Elimentry Notes About the Gospels:Part IV, Luke

The Third of the synoptic Gospels, is Luke. 

 Τὸ κατὰ Λουκᾶν εὐαγγέλιον, to kata Loukan euangelion 

Luke's account is written as a first part of  two, the second part being the Book of Acts.Luke's Gospel is the longest of the Gospel accounts and seems to be directed to a Greek Audience being composed in "Koine" Greek, or "common" Greek also at times "Alexandrian Dialect". It is believed to have been written in the early 60's AD

Luke traces the linage of Jesus to the very beginning, to Adam himself down to Mary mother of Jesus,through whose eyes we see the entrance of Jesus into human history.
Luke present's Jesus to the Greek world as the perfect "divine-man" ; Greek mythology was filled demi-gods, that is humans begotten by one of the Greek Pantheon gods, but Luke is careful to show them that their myths were no comparison to the person of Jesus who is not half-god but is fully God as well as fully human..

Luke takes us to Zechariah the priest who while ministering at the temple receives an angelic visitation informing him that he and his elderly wife Elizabeth will have a child who would be John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus. Luke:1:5-25

The Annunciation & Mary's Visit

In Luke  we are taken to the young Mary, who receives the angilcal vist announcing to her and to us all that she would be mother of the Messiah, and Mary's trip to here elderly relative Elisabeth who was also with child. Luke:1:39-45 

The Magnificat

Luke includes Mary's song of praise to God for His salvation called the Magnificat.

"My soul glorifies the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.

He looks on his servant in her lowliness;

henceforth all ages will call me blessed.

The Almighty works marvels for me.

Holy his name!

His mercy is from age to age,

on those who fear him.

He puts forth his arm in strength

and scatters the proud-hearted.

He casts the mighty from their thrones

and raises the lowly.

He fills the starving with good things,

sends the rich away empty.

He protects Israel, his servant,

remembering his mercy,

the mercy promised to our fathers,

to Abraham and his sons for ever." Luke:1:46-55

Two Volumes

Luke in writing the Book of Acts, mentions to Theophilus that He has penned theses accounts

"The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen." Acts:1:12-2

 "Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught".Luke:1 :-3

Note, that each is address to a Theophilus, "one who loves God", no one is sure as to who this person was or how they fit into the early history of the Christian Church,  but apperntly they were at least noted enough to recive a well researched set of documents by Luke who was a close associate of the Apostle Paul. .It is therorised by some scholars that Theophilus may have been a Roman appointed High Priest of Israel between AD 37 and AD 41, namedTheophilus ben Ananus.

Structure of Luke

Luke can basically be  structured  as followed :

1-The Prologue- 1:1-4

2-Jesu's Conception , Birth and Infancy- 1:5-2:52

3-Jesus Prepares  for Ministry-3:1-4:15

4-Galilee Ministry-4:16-9:50

5-Journey to Jerusalem-9:51-19:27

6-Jeruslem Ministry-19:28-21:38

7-Arest,  Trail , Crucifixion and Death-22:1-23:56

8-Resurrection of Jesus-24:1-53

 Beloved Physician 

Luke  apparently lived in he Greek city of Antioch   in Syria   Paul refers to Luke as "Luke, the beloved physician" Colossians:4:14  .This would speak of closes friendship and high regard  with Paul, and speak of a well educated person capable of research compiling and writing effectively the project that is now Luke and Acts. The style  employed reflects an educated and  disciplined min, Luke as well uses a rather a large  vocabulary his handling of the Like of Jesus.If tradition is correct that Luke was Greek, then  Luke would have been the only non-Jew to have written Scripture.

Luke mentions that many had taken the task of recording the times and teaching of Jesus, some point to he may have used John Mark's  account as source of information,  Luke would have certainly utilized any of the accounts that were available to him   in order research and   formulate  his Gospel. The accounts that would have been written by eye witness would have been of great value seeing that Luke himself was not one of the original disciples, but rather a Hellenistic Greek  physician. There is an ancient "tradition"  that Luke was an artist and may have contributed  to the early church's "iconology"  , that is painted or drawn  symbols to reflect Biblical events and persons, Luke himself is duplicated as a winged bull.

It is believed that Luke died at age 84 in a town called  Boeotia

Jesus's Compassion

Luke mentions to his readers the compassion that Jesus had for all, the lost and down trodden , the sick. He also points out the role of woman in the ministry of our Lord. 

Luke is careful to present Jesus' prayer life and emphasis is given to this fact it.

The "Lost Parables"

Luke's Gospel is the only one that mentions the parables of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and the Lost Son. Luke:15:3-32. 

He is the only writer to mention the Evangelism tour that Jesus sent the seventy-two out on. Luke :10:1-24

Luke's Gospel gives Greek and Jewish as well as all Christian's throughout the ages; that what they have believed is in truth historical and reliable, Jesus is that one through which God has brought salvation to humanity. Amen

 

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

Fountain of Life Church

Washington, Pa 

Fountain of Life Broadcast heard on RKP Radio 1710 & 1670 in Washington, Pa.

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