Luke 1-5

Introduction to Luke - The Historian

What is a gospel?

The word “gospel” comes from a Greek word (euangelion / ευαγγελιον) that means “good news.”

Well established term with well understood implications:

Inscription at Priene. It records an edict from Paulus Fabius Maximus, the Roman proconsul of Asia, issued in 9 B.C.E. The edict aligns the regional calendar with the Roman calendar, honoring Caesar Augustus by making his birthday the beginning day of the calendar year.

“Providence has ordered all things and set them in order by giving us Caesar Augustus, whom she has filled with virtue that he might benefit all humanity, and has sent him as a savior for us and our descendants, that he might end war and bring order to all things … The birthday of the god was the beginning of the good news for the world …”

“good news” (Grk. euangelion), that is, the arrival of a new ruler and a new regime of “salvation” (Grk. soteria) that has brought peace, order, and “benefit” (Grk. euergesia, literally “doing of goodness”) to the known world.

What are some stories from the reading this week that have that same sort of verbage?

Song to the shepherds?

What does this mean?

Jesus’ kingdom rivals the power structures of the day. There are spiritual, social, and political implications and effects.

Luke’s Style

What is unique about the gospel according to Luke?

Author.

Luke is well educated

Luke is a companion of Paul (look for expansions on Pauline themes and theologies)

Audience

To a Greek steward.

Shows that this religion isn’t new, its the completion and fullness of Judaism but extended to bless all the nations.

Emphasis on the outsider.

Purpose for writing

To develop an orderly account.

Two greek schools of history

The Analytic (or Critical) Approach

The Rhetorical (or Ornate) Approach

Structure

Faithlife Study Bible Introduction to Luke

Outline

• The births of John and Jesus (1:1–2:52)

• Preparation for Jesus’ ministry (3:1–4:13)

• Jesus’ ministry in Galilee (4:14–9:50)

• Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem (9:51–19:44)

• Jesus in Jerusalem (19:45–23:56)

• Jesus’ resurrection and ascension (24:1–53)

Themes

Jesus as savior of the WHOLE WORLD

Jesus’ identity and mission as the Suffering Servant prophesied by Isaiah

Cosmic aspects of Jesus work, the end of one age and beginning of a new

Social implications of Jesus message

Similar to Paul’s apocalyptic revelation about Christ and how we are the new humanity

New Humanity lives differently

Concern for people on the margins

Theme leading into Jerusalem is the cost of discipleship

Empowerment of the spirit

Mary and Zechariah’s Songs

The Nazarites and the Nazarene

Bible Trivia Time

Luke, trained by? _____ Paul

Paul was trained by ____Gamaliel

Gamaliel’s grandfather was ___ Hiliel the Elder.

Hilel wrote the 7 rules for interpretation, a text that sets the rules from Biblical interpretation for hundreds of years.

One of the rules is Gezerah Shavah

If the same phrase or word appears in two different biblical passages, the laws or meanings from one passage can be applied to the other

Repeated words or ideas or “story beats” from previous stories help us orient to the type of story we are reading.

The key example is from genesis.

Eden starts with creation, trees, fruit and life in a temple garden on a mountain, then a foolish decision involving seeing and taking something leads to exile and consequence. In the next generation violent sin leads to the separation of brothers, one of whom is exiled to the east where he builds a city that leads to increased violence and cosmic level sins, this leads up to God’s ultimate judgement in a flood which involves judgement on humans and cosmic judgement on the powers.

God saves one righteous family by creating a temple refuge (ark=ark of the covenant - the word means box, not boat and its standard temple language), where man is at peace with animals and has enough food, after this man makes a foolish decision leading to consequences, his son acts violently against him, leading to one son moving out to the east and his descendants creating a city (Babylon) that leads to cosmic level sin and a new judgement.

Key words that show up in different “story beats” key you in to what part of the melody you’re in. Eden then Fall, then Multiply then divide, then sin and violence then judgement, then salvation and new Eden.

Each repetition of the pattern further informs all the other parts of the pattern. This is how the biblical authors work.

Miraculous birth stories happen throughout the bible. This is a key “eden” idea. God creating life and fruitfulness out of a barren place (just like eden) and brings you to that part of the story.

Miraculous birth stories are major events that mark or signify a transition to a new phase of the story, we are starting a new cycle.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 18

I will certainly come back to you in about a year’s time, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent behind him.

11 Abraham and Sarah were old and getting on in years. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. 12 So she laughed to herself: “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I have

ěḏ·nā(h) lust

BDB delight

DBL Hebrew pleasure

Abraham and Isaac - start of God’s blessed people

Moses - redeeming of the people as a nation.

Samson and Samuel - end of judges (rule by temporary powers), beginning of kings rightful, permanent dynasties

Stories never repeat, just rhyme.

My point this week is that the narrative connections between the OT and the birth stories of John and Jesus give us commentary on how Luke is portraying Jesus.

One aspect will be to look at narrative links, the other will be to look at OT quotations and allusions in the prophetic songs of Zechariah and Mary

What are some initial high level takeaways from the two miracle birts?

The priest is cursed and the poor humble girl is blessed

Mary believes the word of the Lord and submits

John is a Nazarite (holy and set apart), why is Jesus not?

Why is John born into the priestly family and not Jesus?

Who are the only three people in the Bible who are Nazarites from Birth?

Samson, Samuel, John

Luke 1:15 “15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.”

According to Hillel we are meant to bring those figures to mind.

Samson story - Angel appears, Foolish dad and Wiser woman, Miraculous birth, Wild Man, Nazarite from birth. - Kicked off and “began” the conflict with the philistines that freed Israel.

Samuel - Righteous Woman, Miraculous birth, Dedicated to the Lord in his tabernacle, key figure in the transition from temporary rulers to permanent kings. Nazarite from birth. (prophet, priest, ruler). Brought in the king that completed Israel’s freedom.

John - Angel appears, Foolish dad and Wiser woman, miraculous birth, Wild man, Nazarite from birth, Key figure at the end of one age.

Jesus - Angel appears, rightous man, wise woman, miraculous birth, frees the world from temporary rulers (powers (spirits, govts. laws, the law). Beginning of a new age

Look for John to be the bow that ties the end on Israel, he “begins” to free Israel.

Jesus completes it and initiates the new age. The fact that we might expect Israel’s messiah to be someone like John (Nazarite prophet from a priestly family) but Jesus subverts those expectations. It shows us that Jesus is wrapping up the age where those laws were made and bringing in a new age. His kingdom is in the spiritual world. His purity is spiritual not just physical.

How does Mary/Luke See her pregnancy and Jesus birth?

As a cosmic victory and vindication from God over the supernatural powers that oppress the nations

The inversion of the power struggle of humanity.

The connection to Abraham and the fullfillment of all the offspring promises of the OT (Eve, Abraham, David). She is bearing the offspring to bless the nations.

How does Zechariah/Luke see the birth of John the baptist

John is the end, fulfillment, and conclusion of the old covenants and old age.

He is the herald and warning (a watchman on the tower) of the age to come.

He is the forerunner of Jesus’ Judgement and the new age of peace.

He is calling the remmenant of israel who will pass through the judgemet

1 Corinthians 10:8–11 ESV

8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

Even before his birth we have hints about the magnitude and gravity of what Jesus is going to do.

He didn’t just come to earth to die for your sins. There is a lot more going on that our individual right standing with God. He is destroying the order of the world that existing since Adam and inaugurating the new heavens and new earth at the cross.

Ephesians 1:15–23 ESV

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Mary and Zechariah point us to the Cosmic greatness of the victory that Jesus won on the cross.