The Last Supper In Luke From The Passover Meal To A Fellowship Meal Exegesis Of Luke 22:1-38
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Date
2003
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Tangaza University College
Abstract
In this essay I will make an exegetical analysis of the Last Supper in the
Gospel of Luke to show how the Passover is a prelude of the Eucharistic banquet.
The Last Supper has an overwhelming influence on our Christian tradition, because
it provides the foundation story for the Christian celebration of the Mass. The early
Christians perceived this supper as a major event in Jesus' life and ministry. It had to
be remembered, commemorated and made present in all their gatherings.
I have chosen the account of the Last Supper in the Gospel of Luke because
it has some peculiarities not present in other synoptic Gospels. It appears to embrace
the traditions found in the Mark. Matthew and John's Gospel accounts. While in line
with the synoptic Gospels. the Last Supper in Luke's Gospel was celebrated on the
Passover feast, yet it also bears the "Farewell Discourse" akin to John's Gospel. The
Passover and the Farewell Discourse will therefore feature prominently in this essay.
In the first chapter. I will try to draw a parallelism between the different
historic understandings of the Passover feast, as the frame of the Last Supper. We
will also look at the Covenant in the Old Testament and the meaning of the New
Covenant mentioned in our chosen text. In the second chapter, I will make an
exegetical analysis of Luke 22:1-38. Finally, in the third chapter. I will examine the development of the Last Supper celebration and our understanding of the same in
the present-day mission set-up.
Through an exegetical study of the Farewell Discourse, we will see how
Jesus spells out the mission of the disciples: What are the disciples of Jesus expected
to do? How are they to preach the Kingdom of God?
It is thus a biblical-historical and exegetical research paper. I will use the
literary criticism method in analysing the chosen text Luke 22:1-38. I will also
borrow from other critical methods making this paper a somewhat compositional
analysis. I will base this paper on various authors who comment on the Gospel of
Luke in general. Biblical quotations are from the Revised Standard Version and my
Greek texts and words will rely on Nestle-Aland 27" edition.
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Keywords
Last Supper, Passover Meal, Fellowship Meal, Luke 22:1-38