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| Survey, Overview, & Chronology of the New Testament |
Gospel According To Luke
- I. To Whom:
- a. Theophilus, the most excellent one.
- i. A Greek name, Theophilos [Theophile], meaning: Friend of God, or God’s
friend.
ii. Compound proper name:
- 1. Theos—God.
2. Philos—the friendly one.
- iii. One of authority in the Roman community:
- 1. “Most excellent”—kratistos, mightiest, name used to describe men of
prominence and authority during Roman times.
2. Ac 23:26; 26:25.
- iv. It has been supposed that Theophilus was one converted by Paul while
Luke was with him (cf. Ac 25:10; Phil 4:22; Col 4:14; 2 Tim 4:11; Phile 24).
- 1. This has been suggested as mere speculation for which little
evidence exists besides the historical traditions.
2. Though no real evidence of this exists, it is a plausible thought.
- b. To all (2:10, 32; 3:6; 19:10; 21:24).
- i. Note Luke traces Christ back to Adam.
ii. Hence showing salvation offered to all mankind.
- c. It is thought that by addressing this to one as influential as Theophilus that Luke
was, in reality, addressing the entire Roman community.
II. Date:
- a. 60-62 A.D.
- i. Luke ends the Acts letter with Paul in Rome, but does not give the outcome,
which suggests that it was not known at the time Luke wrote being present
with Paul.
ii. This was about the year A.D. 61, hence Luke probably wrote this gospel
record shortly prior to that and Acts of Apostles not long afterward.
iii. The best we can conclude from this is that the date would be 60-62 A.D.
- b. Though there is no solid evidence of the afore mentioned, it is again plausible,
and has been held as reliable verbal tradition.
III. Author:
- a. Luke the beloved physician, the evangelist (Col 4:14; 2 Tim 4:11; Phile 24).
- i. A Roman name, which always appears as Lukanus [Lucas] in the Greek,
meaning: the light giver; hence the term: “the evangelist.”
ii. He accompanied Paul on most of his missionary journeys (Ac 1:1; Lk 1:3;
Ac 20:13, 15; 21:3; et al.).
iii. Was a direct convert of an apostle—1:2.
- b. Universal and un-contradicted history and tradition has linked the narrative to
Luke; hence there is no reason to question his penmanship, though the Holy Spirit is
the divine author (2 Tim 3:16, 17).
- i. Compare Col 4:14 with the fact that Luke uses more than 300 medical
terms, many of which are unique to his gospel record.
- 1. Lk 5:12—“full of”
2. Lk 16:20—“full of”
3. Lk 4:38—“high fever”
4. Lk 22:51—“healed him” (only one to make mention of this).
5. Lk 10:34; 13:11—note the detail given.
6. Lk 18:25—rhaphis—surgeon’s needle.
7. “Luke was a physician. He used a medical vocabulary instinctively. In
the incident where the boy is said to be ‘thrown down’ (English text) by
his affliction, the Greek word Luke uses was the current medical term for
convulsions. In the incident where the distraught father cries to Jesus,
‘Look upon my son!’, the word Luke uses for ‘look upon’ is the current
medical term used of a physician seeing a patient. Like most physicians
Luke was understandably defensive of the medical profession. When
the hemorrhagic woman approaches Jesus, Matthew and Mark tell us
she had exhausted all her savings on physicians but was no better. Dr.
Luke tells us the same story, but chooses to omit the part about costly
medical treatment that has proved ineffective” [Victor Shepherd].
- ii. “There are about fifty words not found elsewhere in the New Testament in
the Gospel According to Luke and Acts of the Apostles. Luke differs from
Matthew and Mark in that his sentence structures are more elaborate and his
style of composition more finished” [H. Leo Boles]; hence implying his
educational background.
IV. Purpose:
- a. Clearly stated in 1:1-4.
- i. V.1—compare to 2 Thess 2:2—perhaps inaccurate or false accounts were
being circulated.
- 1. It is possible that the two previous gospel records caused others to
inaccurately state the events of the life of Christ.
2. Luke sets the record straight.
- ii. V.3—inspiration causes to clarify (Inspired chronological events).
iii. V.5—Historical accuracy—“there was.”
iv. Mark’s quick narrative was already being circulated, as well as Matthew’s
account setting forth the deity and authority of Jesus. Luke now places a
chronology on the life of Christ and the spread of the gospel.
- b. To prove the deity of Jesus (1:35).
c. To expose Jesus as the Savior (2:11; 7:34).
d. Luke 19:10—purpose of the whole Bible.
- V. Things to Note:
- a. 1:4—Christianity is a taught religion—katecheo—orally taught.
b. Only Luke gives the account of the birth of John the baptizer, the full details of the
birth of Jesus (1-2).
c. He is the only writer to tell us anything of Jesus between His birth and His 30th
year of age (2:41-52).
d. Gives age of Jesus—3:23.
e. Shows Jesus came to “serve, save and receive” (19:10; 5:32; 2:10, 32; 3:6, 38;
17:11-19; 21:24).
f. Some call it the gospel of prayer (3:21; 5:16; 6:12; 9:16, 28, 29; 11:1; 22:32, 41-
45; 23:34, 46; 24:30).
- i. Importance of prayer and to be prayerful (11:2-4; 18:1; 21:36; 22:40, 46).
ii. Parables about prayer (11:5-8; 18:1-8, 9-14).
- g. Records 25 miracles, 6 of which are unique to Luke (5:4-7; 7:11-16; 13:10-14; 14:
1-5; 17:11-19; 22:50, 51).
h. Records 17 parables, 13 of which are unique to Luke (7:40-50; 10:25-37; 11:5-
10; 12:13-21; 13:6-9; 14:7-11; 14:15-24; 15:8-10, 11-32; 16:1-13; 18:1-8, 9-14; 19:
11-27).
i. Gives insight of eternity—16:19-31.
j. Calling Jesus Lord means obeying Him—6:46.
k. Greatest chapter: 24.
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