The Gospel of Luke

1
The Gospel of Luke
2
Details About the Gospel

• Written in Greek by an anonymous author after
  Mark (70-85CE)perhaps earlier date b/c no
  mention of the destruction of the Temple
• Early church tradition (2nd century) attributed
  authorship to Luke, a physician and travelling
  companion of the apostle Paul (Irenaeus Adversus
  Haereses 3.1.1, Tertullian Adversus Marcionem
  4.2, Clement of Alexandria Stromateis 1.21)
• Same author also wrote the Book of Acts
• Luke is the longest Gospel
• The author wrote more than any other New
  Testament writer

3
Comparative Method

• A method used to study a literary text by noting
  its similarities to and differences from other,
  related, texts, whether or not any of these other
  texts was used as a source for the text in
  question
• If you can find key differences in the way two
  authors describe the same event, or deal with a
  certain subject or theme, these differences may
  be useful for revealing something about the
  unique preoccupations and interests of each author

4
Lukes Interests

• Luke is particularly concerned to explain how
  salvation moved from the Jewish people to
  non-Jews (the Gentiles the nations)
• Emphasizes Jesus role as a prophet, comparable
  to the social prophets of the Hebrew scriptures
  (who were often rejected and even killed for
  their criticisms of rulers and Jewish society)
• The role of prophet (unlike that of messiah) was
  a role that would have been understood by
  polytheists (Salvation and forgiveness of sins by
  a god through repentance)

5
The Prologue

• A key difference between Luke and the other
  Synoptic gospels is the prologue (11-4)
• Luke's prologue can also be called an exordium,
  which is a literary device that was also used by
  other Greek writers
• Exordium typically contain (1) indication of
  authors efforts to do extensive research, (2)
  references to sources, (3) assessment of
  superiority of work to previous works and (4) a
  dedication to a sponsor

6
Luke 11-4

• 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.

7
Criticizing Mark?

• The references to writing an orderly account so
  that the reader might know the truth might be a
  criticism of the Gospel of Mark and its poor
  Greek style and theological emphasis on Jesus
  suffering and death as a sacrificial atonement
• Luke is perhaps the best written of the Synoptic
  gospels in terms of literary style

8
Who was Luke?

• In certain sections of Acts, the author uses the
  first person plural in the narrative (Acts
  1610-17 205-15 211-8 271-2816)
• Luke is mentioned three times in the New
  Testament and from these references it is evident
  that Luke was a physician (Col 414) and a
  companion of Paul (2 Tim 411 Philem 124)
• Attribution to a physician fits with highly
  literary quality of the Gospel

9
Birth Narratives
Gospel of Matthew Gospel of Luke
Mary Joseph are in Bethlehem in a house Mary Joseph travel to Bethlehem from Nazareth for census and must lodge in a stable
Magi visit Shepherds visit
Herod sends troops to kill infants 2 years and younger
Flight to Egypt and then go to Nazareth (after being warned away from Bethlehem to avoid tyrant Archelaus) Return to Nazareth after a month
10
Genealogies

• The genealogies of Matthew and Luke are different
  from each other
• Lukes gospel also goes back further, not just to
  Abraham, but all the way back to Adam and God
  (the original father of all humankind)
• Luke seems to be emphasizing that Jesus belongs
  to all people, both Jews and Gentiles

11
Lukes Gentile Emphasis

• Unlike other synoptics, Luke begins his account
  with Jesus rejected 1st sermon in his home-town
  synagogue
• Also recounts stories of ancient Hebrew prophets
  reaching out to non-Jewish people
• Luke also demonstrates Jesus as being sympathetic
  towards Samaritans and Gentiles (e.g. Good
  Samaritan 1030-37 Centurion 72-10, see also
  232)
• Contrast with Matthew 10.5 These twelve Jesus
  sent out with the following instructions Go
  nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of
  the Samaritans

12
The end of times?

• In the other synoptics there is an emphasis on
  the imminent arrival of Gods final judgment and
  the complete coming of Gods final kingdom
• In Luke these passages are expressed differently,
  so that they express a vision of the slow or
  partial coming of the kingdom in the here and now
  through the influence of the prophetic ministry
  of Jesus and his followers
• Luke lacks any emphasis on the idea of Jesus
  suffering and death being an atoning sacrifice
  (Last supper reference to the covenant in my
  blood 2220 and the crucifixion involving
  bloody sweat 2243-44 are likely later
  additions)

13
Lukes Social Agenda

• Compare Matthews beatitude Blessed are the
  poor in spirit with Marks Blessed are the
  poor
• Marys Song of Praise (magnificat) he has
  scattered the proud in the thoughts of their
  hearts. He has brought down the powerful from
  their thrones,and lifted up the lowly he has
  filled the hungry with good things, and sent the
  rich away empty.

14
Text Criticism/Lower Criticism

• a branch of literary criticism that is concerned
  with the identification and removal of
  transcription errors in texts
• Ancient scribes often made errors or alterations
  when copying manuscripts by hand
• The ultimate objective of the textual critic's
  work is the production of a "critical edition"
  containing a text most closely approximating the
  original