The Gospel of Luke

Composition

The Gospel of Luke is one of the four gospels included in the New Testament. Most scholars agree that it was written between 60 and 80 CE. It is traditionally believed to have been written by Luke, a Greek physician who also penned the Acts of the Apostles. These books are typically viewed as a two-volume work that accounts for nearly 30 percent of the New Testament. Uniquely, both of Luke’s books are addressed to Theophilus, an unknown individual who is likely an Alexandrian Jew or a Roman who was interested in learning about Christianity.

As is the case with the other gospels, the author of the Gospel of Luke is not explicitly identified within its pages. However, most historians believe that it was written by the disciple Luke, who was a close friend of the apostle Paul. Given the skill with which he wrote in Greek and his comprehensive descriptions of Antioch, scholars believe that Luke was most likely a Greek man from that Hellenistic city in what is now Turkey. Antioch is also likely where Luke trained to be a physician. The notion of Luke being more educated than the other gospel writers is supported by his writing style, which is far more refined and classical than that of his Biblical contemporaries.

Interestingly, being a Greek would make Luke the only gentile writer of the New Testament. This is a key detail that highlights much of what makes his gospel unique among the other three. Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke probably wrote for a broader audience that included both Jewish people and gentiles across Asia Minor. Luke’s gospel also shares some similarities to the others, especially Mark’s and Matthew’s. Like Matthew’s, Luke’s gospel borrows heavily from Mark’s. It also adds information about events that transpired before Jesus’s birth and after his death to present the most complete historical record possible.

Summary

The Gospel of Luke begins with a brief prologue addressed to the “most excellent Theophilus,” in which Luke explains why he chose to undertake the task of penning such a work. Rather than following in others’ footsteps and simply writing a narrative of the events in Jesus’s life, Luke essentially seeks to create a reliable historical record of the stories passed on to non-eyewitnesses such as himself. This purpose is reflected in Luke’s use of a carefully organized chronological structure built on clear setting and detailed narrative.

Following the prologue, Luke begins with the conception of John the Baptist and, later, Jesus. He continues with both men’s birth and infancy, identifying Jesus as “the Messiah” almost immediately. His depiction of Jesus’s birth is particularly elaborate. The early chapters of Luke’s gospel also offer insight into John’s ministry, which is highlighted by the eventual baptism of Jesus. At this point, the narrative begins to focus almost exclusively on Jesus, following his temptation in the desert, his rejection at the synagogue in Nazareth, and his first teachings.

Jesus properly embarks on his own ministry in chapter five of Luke’s gospel. This section begins with Jesus’s selection of his first disciples and continues to document the miracles he performed. It also introduces many of his most important lessons, such as the Beatitudes and the virtue of loving your enemies. Some key events, such as the anointing of Jesus’s feet by a sinful woman wishing to express her gratitude for the salvation he offers her, also take place at this point.

The Gospel of Luke subsequently provides an in-depth narrative of Jesus’s ongoing ministry, including his teachings and miracles. Luke also records some of the parables that Jesus relates to his followers, as well as key events like Jesus feeding a crowd of five thousand with what started as just a handful of loaves and fishes. Crucially, it is also here that Luke recalls Jesus’s prophecy about his eventual death and resurrection.

Leading up to chapter nineteen, Luke records the beginning of Jesus’s journey to Jerusalem, the healings and miracles that he performed along the way and his continuing teachings. This portion of Luke’s gospel also includes some of the most well-known parables. Included among these are the tales of the good Samaritan and the prodigal son, neither of which appear in any of the other gospels. When Jesus ultimately makes it to Jerusalem, Luke writes of his celebrated arrival in the city, his betrayal by Judas, the Last Supper, his arrest in the garden of Gethsemane, his trial and condemnation before Pilate, the crucifixion, and his death.

The last chapter of the Gospel of Luke follows the events that transpired after Jesus’s death, beginning when several of his followers set out to prepare his body in the tomb only to find that he was no longer there. Luke ends his account with the story of how Jesus joined his disciples for one final meal, helped them to better understand the Scripture, and promised to send them the Holy Spirit before ascending into heaven.

Themes

The overall theme expressed in the Gospel of Luke is Jesus’s humanity. Luke depicts Jesus as a flawless man from the time of his arrival on Earth. This made Jesus the perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of humankind’s sins. In making this sacrifice, Jesus then becomes the ultimate savior. Throughout his account, Luke provides the most detailed and, according to scholars, most accurate record of Jesus’s life. He also thoughtfully illustrates Jesus’s compassion for the people he encounters and his willingness to help them. This is all meant to demonstrate that God sent his son to make clear his love for humankind. Importantly, Luke’s gospel stands out among the others for its particular focus on prayer and miracles. Women and angels also play a notably larger part in Luke’s gospel.

Each of the five distinct sections of Luke’s gospel uniquely highlights his themes. The opening prologue establishes Luke’s purpose of writing a historically accurate account that will provide readers with a greater sense of certainty about the lessons they have been taught about Jesus. In other words, Luke’s narrative of Jesus’s life is not purely theological. Instead, it is also an effort to support the veracity of Christianity’s message with historical fact.

Throughout his work, Luke seeks to establish a continuity between God’s original covenant with the Israelites and the new covenant offered through Jesus. This theme is clearly present in the second section of Luke’s gospel, which predominantly covers Jesus’s birth narrative. Luke writes of Jesus’s birth—a part of the story only present in this and Matthew’s gospel—in a style reminiscent of certain Old Testament books. He also uses an array of Old Testament motifs and imagery, which helps to bridge the gap between the Old and New Testaments and shows that the latter represents the fulfillment of the former.

Despite borrowing heavily from the Gospel of Mark, the Gospel of Luke varies significantly in certain places. This is true of its record of Jesus’s journey to Jerusalem. While Mark addresses this journey in just half a chapter, Luke writes about it for more than ten chapters. This travel narrative portion of Luke’s gospel contains many parables and stories that touch on Luke’s central theme: God’s salvation is available to anyone who embraces it, regardless of their background, history, or standing. Perhaps the most prominent example of this is the story of Zacchaeus, a much-hated tax collector who is saved when he accepts Jesus as his savior.

In his resurrection narrative, Luke uses the story of the risen Jesus meeting two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus to emphasize that it was always God’s plan for the Messiah to suffer and die before ultimately rising again. This forms the fundamental message of salvation that Jesus’s followers are meant to spread far and wide.

The final key part of the Gospel of Luke is the ascension. In Luke’s narrative, the ascension vindicates Jesus by proving that he is the Messiah. Further, it is from his position at the right hand of God that Jesus sends forth the Holy Spirit to empower the apostles as they take his message into the world.

Bibliography

Brodie, Jessica. “Luke.” Christianity.com, 2022, www.chritsianity.com/bible/niv/luke. Accessed 11 Apr. 2022.

Chilton, Brian. “Who Wrote the Gospel of Luke and Acts?” Cross Examined, 2 July 2017, crossexamined.org/wrote-gospel-luke-acts. Accessed 11 Apr. 2022.

Fairchild, Mary. “Introduction to the Gospel of Luke.” Learn Religions, 8 July 2019, www.learnreligions.com/gospel-of-luke-701053. Accessed 11 Apr. 2022.

“Luke.” United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2022, bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/0. Accessed 11 Apr. 2022.

Nelson, Ryan. “Who Was Saint Luke? The Beginner’s Guide” OverviewBible, 29 Mar. 2019, overviewbible.com/saint-luke. Accessed 11 Apr. 2022.

Strauss, Mark L. “Luke: The Gospel of the Savior for Lost People Everywhere.” BibleProject, 2018, bibleproject.com/blog/luke-gospels-savior-lost-people. Accessed 11 Apr. 2022.

“What Are the Synoptic Gospels, and Where Do They Come From?” Zondervan Academic, 18 Sept. 2017, zondervanacademic.com/blog/synoptic-gospels. Accessed 11 Apr. 2022.

Zavada, Jack. “St. Luke: Gospel Writer and Physician.” Learn Religions, 11 Feb. 2019, www.learnreligions.com/luke-gospel-writer-and-physician-701087. Accessed 11 Apr. 2022.