1: Luke: Author, Audience, & Purpose (Luke 1:1-4)

Jackie Watts

The Gospel of Luke: The Greatest Story Ever Told • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

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Apostle’s Creed: Why do we believe that? Have we swallowed the biggest religious scam ever OR is this the Greatest Story Ever Told? Today we embark on a journey to answer these questions. But before dive into Luke, we need to do some research.

If we decided to go on a big trip - let’s say to Paris - it would be wise of us to do some research to determine HOW to get there & WHAT we were going to do with our time once we arrived. So we would plan on flights & determine what we need to see & where we need to go. For example, it would be wise to determine upon arriving what you want to see at the Louvre - one of the world’s largest museums. It would take you many days to go through there, but seeing the Mona Lisa would be worth knowing BEFORE you go. You might go to the Eiffel Tower, but if you haven’t researched it, you will be surprised to find that you can journey up into the tower via girlie-man way by elevator OR you could take the stairs (with holes in them) or you could take the. Either way, preparation is the key to experiencing the maximum impact on your journey.

Today we are embarking on an important journey through the Gospel of Luke. This study will take us over a year to complete, but it is going to be an eye opening exploration of The Greatest Story Ever Told as we examine the life & teachings of the King of kings. And in order to experience maximum impact on this journey, we must do some preparation. That is our task today, to consider the Author, Audience, & Purpose of this ancient writing.

PRAY

WHY was it written?

This Gospel gives more details (times, dates, governing leaders, & places) than any of the other 3 Gospels (Matthew, Mark, or John). It was written to communicate that this message of Jesus accurate & trustworthy.

WHEN was it written?

In order to figure this out we need to first go to Acts.

left6350Acts 1:1–2 (NIV)1 In my former book [logon words/account], Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. [Theophilus read about this in ‘Luke’]Acts 1:1–2 (NIV)1 In my former book [logon words/account], Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. [Theophilus read about this in ‘Luke’]Acts 1:1–2 (NIV)1 In my former book [logon words/account], Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. [Theophilus read about this in ‘Luke’]Acts 1:1–2 (NIV)1 In my former book [logon words/account], Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. [Theophilus read about this in ‘Luke’]Acts is a sequel to the earlier writing. Way before before Star Wars had The Empire Strikes Back; way before Lord of the Rings, Rocky, or Rambo, the author points back to his earlier writing - the Greatest Story Ever Told.

Acts 1:1–2 (NIV)

1 In my former book [logon words/account], Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. [Theophilus read about this in ‘Luke’]

Acts 1:1–2 (NIV)

Acts ends abruptly with Paul still under house arrest. It seems reasonable to most Biblical scholars that Acts was written before Paul was beheaded and since Paul died around A.D. 65, this would mean that the earlier writing that we will study - The Gospel of Luke - was written much earlier, likely in the 50s, around 20 years after the life of Jesus. Altogether this sequel of Luke & Acts covers the time from the birth of John the Baptist to the Paul’s imprisonment in Rome - a period of about 60 years, totaling 1/4 of the New Testament

WHO wrote it?

Whoever wrote it, he was patient and accurate. But who is the Author? As is true of all 4 gospels, the writing itself does not say who wrote it. But there is much evidence that this writing is inspired by God & written by a man named Luke, the same man who wrote what we call Acts.

Justin Martyr (born around year 100) quotes Luke’s Gospel repeatedly as an inspired writing.

Irenæus (115–190) says in his book Against Heresy (3, 1): “Luke also, the companion of Paul, recorded in a book the Gospel preached by him.” [speaking of ‘Acts’]. He also attributes specifics stories from the third Gospel (3, 14) to Luke.

Tatian, some time after 150, includes Luke in his Diatessaron, where he weaves all four Gospels together. He obviously sees all 4 to be authoritative.

[Show Harmony of the Gospels] Have you ever seen a tool like THIS? It shows how Matthew, Mark, & Luke follow a similar framework. In fact, they are referred to as the Synoptics (sync-optics = seeing together). John on the other hand is like the old Sesame Street moments called ‘Which one of these kids is doing his own thing.’ I’ll mention more about the significance of this Harmony of the Gospels tool in a few minutes.

But we know more about Luke from & writings of Paul the letter of Acts.

Paul mentions Luke 3 times in his letters:

Paul calls Luke a ‘fellow worker’ in Philemon 24 & ‘the beloved physician’ in Col. 4:11.

Then we see this touching phrase as Paul is arrested in Rome and expected to be condemned to death.

left63502 Timothy 4:11 (NIV)11 Only Luke is with me...2 Timothy 4:11 (NIV)11 Only Luke is with me...2 Timothy 4:11 (NIV)11 Only Luke is with me...2 Timothy 4:11 (NIV)11 Only Luke is with me...In other words, no one stuck by him...except this fellow worker & beloved physician - Luke. Luke was a constant companion of Paul. As he writes about Paul’s travels he often includes himself as he writes phrases like this: “we sailed...we stayed 7 days” (Acts 20:6).

2 Timothy 4:11 (NIV)

11 Only Luke is with me...

2 Timothy 4:11 (NIV)

11 Only Luke is with me...

So it seems that this writing was penned by

a Gentile writer - the ONLY Gentile writer in the entire New Testament. Luke avoids Jewish expressions that Gentiles might not understand & even helps translate some.

a faithful follower of Jesus, giving his life to travel with Paul. After Paul’s death he continued to serve Jesus. A 2nd century prologue to Luke’s writing says:

Luke was an Antiochian of Syria, a physician by profession. He was a disciple of the apostles and later accompanied Paul until his martyrdom. He served the Lord without distraction, having neither wife nor children, and at the age of eighty-four he fell asleep in Boetia, full of the Holy Spirit.

a medical doctor who treated Paul when he was sick or after he was beaten. This man was well-studied. By the way...Christians ought to train well to use their talents & training to BEST honor the Lord. Work hard in school & train yourself to BETTER serve Jesus with your life!

an intelligent & accurate historian with the eye for detail - times, dates, governing leaders, & places.

Why was it written & Who was it written to?

Let’s open the writing and take a look.

left6350Luke 1:1–2 (NIV)1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Luke 1:1–2 (NIV)1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Luke 1:1–2 (NIV)1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Luke 1:1–2 (NIV)1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. I have read this many times but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I came to appreciate what Luke was communicating. He was NOT the first to write about the story of Jesus. Many had determined to do this before him. These people weren’t just writing their own story, but were writing about what the eyewitnesses of Jesus handed down.

Luke 1:1–2 (NIV)

1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.

Luke 1:1–2 (NIV)

Of the 4 Gospels,

Matthew & John were both eyewitnesses, apostles of Jesus.

Scholars believe John Mark got his information from Peter, an eyewitness.

But Luke was NOT an apostle NOR an eyewitness. So why is his message trustworthy?

I’m glad you asked!

left6350Luke 1:3 (NIV)3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus...Luke 1:3 (NIV)3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus...Luke 1:3 (NIV)3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus...Luke 1:3 (NIV)3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus...How did Luke carefully investigate these things? Writings & Eyewitnesses. As already mentioned...

Luke 1:3 (NIV)

3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus...

Luke 1:3 (NIV)

3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus...

Luke knew of other writings and he likely read them. Here’s how we come to this conclusion. Through Paul’s writings we see that Luke knew John Mark - the man who wrote the Gospel of Mark.

left63502 Timothy 4:11 (NIV)11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.2 Timothy 4:11 (NIV)11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.2 Timothy 4:11 (NIV)11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.2 Timothy 4:11 (NIV)11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.In another writing Paul greets Philemon in verse 24 along with Mark and...GUESS WHO? Luke (and several others). In other words, Luke KNOWS Mark. He has served alongside Mark with Paul and it’s fair to conclude Mark shared his writing with his brother in the faith.

2 Timothy 4:11 (NIV)

11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.

2 Timothy 4:11 (NIV)

11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.

Most Biblical scholars who have compared the synoptics believe that John Mark wrote first (over 11,000 words). Matthew likely used Mark as a skeleton for his Gospel, but obviously added much that Mark didn’t say (over 18,000 words). Luke seems to have used both Mark & Matthew to develop his writing. But Luke uses over 19,000 words and includes some things that Matthew & Mark do not.

For example, Luke gives us the much more information about the birth of Jesus than Matthew & Mark says nothing about His birth. Neither Matthew nor Mark talk about the ascension of Jesus, but Luke does.

But beyond this, Luke would have interviewed those who knew Jesus best. In Acts 21:17-18 Luke and Paul are in the presence of James (Yacob or Jacob in Hebrew), the half-brother of Jesus. [Sarcastically] I wonder if he asked Yacob (James) about his perfect brother who set the standard that no one else could reach. There is no doubt that as Luke carefully investigated everything from the beginning that he interviewed multiple eyewitnesses. He could have interviewed Mary herself about the birth of Jesus. He likely asked interviewed several apostles of Jesus to get their angle on the stories. How incredible would THAT PROCESS have been? He talked to those eyewitnesses who heard Jesus teach & saw Jesus heal. Having read other accounts & talked to the eyewitnesses Luke writes...

left6350Luke 1:3b (NIV)3...I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus...Luke 1:3b (NIV)3...I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus...Luke 1:3b (NIV)3...I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus...Luke 1:3b (NIV)3...I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus...We don’t know much about Theophilus. His title ‘most excellent’ does comes 2000 years before ‘Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure’. This title is significant as this is of a person of great wealth or prominence. Some even think it is possible that this man has paid Luke to produce this long & tedious work of traveling, reading, interviewing, & writing.

Luke 1:3b (NIV)

3...I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus...

Luke 1:3b (NIV)

3...I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus...

We don’t know much about Theophilus other than this is a Greek name from theos (God) & phileo (friend/love), meaning ‘friend/lover of God.’ This could be his real name or might be a nickname. Either way, Luke writes Theophilus with the ultimate purpose in mind:

left6350Luke 1:3–4 (NIV)3...I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.Luke 1:3–4 (NIV)3...I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.Luke 1:3–4 (NIV)3...I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.Luke 1:3–4 (NIV)3...I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.Luke wanted Theophilus to see what I want US to see - that...

Luke 1:3–4 (NIV)

3...I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Luke 1:3–4 (NIV)

3...I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

BIG TRUTH The Story of Jesus is Worthy of our LivesBIG TRUTH The Story of Jesus is Worthy of our LivesBIG TRUTH The Story of Jesus is Worthy of our LivesBIG TRUTH The Story of Jesus is Worthy of our Lives

BIG TRUTH