Luke as the Master Architect of “God’s Plan”: An Analysis of a Distinctive Lucan Concept

Abstract

Luke is the singular evangelist to use the term “plan” (boulē) (of God). He is also the only NT author to use the related terms horizō/hōrismenos, and these he uses in a sense similar to “boulē.” This article investigates Luke’s construction and use of the term “plan (of God)” to convey a fundamental proclamation of faith, namely, that the Jesus event fulfilled a predetermined divine plan. Primarily three examples from Luke (Peter’s Speech at Pentecost, Jesus’ words at the Last Supper, and the claim that the Messiah must suffer) demonstrate this claim. Luke’s use of this term reflects Greco-Roman concepts more than those in the LXX and would therefore have been readily understood by his predominantly Gentile audience. Luke may be properly understood as the master architect of God’s plan. This image and language that he forged was ultimately so effective it influenced centuries of Christian thought and catechetical formulae.