LESSON I.7 (Luke 3:1—9:50)
REVIEW
Luke: Background
– The Two-Source Hypothesis
o Mark wrote his gospel first
o Luke and Matthew used Mark as a source
o Luke and Matthew used another common source, Q
o Luke used a special source, L (Matthew’s source: M)
–
Redaction Criticism
o Define purpose and literary procedures of editors who compile and edit older documents
o Emphasis: what evangelists did to sources in editing and combining them
o Result: clues for specific concerns of redactor and redactor’s community
–
Luke’s Gospel
o Community: primarily Gentile Christians
o Situation: community is struggling with its role in a Gentile world; appropriateness of Christianity;
trustworthiness of Christian God
o Purpose: Gentile Christians have a place in God’s salvific plan, which is guided by the Holy Spirit
 Context: wider Graeco-Roman world
 Challenge: Luke’s community “caught” between two comings of Christ
 Actually living as Gentile Christians versus just seeking the end of the world soon
Luke: Periods of Salvation History
– Time of Israel (Preparation)
– Time of Jesus’ Ministry (Fulfillment)
– Time of the Church (Acts of the Apostles)
Luke: Characteristics
– Gospel and Acts of the Apostles: two volumes of same work
– Literary excellence; rich vocabulary
– Use of journey and table fellowship motifs
– Diptychs: paired characters and stories
– Fewer Old Testament quotes than Matthew—allusions to the Old Testament
SELECTED PASSAGES
CHAPTER 3
John the Baptist
– Preparation for Jesus’ ministry: situated in context of wider Graeco-Roman world
– Preaching of John the Baptist: includes care of the poor; social justice; fairness
– Preaching of John the Baptist: directed to different groups (theme of universality)
Genealogy of Jesus
– Unlike Matthew – Luke associates genealogy with Jesus’ ministry
– Unlike Matthew – Luke traces genealogy back to Adam and to God
– Themes of universality and divine sonship of Jesus
CHAPTER 4
Temptation of Jesus
– Details three temptations (same as Matthew; but in different order)
– Ends with Jesus on parapet of temple (Matthew: ends with Jesus atop a mountain)
Jesus at Nazareth
– In the power of the Spirit
– Reading from Isaiah
o Fulfill prophecy
o Anointed to prophesy and save (note also: Luke 7:18–23
CHAPTER 5
Call of Levi
– Table Fellowship (Meal) story (important Lukan theme/motif)
o Who is there?
o Is there a problem?
o Who has the problem?
o What does Jesus bring to the situation by his presence?
o What do you learn about Eucharist?
CHAPTER 6
Sermon on the Plain
– Theme of universality
– Characteristic life of anyone claiming to be Jesus’ disciple
– Like/unlike Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount; examples of important differences:
o “Blessed are the poor in Spirit” vs. “Blessed are the poor”
o Luke: Woes included
o “Be merciful just as your Father is merciful.”
CHAPTER 7
Healing: Centurion’s Slave (theme of universality; Gentiles are OK)
Raising: Widow’s Son
– Parallel: raising Jairus’ daughter
– Woman: widow; without a son
– Jesus: a great prophet
CHAPTER 8
Followers of Jesus include:
– The Twelve
– Women who were cured:
– Mary Magdalene
– Joanna
– Susanna
– Many other women who “provided for them out of their resources.”
CHAPTER 9
Transfiguration
– Similar to/unlike the other synoptic gospels
o Revelation of what was discussed
o Jesus’ “exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.”
o Our exodus/pass-over with Jesus