Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 179:715 (Jul 2022)
Article: Hearing Voices: The Persuasive Use Of Voice In Luke 2:25–35
Author: David R. Seal

BSac 179:715 (July-September 2022) p. 328

Hearing Voices: The Persuasive Use Of Voice In Luke 2:25–35

David R. Seal

David R. Seal is Professor of Biblical Studies, Cornerstone University, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Abstract

This article proposes that it is possible to identify multiple voices in Luke 2:25 ̶ 35, namely Luke’s, Simeon’s, God’s, Isaiah’s, and the lector-reader’s voice. Exploring voices offers a significant yet underappreciated point of entry into the character of Simeon and his prayer in the Lukan infancy narrative.

Voices matter.1 In literature the use of multiple voices allows an author to articulate different perspectives on a variety of situations and issues. “Voice” is perhaps another way to describe “point of view.” Point of view indicates the way a story is told.2 Lucian, the second-century rhetorician, stated that when investigating and recounting history one should seek to tell it from all points of view.3 When considering the “voices” in the text, one approaches the work from a phraseological point of view.4 A phraseological point of view focuses on the narrator’s/author’s discourse and the character’s speech.5 In addition to a character’s and narrator’s speech, names, titles, and epithets are important when studying

BSac 179:715 (July-September 2022) p. 329

a text on the phraseological plane. In the first-century Mediterranean world, all these voices were expressed by a lector, such as one publicly reading Luke’s Gospel to a community. The lector-reader was likely skilled at oral presentation, thereby helping communicate the multiple voices more fully to a listening audience. Exploring the voices in a text offers a significant yet underappreciated point of entry into the character of Simeon and his prayer in the Lukan infancy narrative (2:25 ̶ 35).6

Attention to the numerous voices in this passage is advantageous for understanding how Luke attempted to achieve his goals. In this article I propose that it is possible to identify multiple voices in verses 25 ̶ 35, namely Luke’s, Simeon’s, God’s, Isaiah’s, and the lector-reader’s voice. While some of their goals overlap, each of these voices has their own agenda. Following a brief surve...