THE GospelTHE Gospel

According to Luke

The Gospel of Lk.The Gospel of Lk.

• Date: 85, give or take five to ten years

• It is the longest of the four gospels

• Yet it is only half of the great Lucan writings It was originally joined to Acts as

part of a two-volume work that in length constitutes over one quarter of the NT• A narrative that blends together

the story of Jesus and that of the early church.

• Only Lk. And Jh. Write a few verses explaining reflectively what they think they are bout.

Sources Sources

• The source for all this writing is a previous generation: “the original eyewitnesses and ministers of the word.”

• Mark

• Q

• Special L

The author by traditional attributionThe author by traditional attribution

• Luke

• 3 references in the NT Phlm 24; Col 4:14; II Tim

4:11

• A physician Technical medical

language

• Possibly a convert of St. Paul Acts of the Apostles

• Fellow worker and traveling companion of Paul.

The author detectable from contentsThe author detectable from contents

• Greek-speaking Gentile Christian• Well-educated person• Skilled writer

Writes an introduction sophisticated grammar and writing

style Contrasts with Mark’s simple

grammar and style• Knew the Jewish Scriptures in Greek• Was not an eyewitness of Jesus’

ministry.• Convert to Judaism before he became

a Christian• Writes to Theophilus

TheophilusTheophilus

Name means lover of God/beloved of God

Lk. calls him “most excellent” on three occasions.• Each of them in

reference to a governor of a Roman province

Some scholars argues that Lk’s 2 volumes were written for a Roman administrative official.

Luke’s CommunityLuke’s Community

• Some Jews• Many “pagans” who have

become Christians• Luke needs to make Jesus’

story relevant to them Jesus came not only for Jewish

community and in the Jewish tradition but for all

• Jesus is the Son of God Not difficult for “pagans” to

understand A number of Greco-Roman gods

had one human and one Divine parent

Luke’s GenealogyLuke’s Genealogy

• Starts w/ Adam and Eve Symbolizes a lineage from

the father and mother of all human beings

Implication - God is Adam and Eve’s parent, therefore Jesus’ parent, and the parent of all humanity

• Joseph’s father differs from Matthew’s account - uses a different line of David - Solomon