Date
11-11-2026
Department
Rawlings School of Divinity
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Bible Exposition (PhD)
Chair
Tim Cochrell
Keywords
Luke-Acts, Gentile Inclusion, Synoptics, Acts, Gospel of Luke, Narrative Criticism, Canonical Criticism, Isaiah, New Exodus, Isaianic New Exodus
Disciplines
Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion
Recommended Citation
Duroy, Adam, "Luke-Acts as a Narrative Bridge: Observing Luke's Narrative Intentions through the Framework of Gentile Inclusion" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 9036.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/9036
Abstract
This dissertation aims to show that through his twofold work, Luke-Acts, author Luke intends to create a written text that has narrative and theological continuity with the story of Jewish Scripture preceding it and provides an open-ended climax that gives opportunity for future documenters of Israel’s salvation history to build upon his work. These narrative and theological elements later help Luke-Acts serve as a narrative hinge connecting the past with the future, as observed in Acts’ function in the biblical canon. A primary way to observe Luke’s intention to develop narrative and theological continuity with Jewish Scripture is through the theological thread of Gentile inclusion that Luke weaves throughout his work. Thus, this dissertation will focus primarily on Luke's handling of Gentile inclusion in Luke-Acts.
Several facets will be examined. First, the construct that Luke intended to write a work that would be categorized closely with Jewish Scripture will be explored. Then, after briefly looking at the thread of Gentile Inclusion in the Greek Old Testament, it will be shown that Luke makes Gentile inclusion one of his primary theological focuses in his twofold work. A key observation is that drawing from the groundwork laid in the prophets, namely Isaiah, Luke takes the Gentile thread from anticipation to a striking spiritual fulfillment. Finally, it is shown that through narrative and literary strategy, Luke caps off his work with an open-ended climax in Acts 28 that allows for a future final literal fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies regarding the eschatological blessing of the nations of the earth, and the later documentation of such.
