| | [[File:Luke by roslin.jpg|thumbnail|right|300px|A niniature of Saint Luke by the Armenian manuscript illuminator Toros Roslin, 13th century.]] | | [[File:Luke by roslin.jpg|thumbnail|right|300px|A niniature of Saint Luke by the Armenian manuscript illuminator Toros Roslin, 13th century.]] |
| − | The '''Gospel of Luke''' has been called "the most [[Aesthetics|beautiful]] book ever written" due to the excellence of its [[writing]], the [[Literature|literary]] [[genius]] of the author who uses several literary techniques in this [[gospel]] and the carefullness and reliability of its writer [[Luke]] the physician.<ref>''See, e.g.'', [[NRSV]] Study Bible at 1502.</ref><ref>[https://deeperriches.com/themes-more-luke/ Themes and More in Luke]</ref><ref>[https://enterthebible.org/courses/luke/lessons/theological-themes-in-luke#:~:text=Social%20Reversal,societies'%20ways%20of%20determining%20value. Theological Themes in Luke]</ref> It is the first [[history|historian]]'s account of the life of [[Jesus Christ]], as written in excellent [[Greek]].<ref>The Gospel of Luke is the finest [[Greek]] among [[the Gospels]], while the [[Epistle to the Hebrews]] is the finest Greek in all of literature.</ref><ref>[https://deeperriches.com/themes-more-luke/ Themes and More in Luke]</ref> [[Luke]] "carefully investigated everything from the beginning" ({{bible ref|Luke|1|3}}), wanting to "write an orderly account" so that the recipient [[Theophilus]] (the entire world, as this name means "loved by [[God]]") would "know the certainty of the things" he had been taught. (Luke 1:3-4) | + | The '''Gospel of Luke''' has been called "the most [[Aesthetics|beautiful]] book ever written" due to the excellence of its [[writing]], the [[genius]] of its author [[Luke]] in masterfully using several [[Literature|literary]] techniques, and the carefulness and reliability of [[Luke]] as a physician.<ref>''See, e.g.'', [[NRSV]] Study Bible at 1502.</ref><ref>[https://deeperriches.com/themes-more-luke/ Themes and More in Luke]</ref><ref>[https://enterthebible.org/courses/luke/lessons/theological-themes-in-luke#:~:text=Social%20Reversal,societies'%20ways%20of%20determining%20value. Theological Themes in Luke]</ref> It is the first [[history|historian]]'s account of the life of [[Jesus Christ]], as written in flawless, elegant [[Greek]].<ref>The Gospel of Luke is the finest [[Greek]] among [[the Gospels]], while the [[Epistle to the Hebrews]] is the finest Greek in all of literature.</ref><ref>[https://deeperriches.com/themes-more-luke/ Themes and More in Luke]</ref> [[Luke]] "carefully investigated everything from the beginning" ({{bible ref|Luke|1|3}}), wanting to "write an orderly account" so that the recipient [[Theophilus]] (the entire world, as this name means "loved by [[God]]") would "know the certainty of the things" he had been taught. (Luke 1:3-4) |
| | The author Luke was a [[Gentile]], as confirmed by [[Paul]] at [[Colossians]] 4:11,14. The Gospel of Luke is the 3rd and longest [[the Gospel|Gospel]] (indeed, the longest book in the entire [[New Testament]]), placed after [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] and [[Gospel of Mark|Mark]] and before the [[Gospel of John]]. [[Papyrus 4]] and [[Papyrus 75]] are two early surviving scrolls of this Gospel. Luke implies the existence of [[Gospels]] before his in {{bibleref|Luke|1|1-3}}: "Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us ...." | | The author Luke was a [[Gentile]], as confirmed by [[Paul]] at [[Colossians]] 4:11,14. The Gospel of Luke is the 3rd and longest [[the Gospel|Gospel]] (indeed, the longest book in the entire [[New Testament]]), placed after [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] and [[Gospel of Mark|Mark]] and before the [[Gospel of John]]. [[Papyrus 4]] and [[Papyrus 75]] are two early surviving scrolls of this Gospel. Luke implies the existence of [[Gospels]] before his in {{bibleref|Luke|1|1-3}}: "Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us ...." |