Truthful stories
For more commentary on this week's readings, see the Reflections on the Lectionary page, which includes Williams's current Living by the Word column as well as past magazine and blog content. For full-text access to all articles, subscribe to the Century.
I have neither given or received, nor have I tolerated others' use of unauthorized aid. At the university where I teach part time, students write this honor code statement on every exam, essay and homework submission. It is up to the instructor to identify what constitutes authorized aid for each assignment or exam.
When Luke set out to write his “orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us,” there seems to have been no concept of unauthorized aid. The author freely draws on the Gospel of Mark and the unknown source (Q) shared with the writer of Matthew. He tweaks these stories and rearranges them for his purposes. Luke also has unique sources for stories and sayings that are found in neither Matthew nor Mark.
