Introduction to Study of the Gospel of Luke

Gospel of Luke Study - Introduction
The Reverend Jeffrey G. Bohan, Senior Pastor - St. Luke Lutheran Church – Bloomsburg, PA

Anonymous author
The Gospel of Luke was written by an author who never tells us his name within the gospel writing itself. The name of Luke was attached to this gospel early on, however. We do have in the earliest manuscript of this book dated to 175-225AD to which the name the Gospel According to Luke is attached, and in several other places there is mention to such a possibility that it was Luke who wrote the book.

Luke is named in several other New Testament books:
Philemon 24 - Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you,* 24and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow-workers.

Colossians 4:14 - 13For I testify for him that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you.

2 Timothy 4:11 - 11Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful in my ministry.

Luke in Tradition
Irenaeus (c130-200), bishop of Lyon, wrote about “Luke” who was Paul’s companion, and who recorded a book of the Gospel preached by him. This sounds like Luke is the scribe writing down what Paul is preaching.

Tertullian (c150-225) writes of Luke as one who has followed the apostles, thus showing that Luke follows the unbroken chain from Jesus to the apostles to the writer of the Gospel of Luke.

It is very possible from the above that Luke did indeed write this gospel, and that Luke was a companion with Paul, and possibly even Paul’s scribe. However, not much more is known about the author, and it is probably worth noting that the author wasn’t interested in being known, but rather sharing the content of the Gospel about Jesus!! Thus, just from the absence of this information we have a beginning of Luke’s theology, and a focus for his story not on himself, but rather on Jesus!!

Comparison of the Gospel of Luke to Matthew and Mark
These three gospels have been called “synoptic” gospels by scholars. Synoptic means “seeing together” and basically is talking about how similar these three Gospel stories are to each other. They seem to follow along the same general path, with only a few adjustments that are important to each one telling the story of Jesus in their own special way. In reading the Gospel of John, you will notice how different in character the writing is to these other three.

In comparing the gospels you will notice that there are some sections of each of these gospels that are strikingly similar if not exactly the same, there are sections of Luke & Matthew that are strikingly different from each other, and not at all in Mark, and you would notice that most of the Gospel of Mark is contained in both Matthew & Luke. This leads scholars to conclude that Matthew and Luke both probably used the Gospel of Mark to create their gospels, as well as a source that was common to both of them which scholars call “Q,” and that both Matthew and Luke had sources for material that are unique to their Gospel.

Luke from the Gospel Writing
- Luke is a skilled writer, and a master storyteller, and is able to weave the elements of the story into a complex story from beginning to end. He provides a structure for the entire Gospel, but also is able to provide structure for each story contained in the larger story.

- Luke has a deep knowledge of the Old Testament; and also knows the Greek world, and how to connect the two together.

- Luke was most probably in the artisan class (physicians are included here), who thus served the elite (Theophilus) to whom he is writing for.

Outline of the Gospel of Luke
Chapter 1 -2 – Prologue and Infancy Stories
Chapter 3 – 4:13 – Preparation for Jesus’ Ministry
Chapter 4:14 -9:50 – Jesus’ Ministry in Galilee
Chapter 9:51-19:27 – Jesus’ Journey to Jerusalem
Chapter 19:28-21:38 – Jesus’ Ministry in Jerusalem
Chapter 22-24 – Jesus’ Death (Passion) & Resurrrection

Themes running through the Book
Kingdom of God – how this is breaking into our world; banquet; eating; healing; good news to the poor; new sense of Kingdom, not what we normally think of as a Kingdom.

Wealth & Poverty – blessings of poverty and the dangers of wealth

Prophet’s Voices – Regular people being filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking words from God; these are the “good guys” in the story; connects with ACTS, and with us today as we follow Jesus God uses us as prophets speaking & doing by being filled with the Holy Spirit!

Repentance & Forgiveness = preaching the gospel/good news; disciples are required to forgive. “Repentance is Luke’s model for how ones begins discipleship.”(Vinson)

Salvation for all alike – Jesus breaks down all prejudice and eats with all who are labeled “sinners” by the religious elite.

Women – are visible in this gospel. They are very important, and play important roles.

Apostles (the 12 chosen ones), Disciples (70+ others that follow), Crowds (wishy-washy group that hangs around), & Enemies (Pharisees, Scribes, Chief Priests, Elders) – four groups that spend a lot of time around Jesus.

Identity of Jesus running through the Book
Son of God – used 6 times (Angel Gabriel, the devil 2x, demons 2x, question from “enemies”)
Prophet – one greater than the prophets. Fulfillment of the prophets.

Lord – used in various ways from the simple meaning of “sir” all the way to meaning Jesus is LORD of heaven and earth.

Messiah/Christ – “anointed one”; connects to kingship whoever is the Lord’s anointed.

Son of Man – how Jesus refers to himself most often in Luke; sometimes replaces “I”. Links Jesus’ ministry, his death, and the future judgment. What is our response to this “son of man”?

Savior - of the synoptics this appears only in Luke (2x) in the infancy narrative; but in a variety of forms links this idea of salvation in Jesus throughout the gospel.