1. The Gospel According to Luke: The Universal Savior
11/6/17
Professor Tate

2. Vocabulary Historiography Historical Prologue Thucydides
Salvation history
Travel narrative
Luke-Acts
The comparative method
Sermon on the Plain

3. Greek Historical Prologues
What Herodotus the Halicarnassian has learnt by inquiry is here set forth, in order that the memory of the past may not be blotted out from among men by time, and that the great and marvelous deeds done by Greeks and foreigners and especially the reason why they warred against each other may not lack renown.
Thucydides, an Athenian, wrote the history of the war between the Peloponnesians and the Athenians, beginning at the moment that it broke out, and believing that it would be a great war, and more worthy of relation than any that had preceded it.

4. Luke’s Historical Prologue (1:1-4)
Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed.

5. Ancient Historiography
“With reference to the speeches in this history, some were delivered before the war began, others while it was going on; some I heard myself, others I got from various sources. It was in all cases difficult to carry them word for word in one’s memory, so my habit has been to make the speakers say what was in my opinion demanded of them by the various occasions, of course adhering as closely as possible to the general sense of what they really said.”
-Thucydides, The Pelopponesian War

6. Historical Challenges to the Gospels: The Comparative Method
Matthew’s Birth Narrative
Luke’s Birth Narrative
Magi
Shepherds
Flight to Egypt to escape Herod’s wrath
Journey to Bethlehem to register for a census
Angel speaks to Joseph
Angel speaks to Mary
Jesus traced to David through Solomon
Jesus traced to David through Nathan
Jesus’ genealogy begins with Abraham
Jesus’ genealogy begins with Adam

7. The Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry in Mark and Matthew
A long string of miraculous healing and exorcisms
Emphasizes Jesus’ divine power over the forces of evil and looks forward to his role in the apocalyptic battle between good and evil.
Matthew
Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount
Parallels the revelation at Mt. Sinai; Jesus the new Moses giving the new Torah; emphasizes the importance of Jesus’ relationship to Jewish law

8. The Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry in Luke
When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom…
And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah…yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zaraphath in Sidon…”
When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town wall was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.
(Luke 4; compare to Mark 6, Matthew 13)

9. Luke’s Travel Narrative
Sacred
And
Secular
Geography
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him, but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. (Luke 9)

10. Luke’s Salvation History
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of Samaritans to make ready for him, but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. (Luke 9)

11. Luke’s Salvation History
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

12. Secular History and Sacred History
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. (Luke 2:1-2)

13. Luke’s Kingdom of God: The Gospel of Social Justice
Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount
Luke’s Sermon on the Plain
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.
Blessed are those who mourn, four they will be comforted.
Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
Woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.

14. Vocabulary Historiography Historial Prologue Thucydides
Salvation history
Travel narrative
Luke-Acts
The comparative method
Sermon on the Plain