Conclusion
Luke had a very specific intent
when composing his singular history, but did not have the good graces
to write his own commentary, thus leaving the bewildered reader the
arduous task of deciphering his design. All theologians recognize
that Luke desired to provide religious instruction through his
narrative. This problem lies in one's ability to create their own
rules of interpretation in order to justify a theological preference.
Yet if we treat Luke like any other author we can find his purpose
with ease. The principle of repetition provides initially inductive
reasoning by measuring how much Luke talks about one subject in
relation to another. This enables us to see what subjects Luke
wanted his audience to contemplate. Inductive reasoning of Luke
shows Spirit inspired miracles to be a predominant theme. With this
information we can deductively conclude that Luke intended his
readers to be inspired by the miraculous work of the Spirit. If one
believes Luke's intent to be different you must ask the question why
practical miracles play a predominant role in the Lucan narrative.
If Luke wanted his readers to think less on the subject, then
persistent repetition was a flawed strategy. Thus, if anything from
the narrative is normative, it is the numerous.
Luke wrote this book for an
audience, and like any adroit author, formed his writing in the most
comprehensible form possible. Discovering how those to whom the text
was intended interpreted the text helps us see through the fog
created by the separation of language, geography, and culture. The
objective facts gleaned from reading the church fathers shows how
those by whom the Lucan narrative was received interpreted it. And
these readers' interpretation corresponds with the pentecostal
interpretation. If one interprets Luke-Acts differently from the
initial audience is it possible that our contemporary theological
culture has provided an element non-existent to the early church that
Luke did not account for? Also, if we believe the early church
perpetually interpreted Luke-Acts incorrectly, one must ask what
cultural variable did Luke neglect to account for that caused his
contemporary readership to err, but those separated by millennia to
rectify their blunder? Author intent through the principles of
repetition and early reader perception induce the objective
information and deduce the normative intent of Luke.
God Love You -- Rev. Sheen
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