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