Jesus Calling the First Disciples: Reading Luke’s Account Through the Lenses of Sensing and Intuition

ABSTRACT

The Lucan account of Jesus’ calling of the first disciples differs from the dominant and better known Marcan narrative in a number of ways. The Lucan account has been prefaced by an introduction to the person and actions of Jesus and specifically triggered by the miraculous catch of fish that Luke shares with John 21. Drawing on psychological type theory and the SIFT approach to biblical hermeneutics, this study tests the hypothesis that sensing types and intuitive types will see different things in this passage. The theory was tested by inviting a group of 19 clergy and lay members of ministry teams to work in type-alike groups. The data are consistent with the theory.

KEYWORDS:

• Psychological type
• biblical hermeneutics
• reader perspective
• empirical theology

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Susan H. Jones

The Very Revd Dr Susan H. Jones is Dean of Liverpool and Honorary Professor of Cathedral Studies within the World Religions and Education Research Unit at Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln, England.

The Revd Canon Professor Leslie J. Francis is Professor Emeritus of Religions and Psychology, Centre for Educational Development, Appraisal and Research (CEDAR), University of Warwick, UK; Co-Director of the World Religions and Education Research Unit, Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln, UK; Canon Theologian at Liverpool Cathedral, England.