Luke was a physician and possibly a Gentile. He was not one of the original 12 Apostles but may have been one of the 70 disciples appointed by Jesus (Luke 10). He also may have accompanied St. Paul on his missionary journeys.
#1 - AUTHORSHIP
The third Gospel has been attributed to the pen of Luke, “the beloved physician” (Col. 4:14). Of all the writers of the entire Bible, he was probably the only one who was a Gentile.
In listing his companions who were Jewish, “of the circumcision,” Paul excluded Luke (Col. 4:7-11, 14).
There is also subtle hint of his Gentile background in his description of Judas‟ death and the subsequent purchase of a burial plot: the expression of “in their own tongue” takes a special significance.
If Luke had been Jewish, he would have written “in our tongue” the usage of “tongue” argues for a Gentile ancestry.
Several early church fathers, including Irenaeus, Tertullian and Clement of Alexandria ascribed the book to Luke. However, the real identity of the author can be known through a thorough investigation of the content of Luke and Acts.
Both of the books were written to the same person, Theophilus (Luke 1:3; Acts 1:1) and by the same writer (Acts 1:1). Actually in order to determine the authorship of Luke, one must first solve the problem of the authorship of Acts.
This can be done by a close observation of those passages where the author includes himself in the events by the use of the first person plural pronouns “we” and “us” (Acts 16:10-17; 20:5-28:31).
The first generally accepted reference begins with Acts 16:10, at Paul‟s departure from Troas on his second missionary journey. The writer accompanied him from Troas to Philippi, where the references to the first person cease with the discussion Pauls‟ imprisonment.
Probably the writer was present at Philippi but was not arrested. The “we sections” reappear at Paul‟s return to Macedonia as recorded in Acts 20:6ff. From this point the “we sections” remain throughout the book, although the writer does not seem to be in evidence during the imprisonment of Paul at Caesarea. Nevertheless he accompanied Paul on the voyage to Rome (27:1, 2ff) and stayed with him until the end of the story.
Internal evidence has some bearing on this conclusion. The author possessed high literary ability and was probably well educated. His language shows a definite Greek turn of mind.
For instance, his use of the word “barbarians” in Acts 28:2 does not imply that the inhabitants of Malta were crude savages, but it means only that they were not a Greek speaking people. He was a keen observer, for the 27th chapter of Acts the best account of ancient shipping that has come down from antiquity.
A comparison of Mark 5:25-26 with Luke 8:43 shows that he had some interest in a physician‟s view point, which would confirm the title given to Luke in Colossians 4:14: Luke‟s the beloved physician.
#2 - DATING OF THE GOSPEL
The Gospel was obviously written before the second volume of the Lukan set.
Since the chronicle of Paul‟s activities ends with his two year imprisonment in Rome, it seems logical to conclude that Acts was completed by Luke at the end of that period, about AD 60.
Later datings have been assigned to Luke‟s Gospel on the ground of its alleged use of Mark, but the literary similarities between the Gospels can be explained on the basis of the common element of evangelistic preaching concerning Christ which was current in the apostolic church.
Luke and Mark may have had personal contact at Antioch when John Mark first went there in the company of Barnabas and Saul. Although the date of AD 60 cannot be fixed dogmatically, it is satisfactory as any later date would be.
#3 - PLACE OF WRITING
No clue is given in this Gospel concerning its place of writing. Probably it was written outside of Palestine, though it may have been composed at Caesarea.
Most suggestions including Rome, Caesarea, Achaia, Asia Minor, and Alexandria, are mere suggestions.
There is not even any good early tradition relating to the place of its origin.
All that can be said is that it was written somewhere in the Hellenistic world by a man who worked among the Gentiles.
#4 - PURPOSE OF THE GOSPEL
The original design of the Gospel was to establish an individual, Theophilus, in the Christian faith.
Luke‟s purpose was put in these words: “That thou mightiest know the certainty of these things, wherein thou hast been instructed” (1:4).
Thus the thrust of the book therefore was the edification of one who had already been saved, not for the evangelization of a lost sinner.
Since his conversion, Theophilus had received oral instruction; now Luke wanted to put into his hands an inspired, authoritative account of life and ministry of Jesus Christ.
Just as Matthew presented Christ as the king of the Jews and Mark represented Him as the servant of Jehovah, it would appear that as a physician, Luke is interested in demonstrating that Christ was the perfect man, the Son of Man.
Luke does not minimize His deity or redemptive sufferings; rather, he focuses attention on the complete humanity of Jesus. He was the son of Adam as well as the Son of God.
#5 - CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GOSPEL
1. It is a universal Gospel
It emphasises that the Gospel is for everyone, Samaritans and Gentiles as well. This can be seen from the fact that Christ‟s genealogy starts from Adam not from Abraham as in Matthew.
2. It is a Gospel of rejoicing
It starts with the angels message “I bring you news of great joy” and ends with the disciples “returned to Jerusalem with great joy.”
3. It is the Gospel for the “down and out”
Jesus is “eating with tax-collectors and sinners” (5:30); the Gospel is that of the Son of Man who “came to seek and to save what is lost” (19:10). It shows fallen women, hated tax-collectors and even the dying thieves receiving salvation.
4. It is the women’s Gospel
Luke shows his respect and reverence of womanhood. The stories of the pregnancies of Elizabeth and Mary and delicately recorded, the tragedy of motherhood seen in the widow of Nain and etc.
5. It is a Gospel of the supernatural
He has an emphasis on angels, details of miracles of healing, the birth as a fulfilment of the angel‟s promise etc.
6. It is Gospel of prayer
He teaches the necessity of prayer, shows Christ as an example for believers in praying; Jesus‟ prayer before selecting the disciples, at Peter‟s confession, at the transfiguration and before the Crucifixion and etc.
OUTLINE
Luke 1:1-4 – The Preface
Luke 1:5-2:52 – Parentage and infancy
Luke 3:1-4:13 – Preparatory Action of John the Baptist and Jesus
Luke 4:14-8:56 – The return to Galilee
Luke 9:1-50 – A third hour
Luke 9:51-19:27 – The later Judean ministry
Luke 19:28-22:13 – The passion week
Luke 22:14-23:56 – The last hours
Luke 24:1-52 – Resurrection and ascension