Smith, David Andrew. Luke and The Jewish Other: Politics of Identity in the Third Gospel. New York: Routledge, 2024, pp. 219.

Abstract

The monograph comprises eight chapters, including an introduction and a conclusion. The objective is to discuss identity at the birth of Christianity. The introduction section of the book analysed the need for the early Christians, who are predominantly Jews, to part ways with Judaism and construct a new identity that fits their newly found religion – Christianity. The valedictory from Judaism to Christianity came with certain challenges, which were expected and the identity construction was saddled with many options to consider.1 Smith defined the constituencies of “identity”, which is related to the “other”, and it is a complex phenomenon that is often influenced by conflicts and communion. It is a theological and historical exercise within the third Gospel. The argument of Smith is that Christian identity in the Gospel of Luke did not emanate out of conflict with the other but was a construction that the earliest followers of Jesus framed consciously.