Sunday School Lessons: Introduction to Luke

The Gospel of Luke
Introduction

Paul describes Luke as “the beloved physician.”  (Col. 4:14)  As we learned in our study of the Acts of the Apostles, Luke was a companion and friend of Paul.  He accompanied Paul on his second and third missionary journeys (Acts 16 to the end).  He probably came to faith in Christ through the ministry of Paul and then stayed with him until the end.  In fact, when Paul came to the end of his ministry, imprisoned in Rome, he says to Timothy, “only Luke is with me.”

We must not make the mistake of thinking that Paul chose Luke to write the story of the early church in the book of Acts or that he asked him to write his Gospel.  The Holy Spirit chose Luke (2 Peter 1:19-21) and had equipped him and used him in a very special way.

Some interesting facts about Luke and his writings:

Tradition tells us that he came from Antioch and was a physician.

Luke uses more medical terms in his writing that Hippocrates, who is known as the Father of Medicine.

He wrote in Greek, and is thought to have been more accomplished in the written language than any other New Testament writer, even Paul.

He was a Gentile convert.

He was an accurate historian.

    Sir William Ramsey was a 19th century archeologist agnostic who wanted to disprove the accuracy of the Bible.  He went to the Holy Lands and followed Luke’s account of the early church and of the travels of Paul, investigating every story, every location, every claim that Luke had made.  He was not able to prove even one historical inaccuracy in Luke’s account in the book of Acts.  Through this experience, he came to faith in Jesus and wrote many books about Paul’s journeys and the early church.

He alone of the Gospel writers included the songs surrounding Christ’s birth.  Many believe he knew Mary and received the information about the birth of Christ directly from her.  

Luke’s purpose in writing his Gospel:

1.    He wanted to write a literary and historical account of the life of Christ.

Luke 1:1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

Luke’s Gospel  is the most complete historical narrative.  He mentions more   geography, history, institutions, cultural customs and local details than any of the other gospel writers.  He was not an eyewitness to the Gospel events, so we can be sure he sought out information from many eyewitnesses.

2.    Luke presents Jesus as the perfect, divine Man and Savior; God manifested in flesh.  He wrote to the Greeks.  Greek was the universal language of the day and the NT is written in Greek.  Even the OT was translated into Greek (the Septuagint).  Greek is known to be the finest language in the world with which to communicate a though or idea and Luke was the best.

Luke is one of the three synoptic gospels.  His contains many details that Matthew and Mark do not.  He records the songs at the birth of Christ.  He gives more details about the Virgin Birth.  

Both his Gospel and Acts are addressed to Theophilus.

There are 20 miracles recorded in Luke, six of which are found only in his Gospel.  He gives us 23 parables, 18 of which are found nowhere else.  (Prodigal Son and Good Samaritan being two)

The importance of prayer is stressed in Luke’s Gospel.  Nine prayers of Christ are recorded in the NT and 7 of those are found only in Luke.  (Read sections from Bible)


He is the only one who records the story of the Road to Emmaus, which proves that Christ was resurrected not only spiritually, but bodily.

His accounts of the miracles give us a great deal of medical information.  Because he was a trained doctor, he was a great observer of events and was very careful with details.

The Gospel of Luke is thought to have been written around 63 AD.  

There are 24 chapters in the Gospel of Luke.  We will do one chapter per week.

*These lessons are written for use with elementary aged students.  You can find lessons for previous chapters here.