The Gospel of Luke – Introduction and Week 1

This gospel, as titled, is attributed to Lucan authorship “the beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14)  and companion of Paul (2 Timothy 4:11, Philemon 24). Its composition is typically placed in the later part of the first century, depending on the source and approach to placing Luke in its historical context though an actual date is not clear. Luke is widely accepted as the third of the four canonical Gospels. This Gospel, like the others, is a biographical narrative of Jesus’ life. Similar to Matthew, Luke starts with the birth narratives of John the Baptist and Jesus. Based on Synoptic Gospel scholarship, because Mark is viewed as the earliest Gospel and shares much content with Matthew and Luke, it is probable that Matthew and Luke used Mark as a source for their Gospel manuscripts along with another source that is still merely a hypothesis since it has not bee discovered, called “Q.” “Q” would contain a record of the stories that Matthew and Luke share. Based on the literary characteristics of elegance, complexity, and an abundance of scriptural references, Luke is presumed to be written to an educated Gentile audience that would have unfamiliar with Jewish customs and practices. The major themes of Luke include a ministry that attracts hostility, and a robust Christology that emphasizes the fulfillment of God’s plan of salvation through Jesus (Lord, Son of God, long awaited Messiah, Teacher, divinely Authoritative).

Luke and the Ministry of Jesus: Outline

The theme of this Bible Study is to focus on Luke’s perspective of the life and ministry of Jesus. The purpose for our study is to show that the nuances we often overlook or become desensitized to within the Gospels have a significant impact on our understanding of who Jesus is and the implications that has for our faith and out lives.

Week 1 — Introduction to the Gospel of Luke and its place among the other Gospels.

Read Scripture: Luke 1 (with emphasis on verses 1-38 and 57-66), with Matthew 1, Mark 1:1-28, and John 1:1-39.

a. Summarize Synoptic Gospel Scholarship: Make notes about the main features of the Synoptic Gospel to use as a reference as we go through the rest of the Bible Study.

b. Main Characteristics of Each Gospel: Read through the listed scriptures, make notes and compare the beginnings of each Gospel.

c. Authorship, Historical Context and Main Themes of Luke: Take a deeper dive into the background of Luke and how it sets the stage for our study.