From Joseph to Jesus
The Joseph Narrative as a Compositional Template from Old Greek Esther to the Gospel of Luke
By (author) T. Siegenthaler
Paperback (Published)
(July 2026)
ISBN: 9789042954984
Price: $100.00
On back order
It has long been observed that the Joseph story was deployed as a narrative template by later Biblical writers, such as the writers of 2 Samuel 13, 2 Kings 25 par, Esther, Susanna and the gospels. In this volume Tobias Siegenthaler gathers, organises and complements those observations with his own. He argues that the the writers of Old Greek Esther and the Gospel of Luke employ the narrative paradigm established by the Joseph narrative as a template for the composition of their narratives of conflict, salvation and ascension to power. He demonstrates how they draw on patterns of interpretation that have already been established by the writers of the literature of the Hebrew Bible and its Old Greek iterations. Thus, the figure of Joseph does not only stand pars pro toto for Israel’s descent to Egypt or the later Northern Kingdom, but he also sets the pattern for ascension to power through conflict and suffering. Therefore, Jesus, though being a son of David from the tribe of Judah, looks very much like Joseph, and the question of the audience in the synagogue in Nazareth, “Is this not the son of Joseph?” (Lk 4:22), is telling. Siegenthaler concludes that Jesus is portrayed in the likeness of Joseph in order to express the reunification of the Northern and Southern kingdom, Joseph and Judah, the Samaritans and the Jews, in and through the Messiah son of David.
- By (author) T. Siegenthaler
Other Titles in this Series
Studies on Jewish and Christian Historical Summaries from the Hellenistic and Early Roman Periods
Volume 95
Re-thinking the Death of Jesus
An Exegetical and Theological Study of Hilasmos and Agape in 1 John 2:1-2 and 4:7-10
Volume 73
Wachstumsgesetz oder Kurzungstendenz?
Gedachtnispsychologische Erkenntnisse zu den inhaltlichen Uberhangen in den synoptischen Paralleltraditionen
Volume 104
In the Footsteps of Sherlock Holmes
Studies in the Biblical Text in Honour of Anneli Aejmelaeus
Volume 72
“If Christ is Preached as Raised from the Dead…”
Studies in Honour of Riemer Roukema on the Occasion of His Retirement
Volume 123
Sabbath in the Making
A Study of the Inner-Biblical Interpretation of the Sabbath Commandment
Volume 97
Three Versions of Esther
Their Relationship to Anti-Semitic and Feminist Critique of the Story
Volume 74
A Cosmic Leap of Faith
An Authorial, Structural, and Theological Investigation of the Cosmic Christology in Col 1:15-20
Volume 41
Anthropology in the New Testament and its Ancient Context
Papers from the EABS-Meeting in Piliscsaba / Budapest
Volume 54
“Have You Not Read this Scripture?”
Memory Variation and Context-Based Modification in the Old Testament Quotations in the Gospel of Mark
Volume 116
