The Gospel of Luke

 Author? Companion of St. Paul? Physician? Only non-Jewish evangelist?

 Written Where? Greece  Date? 80’s CE – An educated guess. How do we know? **Only Gospel that begins as a letter. “Dear Theophilus”

 Had Mark’s gospel available to him. How do we know? Parts of Mark’s gospel appears in Luke. What does SYNOPTIC mean?

 Themes? 1. Christianity for everyone. prostitutes tax collectors Romans the uncircumcised  Jesus forgives everyone; loves all. 2. To help Christians better understand their faith.

3.To show continuity between Judaism & Christianity.  Jesus love of outcasts is clear in the following parables: The Lost Coin (15:8 – 10)The Lost Son (15:11 -32) There’s hope for the hopeless because of God’s love.

 Other Information:  Same author who wrote Luke also wrote Acts of the Apostles.  Longest gospel  Only gospel where Jesus appears as a child.  Begins with Jesus birth (aka the Nativity; the Infancy Narratives).

 65% of Mark is found in Luke.  the rest is not found in any other gospel. had his own source of info. no other evangelist had – called the “L” “Q source” REVIEW: What is this?

Organization of Luke’s Gospel:  Preface to Theophilus  Parallel structure – John & Jesus  Birth & baptism of Jesus  Sermons of Jesus  Jesus’ healings  Jesus’ mission to the Jews & openness to Gentiles  Rejection & Passion of Jesus