Luke

Mark L. Strauss, Clinton E. Arnold

• Publisher: Zondervan Academic
• Year: 2016
• eBook ISBN: 9780310530169
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Criticism & Interpretation

Brimming with lavish, full-color photos and graphics, the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary walks you verse by verse through all the books of the New Testament. It's like slipping on a set of glasses that lets you read the Bible through the eyes of a first-century reader! Discoveries await you that will snap the world of the New Testament into gripping immediacy. Things that seem mystifying, puzzling, or obscure will take on tremendous meaning when you view them in their ancient context. You'll deepen your understanding of the teachings of Jesus. You'll discover the close, sometimes startling interplay between God's kingdom and the practical affairs of the church. Best of all, you'll gain a deepened awareness of the Bible's relevance for your life. Written in a clear, engaging style, this beautiful set provides a new and accessible approach that more technical expository and exegetical commentaries don't offer.

Luke

by Mark Strauss

EAST OF JERUSALEM TOWARD JERICHO

Luke

Important Facts:

■ AUTHOR: Luke: physician, coworker, and traveling companion with the apostle Paul. Probably the only New Testament work written by a Gentile.

■ PORTRAIT OF CHRIST: Jesus, the Savior for all people. Part One of a Two-Volume Work: Luke’s Gospel is the first half of a single two-volume work (“Luke-Acts”), sharing purpose, themes, and theology with the book of Acts.

■ CENTRAL THEME OF LUKE-ACTS: Luke seeks to show that God’s great plan of salvation has come to fulfillment in the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus the Messiah, and continues to unfold as the Spirit-filled church takes the message of salvation from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.

■ OTHER KEY THEMES:

1. Promise-fulfillment: The age of salvation has arrived in Jesus the Messiah.

2. The age of the Spirit: The sign of the new age is the coming of the Spirit in the ministry of Jesus and the early church.

3. The gospel is “good news” for all people, regardless of race, gender, or social status.

■ PURPOSE IN WRITING: To defend and legitimize the claims of the church as the authentic people of God in the present age.

■ RECIPIENT: Theophilus, but intended for a larger Christian audience.

Unity and Main Themes of Luke and Acts (Luke-Acts)

It is widely recognized today that Luke and Acts are two parts of a single two-volume work (Luke-Acts). Acts picks up where the Gospel ends and claims to be a continuation of the story that began with Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection (Acts 1:1–2). The two works share not only a common style and vocabulary, but also a common purpose, themes, and theology.

1. Promise-fulfillment. The central theme running throughout Luke-Acts is that the coming of Jesus the Messiah heralds the dawn of the new age—the age of salvation. What was promised by the Old Testament prophets is now being fulfilled. Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection forgiveness of sins is now offered to all people.

2. The age of the Spirit. The new age of salvation is the age of the Spirit. In Luke’s birth narrative (Luke 1–2), the long-silent Spirit of prophecy suddenly breaks forth in praise and prophetic declaration through Zechariah, Mary, Elizabeth, and Simeon—representatives of Israel’s righteous remnant. At Jesus’ baptism the Spirit anoints and empowers him to accomplish the messianic task (3:22; 4:1, 14, 18). Finally, in Acts Jesus pours out his Spirit on the church, empowering its members to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. As promised by the Old Testament prophets, the coming of the Spirit means that the last days have arrived, so that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21, citing Joel 2:28–32).

3. A gospel for all nations. Closely related to the theme of promise-fulfillment is the universal application of the message of salvation. While the gospel message arises from within Israel and fulfills the promises made to her, it is a message for all people. Just as the prophets predicted, the coming of the Messiah inaugurates a new era, when all nations will be called to participate in the salvation available through Jesus the Messiah. The key for Luke is the continuity between the history of Israel, the person and work of Jesus, and the expansion of his church from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. This theme is introduced in the Gospel and comes to fruition in the worldwide mission of the church in Acts.1

JERUSALEM

An artistic reconstruction of Jerusalem at the time of Christ.

4. A gospel for the outcasts. The theme of God’s love for all people is most evident in this Gospel with Jesus’ concern for social outcasts, sinners, and the poor. The message of salvation crosses all racial and social barriers. At the inauguration of his ministry, Jesus enters the Nazareth synagogue and epitomizes his message as good news to the poor (4:16–22). He associates with sinners and tax collectors, and tells parables where a hated Samaritan is the hero (10:25–37) and where a wayward son is graciously received back by his father (15:11–32). The message throughout is that God loves the lost, those who with a contrite and humble heart will return to him. Repeatedly Jesus’ parables reveal the great reversal of fortunes that the kingdom of God will bring: The rich, proud, and mighty will be humbled, while the poor, humble, and oppressed will be exalted (12:13–21; 14:15–24; 16:19–31).

5. A gospel for women. This Gospel also crosses gender barriers, for women play a more prominent role in Luke than in the other Gospels. The birth narrative is told from the perspective of women (Mary, Elizabeth, and Anna). Women support Jesus’ ministry financially (8:1–3). Mary sits at Jesus’ feet, learning from him as a disciple (10:38–42). In contrast to the low status of women in Palestinian society, Jesus lifts them up to full participation in the kingdom of God. The gospel of Jesus is for all people.

Purpose in Writing

Why then did Luke write? Luke’s prologue identifies his general purpose as the confirmation of the gospel, seeking to confirm for Theophilus “the certainty of the things you have been taught” (1:1–4). More specifically, Luke appears to be writing for a Christian community—probably predominantly Gentile, but with Jewish representation—struggling to legitimize its claim as the authentic people of God, the heirs of the promises made to Israel. In defending the identity of Christ, Luke seeks to show that Jesus is the Messiah promised in the Old Testament and that his death and resurrection were part of God’s purpose and plan. In defense of the increasingly Gentile church, he confirms that all along it was God’s plan to bring salvation to the Gentiles, and that Israel’s rejection of the gospel was predicted in Scripture and was part of her history as a stubborn and resistant people. The theme that holds these threads together is promise and fulfillment. The church made up of Jews and Gentiles is the true people of God because it is for her and through her God’s promises are being fulfilled.

The Author

The third Gospel has been traditionally ascribed to Luke, a physician, friend, and missionary companion of the apostle Paul.2 In addition...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• How to Use This eBook
• Introduction
• List of Sidebars
• Index of Photos and Maps
• Abbreviations
• Luke
• Credits for Photos and Maps
• The New International Version Appendix