Jesus’ address to his disciples to “sell your cloak and buy a sword” from Luke 22:35-38 has long plagued biblical interpreters. Scholars have attempted to explain this passage in many ways. Some have suggested that Jesus was speaking figuratively, not speaking of buying literal swords, but alluding to the future persecution of the disciples. Some suggest Jesus was preparing them to take up swords to defend themselves after his departure, preparing them for bandits along the way. Along these lines, still others suggest Jesus was referring more generally to the time of trial to come after his resurrection. This passage has featured prominently in modern debates regarding Christian positions on guns and violence, some evangelical voices going as far to suggest that Jesus by implication encourages the right to brandish fire arms. In my latest appearance on the Naked Bible Podcast, I reframe this text in its wider narrative context addressing Luke’s use of scripture to come to quite the opposite conclusion. The content of this episode is based off of a paper I gave in the Synoptic Gospels program unit at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature in Atlanta (the paper is being prepared to send off for peer review this summer).
A careful reconsideration of this text is timely, and long overdue, and I hope you will benefit from it. Feel free to share (a handout accompanying the study is included on the website).
Naked Bible 205: The Sword and the Servant with David Burnett
Awesome Job David! I would love to get a copy of the actual article. Please, is it out yet and if it is where can I go to get a copy? I really believe this article is a game changer.
You can go to the Naked Bible Podcast website and go to #205. They provide a transcribed copy of all their interviews. Heiser seemed to do everything with excellence.
I would also love a copy of that article about the two swords if it exists.
I just listened to your podcast discussion on this with Heiser for the third time ! Am taking some time off now to look a bit into the foundations on which your insight is based because your comments on this touch on so many things that I want to get at least a little bit more of a feel for. I think looking into this will be spiritually beneficial.
Wow! Late to the game but glad I stumbled on this on NB-205 – exactly when as I was going through a lot of commentaries while doing my own study in trying to understand Luke 22:36-37! What a beautiful way to tie a lot of Luke together. I too would like to read your paper when it is available.