Salvation 'Today' in Luke's Gospel

Abstract

More than any other New Testament narrative, Luke’s Gospel emphasizes “today.” It builds upon and adapts Second Isaiah’s language about salvation—as something taking shape anew for a new context—to clarify what God is up to in Jesus’ ministry. Even more, Luke’s statements about salvation are not just descriptive: they serve to bring about the saving activity they speak about—and not just for narrative characters, but also for his audiences. In these ways, Luke’s “today” language is not simply updating outdated interests: it bears witness to a transformative saving power that pertains to audiences of all times and places.