LUKE

(@ mid-1st century AD)

BACKGROUND

• BOOKS:
  • Gospel of Luke
  • book of Acts of the Apostles (sequel)
    • often called Luke-Acts, as 1 book
• BACKGROUND:
  • Greek (Lucanus?)
  • Gentile Christian (only one as writer in NT)
  • non-Jew (not circumcised)
  • non-Christian, but familiar w/Jewish customs, OT Greek
• companion of the Apostle Paul:
  • (witnessed Paul’s many arrests, beatings)
  • Christians tolerated as Jewish sect; AD 64 Rome fire, Nero blames Christians, Christianity & Judaism seen as 2 distinct religions, Christianity = new religion = illegal --> persecutions, despised, seen as superstition (esp. in foreign lands)
  • 1st great Christian apologia = Gospel of Luke & Acts of the Apostles
    • a Defense of Christianity (legal defense)

BACKGROUND

• PROFESSION:
  • historian
  • medical doctor by profession (maybe)
  • educated (definitely)
    • --> attention to detail, recording events & dates
      • scientific, orderly approach
      • carefully researched events
        • “eyewitnesses and servants of the word” (1:2)
        •  interviews & preachings of the apostles
        • (close with Paul)
• ARTIST:
  • “painter in words”
  • descriptive, visual
  • most literary of the Gospels

BOOK of LUKE

WRITTEN:

• @ AD 60 (written in Rome?)
• 3rd Gospel
• one of the 3 “Synoptic Gospels” (Matthew, Mark and Luke)
• a defense of Christianity
  • apologia
  • supported by address to Roman official, Theophilus
  • only New Testament book meant for an audience outside the Christian community

WRITTEN TO:

• Theophilus (“one who loves God”)
• a Roman who was interested in burgeoning Christianity movement
• all those who are interested, who “love God”
• Gentiles
• (perhaps as a defense of Paul who was on trial – defense of Christianity - see above)
   

BOOK of LUKE

PARTS:

• 1) Birth
• 2) Ministry
• 3) Death & Resurrection of Jesus

STORIES not in OTHER PARTS of the BIBLE (New to Luke):

• Zachariah’s vision
• angels & shepherds at Jesus’ birth
• child Jesus in the temple
• Parable of the Good Samaritan
• Parable of the Prodigal Son

STYLE

• styles –
  • formal, classical prose
  • racy narrative in vernacular
  • Semitic “Bible Greek”
• logical, orderly
• literary excellence, poetic, description, eye to detail
• a human, sensitive, compassionate Jesus
• interested in people over ideas/ideology

 THEMES

• the humanity of Jesus
• perfectness of Jesus (perfect man, perfect sacrifice, perfect savior)
• Jesus’ love of people
• Jesus’ compassion for the sinful, sick, poor
• emphasis to prayer, angels, miracles
• women have important place in the book
• (1) universality, recognition of Gentiles as well as Jews in God’s plan (2:30–32)
• (2) emphasis on prayer, especially Jesus’ praying before important occasions (see note on 3:21);
• (3) joy at the announcement of the gospel or “good news”;
• (4) special concern for the role of women (8:1–3);
• (5) special interest in the poor;
• (6) concern for sinners;
• (7) stress on the family circle (Jesus’ activity included men, women and children, with the setting frequently in the home);
• (8) repeated use of the Messianic title “Son of Man” (used 25 times);
• (9) emphasis on the Holy Spirit;
• (10) inclusion of more parables than any other Gospel;
• (11) emphasis on praising God (1:64; 24:53).