Introduction to the Gospel of Luke

Theophilus

a patron funding the gospel or a literary device ("lovers of God")

Other Writings

Familiar with other writings, maybe even other gospels

"Orderly Account"

Other gospels were disorderly

Gentile Audience

maybe written to Ephesus

80 CE

Written in

Purpose

Answer questions, Has Christianity failed

Told in a three-fold drama

Act 1 (The Birth Narrative), Act 2 (The Long Journey and Teachings/Passion Era), Act 3 (Acts)

Edits of Mark

Add historical details, along with fixing grammar and details, doesnt use Mark as much as Matthew

Long Journey

Narrative, Galilee to Jerusalem

Longest Gospel

Luke

Unique Stories

many stories are just in Luke

Worship and Prayer

Poems become liturgical hymns, Jesus prays more in Luke than any other Gospel

Food (Banquets)

Important for Greco-Roman World, so Luke uses it; Jesus is even called a drunkard and glutton

Marginalized

Jesus hangs out with the marginalized; the lesser play a major role; Jesus is for everyone, not just Jews

Jesus is the Universal Savior

Son of Man (Mark), Son of God (Matthew); Jesus is sent for everyone and portrayed like Greek heroes (Philosopher, Benefactor, Immortal)

Salvation in Present Tense

People are healed now, liberated now; possibly in response to Jesus not coming as soon as they expected

Holy Spirit

main character in Luke and Acts

Style of Septuagint

epic, Old Time-y and regal

Poetry

Luke 1:42, Ave Maria

Luke

Conpanion of Paul, mentioned in Colossians 4:14 and Philemon, Gentile

Luke the Physician?

Inferred by description of things in the New Testament

What do we know about the author?

Scholar, diverse vocab, sophisticated knowledge of Greek and Hebrew texts, either a Hellenist Christian or God Fearer, wrote both Luke and Acts, companion with Paul