THE LIVING WORD OF GOD THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE - Chennai presents:
(Affiliated to American Theological University)
LWGTC 501 : THE NEW TESTAMENT SURVEY
LESSON THREE : THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST : THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST.LUKE

I. OUTLINE:

1. Preface to Luke’s Gospel (1:1-4)
2. The Coming of the Saviour (1:5-2:52)
   1. Announcement of John’s Coming Birth (1:5-25)
   2. Announcement of Jesus’ coming Birth (1:26-56)
   3. Birth of John the Baptist (1:57-80)
   4. Birth of Jesus (2:1-20)
   5. Jesus at the temple as an Infant (2:21-39)
   6. Jesus’ visit to the Temple as a Boy (2:40-52)
3. Preparation for the Saviour’s Ministry (3:1-4:13)
   1. Preaching of John the Baptist (3:1-20)
   2. Baptism of Jesus (3:21-22)
   3. Genealogy of Jesus (3:23-28)
   4. Temptation of Jesus (4:1-13)
4. Ministry in Galilee (4:14-9:50)
   1. Beginning of Jesus Ministry and His Rejection at Nazareth (4:14-30)
   2. Capernaum: Jesus’ Divine Authority Manifested (4:31-44)
   3. Miraculous Catch of Fish (5:1-11)
   4. Healing the Man with Leprosy (5:12-16)
   5. Jesus’ Authority Challenged (5:17-26)
   6. The Saviour of Sinners (5:27-32)
   7. Inauguration of the New Order (5:33-6:49)
   8. Demonstration of Divine Power (7:1-8:56)
   9. Jesus Gives power to His Disciples (9:1-6)
   10. Herod and John the Baptist (9:7-9)
   11. Feeding the 5000 (9:10-17)
   12. Peter’s Confession and Jesus’ Response (9:18-27)
   13. The Saviour’s Glory Revealed (9:28-50)
5. Ministry During the Final Journey Toward Jerusalem (9:51-19:28)
   1. The Saviour’s Mission of Redemption (9:51-10:37)
   2. Jesus’ special Instruction on Service and Prayer (10:38-11:13)
   3. Jesus warnings to Both Enemies and Followers (11:14-14:35)
   4. Parables about the Lost and Found (15:1-32)
   5. Jesus Commands His Followers (16:1-17:10)
   6. Ingratitude of Nine men with Leprosy who were healed (17:11-19)
   7. Suddenness of Jesus’ Return Predicted ( 17:20-18:14)
   8. The Saviour, Little Children and the Rich Ruler (18:15-30)
   9. Toward the end of the Journey (18:31-19:28)
6. Passion Week (19:29-23:56)
   1. Jesus Enters Jerusalem (19:29-48)
   2. Jesus teaches daily in the Temple (20:1-21:4)
   3. Jesus Foretells destruction of the Temple and His Return (21;5-38)
   4. Final Preparations and the Last Supper ( 22:1-38)
   5. Gethsemane and the Betrayal (22:39-53)
   6. The Jewish Trial (22:54-71)
   7. The Roman Trial (23:1-25)
   8. The Crucifixion (23:26-49)
   9. The Burial (23:50-56)
7. Resurrection to Ascension (24:1-53)
   1. The Resurrection Morning (24:1-12)
   2. The Risen Lord’s Appearance (24:13-43)
   3. The Farewell Instructions (24:44-53

II. AUTHOR:

• The Author Luke was a close Associate and Travelling companion of Apostle Paul (Acts 16:1-17; 20:5- 21:18; 27:1-28:16)
• Luke was with Paul during his first Roman imprisonment and Paul referred to him as “Luke the beloved Physician” (Colo.4:14; cf.Philem.24)
• During his second Roman imprisonment, Paul wrote, “only Luke is with me”(2.Tim.4:11), an evidence Luke’s Loyalty to the Apostle in the face of Profound danger.
• Luke was the writer of both Luke’s Gospel and Acts of Apostles.
• Luke was a Gentile,( Colo.4:12-14; Acts 1:19).
• Tradition says that Luke was from Syrian Antioch, remained unmarried, and died at age of 84.

III. THEME:

• He is the ideal Son of Man who identified with sorrow and plight of sinful men in order to carry our sorrows and offer us the priceless gift of Salvation.
• Jesus alone fulfils the Greek ideal of human perfection.

IV. DATE OF WRITING:

• Luke carefully investigated and arranged his material and presented it to Theophilus (“Friend of God”).The title “ most excellent”, or “ most noble” (see Acts 23:26; 24:3;26:25), indicates that Theophilus was a man of high social standing.
• Theophilus probably assumed responsibility for publishing Luke and Acts so that they would be available to gentile readers.
• Luke translates Aramaic terms with Greek words and explains Jewish customs and Geography to make his gospel more intelligible to his original Greek readership.
• Luke’s Gospel was written in Rome in early 60s.

V. BACKGROUND:

• Luke’s Gospel was the first volume of two books addressed to a man named Theophilus (1:3; Acts 1:1).
• Luke was a Gentile convert, and his writings included two parts:
  1. Jesus’ birth, life, and ministry, death, resurrection and ascension (Luke’s Gospel), and
  2. The outpouring of the Spirit at Jerusalem-and the subsequent development of the early church (the Book of Acts).
• These two books comprise more than one forth of the N.T.
  24+28=52 Chapters. 52/260=20%
• From Luke’s own writings, we know he was a well educated, a skilled writer, a careful historian and an inspired Theologian.
• Luke set about to investigate everything carefully from the very first (1:3), probably doing Research in the Holy Land while Paul was in Prison at Caesarea (Acts 21:17;23: 23-26,32) and completing his Gospel after arriving in Rome with Paul ( Acts 28:16).

VI.PURPOSE:

VII.SURVEY:

1. His ministry in and around Galilee(4:14-9;50),
2. His ministry during the final Journey to Jerusalem(9:51- 19:28) and
3. His last week in Jerusalem

While Jesus’ miracles are prominent in Luke’s record of the Galilean ministry, the main focus in this Gospel is on Jesus’ teaching and parables during His extended ministry on the way to Jerusalem ( 9:51-19:27). This section comprises the greatest block of material unique to Luke, and includes many well-loved stories and parables, such as ‘the Good Samaritan”, “the Lost son” and “ the Rich Man and Lazarus”. The pivotal verse (9:51) and key verse
( 19:10) of the Gospel occur at the beginning and toward the end of this special Lukan material.

“ For the Son of Man is come to seek
And to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

VIII. KEYS TO LUKE:

• Key word: Jesus the Son of Man
• Key verses: Luke 1:3,4 and Luke 19:10

+ Key Chapter: Luke 15 There are three parables in this chapter:

• The lost sheep,
• The Lost coin, and
• The Lost Son.

This is the crux of the Gospel: “God through Jesus Christ has come to seek and to save that which was lost”.

IX. SPECIAL FEATURES:

Eight major features characterize Luke’s Gospel:

1. It is the longest NT Book and the most comprehensive Gospel, records events in Jesus’ life from pre-birth to His ascension.
2. It is the most literary of the Gospels, demonstrating exceptional style and content, a rich vocabulary and an excellent command of Greek.
3. It emphasizes the universal scope of the Gospel - that Jesus came to bring salvation for Jews and Gentiles alike.
4. It stresses Jesus’ concern for the under privileged, including women, children, poor people and social outcasts.
5. It emphasizes Jesus prayer life and His teaching about prayer.
6. The prominent title for Jesus in this Gospel is “Son of Man”.
7. The response of joy characterises those who accept Jesus and His Message.
8. The Holy Spirit ( Ghost) is given a place of great importance in the life of Jesus and of His people (e.g.1:15,41,67;2:25-27;4:1,14,18; 10:21; 12:12;24:49).

10. READING LUKE:

The Book of Luke should be read in six days, according to the following schedule:
+1-4
+5-8
+9-12
+13-16
+17-20
+21-24

Review Questions:

1. Write the following Bible verses from your memory( Memorize and then write):
   • Luke 2:52
   • Luke 6:38
   • Luke 15:10
   • Luke 18:7
   • Luke 19:10
2. Write a note on the writer Dr. Luke.
3. Write the names of any 10 Parables in the Book of Luke.
4. Outline the Survey of Luke’s Gospel.
5. What are the Eight major features of Luke’s Gospel,

Assignment No.3.

Write answers for the above Questions by your own handwriting and send it to me by regular mail through post, and I shall correct and send back to you after awarding Grade. You have to complete another 18 lessons ( Total 21 lessons) to complete your New Testament Survey Course.

There are 12 such courses to get your M.A. Degree in Biblical Studies!
Mail your answers to:

Rev. C. Peter Chandran Ph.D.,
First Floor, Ravi Electronics, East Jones Road, Saidapet, Chennai- 600 015.Tamilnadu. India.

Cell: +91-9445113726
Email: peterchandran@hotmail.com
Website: www.thelivinggodministries.org