Robert F. O'Toole, «How Does Luke Portray Jesus as Servant of YHWH», Vol. 81 (2000) 328-346

This article explains Luke's meaning of Jesus as Servant of YHWH and claims this title as part of Luke's christology. Many references to Jesus as Servant of YHWH are unique to Luke, and a few summarize Jesus' ministry. These summary passages particularly look to Jesus' saving activity, universal mission and suffering. Other Servant of YHWH passages point out that Jesus is specially chosen and pleasing to God and determined to do his will. In particular, Acts 8,32-33 summarize Jesus' passion during which Luke views Jesus as the Servant and thus humble, innocent and silent. As the Servant Jesus is also risen and active.

Some scholars point out that a study of Luke’s christology which limits itself to the titles applied to Jesus necessarily has its lacunae¹, and in this they are surely correct. On the other hand, a consideration of any of these titles can potentially offer insights into how Luke portrayed his christology. Nor should the Lucan titles be reduced to one or two of them; rather the titles are similar in that they all refer to the same person, Jesus, and so are naturally associated with one another. However, each time a title occurs, it needs to be studied in its context to see what nuance it carries and thus how Luke may have employed it to develop his christology. This article will reflect on one of these titles, Servant of YHWH², about whose significance scholars are far from agreement; in their understanding of Luke’s treatment of Jesus as Servant of YHWH, some even doubt that there is enough data to say that the theme belongs to Luke’s christology. Here a case will be made for the opposite opinion, and a claim made about Luke’s meaning of this title.

        Naturally, a study of the topic must address a number of questions. Although most of Luke’s references to Jesus as this servant do refer to one of the Servant of YHWH hymns³, how many of the other Isaian passages, predicated of Jesus, did Luke regard as falling under this