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Exegetical Considerations

Luke 1:39-45 (46-55)

4th Sunday in Advent/ December 21, 2003

1. What is the literary context of this text?

a. How does that context provide an interpretive framework for this passage?

2. What has been the characterization of
a. Mary up to this point in the story?

b. Elizabeth up to this point in the story?

c. The God-given mission of Elizabeth’s soon to be born son?

d. The God-given mission of Mary’s now conceived son?

3. How does v. 41 recall 1:15,35?

a. What does this say about the work of the Holy Spirit?

4. In vv. 42-45 what is Elizabeth revealing
a. About herself?

b. About her child?

c. About Mary?

d. About Mary’s child?

e. About God?

5. What are key contrasts between Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah at this point in the story?

a. What is the literary and theological affect of having such unlikely witnesses as Elizabeth and Mary to God’s in-breaking activity?

6. In v. 45 what is the tense and voice of estai?

a. How do the RSV and NRSV fail to capture that?

7. In v. 45 what is the significance of the tense and voice of lelalemenois?

8. How is Advent faith being depicted in these verses?

9. What is the theological and social vision presented by an unmarried, pregnant, teenage girl in vv. 46-55?

a. What is the significance of the fact that the Greek work eleos used in vv. 50,54 is the LXX rendering of hesed?

10. What is the depiction of God’s in-breaking activity in this text?