The Gospel of Luke
A Medical Doctor Examines the Claims of Jesus
Key verse: 1:4 “That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.”
Key thought: Jesus is the perfect man.
Key word: “certainty”—1:4
1. About the Author
a. Distinguished from the house of the circumcision, Luke was a Gentile (Colossians 4:11-14) and was the only non-Jewish writer of the New Testament. Nothing is known of Luke’s background or family from the New Testament.
i. In A.D. 185, Irenaeus (trainee of Polycarp who had been trained by John the apostle) claimed that Luke was a physician, & a disciple of Paul; Against Heresies II:1:ii.
ii. The anti-Marcionite Prologue (A.D. 170) claimed that Luke was a native of Syrian Antioch who had no wife or children and lived faithfully until he died at the age of 84 in Asia Minor.
iii. The church historian Eusebius in the 4th century said that Luke was a native of Antioch.
iv. In the 5th Century, Jerome stated in his work, “A Treatise on Illustrious Men” that Luke was a medical doctor from Antioch and that he and Titus were brothers.
v. Archaeologist William Ramsay thought the same thing but this is an argument from silence which proves nothing.
vi. A postscript to 2 Corinthians says that it was written by Luke and Titus. There is no mention of Luke or Titus in the book of Acts.
vii. A few authors have wondered if Luke was the visionary Macedonian man seen by Paul but there is no evidence for this.
b. Luke was a loyal friend. He visited Paul during his 1st Roman imprisonment (Philemon 24) and was the only one to see him in his 2nd imprisonment (2 Timothy 4:11).
c. Called “Luke the beloved physician,” his writings are of an educated man who knew medical terminology. In the 5th Century Jerome said that Luke “contains a vocabulary that only a doctor would use.”
i. In the 1882 book The Medical Language of St. Luke, W.K. Hobart lists more than 400 words shared by Luke and Greek medical writers such as Hippocrates and Galen (see John Stott, The Incomparable Christ 34, and E. F. Harrison, Introduction to the New Testament 198). The liberal theologian Adolph Harnack admitted that Hobart’s conclusions were essentially correct.
ii. Examples of a medical viewpoint in Luke’s writings:
1. Where a demon was said to “throw down [ῥήσσω, rhēssō] a boy,” Luke used the medical word for convulsions (Luke 9:42).
2. When a distraught father begged Jesus to “look [ἐπιβλέπω, epiblepō] upon my son,” Luke used a term that was also used of a physician seeing a patient (Luke 9:38).
3. When a woman suffered a twelve-year blood hemorrhage, Luke omits the detail that she exhausted her life’s savings on ineffective medical care & suggests her disease was incurable (Mark 5:26; Luke 8:43).
4. Only Luke tells us that Peter’s mother-in-law had a “great fever” (Luke 4:38; Matt. 8:14; Mk. 1:30), that a man was “full of leprosy” (Luke 5:12; Matt. 8:2; Mk. 1:40), that it was the right hand that withered (Lk. 6:6; Matt. 12:10; Mk. 3:1), & that Malchus’ right ear was severed (Lk. 22:50; Matt. 26:51; Mk. 14:47).
5. Jesus’ burial cloth was like a medical bandage [ὀθόνιον, othonion] (Luke 24:12).
6. When shipwrecked with Paul on Malta, Luke gave medical treatment to some of the inhabitants (Acts 28:9). When a snake bit Paul, the locals wondered why Paul was not “swollen” [πίμπρημι, pimprēmi] from the venom. Greek physicians Hippocrates and Galen use this word to describe inflammation of the body.
7. When Jesus said how difficult it was for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, Matthew (19:24) and Mark (10:25) used the word for a sewing needle [ῥαφίς, rhaphis], but Luke (18:25) calls it a surgical needle [βελόνης, belones ]
iii. Did Paul’s thorn in the flesh required continuous medical treatment from his friend Luke (2 Cor. 12:7)?
d. Luke was a cautious and meticulous researcher.
i. The prologues of Luke (1:1-4) and Acts (1:1-3) tie them together. The gospel of Luke demands a sequel. Luke 24:49 shows that Jesus promised the Father would send them the Holy Spirit to empower them to preach. Acts 1:8 shows the geographical plan that Jesus had in mind (Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth). Acts 28 shows that the apostles were successful in carrying out Jesus’ plan (cp. Col. 1:23).
ii. Greek scholars claim that Luke’s use of the Koine Greek language shows he was highly educated. They also say that his usage of Greek is even more polished than Paul’s. Luke’s prologue follows a literary style that can be seen in other writings like Josephus.
iii. He used a method similar to the modern scientific method to study the question “Who is Jesus?” He interviewed many witnesses before compiling his data (Luke 1:3).
iv. He is the only Gospel writer to document the events of Jesus to secular history (2:1-2; 3:1).
v. Luke’s training as a doctor would have exposed him to the best available education. His writing style shows him to be an intellectual & cultured man. When education submits to God’s truth, it is a blessing to the world. A godless education is the curse of modern man that breeds arrogance & misery. Luke wanted to reach the educated masses who saw the futility of mythological religions. It was said that two Roman priests in passing one another could not look the other in the face because each knew the worthlessness of their religion.
e. Before Luke began practicing medicine, he presumably would have taken the oath taught by the Greek physician, Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.) known as the “father of medicine”:
I SWEAR by…the gods and goddesses, that, according to my ability and judgment, I will keep this Oath and this stipulation- to reckon him who taught me this Art equally dear to me as my parents, to share my substance with him, and relieve his necessities if required; to look upon his offspring in the same footing as my own brothers, and to teach them this art, if they shall wish to learn it, without fee or stipulation; and that by precept, lecture, and every other mode of instruction, I will impart a knowledge of the Art to my own sons, and those of my teachers, and to disciples bound by a stipulation and oath according to the law of medicine, but to none others.
I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous.
I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will not give to a woman a pessary to produce abortion. With purity and with holiness I will pass my life and practice my Art.
I will not cut persons laboring under the stone, but will leave this to be done by men who are practitioners of this work. Into whatever houses I enter, I will go into them for the benefit of the sick, and will abstain from every voluntary act of mischief and corruption; and, further from the seduction of females or males, of freemen and slaves.
Whatever, in connection with my professional practice or not, in connection with it, I see or hear, in the life of men, which ought not to be spoken of abroad, I will not divulge, as reckoning that all such should be kept secret. While I continue to keep this Oath unviolated, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and the practice of the art, respected by all men, in all times! But should I trespass and violate this Oath, may the reverse be my lot!
2. About the book
a. Luke claims that he researched his material before including it in his book (Luke 1:2).
i. Some material in the Bible includes information that is revealed by God Himself. The events of creation week fall into this category.
ii. However, some material in the Bible is what is known by experience or observation. When the apostle John says that Jesus was in Gethsemane the night before his betrayal, this information did not need to be revealed because John was there.
iii. Although Solomon claims that his material in Ecclesiastes was the result of study and observation, his words are still inspired of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
iv. Luke’s material is the same kind of inspiration. Paul in 1 Timothy 5:18 quotes Deuteronomy 25:4 and Luke 10:7 and calls both passages “Scripture.” Thus, Luke’s record of Jesus’ words has the same authority as Moses’ words.
b. What is the internal evidence for Luke’s authorship? Though the actual author is never stated, we know that the same person wrote the book of Luke & Acts to a man named Theophilus (“the former treatise,” Acts 1:1; Luke 1:3). Luke calls Theophilus “most noble,” a term used for high officials in the Roman government. Some think that Theophilus may have been a governor.
c. The language style of Luke & Acts is similar. J. W. McGarvey said there are over 50 words common to both books that are not found anywhere in the New Testament (Commentary on Acts, viii).
d. The author of Luke/Acts joined Paul at Troas (Acts 16:10). Prior to that time, the author used 3rd person plural pronouns to describe missionary activities of Peter and Paul (they, them, Acts 1:3; 2:2; 3:5; 13:4; 16:7-8).
i. In Acts 16, the author uses “we” where he joined Paul at Troas and was left at Philippi (we, us, Acts 16:10-17).
ii. In Acts 20:5-15---21:1-18, the author joined Paul’s missionary company in Macedonia (Philippi is in Macedonia) and went with them to Jerusalem.
iii. Acts 27:1--- 28:16 The author was a constant traveling companion of Paul from Caesarea to Rome until 28:16 when Paul was placed under house arrest in Rome. During this two-year imprisonment, Paul wrote 4 epistles and mentioned Luke as his companion (Col. 4:3,14; Philemon 9-10, 24).
iv. Luke was also with Paul in his last Roman imprisonment (2 Timothy 1:12; 4:11).
e. External evidence for Luke’s authorship of Luke & Acts. The evidence is so ancient & strong that all conservatives and most liberal scholars are in agreement on Luke’s authorship:
i. Muratorian Canon—a 2nd century document that lists authoritative books of the New Testament includes Luke & Acts. The Muratori Manuscript was discovered in 1740 in a Milan, Italy library by the scholar L.A. Muratori (1672-1750).
ii. Irenaeus—(A.D. 140-202), understudy of Polycarp (A.D. 69-156, who was an understudy of the Apostle John) listed the books of the New Testament that should be accepted as Scripture. He also said that Luke recorded the Gospel preached by Paul.
iii. Clement of Alexandria—(died A.D. 102), elder of church in Rome who personally knew Paul & Peter. He wrote letters to congregations having problems & exhorted them to follow the writings of the apostles. He gives a list of New Testament books that includes Luke & Acts.
iv. Origen—(A.D. 185-254) a brilliant scholar & defender of Christianity against educated pagan thinkers, he listed the writings that he considered authoritative. Luke & Acts were in his list.
v. Other early church leaders considered Luke the author of Luke & Acts: Tertullian, Eusebius, & Jerome.
vi. In Geneva, Switzerland is the oldest known copy of Luke, the Papyrus Bodmer XIV that has been dated between A.D. 175-225. A small portion of Luke’s Gospel is missing but at the end Luke 24 is the phrase KATA LOUKAN [κατα Λουκαν] meaning “according to Luke” (George Goldman, Introduction to Luke, 1988 Lectureship Book of the East Tennessee School of Preaching 16).
f. The “Synoptic Problem.” Adolph Harnack (1851-1930) was a prominent church historian from Germany who, typical of many of his peers, and many preachers today, embraced a liberal view of theology that rejected miracles and biblical inspiration. He thought the gospel of John to be completely worthless in giving a historically accurate account of the life of Christ. He also had a very skeptical view of higher criticism.
i. Lower Criticism, sometimes called Textual Criticism attempts to reproduce from available manuscript evidence what the original text must have said. In contrast, it differs from Higher Criticism or Source Criticism which attempts to answer questions such as the authenticity of a book, authorship, date of writing, and value of the document in question Where did the author obtain his information?
ii. Higher critics have wrestled with what they call the “Synoptic Problem.” The word synoptic means “to see together.” Bible students have observed that three of the gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, are somewhat similar. Early in the 2nd century, the Christian author Tatian (died around A.D. 185) noticed similarities when attempting to harmonize the four gospel in his work, Diatessaron. Where did the writers of the three gospels get their information? Matthew and Luke nearly duplicate the material in Mark. 610 of Mark’s 661 verses are duplicated in Matthew and Luke. Conservative critics accepted that these works were products of the Holy Spirit’s inspiration. However, the more liberal critics developed what is now called the two-source hypothesis. They suggested that Mark was the earliest gospel, and must have been based on oral and written material. They also proposed that Matthew and Luke were written at a later time, and relied primarily on two different sources: Mark and a written collection of Jesus's sayings, which is called Q (for the German word for “source”, quelle). This hypothesis says that Q is now lost,and the writers of Mathew and Luke used additional sources, making each account unique.
iii. The two-source hypothesis is refuted by the following facts:
1. Compared to the age of Christianity, this hypothesis is very young. It is not based on newly discovered evidence. It dismisses the views of scholars like Polycarp, Papias, Justin Martyr, Clement of Alexandria, or Origen who knew the apostles, or knew men who trained under the apostles and were in a position to investigate.
2. Two-source proponents resort to authoritarianistic arguments: “No credible professor of theology accepts the view that the synoptics were written by Matthew, Mark and Luke and are inspired by God.” In other words, we should accept the two-source hypothesis because “smart” people have told us to accept it.
3. The two-source was invented by men who were influenced by the writings of G.W. F. Hegel (1770-1831) and Charles Darwin (1809-1882). Hegelianism presupposes that all cultural and religious ideas (thesis) are criticized by those who reject them (antithesis) and a new viewpoint embraces elements of the thesis and antithesis to form a synthesis. Hegel was a graduate of Tubingen Univ. and influenced professors of religion and philosophy across Europe who embraced new forms of unbelief. Tubingen professor, F.C. Baur (1792-1860) claimed there was tension between the gospel preached by Peter and the gospel preached by Paul, and the New Testament is the resulting synthesis between these two competing ideas. These critics began with anti-supernatural pre-suppositions (miracles never occurred and inspiration is impossible) before they began their Bible study. Thus, they imposed their worldview upon the Bible rather than allowing the Bible to shape their worldview.
4. The similarities of the synoptics can be accounted for by historicity of the events described, the testimony of those who were eyewitnesses, and the fact that the gospels were written by men inspired by the Holy Spirit.
5. The differences and supposed contradictions in the synoptics prove that each gospel account is based on independent testimony. If each work is a fabrication, the forger would have taken pains to harmonize the differences so that the work would not be called into question.
6. Those who accept there is a synoptic problem must also ignore certain biblical doctrines:
a. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit who would guide the apostles in their speaking and writing of the Gospel (John 14—16; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16; Eph. 3:3-4; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). Was the Spirit sent? What exactly did He do for them? Did Jesus lie?
b. Jesus claimed that His words would last forever (Matt. 24:36). Was Jesus mistaken?
7. Although Luke is called one of the synoptics, Luke records 82 different sayings or events not mentioned in any of the other Gospels (William Hendriksen, New Testament Commentary on Luke 18-21). This alone should resolve what some call the “synoptic problem.” Compared to the other “synoptic Gospels,” about 75% of Luke is common to Matthew and Mark.
8. Archaeologist William F. Albright tersely commented on those who are skeptical of the gospels: “Only modern scholars who lack both historical method and perspective can spin such a web of speculation as that with which form-critics have surrounded the Gospel tradition.”
g. Critics of the Bible often complain about “contradictions,” especially in the four gospels. J.W. McGarvey took the critics to task in his work Evidences of Christianity:
“If two writers do not agree on details, it does not necessarily involve a contradiction. One writer may omit a detail which another author covers. A contradiction occurs, not when two statements differ, but when they both cannot be true. If there is a rational theory which can account for the differences in the biblical text, we cannot rightfully pronounce them contradictory. We are not bound to show the truth of the theory, only that it may be true. Common rules of justice require that before we pronounce two statements contradictory, we should exhaust our ingenuity in searching for a possible or probable explanation which shows how both statements could be true. The greater the character and integrity of the writer, the higher our obligation is to find a reasonable explanation, lest we unjustly condemn as false those who are entitled to our respect” (II:31-32).
Dr. Henry Van Dyke essentially made the same observation:
If four witnesses should appear before a judge to give an account of a certain event, and each should tell exactly the same story in the same words, the judge would probably conclude, not that their testimony was exceptionally valuable, but that the only event which was certain beyond a doubt was that they had agreed to tell the same story. But if each man had told what he had seen, as he had seen it, then the evidence would be credible. And when we read the four Gospels, is not that exactly what we find? The four men tell the same story in his own way” (quoted by David Roper in Truth For Today Commentary, Life of Christ I:6-7).
h. Note the Five Classes of Evidence From J.W. McGarvey’s Evidences of Christianity IV:1-4. The strength of evidence is described from the strongest to the weakest:
q Canon One—The greatest category of evidence is from a contemporary who is credible and who has the opportunity for personal knowledge of the facts recorded. This includes public records, monuments, and inscriptions made by persons who are contemporary with the events. From a legal standpoint, Matthew, John, Peter, James, Jude, and Paul possess the highest degree of credibility. Some of Acts was witnessed by Luke. Over three-fourths of the New Testament falls into this canon.
q Canon Two—This category is comprised of credible writers who obtained their information from eyewitnesses or from another source within canon one. Mark and Luke fall into this category. Tertullian, a second century Christian appealed to Proculus, a Roman senator to go to the Roman archives and read about Pilate’s report about the darkness surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus. Tertullian’s letter is canon two evidence but Pilate’s report is canon one.
q Canon Three—This category includes writers who lived later than the events described. They may have gained their information from oral sources. If the events are of public notoriety and have affected national life or have been memorialized by some public observance, their credibility is greatly enhanced. Examples of canon three: Fourth of July Celebrations, Passover, Sunday worship and communion, etc.
q Canon Four—When a tradition of one group of people is corroborated by another group, particularly a hostile group, this greatly increases the likelihood that the described events occurred. Such evidence depends upon the improbability of accidental agreement and the impossibility of collusion.
q Canon Five—The concurrent testimony on independent writers increases the probability that an event occurred. This agreement has greater force when the agreement is incidental, e.g. one writer alludes to the same event which another writer narrated. The probability is increased in geometric ratio to the number of witnesses. The testimony of three witnesses is not three times as strong as one contradicting witness, but is eight times as strong (2 times 2 times 2=8).
i. William Ramsay was a 19th century British archaeologist whose mind had been poisoned by Europe’s liberal theology. He spent years retracing the places Luke describes. The accuracy of Luke in Luke-Acts as a historian caused Ramsay to change his mind. He later said that he had not been able to find a single error of Luke in any of his writings and Luke was a historian of the highest order.
j. Of the four Gospel writers, Luke gives the longest account. Although Paul wrote more books (13), Luke the physician wrote more material than any other writer, about 25% of the New Testament.
i. Some wonder why God gave us four Gospels instead of one. Four independent narratives are written from different perspectives to different audiences. Each account serves to supplement the other three. Each one is evidence that is difficult to refute.
ii. If all four accounts were merged into one “gospelette,” the material would have been only half the length of what we have. As they are, the four Gospels result in about half of the bulk of the New Testament.
k. Greek culture emphasized two qualities: 1) human reason & intellect, 2) human culture & perfection. Luke presents Jesus as the perfect mind & the perfect man.
i. Writing for a Greek, Theophilus, Luke carefully explains details that foreigners would not have known: Calvary is called by its Greek name, Kranion, not Hebrew, Golgotha, though both mean “the place of the skull.” Luke does not use the term rabbi, but gives its Greek equivalent, master (Luke 4:2; 22:40; 23:33).
ii. All of Luke’s quotations of the Old Testament are not from the Hebrew text, but from the Septuagint (abbreviated as LXX), a Greek translation of the Old Testament that was made about 270 B.C. in Alexandria, Egypt. The LXX was the favorite translation of the early church.
iii. Luke traces Jesus’ lineage back to Adam, not Abraham. The Gospel of Luke presents Jesus as the Jewish Messiah and mankind’s Savior. Luke's account had a universal appeal, especially to the Gentiles. Jesus is presented as the perfect Man who is interested in every person on earth, no matter what his or her station in life.
l. Luke emphasizes joy, prayer, worship, & the Holy Spirit more than the other Gospels.
i. Of the 15 references to the prayers of Jesus, Luke mentions 11 of them.
ii. He mentions angels more than 20 times.
iii. He also emphasizes the sufferings of Jesus. He gives over 35 references to the rejection of Jesus.
iv. He is the only writer to tell of Herod’s part in the crucifixion of Jesus.
v. Luke mentions 20 miracles but 6 of them are only mentioned by him.
vi. He also mentions 23 parables but 18 are peculiar to his Gospel.
m. The genealogies of Matthew and Luke are different:
i. Matthew begins with Abraham and works forward to Jesus. Matthew traces the lineage through David & his son Solomon, and ends with Joseph but it is thought that he gives the lineage through Mary.
ii. Luke begins with Jesus and works backward to Adam, the son of God. Luke traces the lineage through David and his son Nathan and ends with Joseph, the legal father of Jesus.
n. He is the only gospel-writer to speak of the Sea of Galilee as a lake. Luke had been to the Mediterranean, and he knew that compared to the Mediterranean, Galilee was only a lake. Acts 27 contains correct language of nautical terms used in the 1st century.
o. Written for the Greek mind, Luke was written in a comprehensive, logical, and orderly manner. Portions of this book approach the grandeur of Classical Greek literature. The first four verses are the best Greek in the New Testament and follow a pattern of other literary works like Josephus. Of the 4 Gospels, only two of them have a preface (Luke & John). Some have called the Gospel of Luke “the most beautiful book ever written” (William Barclay, Commentary on Luke, introduction).
p. Luke claims to have written accurately (1:3). He mentions thirty-two countries, fifty-four cities, and nine Mediterranean islands. He also mentions four Roman emperors and other prominent officials (Goldman 12).
q. Date of writing: The fact that Luke prophesies the destruction of Jerusalem (Luke 21) but does not record its fulfillment is a strong reason to believe that it was authored prior to A.D. 70. How much before this date we cannot know for certain.
3. Purposes of the book
a. To teach one searching for truth. Luke acknowledges other written accounts about the life of Jesus. Luke claims that he interviewed those who were in a position to know the truth about Jesus. He investigated so he could write accurately and orderly (1:2-3). He implies that his account is more accurate than some of the other narratives.
b. To prove the Christian faith was no threat to Rome. Having been a companion of Paul, Luke knew that Christians were accused of treason against the government. After all, Jesus was accused of treason against Caesar. Luke shows that Christianity is compatible with Roman authority and that Christians are neither dangerous nor rebellious. Perhaps Luke presented his material to also secure the release of Paul from prison.
c. To take the Gospel to all nations. The printed page can go where people sometimes cannot go. Consider how the world has been blessed by the message of the four Gospel accounts.
d. To provide a permanent record about Jesus Christ. As long as the apostles, eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word were living, the early church was guided by the truth on the lips of these people. After all, they were inspired by the Holy Spirit. How would succeeding generations be able to know the life-changing truths of Jesus? Luke wrote so that Theophilus could be certain of his faith. When we read Luke’s account, we also can be certain.
e. To show that Christianity is able to solve humanity’s problems. Man’s greatest need is to deal with sin, but sin is the source of all of man’s ills and suffering.
i. A number of Jesus’ parables deal with financial issues. Luke shows that Christianity can help the poor.
ii. Luke was concerned for family life. In Roman culture, divorce became as common as marriage. Seneca speaks of women who were married to be divorced and who were divorced to be married. He tells of women who identified the years, not by the names of the consuls, but by the names of their husbands. Luke says more about children than any New Testament writer. Roman law allowed fathers to kill their newborn children if they were unwanted. Seneca said, “We strangle a mad dog; we slaughter a fierce ox; we plunge the knife into sickly cattle lest they taint the herd; children who are born weakly and deformed we drown.”
iii. Christianity was able to redeem whatever it touched. Rome had a population of over 1 million, but most of them were slaves or those living in poverty. Seneca called Rome a “cesspool of iniquity” and Juvenal said it was a filthy sewer into which flowed the abominable dregs. Jesus purified those who lived immoral lives. For those who had no purpose, Jesus gave direction. He showed that every person was significant.
iv. Luke also mentions Jesus’ love for outcasts, social misfits and “losers.” Luke emphasizes Jesus’ kindness toward women, the poor, publicans, Samaritans, the weak, and those who were suffering in different ways. Luke has been called the “Gospel of the underdog.” Luke mentions 13 women not mentioned elsewhere.
v. As a physician, Luke knew what it was to see hurting people on a daily basis & his writing reflects that sensitivity. Luke shows that Jesus is God’s answer for human suffering. His resurrection account is twice as long as Matthew’s.
1. Buddhists claim that Gautama was affected by “four passing sights” that caused him to renounce his family and wealth to learn the truth about suffering. He saw a man wracked by disease, a man decrepit with old age, a corpse, and a monk begging alms.
2. Because Luke had a great interest in the suffering of Jesus, he says more about the crucifixion that any other gospel writer.
3. He also mentions compassion for those who suffered (7:13; 10:33; 15:20; 19:41). Jesus was saddened by those who lost loved ones or for those who carried the burden of a terminal disease (5:12).
4. Luke mentions several cases of demonic possession (4:33; 41; 8:2, 26-39; 9:1, 42; 10:17-20; 11:14; 13:32).
5. He shows that Jesus was concerned about those struggling against evil. Jesus is God’s answer to our most pressing problems.
Outline of Luke’s Gospel
i. Purpose of Gospel, vv. 1-4 (Prologue). This is an example of the finest Greek in the New Testament. By having a prologue, Luke follows the example of some classical historians like Herodotus (484-425 B.C.), Thucydides (460-395 B.C.), Polybius (203-120 B.C.), and medical writers like Dioscorides (A.D. 40-90). Luke admits that he is not an eyewitness of what he reports. If Luke were a forgery, the author would have inflated his claims.
ii. Gabriel announces John’s birth to Zacharias, vv. 5-25
iii. Gabriel announces the virgin birth of Jesus to Mary, vv. 26-38
iv. Mary visits Elisabeth, vv. 39-56
v. Birth of John, vv. 57-80
i. Birth of Jesus at Bethlehem, vv. 1-7
ii. Angels announce His birth to shepherds; shepherds visit stable, vv. 8-20
iii. Circumcision of Jesus and purification of Mary, vv.21-24
iv. Simeon sees the infant Christ, vv. 25-35
v. Anna sees the infant Christ; return to Nazareth, vv.36-40
vi. Visit of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus to Jerusalem when Jesus was twelve, vv.41-52. Jesus develops physically, spiritually, socially, and intellectually, v. 52.
i. Ministry of John, vv. 1-20
ii. Baptism of Jesus, vv. 21, 22; (Trinity v. 22)
iii. Genealogy of Jesus through Mary, vv. 23-38; (Mary was also descended from David, v. 31 - see Matthew 1)
i. heals lepers, 5:12-16.
ii. heals man with palsy, 5:17-26
i. Jesus “violates” Sabbath tradition, 6:1-11.
1. defends disciples for eating on Sabbath, 6:1-5.
2. heals paralyzed man on Sabbath, 6:6-11
ii. Jesus chooses twelve apostles, 6:12-16
iii. Jesus’ ministry on the plain, 6:17-49.
1. Miracles of healing, 6:17-19
2. Sermon on the Plain, 6:20-49
i. A centurion's faith amazes Jesus, 7:1-10
ii. Jesus resurrects young man from Nain, 7:11-17
iii. John the Baptist’s questions, 7:18-35
iv. Jesus forgives a sinful woman,7:36-41.
v. Parable of two debtors,7:42-50.
i. Women serve Jesus, 8:1-3
ii. Parables about the kingdom
1. sower, 8:4-15
2. lighted candle, 8:16-18
iii. Jesus’ family, 8:19-21
iv. Jesus calms a storm, 8:22-25
v. Legion of demons at Gadara, 8:26-39
vi. A twelve year hemorrhage and a twelve year old deceased girl, 8:40-56
i. Limited commission of the Twelve, 9:1-6
ii. Herod hears of Jesus ministry, 9:7-9
iii. Jesus feeds 5000 men, 9:10-17
iv. Peter confesses Christ, 9:18-20
v. Jesus announces death and resurrection, 9:21-22
vi. The Transfiguration, 9:28-38
vii. He casts out demons from an only son, 9:37-43.
viii. He sets His face toward Jerusalem, 9:44-56
ix. His test for discipleship, 9:57-62.
i. Jesus goes down road to Emmaus, reveals Himself to two disciples, vv. 13-34
ii. Jesus goes to the assembled disciples, reveals Himself to the Eleven; gives commission to go, vv. 35-48. (He is still a man; emphasizes the importance of the Word of God)