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LAZARUS

(Gk. Lázaros)

A common Jewish name (Heb. ʾel-ʿāzār, “God helps”). Luke 16:19-31 reports a parable by Jesus regarding the contrasting eternal fates of a poor Lazarus (the only named character in Jesus’ parables) and a rich man. A pivotal section of the Gospel of John (John 11:1–12:11) presents Jesus’ raising Lazarus from the dead as the act that fixed the determination of Jesus’ opponents to put him to death. Interpreters have often mused about whether these two stories are related. Some have suggested that John’s account arose from Luke’s parable as a demonstration that indeed Lazarus’ return from death (and ultimately Jesus’ own) would not change people’s actions (cf. Luke 16:30-31). Others have suggested that it was John’s miracle story that eventually imposed a name upon the character in Luke’s parable. The consensus, to the extent that there is one, remains that the two figures are unrelated.

Much of the study of the parable of Lazarus and Dives (Lat. “rich man”) in the 20th century has focused on possible literary antecedents. Hugo Gressmann argued the story is taken from the Egyptian folktale about the tour of the underworld by Si-Osiris and Setme that concluded with the moral that those who had done good in life would be rewarded in death, while those who had done evil would be punished. Others have recently argued for closer parallels in Cynic stories about trips to Hades (Lucian Cataplus or Menippus Nekyia). At a minimum, the parable of Lazarus underscores Luke’s theological theme that “God helps” the poor.

The Lazarus of John’s Gospel reportedly lived in Bethany with his sisters Mary and Martha. One point that is emphasized throughout the story is Jesus’ special love for and relationship with Lazarus (John 11:3, 5, 11, 35-36). This emphasis has led some to propose that Lazarus may have been the “Beloved Disciple” (e.g., John 13:23; 21:7, 20) whose death seems to have been so troubling to the Johannine community (21:23). There remains, however, no scholarly consensus on the identity of the Beloved Disciple.

Timothy B. Cargal

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

LAZARUS

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)