Gabriel’s Entrance and Biblical Violence in Luke’s Annunciation Narrative

Abstract

In this critical note I examine sexually violent biblical language and motifs that Luke includes in his annunciation narrative. Specifically, I show that Luke’s introduction of Mary and his depiction of Gabriel’s entrance make Mary an object of sexual advance and also sexual violence in a manner common in the LXX. Moreover, I argue that Gabriel’s greeting to Mary and Mary’s self-nomination as a slave further reinforce this violence. Sexually violent biblical language and tableaux are, I conclude, one manifestation of Luke’s sustained biblical allusiveness early in his gospel.

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