Dear Reader:
Timothy Burdick is an ordained minister who is the Associate
Pastor of Friday Study Ministries, (our Minister of
Abilities). He is also the Director of New Vision Ministries
and the creator & Sponsor of the "Creative Focus" radio
show. He holds earned Bachelors and Masters degrees in the
areas of Bible and religious education. He is drawn to
assist the Disabled to become ENABLED in the Body of Christ,
with a special outreach to the Sight-Challenged Community.
Pastor Timothy has been blind since birth - FSM Editorial
Staff.
Introduction to the
Gospel of Luke
The Gospel of Luke is one of the three
“Synoptic” Gospels. Each of them is different, but each has
a similar point of view. Scholars have labeled Matthew, Mark
and Luke “Synoptic Gospels” because together they show forth
an accurate, but similar portrait of Christ. Ken Matt
enlarges on this point by saying, “The Gospels all tell the
same story; each is good news, yet each paints a unique
portrait that when displayed in its own likeness, reveals a
compelling picture of how that Biblical writer chronicled
the life of Jesus of Nazareth." While Matthew, Mark and Luke
record many parallel passages, it is important to note that
there also many differences. For example, Luke records
fifteen more parables that the other Gospel writers do not.
Also, he includes six more miracles that are foreign to the
writings of Matthew and Mark.
Like modern newspaper reporters, the
first three Gospel writers put their own personalities into
the testimony that they wrote about Jesus. Luke was a
physician. This is recorded in Colossians 4:14, where the
Apostle Paul states, “Luke the beloved physician and Demas
salute you." But, how is this relevant you might ask? How
does the fact that he was a doctor affect my life today?
It is very important, and let me explain.
Just as you see things through the eyes of your background,
the Gospel writers and readers did the same. They saw things
through their existing culture and the circumstances of
their lives.
So, just as Matthew’s and Mark’s writings were colored by
experiences within their lives, Luke introduced the
personality and perspective of a physician into the Gospel
record. Let us consider together how this made his Gospel
unique and special for us today.
One of the first characteristics you might expect to find in
the writings of a doctor is attention to detail. Luke’s
writings are more detailed then any of the other Gospel
writers. Dr. J. Vernon Mc Gee has this to say: "There are
more references to institutions, customs, geography, and
history then any other Gospel." The second characteristic
that one might look for in a doctor is that of intellect. As
an intellectual, Luke gave great attention to order and
methodology. Along with the Apostle Paul, Luke used the best
Greek in the New Testament. Kenneth Wuest has this to say
concerning Luke: He "was a Greek, educated in the Greek
schools, prepared for the medical practice which was held in
high regard at the time. Doctors were professionals and
among the Greeks, they had attained to a life of eminence
among the nations of the world.”
God used the personality differences of the Gospel writers
which we have spoken about, to target unique audiences.
Let’s look briefly at Matthew and Mark: Matthew wrote to the
Jews, showing from Scripture how Jesus was their
long-awaited Messiah. Mark wrote to the Romans, who were a
practical people. They wanted to get to the heart of the
matter. Just who was this Jesus, they wanted to know? But
without the rich background of having been raised in a
Jewish home, the Old Testament Scriptures that Matthew
quoted would have little meaning. Luke, however, being of
Greek descent, was familiar with Greek customs and ways of
looking at things. Walter M. Dunnett has this to say: "Luke
addressed his Gospel primarily to non-Jewish and especially
Greek readers, presenting Jesus as the Son of Man, the ideal
human being. As the Greeks had long sought for the perfect
man, Luke’s work was designed to fulfill that need.” Luke
revealed the perfect man to be Jesus Christ.
Luke is the author of two books. Namely the Gospel (good
news) of Luke which we are studying, and the Book of Acts.
The Acts of the Apostles picks up where the Gospel leaves
off. The Gospel of Luke is one of the earliest books in the
New Testament. Since Luke was a physician, he has some of
the most detailed writings in the New Testament. Being
highly trained, we should mention, as I said above, that
Luke uses some of the best Greek in the New Testament. So,
let’s start off with his prologue, Verses 1-4.
The time of Luke: In all probability, its publication
preceded the destruction of Jerusalem, and it was likely
written in 62 AD or earlier. Luke was Paul the Apostle’s
companion and doctor. The Book of Luke was likely compiled
during the time Paul was in prison at Caesarea for two
years.
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"While
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
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