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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 '''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 ...."   

[[Theology|Theological]] themes of the Gospel of Luke are: Jesus Christ is the promised [[Messiah]] King of the [[Old Testament]]; Jesus as the [[Son of God]] and Son of Man; Jesus' reliance on God and his frequent [[prayer]]; the [[kingdom of God]] is for the [[Humility|humble]], the [[repentance|repentant]] [[sin]]ner, the poor, the outcast, and the outsider; [[God]]'s [[salvation]]; the Jewish Messiah is not only for the [[Jew]]s, but for the Gentiles as well; the role of the [[Holy Spirit]] in connection to Jesus’ coming and his public ministry; the Messiah King was rejected by the ones He came to save and [[Christian persecution|Christians must be willing to suffer persecution]] and rejection as they follow the example of Christ; and the [[ascension of Christ]].<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>

[[Theology|Theological]] themes of the Gospel of Luke are: Jesus Christ is the promised [[Messiah]] King of the [[Old Testament]]; Jesus as the [[Son of God]] and Son of Man; Jesus' reliance on God and his frequent [[prayer]]; the [[kingdom of God]] is for the [[Humility|humble]], the [[repentance|repentant]] [[sin]]ner, the poor, the outcast, and the outsider; [[God]]'s [[salvation]]; the Jewish Messiah is not only for the [[Jew]]s, but for the Gentiles as well; the role of the [[Holy Spirit]] in connection to Jesus’ coming and his public ministry; the Messiah King was rejected by the ones He came to save and [[Christian persecution|Christians must be willing to suffer persecution]] and rejection as they follow the example of Christ; and the [[ascension of Christ]].<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>

The witnesses to Jesus on the road to Emmaus were not any of [[the Apostles]] or [[Mark]], and thus only the historian (Luke) could describe that encounter.

The witnesses to Jesus on the road to Emmaus were not any of [[the Apostles]] or [[Mark]], and thus only the historian (Luke) could describe that encounter.

Luke was probably inspired by the [[Epistles to the Hebrews]], which is perhaps the best-written Greek work in all of history, and which some of Luke's writings (especially parts of the [[Acts of the Apostles]]) appear to imitate in style and word choice.  Luke is considered one of the [[synoptic gospels]] and Luke is generally considered to have borrowed from Mark as one of his sources, as did Matthew.  It is unknown if Matthew or Luke borrowed from each other or which came first; some material is common to Matthew and Luke but not found in Mark.

Luke was probably inspired by the [[Epistles to the Hebrews]], which is perhaps the best-written Greek work in all of history, and which some of Luke's writings (especially parts of the [[Acts of the Apostles]]) appear to imitate in style and word choice.  Luke is considered one of the [[synoptic gospels]], and Luke is generally considered to have borrowed from Mark as one of his sources, as did Matthew.  It is unknown if Matthew or Luke borrowed from each other or which came first; some material is common to Matthew and Luke but not found in Mark.

==Authorship==

==Authorship==

[[Image:Gospel of Luke in Arab.gif|thumb|This tenth-century Egyptian codex was donated to Pope Eugenius IV by the Coptic delegates at the Council of Ferrara-Florence. Translated from a Coptic original, it is one of the earliest Arabic versions of any part of the New Testament, none of which can be dated before the late eighth or ninth centuries.]]

[[Image:Gospel of Luke in Arab.gif|thumb|This tenth-century Egyptian codex was donated to Pope Eugenius IV by the Coptic delegates at the Council of Ferrara-Florence. Translated from a Coptic original, it is one of the earliest Arabic versions of any part of the New Testament, none of which can be dated before the late eighth or ninth centuries.]]

'''The Gospel of Luke''' does not name its author, but as a companion volume to the [[book of Acts]], it can be inferred by the use of "we" when describing part of the [[Saint Paul|Apostle Paul]]'s journeys that the author traveled with [[Paul]] and [[Luke]], the doctor, becomes the most likely candidate.  The extremely sophisticated Greek of Luke also argues for a man who was very educated as does his attention to detail and the medical language in use matches that of other ancient Greek doctors.  The ancient church father [[Irenaeus]] ascribed the work to Luke as does the Muratorian Canon.  It is also mentioned by Clemente of Alexandria.

'''The Gospel of Luke''' does not name its author, but as a companion volume to the [[book of Acts]], it can be inferred by the use of "we" when describing part of the [[Saint Paul|Apostle Paul]]'s journeys that the author traveled with [[Paul]] and [[Luke]]; the doctor becomes the most likely candidate.  The extremely sophisticated Greek of Luke also argues for a man who was very educated, as does his attention to detail, and the medical language in use matches that of other ancient Greek doctors.  The ancient church father [[Irenaeus]] ascribed the work to Luke, as does the Muratorian Canon.  It is also mentioned by Clemente of Alexandria.

==Place of Writing==

==Place of Writing==

Based on the descriptions of places in [[Palestine]], it is generally assumed that the reader was unfamiliar with that land.  It's not known where Luke was written, but it is assumed it is outside of Palestine and to an audience that is non-Jewish.

Based on the descriptions of places in [[Palestine]], it is generally assumed that the reader was unfamiliar with that land.  It is not known where Luke was written, but it is assumed to be outside Palestine and addressed to an audience that is non-Jewish.

==Date==

==Date==

The Gospel of Luke is generally believed to have been written in the A.D. 70's or 80's, but it is also possible it was written in the late 50's or early 60's based upon the abrupt ending in Acts.  [[Columbia University]] researchers estimate a date of authorship of A.D. 85 (plus or minus five or ten years), when Roman Emperor [[Domitian]] reigned.<ref>https://www.college.columbia.edu/core/node/1754#:~:text=The%20Gospel%20According%20to%20Luke,middle%20of%20the%20third%20century.</ref>

The Gospel of Luke is generally believed to have been written in the A.D. 70s or 80s, but it is also possible it was written in the late 50s or early 60s based upon the abrupt ending in Acts.  [[Columbia University]] researchers estimate a date of authorship of A.D. 85 (plus or minus five or ten years), when Roman Emperor [[Domitian]] reigned.<ref>https://www.college.columbia.edu/core/node/1754#:~:text=The%20Gospel%20According%20to%20Luke,middle%20of%20the%20third%20century.</ref>

The arguments for an earlier date include the following:

The arguments for an earlier date include the following: