Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 177:708 (Oct 2020)
Article: Literary Function Of Forgiveness In The Plot Of Luke-Acts Narrative
Author: Jason Valeriano Hallig

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Literary Function Of Forgiveness In The Plot Of Luke-Acts Narrative

Jason Valeriano Hallig

Jason Valeriano Hallig is professor of New Testament and Greek at Alliance Graduate School and Asia Graduate School of Theology—Philippines. He is also senior pastor of the International Christian Fellowship, Taytay Rizal, Philippines.

Abstract

This article offers an understanding of forgiveness in the plot of Luke-Acts narrative. It uses a thematic approach to Luke’s Gospel narrative to further enrich existing biblical and theological studies on forgiveness through its attention to artistic literary considerations such as events, characters, and parallels. In doing so it sets the biblical doctrine of forgiveness within its narrative milieu in Luke-Acts and its function in the plot and its development. This study shows forgiveness as integral to the narrative as an artistic whole and embedded in the five causal stages of the witness plot in Luke-Acts. Moreover, it livens the twofold thrust of the gospel—salvation and the kingdom. Forgiveness marks the church as the renewed people of God inclusive of both the people of Israel and the nations.

Scripture is first and foremost a narrative, and forgiveness is part of that narrative. Jeremiah wrote, “ ‘This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,’ declares the Lord. ‘I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,” because they will know me from the least of them to the greatest,’ declares the Lord. ‘For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more’ ” (Jer 31:33–34).

The biblical idea of forgiveness is rooted in the concept of “covering” from the Hebrew word כָּפַר, which means “to cover,” “to cover

BSac 177:708 (October-December 2020) p. 463

over,” or “to overspread.”1 The same word applies to the Old Testament theology of atonement, which is closely tied to the forgiveness of sins. That is carried over to the New Testament in general and the Gospels in particular, where the Greek word ἄφεσις connotes forgiveness or liberation in the spirit of cover or release.2 As such, forgiveness is an essential part of the Christian message. There is no gospel where there is no forgiveness. Studies on forgiveness, however, focus on its theological or doct...