Research Paper on "Luke 15 The Christian Bible"

Research Paper 5 pages (1652 words) Sources: 5

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Luke uses the structure of the frame narrative judiciously, in order to present the hero's journey in ways his Greek audience could relate to and incorporate into their lives. The hero starts from a position in which change is necessary, receives the impetus or motivation to change, and becomes willing to undertake a journey that leads him to a promised land. Each of the allegories contained within Luke 15 is a miniature of the hero's journey. Taken collectively, the stories of Luke 15 comprise the overall heroic narrative of Jesus. Luke's protagonist is a demigod who resembled the demigod heroes of ancient Greek literature, and therefore Luke understood exactly how to reach his Greek-speaking audience. Jesus's story as told by Luke is the "archetypal quest story," (Travers 400).

Although Luke's intention may have been to seduce his audience into taking on the religion of Christ, the Book of Luke reads like a classic heroic narrative in which the protagonist undergoes a series of conflicts but ultimately succeeds in his quest. Luke 15 offers a slice of insight into the importance of the Gospel of Luke as it serves as a heroic journey. The three stories in Luke 15 all contain the same theme, just told in different ways. All three refer to the motif of being lost, and the process by which one is found. Process and journey are the cornerstones of Jesus's ministry, because Jesus undergoes a series of trials and tribulations in his life on the quest for immortality. Luke needs to show how Jesus reaches his goal, not merely to tell his audience that the hero succeeds. The audience responds well to Luke 15 because the stories are diverse enough and relatable to all audience members.


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