Luke - Background

1 - Introduction to Luke

Background

Authorship

At the outset we have to take into account the clear indication that the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts were clearly written by the same author.

The same recipient, Theophilus, is mentioned in the beginning of both texts: Lk 1:3, Acts 1:1

The near unanimous, unbroken testimony of the church from the earliest days is that Luke and Acts were both authored by Luke, the companion of Paul.

Luke, the “beloved physician” of Col 4:14

other mentions

Early church fathers

Several early church fathers claimed Luke the physician wrote the Gospel of Luke. Irenaeus (around 185 AD), Justin Martyr (around 150 AD), and the Canon of Muratori (around 195 AD) all stated that Luke, the physician, authored the third Gospel. Additionally, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Tertullian, and subsequent church fathers agreed with this attribution.[1] More specifically, the following church fathers referenced Luke as the Gospel’s author: - Justin Martyr (ca. 160 AD) - Irenaeus (ca. 175–95 AD) - Tertullian (ca. 207–208 AD) - Origen (ca. 254 AD) - Eusebius (ca. 303 AD)[2] The oldest known list of New Testament books, the Muratorian Canon (ca. 170 AD), explicitly attributes both the Gospel and the Acts to Luke, describing him as “the well-known physician” who “composed it in his own name”.[2] Scholars note that it would be historically inexplicable for tradition to attribute the Gospel to Luke if he were not the actual author, especially given the contemporary tendency to ascribe writings to apostles or important eyewitnesses. The fact that Luke was not an eyewitness of Jesus’ life makes it even more unlikely that he would be falsely credited unless he was genuinely known to be the author.[1] [1] Geldenhuys, Norval. Commentary on the Gospel of Luke: The English Text with Introduction, Exposition and Notes. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1952, pp. 18–19. [2] Huffman, Douglas S. “Luke, Gospel of.” The Lexham Bible Dictionary, edited by John D. Barry et al., Lexham Press, 2016.

Purpose

Additionally, the author gives some indication of what his purpose was for the Gospel of Luke in both texts:

Lk 1:1-4.

To give Theophilus certainty about what he had been taught by giving him a careful, orderly reconstruction of the events, using exactly the information handed down to him.

Acts 1:1.

To give an account of all the things that Jesus began to do and teach until he ascended.

Date

The date must be placed in the 1st century AD, i.e., the same as the lifetime of the direct disciples of Jesus, including the apostles.

Lk 1:2.

“just as those who were eyewitnesses...passed on to us.” Luke received the information contained in his Gospel from direct eyewitnesses so that had to happen within the lifetime of the eyewitnesses.

Canonical context

It is similar in nature to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and John.

It is one of the “synoptic” Gospels--Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

so-called because they contain a lot of the same material

“syn” == “with/along with” + “optic” == “see”

John stands somewhat apart from the other three in terms of what happenings he shares from the life of Christ.

“In fact, Luke and Acts are respectively the longest and second longest compositions in the New Testament3. This length was constrained by the practical limitations of ancient papyrus rolls, which typically had a maximum length of about forty feet. Luke’s Gospel contains 19,404 words and would have fit on a thirty-five-foot roll, while Acts, with 18,374 words, would have fit on a thirty-two-foot roll.” - Ben Witherington III

Looking at the book as a whole

The beginning of and ending of Luke contain common ideas:

Fulfillment during Jesus’ earthly life

the events that have been fulfilled among us (Lk 1:1)

all things written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms (Lk 24:44)

Witnesses

“those who were eyewitnesses” (Lk 1:2)

“You are witnesses of these things” (Lk 24:48)

Proclamation

“eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning passed on to us” (Lk 1:2)

“the things about which you were taught” (Lk 1:4)

“repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Lk 24:47)

Writing

“write them down in orderly sequence...that you may know the certainty” (Lk 1:4)

“written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms” (Lk 24:44)

“Thus it is written” (Lk 24:46)

Global gospel [mentioned by Bock, seconded by Grok!]

Theophilus is a Gentile (judging by his name).

The disciples are told to go into the whole world.