Actions as Means of Reconciliation in the Greco-Roman World: Its Hermeneutical Importance in Luke’s Gospel

• Godwin Akpan Etukumana Provost ECWA Theological Seminary; Stellenbosch University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8967-6677

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7833/123-1-2197

Abstract

Reconciliation is not a rhetorical nuance; rather, it implies several actions that must be carried out for it to be affected. Reconciliation as an ancient practice was something that ancient people could feel, touch and experience. Examining reconciliation as an ancient practice becomes necessary to shed light on this ancient and important practice. The practice of this process in the Greco-Roman world was carried out using several actions. These actions, and how such actions were used in defining the reconciliation process, were carefully examined. It was discovered that actions such as healing, rituals, eating of meals and exchange of gifts were some of the actions that ancient Greco-Romans used to achieve reconciliation. Examining some of these actions in the Greco-Roman world will help in the hermeneutical understating of the contemporary literature that existed during that period. The Gospel of Luke naturally fits into such ancient documents and its examination showed that the process of reconciliation was similar both in the Greco-Roman and the Gospel of Luke.  Many actions of Jesus in Luke's Gospel are aimed at achieving the process of reconciliation.