The Gospel of Luke Reading Luke in the Year of Faith 1
Sequence Introduction What is a gospel? What s special in Luke? Overview of the Gospel Luke in the Sunday Lectionary A Prayer 2
Introduction The same writer wrote Luke and Acts Together, Luke-Acts = 25% of the NT It was written c. AD 85, after Mark s Gospel Written by a Gentile (non-jew) for Gentiles The place of writing is unknown 3
The word gospel Old Testament (Isaiah) New Testament (throughout) What Jesus preached What early Christians said about Jesus The Gospels in the New Testament 4
The word gospel Old Testament (Isaiah) New Testament (throughout) What Jesus preached Euagge/lion Euangelion Evangelium Good News gōd spell Gospel What early Christians said about Jesus The Gospels in the New Testament 4
The word gospel 5
The word gospel 5
The word gospel 5
The word gospel Since providence, which has divinely disposed our lives, having employed zeal and ardour, has arranged the most perfect culmination for life by producing Augustus, whom for the benefit of mankind she has filled with excellence, as if she had granted him as a saviour for us and our descendants, a saviour who brought war to an end and set all things in peaceful order and since with his appearance Caesar exceeded the hopes of all those who had received good news before us, not only surpassing those who had been benefactors before him, but not even leaving any hope of surpassing him for those who are to come in the future, and since the beginning of the good news on his account for the world was the birthday of a god 6
The start of Luke 7
The start of Luke Luke 1:1 Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, 3 I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed. 7
What is a Gospel? Luke was not the first to write a Gospel Luke was not an eye-witness Luke used eye-witnesses and documents Luke wrote to persuade and deepen faith Two volumes: Luke-Acts 8
What is a gospel? A biography Not in the modern sense Not quite in the ancient sense Written to persuade and change Written because Jesus is raised 9
What is a Gospel? Matthew (28) Mark (16) Luke (24) John (21) 90% of Mark is in Matthew 55% of Mark is in Luke Matthew and Luke share 252 vv. Almost 50% of Luke is unique to him 10
What is a Gospel? Mark Sower Q Lord s Prayer M Magi L Prodigal Son Matthew Luke 11
What is a Gospel? Mark Sower Q Lord s Prayer M Magi L Prodigal Son Matthew Luke 11
What is a Gospel? Mark Sower Q Lord s Prayer M Magi L Prodigal Son Matthew Luke 11
What is a Gospel? Mark Sower Q Lord s Prayer M Magi L Prodigal Son Matthew Luke 11
What is a Gospel? Mark Sower Q Lord s Prayer M Magi L Prodigal Son Matthew Luke 11
What is a Gospel? Mark Sower Q Lord s Prayer M Magi L Prodigal Son Matthew Luke 11
What is a Gospel? Mark Sower Q Lord s Prayer M Magi L Prodigal Son Matthew Luke 11
Time line 70 years 30 years 12
Time line 70 years 30 years Jesus 6 BC 30 AD Paul 6 BC / 35, 64 AD Mark 69-70 Matthew 85-90 Luke 85-90 John 95-100 12
Time line 70 years 30 years Jesus 6 BC 30 AD Paul 6 BC / 35, 64 AD Mark 69-70 Matthew 85-90 Luke 85-90 John 95-100 Galilee, Judea Syria, Asia Minor, Greece, Italy Syria? Rome? Syria Greece? Syria, Asia Minor 12
Time line 70 years 30 years Jesus 6 BC 30 AD Paul 6 BC / 35, 64 AD Mark 69-70 Matthew 85-90 Luke 85-90 John 95-100 Galilee, Judea Syria, Asia Minor, Greece, Italy Syria? Rome? Syria Greece? Syria, Asia Minor Augustus Tiberius Caligula Claudius Nero Vespasian Titus Domitian Nerva, Trajan 12
Time line 70 years 30 years Jesus 6 BC 30 AD Paul 6 BC / 35, 64 AD Mark 69-70 Matthew 85-90 Luke 85-90 John 95-100 Galilee, Judea Syria, Asia Minor, Greece, Italy Syria? Rome? Syria Greece? Syria, Asia Minor Augustus Tiberius Caligula Claudius Nero Vespasian Titus Domitian Nerva, Trajan 31-14 14-37 37-41 41-54 54-68 69-79 79-81 81-96 96+ 12
Overview Every Gospel has a chosen sequence Luke 1-4" " " Preparation Luke 5-9" " " Ministry in Galilee Luke 10-19" " Luke 20-24" " Road to Jerusalem Saving events in the Holy City 13
Special in Luke Luke is a great story-teller and some of the best-loved stories in the Gospels are his The birth stories Prodigal Father/Son Road to Emmaus 14
Special in Luke Luke highlights the role of the Holy Spirit and the power of prayer Mary Jesus in Nazareth Pentecost 15
Special in Luke Luke gives prominence to forgiveness and joy Joy - chapters 1-2, 15 Zacchaeus - chapter 19 The Gospel ends on a joy-filled note 16
The Role of the Spirit in Luke Mary, conceiving by the power of the Holy Spirit becomes the model for all believers (1:34-38, 2:19, 51) Her greatness lies in her openness to the word (1:48, 8:18-21, 11:27-28) The Holy Spirit is present in Jesus and is the source of his power (3:22, 4:1, 4:14, 10:21) This is the power that the disciple receives (24:49, Acts 3:1-10, 4:31) In Luke 11:13 the Holy Spirit is the answer to all prayer (contrast Matthew 7:11)
Influence Christian imagination and memory Luke-Acts = 25% of the NT The Christian year The year of Luke in the lectionary 18
Sunday Lectionary Chs / vv 1962 Vatican II Matthew 28 (1071) 34.8% 55.5% Mark 16 (678) 3.4% 61.1% Luke 24 (1141) 16.3% 56.5% John 21 (879) 30% 59.8% 19
And so... Luke is a distinctive voice Portrait of Jesus - prophet Response of the believer - faith 20
Prayer Merciful God, anoint me with your Holy Spirit. And as I read your word, let me hear your voice speaking to me from within. Give me wisdom to understand your message to me. Let your word be the joy of my heart and the lamp to my feet. Give me strength to build my life on your word. Let it be done unto me according to your word. May I rejoice in the blessedness of hearing your word and keeping it. Speak Lord, your servant is listening 21