The Presentation in the Temple (Luke 2:21–24): An Intertextual Reading in a Communicative Approach

Abstract

The presentation in the Temple (Luke 2:21–24) is a key text for understanding Jesus’ infancy. Through a rich intertextual dialogue, which includes the first two textual quotations from Luke, the importance of the Law of Moses in understanding the Messiah of Israel is shown. Circumcision, the naming, the offering, and the ransom of the firstborn form the first stages in the life of Jesus. The journey proposed starts from the text in its literary context, analysing textual cohesion and communicative coherence, and concluding with a pragmatic focus.