The Graeco-Roman bios depicts its characters through elements of narrative construction. In order to show that it is worth noting those elements within the Gospel of Luke we use an episode in the infancy narrative (Lk .-) in which the main character at first sight seems to be absent. The semantic and narratological analysis of the figurative elements opens access to the normative 'presence' of Jesus, thereby furnishing fresh insights into the narrative mode of Lukan christology.
There is considerable scholarly uneasiness concerning the interpretation of Paul’s ecstatic journey to heaven (2Cor 12,1–10) as a genuine element of the “fool’s speech” (2Cor 11,16–12,13). Unlike the passages wherein Paul describes his weaknesses, little importance is attached to this heavenly ascent. The present study analyses both the argumentative function of the heavenly ascent within the context of the “fool’s speech” and its transformative function with regards to Paul’s addressees. They both culminate in a changing of perspective: It is this view from above, achieved by means of his heavenly ascent, which allows Paul (and his readers) to understand his earthly existence in weakness as the very space wherein he receives a relational experience and revelation of Christ.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.