Bible 120 New Testament
Gospel of Luke
Part of a larger unit, Luke-Acts (Vol I, I Vol II)
Authorship
Gospel is actually anonymous, but the superscription ascribes it to Luke.
Muratorien Canon plus Irenaeus (ca 180 AD) ascribe it to Luke. Luke was a
Gentile, physician, and associate of Paul. Who wrote the diary sections of Acts?
Did the same man write the rest of Luke- Acts?
Sources
Mark
Q (sayings of Jesus)
Luke’s special material – L
Birth and infancy narratives – L?
Proto – Luke (a shorter version composed of materials from Q and L)
Date and Place of Writing
Between Nero and Domitian, ca 80-85
Rome, Caesarea, Achaia?
Purpose of Writing
1. Author wanted to tell a story which would faithfully present the events
upon which the Gospel was based
2. Delineate relationship between Christianity and Judaism. This included
both establishing a.) continuity between Christianity and Jewish
redemptive history and b.) showing how the alienation between the two
movements occurred.
3. Prove that Christianity was no threat to political authority of Rome
4. Give solution to problems arising out of wrong view of Parousia, or second
coming. Conzelmann, salvation history in three stages in Luke:  period
of Israel  period of Jesus ministry  period of the church
Lukan Motiffs
1. Holy Spirit – 17 references in Luke, 57 in Acts
2. Prayer – Luke relates prayer to crucial events in Jesus’ ministry –
baptism, calling of 12, confession, transfiguration. Jesus gives Lord’s
1
Bible 120 New Testament
prayer, prays rejoicing over success of disciples’ ministry, intercedes for
Peter, prays on the cross. Parable of the unfortunate widow, Pharisee
and tax collector, are examples of Jesus’ teaching on prayer.
3. Social Concerns

Good Samaritan

Ten Lepers

Concern for Tax Collector

Contract between Jesus and religious leaders in attitude toward
sinners
4. Women

Mary and Elizabeth

Mary and Martha

Women who provided support for Jesus and the disciples
5. Wealth

Called unrighteous mammon but not condemned

Foolish farmer

Rich man and Lazarus

Conscious of Zaccheus’ desire bearing on wealth
2