The Death of Jesus in the Lucan Narrative and the Account of the Babylonian Talmud: A Critical-Theological Approach

The aim of this study is to analyze the account of the Passion and death of Jesus as presented in the Gospel of Luke and to compare it with passages from the Babylonian Talmud (Sanhedrin 43a). Particular attention has been given to both the Gospel narrative and the Talmudic texts concerning Jesus. The main research problem of this study is to answer the question of to what extent later rabbinic texts, by highlighting their similarities and differences with the Passion and death narratives of Jesus, may help confirm the authenticity of the events described in the Gospel of Luke, and what new elements and information can be found in Talmudic sources that may shed new light on the final moments of Jesus' life. The first chapter provides a general outline of the process of shaping Luke’s account of the Passion and death of Jesus, the successive phases of the formation of Gospel Passion and death narratives, as well as the development of these descriptions and the role of Old Testament texts in shaping the Passion narratives. The second chapter examines the Talmudic account of Jesus' death, the historical context of the Talmud's formation, and its structural components—including the Mishnah, Baraitot, Midrashim, Tosefta, and Gemara. It also systematically presents various references to Jesus in the Talmud, particularly regarding his trial and execution according to Talmudic law. The core part of this chapter consists of an analysis and commentary on passages interpreting Jesus' trial and death, with particular emphasis on Sanhedrin 43a. The third chapter discusses the Gospel and Talmudic traditions regarding the birth and origin of Jesus of Nazareth, as well as aspects of his ministry and teachings. It also compares the descriptions of Jesus' trial and death in the Gospel tradition and rabbinic sour ces, with special focus on the accounts of Luke and the Babylonian Talmud. Additionally, this chapter includes a characterization of Luke as an author of the Passion narrative.