Gospel of Luke

Definition and Meaning

The Gospel of Luke is the third of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament and contains twenty-four chapters. It is a Gospel recording the life and teachings of Jesus, and together with the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Mark it is grouped among the "Synoptic Gospels." The term refers to Gospels that "see together," presenting the life of Jesus from a similar perspective. The book takes its name from Luke, traditionally regarded as its author. The New Korean Revised Version renders the title as "Nugabogeum," while the Korean Common Translation uses "Ruga."

Biblical and Historical Background

The author's name does not appear in the text. Early church tradition identified the author as Luke, a physician and coworker of Paul. In Colossians 4:14 Paul calls him "Luke, the beloved physician." Both Luke and Acts are addressed to "Theophilus" (Luke 1:3; Acts 1:1). For this reason the two books are regarded as two volumes by a single author and are sometimes referred to together as "Luke-Acts." Scholars differ on the date of composition: some place it in the 60s, while others date it to the 70s or 80s.

In his preface the author states that he carefully examined various accounts and, "having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first," set out to write "in order" (Luke 1:1-4). The Gospel contains much material not found in the other Gospels:

• The account of the birth of John the Baptist
• The Nativity narrative in which shepherds come to see the infant laid in a manger (chapter 2)
• The parables of the prodigal son (chapter 15) and the good Samaritan (chapter 10)
• The story of Zacchaeus the tax collector (chapter 19)
• The account of the disciples on the road to Emmaus (chapter 24)

The song of Mary (1:46-55), known as the Magnificat, is also unique to Luke. Scholars identify as characteristic features of the book its frequent references to prayer and the Holy Spirit, as well as its concern for the poor, women, and Gentiles.

Practice in the Korean Church

Across denominations, Korean churches frequently read Luke 1-2 during Christmas and Advent. Christmas pageants and Sunday school programs are also commonly based on these passages. The parable of the prodigal son is widely used as a sermon text to explain repentance and the Father's grace, while the parable of the good Samaritan is often cited in discussions of love of neighbor and almsgiving.

Churches that follow appointed readings according to the liturgical calendar read Luke on a regular basis. These include Anglican and Methodist churches as well as some Presbyterian churches; the Revised Common Lectionary that they use (a list of readings arranged in a three-year cycle according to the church year) centers on Luke in one of the three years (Year C). Churches in the Pentecostal tradition give particular attention to the emphasis Luke-Acts places on the Holy Spirit. Accordingly, they often cite verses such as "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me" (Luke 4:18) as a basis for their understanding of baptism in the Holy Spirit.