Introduction to Luke

Dr. Gail E. Terrell
Pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Hamilton, Ohio

  1. Author.   The author of Luke uses first person in the introduction (1:3); however, he is not named within the text.   The physician Luke has been considered from earliest times to be the author.   Luke is considered to be a gentile because his name is listed separate from the Jews but with the Greeks in Colossians 4:10-14.   Luke joined Paul at Troas during the second missionary journey and became a helper to Paul; and some commentators believe that Luke was secretary to Paul while Paul dictated the Gospel of Luke; that is, Paul was speaking and Luke was writing (Philemon 24).   Although the date for the writing of Luke is unknown, Luke is believed to have been written by the end of Paul’s first Roman imprisonment in 63 A.D. (Acts 27:1-17; 28:14-31; Colossians 4:14).   Luke may have been written when Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea for 2 years in 58-60 A.D.
     
  2. Recipients.   Luke is addressed to Theophilus (1:3; Greek, lover of God) who was a high official (most excellent, Acts 23:26; 24:3; 26:25) and probably a Greek nobleman.   Luke provides explanations to aid gentile readers.   About half of Luke contains information not included in the other three Gospels.   Luke gives much insight into people not mentioned in other books of the New Testament.
     
  3. Theme.   Christ the perfect Man without sin.   Luke presents the humanity of Jesus more completely than the other Gospels, showing that Jesus was fully Man with man’s body which hungered, slept, was tempted yet without sin, wept, etc.
     
  4. Key verses.   1:4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.   19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
     
  5. Key words used in Luke:   son of man – 25 times.
     
  6. References to the Lord’s church in Luke:   the word churchdoes not appear in Luke.   Luke does describe the naming of the 12 apostles which were the first members of whom God set in the first church (I Corinthians 12:28).   Luke records the first missionary activities of this first church as …they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where (9:6).   Jesus said to His first church, Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom (12:32).   Jesus has given   pastors (shepherds, Greek poimen) to His separate churches (flocks) all over the world.   Luke describes the special observance of the Lord’s supper which was to remain a church ordinance until Jesus comes again.   Finally, Luke shows Jesus as He commissioned His church to continue preaching exactly what they had been preaching while He trained them (24:47).
     
  7. Luke has 24 chapters, 1,151 verses, and about 25,944 words.

Notes