Images of Illness in the Gospel of Luke

Insights from Ancient Medical Texts

By (author) Annette Weissenrieder

Book cover: Images of Illness in the Gospel of Luke

Extent: 443 pages

Publisher: Mohr Siebeck

Subjects: Biblical Studies

Series: Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 2.Reihe

Language: English

Paperback (Published)

(July 2003)

ISBN: 9783161479151

6.14 x 9.13 inches

Price: $141.00

In stock

To which degree was ancient medical knowledge incorporated into the healing narratives of the Gospel of Luke? Focusing on the crossroads of theology and medical history, Annette Weissenrieder analyzes the illness-related terminology of the Gospel against the background of classical medical texts.


Analyzing the illness-related terminology of the Gospel against the background of classical medical texts, Annette Weissenrieder examines the degree to which ancient medical knowledge was incorporated into the healing narratives of Luke’s Gospel. Her work focuses on the crossroads of theology and medical history. Her primary reference is the “Corpus Hippocraticum”, supplemented by other ancient authors. She also examines Jewish sources in the light of these secular medical texts. The premise of the study is the constructivist concept that the cultural norms of a particular society shape the description of the body and the perception of illness. Annette Weissenrieder confirms that the concepts of illness used by the Lucan author were profoundly characteristic of his time.

  • By (author) Annette Weissenrieder