Author:
Luke a companion of Paul.
Internal evidence:
a. The book of Acts refers back to the first book.
b. Both are addressed to Theophilus.
c. The “we” statements can only fit with “Luke”.
Early Tradition:
Was Luke a physician? Paul uses the term “the beloved physician “. Luke frequently uses medical terms displays an interest in sickness.
Luke was probably a Gentile. His name is of Greek derivation. Luke uses a Greek style of writing. This is especially illustrated by the formal introduction in a Greco-Roman style in both Luke and Acts.
Purpose:
Luke writes to “establish the religious piety, moral purity and political innocence of Jesus and his followers “.
Luke extends the audience focus beyond that of the authors of the other Synoptic gospels to the entire Greco-Roman world.
Universality:
a. By relating Jesus early ministry to events in secular history.
b. This gospel not only includes gentiles, but also features social outcasts e.g. The immoral woman anointing Jesus’s feet, Zaccheus the tax collector, the Samaritan in the prodigal son and the healed leper.
c. Women are featured in the narratives of Luke. Mary, Elizabeth and Anna are featured in the birth narrative. Women again are highlighted at the crucifixion and resurrection narratives.
As Gundry puts it: Luke features Jesus as a cosmopolitan Savior. As compared to Matthew, who focuses on the Kingdom of God, Luke focuses on the people whom are affected by Jesus’s ministry.
Dating:
The Gospel of Luke is the least difficult to ascertain the period of writing.
The reason being is that the book of Acts closes with Paul awaiting trial in Rome. (64 – 67 AD) If Luke used Mark as a source, then the Gospel of Luke would have an early date of writing.
The question of AD 70 arises again, due to the fact that Luke uses the phrase “siege of Jerusalem“ rather than the phrase “abomination of desolation“. (The role of predictive prophecy.)
