The Gospel according to Luke: An Introductory Overview

by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

I) Literary Considerations

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Composition and History

Date of Composition: probably the mid- to late 80’s of the first century
Attributed Author: beloved physician, a companion of Paul (Col 4:14; 2Tim 4:11; Phlm 1:24)
Actual Author: 2nd generation Gentile-Christian convert, well-educated “historian”
Original Readers: Christians with Gentile heritage, including some wealthier people
Place of Composition: Antioch in Syria? or a Greek city where St. Paul had founded a church?
Literary Prologue (1:1-4): all one sentence! careful investigation, orderly account; Theophilus

Structural Outline

A) Literary Preface & Infancy Narrative: 1:1 – 2:52
    B) Preparatory Events: 3:1 – 4:13
        C) Jesus’ Ministry in Galilee: 4:14 – 9:50
            D) Jesus’ Journey to Jerusalem: 9:51 – 19:27
        C') Jesus’ Ministry in Jerusalem: 19:28 – 21:38
    B') Passion Narrative: 22:1 – 23:56
A') Resurrection Appearances & Ascension: 24:1-53

Structure and Contents of Luke’s Gospel, in comparison to Mark’s Gospel

Luke follows Mark’s geographical structure overall:
- only one year public ministry of Jesus (vs. multi-year ministry in John’s Gospel)
- only one trip to Jerusalem (last week of Jesus’ life, when he is arrested and killed)
Luke keeps much of Mark’s material (making small improvements):
- Luke 3:1—9:17; 9:18-50 parallels Mark 1:3—6:44; 8:27—9:40 (but omits Mark 6:45—8:26)
- Luke 18:15—24:11 mostly parallels Mark 10:13—16:8
Luke rearranges some of Mark’s material (to make an “orderly account”):
- Postpones call of first disciples (Mark 1:16-20) to Luke 5:1-11
- Moves up Jesus’ visit to Nazareth (Mark 6:1-6a) to Luke 4:16-30
Luke adds much new material:
- Prologue, Infancy Narrative, Parables, Healings, Resurrection Appearances, etc.
- Luke also continues the story in a second volume: The Acts of the Apostles

Literary Features & Thematic Emphases of Luke’s Gospel

Theological Geography & Contextualized History:
- Gospel begins & ends in Temple of Jerusalem; Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem is central
- Historical markers: 1:5 (days of Herod); 2:1-3 (census of Augustus); 3:1-2 (15th year of Tiberius)
Prominence of the Holy Spirit – drives all action throughout this Gospel (and Acts)
- Involved with Zechariah, Elizabeth, John the Baptist, Mary, and esp. Jesus (begin & end)
Emphasis on Prayer and Praise, Thanksgiving and Joy, Mercy and Salvation:
- Hymns of praise; prayers of Jesus & other characters; Jesus’ teachings about prayer
Prominence of Parables – more than in any other Gospel, including some famous ones:
- Focus on repentance/forgiveness and on use of wealth/possessions (esp. Luke 15&16)
Prominence of Women – reflects Luke’s original readers; women leaders in Pauline churches
- Luke often pairs stories involving men with stories involving women (real or fictional)
Prominence of Food & Meals – stresses importance of hospitality, community and sharing
- “Eating your way through Luke’s Gospel”; “Breaking of the Bread” (esp. Luke 24)
Attention to the Poor & Lowly, Sick & Sinners, Women & Children, Samaritans & Gentiles
- Samaritan Villagers; Parable of Good Samaritan; Healing of 10 Lepers (incl. Samaritan)
Theme of Reversal – poor/rich, hungry/satisfied, weak/strong, lowly/proud, sinner/righteous, etc.
- Illustrated in Mary’s “Magnificat” (1:46-55) and many parables (Luke 10, 18, etc.)
- Emphasized in Sermon on the Plain, incl. Beatitudes & Woes (Luke 6:20-26; contrast Matt 5:3-12)

II) Theological Highlights

Christology in Luke’s Gospel

Christological Titles:
- Titles from Mark retained: Christ, Son of God, Son of Man, Son of David, King of Jews
- New emphases in Luke’s Gospel:
  - Jesus is Lord (of Israel, and of all nations)
  - Savior (of all, but esp. the poor)
  - God’s anointed Prophet (in word and deed)
How Jesus is portrayed in words and deeds:
- More of Jesus healing the sick:
  - Widow of Nain (7:11-17)
  - Crippled Woman (13:10-17)
  - Man with Dropsy (14:1-6)
  - Ten Lepers, one a Samaritan (17:11-19)
- More stories involving foreigners, esp. Samaritans:
  - Widow of Zarephath & Naaman the Syrian (4:25-27)
  - Samaritan Villagers (9:51-56)
  - Parable of the Good Samaritan (10:29-37)
  - Ten Lepers, one a Samaritan (17:11-19)
- The “Inaugural Event” of Jesus’ public ministry (Luke 4:16-30; citing Isaiah 61:1-2a)
  - Jesus implies that he's a Prophetic Messiah (or Messianic Prophet)
  - Compares himself to OT prophets Elijah and Elisha

Discipleship in Luke’s Gospel

Jesus’ disciples in Luke’s Gospel, including new characters as positive role models:
- Apostles: similar roles as in Matthew
- Anonymous sinful woman who anoints Jesus in Galilee (Luke 7:36-50)
- Galilean women: much earlier than in Matt/Mark (Luke 8:1-3)
- Seventy disciples: also sent on a mission (10:1-12)
- Martha and Mary of Bethany (10:38-42)
- Zacchaeus, a tax collector in Jericho (19:1-10)
Explicit teachings about discipleship:
- Direct Teachings:
  - Sermon on the Plain (6:17-49)
  - Would-be disciples (9:57-62)
  - Divisions within families (12:49-53)
  - Costs of discipleship (14:25-33)
- Many New Parables:
  - Two Debtors (7:41-43)
  - Good Samaritan (10:25-37)
  - Rich Fool (12:16-21)
  - Lost/Prodigal Son (15:11-32)
  - Shrewd Steward (16:1-8)
  - Rich Man and Lazarus (16:19-31)

The Birth of Jesus in the Four Gospels

Mark: no infancy narrative; Jesus is once called “Son of Mary”; several mentions of “brothers and sisters”
Matthew: focus on men, power, intrigue, violence – Joseph’s dreams – Emmanuel, Son of David, King of the Jews
LUKE: focus on women, poor, joy, praise, salvation – cf. Zechariah's Benedictus, Mary’s Magnificat; Angels' Gloria; Simeon's Nunc Dimittis
John: Jesus as the eternal Logos, the Word made flesh (“incarnation”)

The Passion Narratives of the Four Gospels (similar events, but different emphases)

Mark: suffering and rejection, scourging and derision, horribly painful death
- “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me” (Mark 15:34; quoting Ps 22)
Matthew: Jewish & Roman authorities conspire against Jesus, esp. Caiaphas, Pilate, and Judas
- Almost identical “last words of Jesus on the cross” in Matt 27:46 as in Mark
LUKE: innocence and forgiveness (longer dialogues at Last Supper; added trial before Herod; words of Pilate stress innocence; less abuse/mistreatment of Jesus; encounters on road to Calvary)
- “Father forgive them…” (Luke 23:34)
- “You’ll be with me in paradise” (23:43)
- “Into your hands I commend my spirit” (23:46; …and he breathed his last; cf. Ps 31:5)
John: Jesus is in control; he “finishes” God’s work by being exalted/glorified on the cross
- “I thirst” (John 19:26-27)
- “Behold your son; Behold you mother” (19:28)
- “It is finished” (19:30)

The Resurrection of Jesus in the Four Gospels

Mark 16 – empty tomb story only (16:1-8), no appearance story (16:9-20 added later)
Matthew 28 – brief appearance to women on the road; later to disciples gathered in Galilee
LUKE 24 – multiple appearances, esp. two disciples on road to Emmaus; “Ascension” story
John 20–21 – appearances to Mary Magdalene, to the disciples, to Thomas; later also in Galilee

III) Related Resources by Fr. Felix:

“The New Testament: A Guided Tour”– audio CD program, from Now You Know Media
“A Retreat with the Gospel of Luke”– audio CD program, from Now You Know Media
Study Materials for the Gospel according to Luke

Electronic New Testament Educational Resources

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