Third Gospel Analytical Essay

The third Gospel account is the longest book in the New Testament. It is also an anonymous writing; similar to the book of Acts. The overwhelming majority of scholars credit Luke with authorship of the two books. Not only do the prologues connect the two books, but language, style, and theology also point to common authorship. Internal and external evidence combine to point strongly to Luke being the author. Luke and the Apostle Paul were friends and shared ministry experiences together and it is through Paul’s letters that we learn of Luke’s profession. In Colossians 4:14 Paul writes, “Luke the beloved physician greats you.” Luke was clearly an educated man and also wrote sophisticated Greek. This is evidenced in Luke’s classical style of writing and competent writing format. Also, through Luke’s friendship with we discover why he was able to record the account of Jesus’ life. Luke was not an eyewitness to Jesus ministry, Luke’s prologue makes that clear – “things that have been fulfilled among us … were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.” However, Luke was chosen by Paul to pen the accounts of eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life, death, burial, and

Although they describe the same event, they do so from different vantage points. Some scholars argue that these differing accounts contradict one another. While it is feasible to view these differences as contradictory we must view them as complementary. Luke and Matthew wrote their accounts for two different audiences and both men had different motives in their writings. Matthew wrote for a decidedly Jewish audience, while Luke wrote primarily to gentiles. Matthew wrote to reveal that Jesus was the Messiah, and he sites Old Testament scriptures to demonstrate how Jesus fulfilled the messianic prophesies. However, Luke’s Gospel presents Jesus in a different