Introduction to the Book of Luke

Luke 1:1-4, Acts 1:1-6

While a majority of the content and stories are the same in Luke compared to the other gospels, it would be unwise of us as readers of the Bible to not look into the intricacies and differences that the author and book of Luke have to offer us. 

Luke was a physician and a gentile, he was not part of the Jewish traditions or one of the men that followed Jesus early on. Due to dates on manuscripts and piecing history together, Luke actually began writing the Book of Acts before Paul was imprisoned which is when he began to gather information and evidence to write his gospel account. Since he was a doctor it would be safe to say that Luke was an intellectual, a critical thinker. That is what makes his gospel account so interesting. You see, he composes his account in a different manner than Matthew, Mark, and John. He says in the first verses of the book that from eyewitness accounts and following the occurrences closely for some time now he decided it would be good to write an orderly account of the story of Jesus. 

Luke also focuses on a different theme throughout his gospel. As we read the stories it is clear he was interested in the social change happening around the person of Christ. You see, as a gentile, he was not a part of the Jewish tradition that the lineage of Christ developed alongside. As Christ emerges and Jesus begins to love and serve all people, Luke could not help but pay close attention. Jesus was different, he brought close the poor, needy, sick, and outsider. Luke notices this and highlights this throughout his account. This is one of the keys uniquely differentiating this account from the other gospels.

You may be wondering who “Theophilus” is. While Luke addresses both Luke and Acts to Theophilus, the Bible does not identify who Theophilus is. The word “theophilus” translates to “friend of God” or “loved by God”, so some believe it is a general address to those who know God, some also believe Theophilus was an actual person Luke was writing to. In any case, it is clear that Luke is looking to aid believers in understanding the true occurrences in the life of Jesus and the beginning of his Church thereafter. 

As we read Luke together, approach it as a critical thinker like the author Luke and see what you can learn from this gospel account. Let us seek to dig into the word, to learn, to know Christ more, and not to go through the motions. I pray this will be true.