Gospel According to Luke

Introduction

Luke tells the story of Jesus Christ, the divine/human. Among his most pronounced characteristics are his words and work that, accompany his compassion and tenderness extended to all who were needy.

The Universal Mission of Jesus

Traces his genealogy back to Adam (3:38 in contrast to Matthew who traces back through Abraham)
Includes references that commend the Samaritans (10:30-37) which was a despised race
Indicates for women a new place of important among the followers of Jesus (7:36-50; 8:3, 10:38-42)
Promises that Gentiles would have an opportunity to accept the gospel (2:32; 3:6; 24:27)

With regard to Jesus’ work in Galilee, Luke and his last week at Jerusalem, Luke includes more episodes of Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem.

Luke includes a special section (9:51-18:14) that includes parables not found in any other gospel narrative

Good Samaritan (10:25-37)
The Prodigal Son (15:11-32
The Unjust Judge (18:1-8
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (18:9-14)

The Author and the Readership

The point of view for Luke’s gospel is the gentile perspective. Contrary to Matthew, we will therefore see few quotations from the Old Testament and little by way of prophetic teaching as the gentiles would have had little knowledge of these. In addition, the word rabbi (Hebrew) is replaced with the more familiar Greek expression master.

Opinion on the authorship of Luke is split. Many feel that it is authored anonymously; however, there is strong evidence that Luke was a gentile convert and a physician and friend of Paul’s (Col 4:14; compare 2 Tim 4:11; Philemon 24). The Brooklyn appears to have been written at Antioch during the last third of the first century. No precise date is known. Luke is not an eyewitness to Jesus’ ministry and life; however, he begins the gospel with a statement indicating the care that he took in collecting and investigating information in the creation of the narrative (1:1-4). The gospel, along with the Book of Acts is dedicated to a Theophilus. It is not positive who this was, perhaps a Roman of high rank; perhaps just a generic “Lover of God” which is what the name means.

The Major Divisions

(Ch 1&2)Birth s of John the Baptist and Jesus

The boy in the Temple

(3:1-22) Activity of John the Baptist

Baptism of Jesus

(3::23-38) Genealogy of Jesus
(4:1-13) Temptation of Jesus
(4:14-9:50) Jesus’ activity, chiefly in Galilee
(9:451-19:27) Journey to Jerusalem
(19:28-23:56) The last week, concluding with Jesus crucifixion and burial
(Ch24) The resurrection, commissioning the disciples

Luke’s gospel is some of finest quality writing in the New Testament ranging from high classical Greek to the very peculiar style of Greek from Septuagint.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007