–8a),” Biblica 70 (1989), 474–495.
Google Scholar

Kochenash, M., “Better Call Paul ‘Saul’: Literary Models and a Lukan Innovation,” Journal of Biblical Literature 138 (2019), 433–449. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/jbl.2019.0023
Google Scholar

Kochenash, M., “Reframing Julius’ Kindness (Acts 27) as an Extension of Luke’s Socratic Characterisation of Paul,” New Testament Studies 67 (2021), 73–84. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0028688520000284
Google Scholar

Lambrecht, J., “Response to Garwood P. Anderson: Parables in Luke,” Ephemerides Theologicae Lovanienses 86 (2010), 177–183. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2143/ETL.86.1.2051616
Google Scholar

Landry, D., May, B., “Honor Restored: New Light on the Parable of the Prudent Steward (Luke 16:1–8a),” Journal of Biblical Literature 119 (2000), 287–309. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3268488
Google Scholar

Loader, W., “Jesus and the Rogue in Luke 16,1–8A: The Parable of the Unjust Steward,” Revue Biblique 96 (1989), 518–532.
Google Scholar

MacDonald, D.R., “A Categorization of Antetextuality in the Gospels and Acts: A Case for Luke’s Imitation of Plato and Xenophon to Depict Paul as a Christian Socrates,” in T.L. Brodie, D.R. MacDonald, and S.E. Porter (eds.), The Intertextuality of the Epistles: Explorations in Theory and Practice (NTM 16), Sheffield 2006, 211–225.
Google Scholar

Marulli, L., “‘And How Much Do You Owe …? Take Your Bill, Sit Down Quickly, and Write …’ (Luke 16:5–6),” Tyndale Bulletin 63 (2012), 199–216.
Google Scholar

Mickiewicz, F., Ewangelia według św. Łukasza, vol. 2 (NKB.NT 3/2), Częstochowa 2012.
Google Scholar

Nolland, J., Luke 9:21–18:34 (WBC 35B), Dallas, TX 1993.
Google Scholar

Reece, S., “‘Aesop,’ ‘Q’ and ‘Luke’,” New Testament Studies 62 (2016), 357–377. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0028688516000126
Google Scholar

Reece, S., “Jesus as Healer: Etymologizing of Proper Names in Luke-Acts,” Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft 110 (2019), 186–201. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/znw-2019-0012
Google Scholar

Reinstorf, D.H., “The parable of the shrewd manager (Lk 16:1–8): A biography of Jesus and a lesson on mercy,” HTS Teologiese Studies 69 (2013) no. 1, a1943. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v69i1.1943
Google Scholar

Rosik, M., “L’amministratore disonesto (Luca 16,1–9). Ma davvero?,” Studia Koszalińsko-Kołobrzeskie 22 (2015), 83–90. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18276/skk.2015.22-05
Google Scholar

Rossé, G., Il Vangelo di Luca: Commento esegetico e teologico, 3rd edn., Roma 2001.
Google Scholar

Seccombe, D., “Incongruity in the Gospel Parables,” Tyndale Bulletin 62 (2011), 161–172.
Google Scholar

Williams, T.B., “Intertextuality and Methodological Bias: Prolegomena to the Evaluation of Source Materials in I Peter,” Journal for the Study of the New Testament 39.2 (2016), 169–187. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0142064X16675266
Google Scholar

Wojciechowski, M., Wpływy greckie w Biblii, Kraków 2012.
Google Scholar

Wolter, M., Das Lukasevangelium (HNT 5), Tübingen 2008.
Google Scholar

Wróbel, M.S., “The Eschatological Spirituality of ‘the Sons of Light’ in Qumran,” Verbum Vitae 37 (2020), 347–363. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31743/vv.7949
Google Scholar