Gospel of Luke - Luke-Background Author Luke beloved...

Luke--Background

Author
–
Luke, “beloved physician” Col 4:14; 2 Tim 4:11;
Philemon 24
–
Highly cultured, capable writer, historian
–
Acts (Luke-Acts)
–
Anonymous

Date, Place of composition
–
Probably after 70 CE Decade 80’s
–
Mission to the Gentiles but location?—Antioch?

Luke’s Prologue—writer’s purpose

“Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account
of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they
were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were
eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after
investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an
orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you
may know the truth concerning the things about which you
have been instructed. Luke 1:1-4
–
Style of first century historian
–
The author does not claim to be an eyewitness
–
Theophilus (see Acts 1:1) was probably the author’s patron

Luke--Background

Style Genre
–
Literary elegance/narrative skill
–
Luke anticipates its sequel in Acts

Genre
–
Prologue--classical prose
–
Genres--Hellenistic histories, Scriptural
commentary (promise/fulfillment)
–
Chs 1-2, like scriptural histories of Israel

Luke—Features

Birth Stories
–
John/Jesus
–
Zechariah/Elizabeth
–
Mary/Elizabeth
–
Shepherds
–
Simeon/Anna
–
Temple

Birth Stories/Hymns
–
Magnificat —Mary, 1:46-
55
–
Benedictus —
Zechariah, 1:68-79
–
Gloria en excelsis --the
angels, 2:14
–
Nunc dimittis —
Simeon, 2:29-32

Class Today

No Quiz

Topic report: The Poor and Poverty
–
Lindsay Jernigan, Drew Almodover, Cindy
Tan, Amanda Harris

Class topic: Gospel of Luke
–
Women in the ancient world
–
Jesus and women
–
Birth Narratives

Compare with Matthew’s Story
