Cited by 3Biblical Studies and InterpretationNarrative Theory and AnalysisContemporary Christian Leadership and Education

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 24 of the 25 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 1 of the 84 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Astonishment and joy: Luke 1 as told from the perspective of Elizabeth

Open access
Branch, Robin G.·2013·In die Skriflig/In Luce Verbi

Abstract

This article, a dramatic, scholarly monologue, examines the events that Luke 1 recounts, retelling them from the viewpoint of Elizabeth, the elderly wife of Zechariah, a priest. It uses a literary method and presents the monologue as an eyewitness account.1 Luke 1 frames its central events from a female and gynocentric perspective.2 As a participant in the infancy narrative in Luke 1, Elizabeth should figure predominantly in scholarly articles and sermons. Surprisingly, she does not. Instead, scholarly, lectionary and congregational attention focuses primarily on Zechariah and Mary, two of the other speaking characters. Consequently, this article seeks to showcase, honour, and analyse Elizabeth, an overlooked yet pivotal character in Luke’s gospel. Via a dramatic monologue, it lets her speak about the astonishing recent events in her life and thereby invites readers and hearers to share her joy, surely a singular theme in Luke’s gospel.Hierdie artikel, ‘n wetenskaplike monoloog in dramavorm, ondersoek die gebeure volgens Lukas 1. Dit word hervertel vanuit die perspektief van Elisabet, die bejaarde vrou van die priester Sagaria. ’n Literêre metode word gebruik en die monoloog word as ’n ooggetuieverslag aangebied. Lukas 1 se hoofgebeure word vanuit ‘n vroulike perspektief asook dié van ongebore babas (‘gynocentric’) gekontekstualiseer. As inherent deel van die jeugvertelling van Lukas 1 behoort Elisabet oorwegend in wetenskaplike artikels en preke te figureer. Dit is verrassend dat dit nie gebeur nie. In wetenskaplike leesstukke en tydens gemeentelike byeenkomste word hoofsaaklik op Sagaria en Maria, die ander twee hoofkarakters, gefokus. Elisabet is ’n miskende sleutelkarakter in die Evangelie van Lukas en daarom poog hierdie artikel om Elisabet uit te lig, eervol te erken en te analiseer. Deur dramatiese monoloog kry Elisabet die geleentheid om oor die verstommende gebeure van haar onlangse lewe te praat. Sy nooi hiermee die lesers en toehoorders uit om in haar vreugde te deel – sekerlik ’n buitengewone tema in die Lukasevangelie.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This article is a creative religious drama: a first-person dramatic monologue retelling Luke 1 from the perspective of Elizabeth, framed by an Announcer and six readers who first read the chapter from the NIV. It argues that Elizabeth is a central, dynamic character in Luke 1 whose contribution has been neglected, and it uses imaginative elaboration in the tradition of Midrash to bring her to life.

Key findings

  • The paper claims Luke 1 gives "textual importance to women" and that Elizabeth and Mary are "the principal persons in Luke 1"; it cites Bauckham's (2002:47) description of Luke 1:5–80 as "a gynocentric text" and Martin's (1982:395) note of the "almost universal neglect of these feminine symbols by Protestant male interpreters."
  • The author states an impetus for the work: "I have never heard a sermon on her life," and aims "to honour her contribution to the biblical text."
  • The monologue presents Elizabeth as a dynamic character who "grows and changes," and Zechariah as a "round character" who changes from his encounter with Gabriel to his prophetic song.
  • The drama asserts Elizabeth's priority in recognition: "Mary, of course, was the first to know that Jesus... is the Son of God. But I, Elizabeth, I and the baby son within me were the second to recognise that the Son of God is in the womb of Mary."

Methods

  • Design: a creative religious drama in the form of a first-person monologue, preceded by a staged reading of Luke 1 (NIV) by an Announcer and six other readers; the author notes this is her third published drama.
  • Sources: the monologue is annotated with 54 references to biblical commentaries and scholarship (e.g., Fitzmyer, Nolland, Green, Bock, Morris, Barclay, Brown, Bauckham), and the author describes the work as "fun, but academic in the sense of solid research."
  • Imaginative elaboration: the author explicitly inserts non-biblical material (e.g., Zechariah's gift of a shawl) and justifies it as following "the Jewish tradition of Midrash," which she defines as "creative exegesis."

Limitations

  • Stated: the author acknowledges the shawl is not in Luke — "Luke does not mention that Zechariah gives Elizabeth a shawl. I inserted it for several reasons" — and notes the drama "does not agree with the view that Mary retained her virginity after her marriage to Joseph."
  • Stated: the author concedes that "Luke does not say why Elizabeth decided to seclude herself," and that Green (1997:81) calls her five months of seclusion "a mystery"; the author offers her own reading (reinforcing the prophetic word to Mary) as an interpretation.
  • Evident from the text: this is an interpretive/devotional drama rather than an empirical study — there is no sample, data collection, or analysis, and no audience or reception evidence is reported beyond the author's remark that "both men and women have wept during the many times I have presented it."

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.4102/ids.v47i1.77

Cites

24 of 24 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

63 Sources not found · 19 Own interpretation · 14 No full text of the sources · 3 No basis given · 1 Supported · 1 Not checked yet

Show all 3 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 52
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 91
98 of 98
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Like the first chapter of 1 Samuel, Luke 1 contains the perspective of women.

    “Like the first chapter of 1 Samuel, Luke 1 contains the perspective of women.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The biblical narrative in Luke 1 is historically reliable and accurately reports the events and speeches it describes.

    “Luke 1:39-40 addresses Mary's visit this way: 'At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea where she greeted Elizabeth.'”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Miracles, including conception in old age and virgin birth, are possible.

    “Truly, my pregnancy is a miracle, an answer to the prayers of Zechariah in the Temple and our prayers throughout our marriage.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The Holy Spirit can inspire prophetic speech and fill a person.

    “Then I felt something entirely new: the Lord came upon me; I was filled with the Holy Spirit.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The Talmudic penalties for pregnancies outside marriage were in force in Mary's time.

    “Granted, we do not know if these penalties were in force in Mary/Mariam's time.However, they are sobering.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Mary or Mariam had priestly blood because Elizabeth is a daughter of Aaron.

    “If Mary or Mariam has priestly blood, as may be the case, because Elizabeth is a daughter of Aaron, then she could be burned.”
6 of 6

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

2 of 2

Citations

Cites

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

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Metadata

Authors
Branch, R. G.
Affiliations
North-West University (ZA)
Corresponding author
Branch, Robin G.
Venue
In die Skriflig/In Luce Verbi
Publisher
AOSIS
Published
2013-11-29
Volume
47
Issue
1
ISSN
  • 1018-6441 (ISSN-L)
  • 2305-0853
OpenAlex
W2125751841
Cited by
3
References
25
Citations by year
2024: 2 · 2013: 1
FWCI
7.15
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • In die Skriflig/In Luce Verbi (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Boloka Institutional Repository (North-west University) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Religious studies › Biblical Studies and Interpretation
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Literature and Literary Theory › Narrative Theory and Analysis
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Religious studies › Contemporary Christian Leadership and Education
Keywords
Elizabeth, Zechariah, Luke 1, infancy narratives, dramatic monologue, women's perspectives, joy, astonishment, Gospel of Luke, eyewitness accounts, Mary, John the Baptist

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This page
CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Astonishment and joy: Luke 1 as told from the perspective of Elizabeth. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.4102/ids.v47i1.77
The paper
Branch, R. G. (2013). Astonishment and joy: Luke 1 as told from the perspective of Elizabeth. In die Skriflig/In Luce Verbi. https://doi.org/10.4102/ids.v47i1.77