Human Dignity (ἄξιος) in the Lucan Narrative (Luke and Acts)

Abstract

The “double work” of St. Luke (the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles) contains fifteen occurrences of the Greek term ἄξιος, understood as “worthy or deserving of something.” All of these instances refer to the following figures: John the Baptist, the centurion of Capernaum, the prodigal son, the disciples of Jesus, and St. Paul. These occurrences can be interpreted in three ways. First, as concrete actions that clearly indicate conversion or its absence. Second, St. Luke uses the term in reference to a sense of personal unworthiness, as seen in the attitudes of the prodigal son, John the Baptist, and the Jews in Pisidian Antioch, who declared themselves “unworthy of eternal life.” The final usage of the term concerns actions deemed deserving of capital punishment. In this context, Jesus—though innocent and undeserving of death—was sentenced to crucifixion by Pilate. Similarly, St. Paul, also declared unworthy of the death penalty, avoided execution by appealing to Caesar’s judgment.