Abstract
The Great Joy in the Lukan Work
Archimandrite Jack Khalil
This study delves into the meaning of the phrase «great joy,» recurrent three times in the Lucan narrative, with the aim of elucidating its consistent semantic import and its correlation with the Gospel authored by Luke the Evangelist. By elucidating the role of this phrase within the Lucan narrative, this research endeavors to facilitate a
nuanced understanding of its interrelation with the verb εὐαγγελίζομαι (“to bring good news”) as articulated in Luke 2:10, a subject of ongoing debate among exegetes. However, scholarly discourse on this topic has predominantly relied on linguistic evidence, overlooking the potential insights to be gleaned from the role of the phrase «great joy» within the Lucan narrative in elucidating the connotations of the verb «to evangelize. To address the inquiry regarding whether the Evangelist Luke employed the verb «to evangelize» in 2:10 in accordance with its general semantic scope synonymous with «to proclaim,» its usage in the Old Testament, or its specific Christian theological connotation, a comprehensive examination of the relationship between «great joy» at the inception and culmination of the Gospel is essential. A discerning analysis of the Lucan narrative suggests a profound inclusio that, if comprehended, leads to the inference that the joy proclaimed to the shepherds encapsulates the essence of the Gospel, representing the salvific ministry of Christ and the fulfillment of prophetic promises.
Keywords: New Testament Exegesis, Gospel of Luke, ευαγγέλιον, Great Joy.
