Parallels and patterns between luke and acts james r edwards whitworth university this article examines various parallels or patterns between the third gospel and book of acts. The gospel according to luke as well as the acts of the apostles collectively make up 27 percent of the information of the whole new testament. This seems to date lukes gospel after 70 ad and acts during the decade of 7080 ad. What is the relationship between the gospel according to luke and the canonical book called acts of the. The gospel of luke is closely related to the other synoptic gospels, matthew and mark, and will influence our view on their dates as well. The gospel of mark is generally agreed to be the oldest of the three synoptic gospels matthew, mark, and luke and was used as one of the sources for each of the other two. The significance of acts distinct transmission history, however, is largely neglected or undervalued in discussions of the publication of, and. In my former book making the connection between luke and acts. Lukeacts, theology of the initial verses of both the gospel of luke and the book of acts indicate they were written to an otherwise unknown person named theophilus. The gospel that bears his name and the book of acts are two parts of one comprehensive work. Both the gospel of luke and the book of acts are addressed to theophilus. Jan 20, 2001 luke is the only gentile writer of the new testament. Who was theophilus at the beginning of luke and acts. This paper will show the connection between these two works, will explore each books general message and themes, and discover how acts builds upon luke as the second of the companion books.
The writing of the gospels relationship between the synoptics according to the chronology of the gospels detailed in important dates in the lives of jesus and mary, chapter 11, matthew wrote between 3 to 6 years after christs ascension, mark wrote between 15 and 16 years after the ascension, luke wrote between 25 to 27 years after the. Luke, who allegedly wrote a gospel and the acts of the apostles, has more to say about the spirit than any other biblical writer does. Parallels are determined by identical words, phrases, contextual. Both of these books of the bible are credited to luke. Pauls epistle to the galatians galatians was one of pauls seven surviving genuine epistles, an angry letter to a christian community that had deserted paul. The book of acts provides a bridge for the writings of the nt. This commentary interacts with the scholarly discussion found in the various excursuses in the book, draws on the best new insights from a number of disciplines narratological studies of lukeacts, archaeological and social scientific study of the new testament, rhetorical.
What are the contradictions between the gospel of luke and. Luke was a syrian born in antioch and one of the earliest converts to christianity. There are very few contradictions between the gospel of luke and the book of acts. This time, i would like to approach this matter from a slightly different perspective. The holy spirit chose luke, the beloved physician, to write one of the four records of the earthly ministry of the lord jesus christ.
Luke expects his readers to be comforted by the assurance that god is in charge and that everything is going according to plan. Its narrative supplies a bridge connecting the life and ministry of jesus to the life of the church and the witness of the earliest believers. This paper will show the connection between these two works, will explore each book s general message and themes, and discover how acts builds upon luke as the second of the companion books. In the book of acts, luke regularly demonstrated that there was a reciprocal relationship between internal growth and tension. These facts provide strong evidence that the author of these books produced at least two volumes, with the gospel of luke being the first volume and acts being the second volume. When paul preached the gospel of the grace of god, peters gospel of the kingdom to israel was limited to the circumcision. This article examines various parallels or patterns between the third gospel and book of acts. Both books are addressed to one named theophilus luke 1. There is nothing like a western textual tradition for lukes gospel. If we look at the unity between the gospel of luke and the book of acts, we should arrive at the conclusion that luke 24 is the preparation of acts 128 and acts 29. Notice that luke concludes his gospel with a resurrected, immortal christ and begins the book of acts with the same jesus. From a universal perspective, luke is also on target about mission.
The gospel with the most words luke and its sequel the acts of the apostles. While luke, the writer of the gospel that bears his name and the book of acts, was not a simple galilean, he does write as a historian and not an apologist. Relationship between the gospel of luke and acts 985. Apr 04, 2016 the book of acts starts with the phrase, in my former book, theophilus, i wrote about all that jesus began to do and to teach. The synoptic gospels and acts book summaries, test. Start studying gospel of luke and the acts of the apostles. What is very similar between the gospel of luke and the acts of the apostles. What is the relationship between the gospel according to luke and the canonical book called acts of the apostles. Feb 15, 2020 luke of course wrote the gospel of luke luke was a physician in troas, and was there converted by paul, to whom he attached himself. Marcion d ad 160 had a set of documents that included some of pauls letters, beginning with galatians, and some of lukes gospel. What is the relationship of acts to the gospel of luke. So, luke is explaining why a seeming minor jewish cult ought to be taken seriously, and further, be believed by nonjews. Briefly describe the relationship between the old and new testament.
This dates mark after 65 ad and hence acts even later. In turn, for luke, jesus was a man primarily of the spirit. Luke is the only gentile writer of the new testament. The book of acts starts with the phrase, in my former book, theophilus, i wrote about all that jesus began to do and to teach. Luke of course wrote the gospel of luke luke was a physician in troas, and was there converted by paul, to whom he attached himself.
Seeing that he only authored these two books, and that his writings comprise over onefourth. Larkin, the recovery of lukeacts as grand narrative. The gospel of luke is anonymous as is the book of acts. May 23, 2009 there are very few contradictions between the gospel of luke and the book of acts. Parallels and patterns between luke and acts jstor. A more important reason for this significant attention relates to the facts that early christianity emerged from judaism and the book of acts is a narrative about this parting of the ways. What are the similarities between luke and acts trying to.
The christian who really desires to know the bible should diligently study lukes gospel a. The case for luke, the nonjewish gentile companion of paul, likely a medical doctor, possibly from antioch, as the author is not in serious dispute. Terms in this set 25 briefly describe the relationship between the old and new testament. Broadly speaking the gospel of marcion is just an abridged version of the gospel of luke and ten of pauls letters. The book of acts provides a detailed, orderly, eyewitness account of the birth and growth of the early church and the spread of the gospel immediately after the resurrection of jesus christ. Written by the same author and for the same purpose, both were addressed to a christian named theophilus and were designed for the purpose of presenting to him a complete and well authenticated narrative of the early history of the christian movement.
Lukeacts is the composite work of the gospel of luke and the acts of the apostles in the new testament. Concerning the first issue we have already noted the link between luke to acts. Continuing our walk through the book of acts, we can note the following similarities between what happened to jesus in the gospel of luke and what happens in the life of the church in acts. The tradition from the earliest days of the church has been that luke, a companion of the apostle paul, wrote the books of luke and acts colossians 4. Interpretation of lukeacts and implications for jewish. He portrays the spirit as the activity and presence of god but also as an impersonal force or power luke 5.
A more important reason for this significant attention relates to the facts that early christianity emerged from judaism and the book of. The book of acts follows all four gospels and is the history of early christianity, approximately 35 years worth the acts of the apostles. Luke has been pegged as the author based on several things including the we. Jun 20, 2017 broadly speaking the gospel of marcion is just an abridged version of the gospel of luke and ten of pauls letters. The outline of events as they occur in mark is followed by each of the other biographers, and about two thirds of the material found in mark is also present in both. The gospel of luke and the acts of the apostles together make up. The acts of the apostles breaks fresh ground in providing a detailed social and rhetorical analysis of the book of acts. Guthrie has noted five links between the two books. One story in two parts reformed theological college. Parallels are determined by identical words, phrases, contextual similarities, and sequential agreement of data.
The main similarity between the two messages exists in. Lukeacts, theology of bakers evangelical dictionary of. What is the relationship of acts to the gospel of luke answers. Luke has been pegged as the author based on several things including the we passages acts 16. Parallels between lukes gospel and the book of acts. Both acts and the third gospel are dedicated to theophilus, and the book of acts refers to a former book. Below are the six major issues of distinction between what peter taught and what paul taught. However, in the process of recording the acts of the apostles, luke relates many of the concepts of salvation that are common to the book of romans.
The gospel of luke and the acts of the apostles make up a twovolume work which scholars call lukeacts. How can the relationship between the gospel of marcion and. However, in the process of recording the acts of the apostles, luke relates many of the concepts. According to the chronology of the gospels detailed in important dates in the lives of jesus and mary, chapter 11, matthew wrote between 3 to 6 years after christs ascension, mark wrote between 15 and 16 years after the ascension, luke wrote between 25 to 27 years after the ascension, and john wrote between 49 and 62 years after the ascension. More likely some time elapsed between the two gospels. This story is really about lukes perception of the relation between gentiles. Jan 02, 2020 while both the gospel of luke and the book of acts have applications for all christians, they were probably written to a specific individual whom luke addresses as most excellent theophilus luke 1.
Thus, lukeacts is certainly early enough to have contained eyewitness testimony. The gospel according to luke and the acts of the apostles together make up 27% of the content of the entire new testament. The date of the gospel must be in the early 60s due to the necessity of acts being completed by ad 64. While both the gospel of luke and the book of acts have applications for all christians, they were probably written to a specific individual whom luke. Because of their common authorship, the gospel of luke and acts of the apostles are often jointly referred to simply as lukeacts. The writing of the gospels relationship between the synoptics.
And by the term tension, we have in mind the problems, questions, controversies and struggles that occurred within the church. Aug 08, 2012 while luke, the writer of the gospel that bears his name and the book of acts, was not a simple galilean, he does write as a historian and not an apologist. The author of lukeacts has no grand theological or historical scheme. Acts is the second of two books written by luke, so setting a date for acts also serves to establish the latest possible date for the gospel of luke. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Parallels between lukes gospel and the book of acts baker. Some of you will recognize that i have written on the book of acts before. What is the relationship between apostle paul and the. He accompanied him to philippi, but did not there share his imprisonment, nor did he accompany him further after his release in his missionary journey at this time acts 17. The book of acts was likely written between ad 61 and 64. Gospel of luke and the acts of the apostles flashcards.
The association that the third gospel holds with the book of acts illustrates the. The main similarity between the two messages exists in the person of the lord jesus christ eph 1. The acts of the apostles was the first history of christianity, supposedly written by pauls associate luke, a greek physician. It is common knowledge that the former book luke mentions is what we call the gospel of luke and uncommon knowledge exactly who theophilus was.
What we can infer from the evidence of the book of acts and the third gospel is that. Luke, welleducated in classical greek and noted for his literary talent, wrote his gospel and a sequel, the acts of the apostles, which follows the gospel of john. Luke might have had immediate access to mark and composed his gospel soon after mark. That luke and acts are companion books can be seen in many ways. Lukes involvement with the gospel of lukeacts is documented by justin martyr, irenaeus, papias, and others. These two works were authored by luke, a gentile believer colossians 4. In my former book making the connection between luke. What is the relationship between apostle paul and the writer. Both the gospel of luke and acts are addressed to the same person, theophilus, a gentile, like luke. Dating luke is largely dependent on the relationship of the gospel of luke to acts, the relation of the olivet discourse in luke 21. The relationship between the gospel of luke and acts. Acts begins where luke ends, and the style and vocabulary of both books are so similar even the most liberal scholars agree that both books were written by the same person. As a second volume to luke s gospel, it joins what jesus began to do and to teach 1.
Furthermore, there are linguistic and theological similarities between the gospel of luke and the book of acts. Relationship between the gospel of luke and acts 985 words. This is so partly because these writingsthe gospel of luke and the acts of the apostlesconstitute about 25% of the nt itself. Acts and the gospel of luke make up a twopart work, lukeacts, by the same anonymous author, usually dated to around 8090 ad. The new testament does not replace the old testament, but fulfills it. That acts was a companion book to the gospel of luke is witnessed by lukes. Paul create christianity humn 345 sfsu professor leonard question 1 what is the relationship between the gospel according to luke and the canonical book called acts of the apostles. The initial verses of both the gospel of luke and the book of acts indicate they were written to an otherwise unknown person named theophilus. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament.
As one scholar writes, the extensive linguistic and theological agreements and crossreferences between the gospel of luke and the acts indicate that both works derive from the same author. The christian who really desires to know the bible should diligently study luke s gospel a. The writing of the gospels relationship between the. Using the book of acts to understand the book of romans. Gospel of luke and the acts of the apostles quizlet.
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