Jesus' Lack of Emotion in Luke: The Lukan Redactions in Light of the Hellenistic Philosophers

This dissertation will argue that the author of Luke has redacted Mark in terms of the characterization of Jesus. In the characterization of Jesus, the Lukan redactor has removed strong emotion (and the actions which would result from these strong emotions). Further, Luke has sometimes 'transferred' these emotions to other characters or groups. These redactions include the traditionally-viewed negative emotions grief, neediness, stern speech, and especially anger. They also include some of the more traditionally positive emotions including compassion, love, and general affection. It will be shown that Luke consistently depicts (with two exceptions in the special 'L' material) the persona of Jesus (and only the character of Jesus) as bereft of strong emotion. This dissertation will further attempt to explain why these redactions and transferences have occurred by examining the Lukan redactions in light of the philosophical traditions. Evidence will be presented from the Hellenistic, Jewish, and Roman philosophical traditions on the subject of emotions in order to show that with notable exceptions (i.e., Aristotle), the primary philosophical view of the emotions was depreciatory and disapproving. This dissertation will conclude that it is primarily the Stoic tradition (and in particular the popular rendering of these in the Roman imperial authors) that leads the author of Luke to present his auditors with a Jesus character (quite to the contrary of Mark) without emotion, an exemplum of apatheia.