THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

LUKE 1:1-4

In as much as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, 3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; 4 so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught. (Luke 1:1-4).

THE TITLE OF THE BOOK

The title in most Greek texts is Kata Lucan, "According to Luke." It is unique among the four gospels in that this is the only Gospel Account that is followed by a sequel. The Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts are written as companion volumes. They are part one and part two of the work of Jesus.

THE PLACE OF LUKE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

The Bibles has four separate books which detail the life and ministry of Jesus. We customarily refer to these as the "Four Gospels." Luke is one of the four gospels. It is also a part of the Synoptic Gospels.

Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
Eye-witness	Associated with Peter and Paul	Associated with Paul	Eye-witness
Written to Jews	Written to Gentiles	Dedicated to a Greek official	Written to the World
Jesus is King	Jesus is a Servant	Jesus is a Teacher	Jesus is the Son of God
Sermons	Miracles	Parables	Doctrines
Synoptic Gospels			4th Gospel

THE SCOPE OF THE BOOK

1. Birth Narrative.

Luke and Matthew are the only two accounts which contain the birth narratives of Jesus. While Matthew seems to focus on these narratives from the point of view of Joseph, Luke seems to give us Mary’s perspective.

Matthew gives us a genealogy that begins with Abraham.

Luke gives us a genealogy that traces the line of Jesus all the way back to Adam.

Dates.

Luke is unique in giving us the exact dates for the beginning of the ministry of John the Baptist. He does so by tying it into the reigns of the Roman emperors.

Luke and the Old Testament.

does not speak much about Jesus having fulfilled Old Testament prophecies. Though a number of the prophecies are mentioned, they do not have the same emphasis of which we find in Matthew where we see the common formula: "This took place that it might be fulfilled..."

4. Luke presents the longest parables of Jesus.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son.

The Parable of the Unjust Steward.

The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan.

Each of these parables are found only in Luke’s Gospel.

5. Luke tends to avoid the use of Hebraisms.

He uses "Master" or "Teacher" instead of "Rabbi."

He describes a "Lawyer" instead of a "Scribe."

He usually has Jesus say, "Truly" instead of "Amen."

He speaks of the "Lake" rather than the "Sea" of Galilee. Only the Jews would have referred to a body of water eight miles across as a Sea.

AUTHOR

The Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts are written as companion volumes. They are part one and part two of the work of Jesus.

Luke	Acts
The ministry of Jesus as He was on earth	The ministry of Jesus from heaven
Teachings of Jesus	Teachings of the apostles
Introduction of the Gospel	Progress of the Gospel
Christ revealed historically	Christ revealed mystically
Christ for us	Christ in us
Begins with the events surrounding the coming of Christ to earth.	Begins with the ascension of Christ into heaven
Ends with the disciples in Jerusalem	Ends with the apostle Paul in Rome

This two-volume set makes up 28% of the entire New Testament - more than all of the epistles of Paul combined.

1. The Early Church Fathers are uniform in attributing the 3rd Gospel and Acts to Luke.

Luke also, the companion of Paul, set down in a book the gospel preached by him. (Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3:1:1).

Style of Writing.

Even a cursory reading of the 3rd Gospel with the book of Acts will show that they were written by the same hand.

In Acts 1:1, the author makes reference to "the first account" he composed and which told "about all the Jesus began to do and teach."

Both Luke and Acts are dedicated to Theophilus. This is the only mention in the Bible of this man.

There is a strong similarity of style and language in both books. They both utilize a very high vocabulary and command of the Greek language.

They both have a similar world outlook. They reflect the same interest in Gentiles and the same interest in women.

Luke was not Jewish. His name is a Latin name (short for Lucanus). He writes in the highest Greek of the New Testament.

The end of Luke dovetails into the beginning of Acts. Acts begins where Luke leaves off. Acts is a sequel.

Jesus only appears to his disciples in Jerusalem in Luke and Acts.

Luke is the only Gospel which refers to the trial of Jesus before Herod Antipas (Luke 23:7-12). An allusion to this theme is made in Acts 4:27 and the book of Acts goes on to relate the stories of the later Herods as they related to the message of the Gospel.

Luke the Physician.

Luke is described by Paul at the beloved Physician (Colossians 4:14). Both Luke and Mark relate the story of the woman with the longstanding issue of blood who was healed by Jesus.

Mark 5:21	Luke 8:43
She had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had	Had spent all her living upon physicians, and could not be healed of any

Is there a bit of professional understanding in Luke’s account as opposed to that of Mark?

When Luke speaks of the difficults of a camel going through the eye of a needle, he uses a different word to describe the needle; one that is used elsewhere by Greek writers to describe a needle used for medical purposes.

LUKE’S PURPOSE IN WRITING

Luke was not an eyewitness of the earthly ministry of Jesus. He came on the scene as a "2nd generation Christian." He evidently was permitted opportunity to interview some of those who had known Jesus personally.

There were others who had already written accounts of the life of Christ. Scholars have noted that nearly half of the events and statements found in the book of Mark can also be found in Luke. He makes no secret of having used these kinds of source documents in his research for writing his account.

Luke writes to Theophilus as well as to others so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught. This is a setting forth of the facts of the life and ministry of Jesus.

LUKE’S RECIPIENTS

Both Luke and Acts are addressed to an unknown person by the name of Theophilus. Yet there is a distinct difference in the manner in which they are addressed. In Luke 1:3 he is called, most excellent Theophilus. In Acts he is addressed simply as Theophilus. Why the change?

The title most excellent Theophilus is an honorific. It indicates that this person held some official political position within the Roman Empire.

We know both from the epistles as well as from other early church writings that honorifics were often dropped when a Christian addressed another Christian. You don’t call your brother "mister" or "your Honor" and such titles were not used among believers. The implication here is that Theophilus read the book of Luke and became a Christian. Because of this, he is addressed at the beginning of the book of Acts simply as Theophilus.

On a larger level, Luke writes his narrative to Greeks who would have had little or no knowledge of the Jewish Scriptures or customs of the day.

About the Author
Return to the St Andrews Homepage
Return to Online Bible Studies & Sermons Page
Have a Comment? Place it on our Bulletin Board.