THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE An overview of the Gospel By Mike Pascual

Basic Information ► Date Written: AD  After Mark before Jerusalem war (66-70AD)  presupposes destruction of Jerusalem  Does not reflect Domitian’s persecution (81-96) ► Locale: Somewhere in Syria or Greece ► Author  Traditional: ► Luke, a physician and companion or colleague of Paul. Also wrote Acts.

Basic Information Cont. ► Author detectable from Contents  A Greek speaker, possibly a Gentile Christian, well educated and was not an eyewitness. Drew on Mark and a collection of the sayings of the Lord (Q), as well as other available traditions, oral or written.  Likely to have known Paul. Of all the Gospel Authors by Tradition, this one is the most likely. ► May have known Paul in his earlier years because his depiction of Paul is contrary to that of the Epistles.

Luke’s Literary Style ► The talents of Luke as artist and theologian are many  Master of Greek (most refined of Gospels)  Uses sources creatively for narrative effect  Adopts about 60% of Mark

Luke’s Teaching ► Audience  Addresses a primarily Gentile audience ► Continuity with the Old  Narrative feels like continuity of Old Testament ► Controversies  Internal: The Jewish Christians in community  External: Harassment from local Jewish synagogue leaders

Luke’s Teaching Cont. ► Jesus’ mission  The recurring theme of the NEW ISRAEL  Jesus illustrated as the REJECTED PROPHET  Jesus as a character of mercy  The recurring theme of God’s faithfulness

The Key Question of Luke  If God has not been faithful to the promises made to God’s chosen people and has allowed their holy city and Temple to be destroyed, what reason do Gentile Christians have to think that God will be faithful to promises made to them?

Other Notes ► Theological Geography  Read Luke-Acts with a Map ► Moves from Nazareth to Jerusalem to Rome ► Symbolizes movement from rural area to the capital to Israel to the capital of the Gentiles. ► Gospel has a major shift when Jesus “turns to Jerusalem” (see 9:51)

Other Notes (cont) ► The Spirit appears to be the “main character” of Luke-Acts ► The Theme of Salvation History  The Story of Israel, to Jesus to Acts  Characters are prophets, Messiah and Apostles  Identity are Jew, Jew and Jewish/Gentiles.  All moved by the same Spirit.

The Acts of the Apostles ► Date Written: ► Locale: Somewhere in Syria or Greece ► Same Author as Luke

Luke’s purpose for writing Acts ► Opening intro to both Gospel and Acts gives clue  Written to help Christians understand themselves more clearly.  Intended to write a narrative history. ► Similar theme of Luke  How could non-Jews find value in Christianity? ► Especially if it was rejected by most Jews?

Luke’s presentation of Material ► Concentrates on bringing historical reality vividly to the reader  Concentrates on particular scenes  Ignores chronological sequences for the narrative ► Uses the Greco-Roman literary device:  The Speech ► Joke: The Acts of Apostles should be titled “Speeches of Peter and Paul.”

Luke’s presentation et al. ► Peter and Paul in Acts  parallel the works of Jesus in Gospel of Luke ► While Luke is a good story-teller, he’s not a good editor  Some details become inconsistent in narrative  Others argue its for narrative effect

Sources of Acts ► Luke was clearly a resourceful Greek  Unfortunately, we don’t know the sources of his information ► After Chapter 15, perhaps the sources was a travel diary written by a companion of Paul  Of second and third journey

Travels of Paul AD 36Conversion to Christ Damascus Jerusalem 39Visit to Jerusalem 40-44In Cicilia 44-45At Antioch Antioch Cicilia (area)

First Missionary Journey Paul (46-49) Derbe Perga Attalia Paphos Antioch Cyprus Salamis 49 AD Council of Jerusalem

Second Missionary Journey Paul (50-52) Derbe Philippi Athens Jerusalem Antioch Caesaria Thessalonica Corinth Ephesus 1 Thessalonians

Third Missionary Journey Paul (54-58) Arrested in JerusalemImprisoned in Caesarea60-61 Sent to Rome61-63 Prisoner in Rome64 DEATH Jerusalem Ephesus Galatians Philippians Philemon 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Romans Derbe Philippi Athens Antioch Caesaria Corinth Thessalonica Paul’s 3-year stay at Ephesus [imprisoned?]

Sources Cited ► Brown, Raymond E., An Introduction to the New Testament (New York: Doubleday, 1997). ► Brown, R., eds, The New Jerome Bible Handbook (Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1992).