Title:
De-Norming reciprocity and deposing mammon: the inelegant 'traditional' solution to the steward parable (Lk 16:1-13) in juxtaposition with an ironic reading of Lk 16:8-9
Author:
Daniel Czajak
Degree Granting Institution:
Loyola University Maryland--College of Arts and Sciences
Place:
Baltimore (Md.)
Publisher:
Loyola Univeristy Maryland
Date Created:
2020
Type of Resource:
text
Genre:
thesis
Language:
eng
Format:
application/pdf
Physical Form:
electronic
Digital Source:
born digital
Abstract:
Among various interpretations of the Steward parable (Lk 16:1-13), two exegetical options fit the text without resorting to external information that is uncertain if not unlikely. The first, often considered to be the traditional view, is that the steward displayed a positive example of shrewdness but a negative example of stewardship. This position, which was Augustine’s stance, would have the master, who suffered dishonor and financial loss at the steward’s hands, praise the steward’s shrewdness in isolation from his unjust actions. It would also have Jesus analogize the shrewdness of the steward’s self-preservation to eschatological preparation in the form of almsgiving. Most biblical scholars, however, remain unconvinced because they do not think the master could have praised the steward under the circumstances the story seems to depict. Moreover, many interpreters do not believe Jesus would have made a dishonest person into a positive exemplar even as an analogue. Thus, scholars have often sought to rationalize the master’s commendation and Jesus’ exhortation (Lk 16:9) by hypothesizing reasons why the steward’s actions were shrewd and praiseworthy. Such approaches, however, founder in that, beyond the praise, the text in no way indicates that the steward acted in a praiseworthy manner. Rather, the steward’s actions seem underhanded, and the master’s praise is a confusing surprise. Thus, the Augustinian camp accordingly regards the parable as a tale of an unjust steward who selfishly victimized his master but was nonetheless praised by him for the shrewdness of doing so. Considering the overarching narrative intent is a cautionary tale against relying on money and its power, however, a positive example seems contextually unlikely here. This, in conjunction with the fact that Lk 16:9 neither primes the reader for an analogy nor mentions almsgiving, demonstrates that this is hardly an easy reading. If not substantially more compelling, the alternative is more straightforward. It is the notion that Jesus’ exhortation is verbal irony and that the master’s praise should be regarded as situational irony. If so, the steward is the antithesis of true shrewdness and righteous stewardship, and the parable teaches a singular lesson through a wholly negative example, which is thematically uncontroversial and obviates concerns about the exemplification of shrewdness amid unrighteousness. The most significant disadvantage of this reading, however, is that it is possible to read Lk 16:9 in a “straight,” non-ironic sense, thus failing to underscore the situational irony in surrounding parables that might predispose the reader to expect or, at least, not be surprised by verbal irony on Jesus’ part. Since Jesus occasionally spoke ironically, which can be difficult if not impossible to detect in writing, it stands to reason that He might have done so on this occasion. This study juxtaposes the traditional view with the broad argument for a combination of situational and verbal irony in Lk 16:8–9 in order to demonstrate that the former, though reasonable enough, may ultimately be specious, and that the latter, by contrast, is both elegant and contextually compelling.
Subject:
Theology
Subject:
Scripture
Subject:
Academic theses
Degree:
Master of Theological Studies
Level:
Master
Discipline:
Theology
Restrictions on Access:
Author has given permission to make this work available online to Loyola Notre Dame Library basic constituency.
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Identifier:
CzajakDJ-20
