Cornerstone of a Pauline Church I

Cornerstone of a Pauline Church:

Luke's Cosmopolitan Christ I

I. Introduction

A. Preface (1:1–4)

B. Purposes (1:3–4)

1. Apologetic

b. Defense (cf. Pagan, Jewish, and Christian apologetic literature)

c. Suggests mainly Gentile Audience Emphasis

2. “In-house”

c. Suggests Church Audience Emphasis (both Jew and Gentile)

C. Authorship and Date (see first Acts lecture)

D. Methodology for Studying Luke: The Comparative Method

II. Luke the Promoter of Paul

A.

B. Peter the Forerunner and Defender of Paul (Acts 10–11; 15:7–11; omission of Antioch Incident)

C. Jesus as Forerunner of Paul

1. Jesus, the fulfiller or ender of the Law? (Luke 16:16–18; Acts 13:38–41; Rom 10:4; cf. Matt 5:17–18!)

2.

III. A Major Theme: Salvation is to the Jew First, and also to the Greek (Luke 24:47; cf. Acts 1:8; Rom 1:16)

A. To the Jew first . . .

1. The Centrality of the Temple and the Law

a. Announcement of Salvation (1:8–23)

b. Law-Observant family (2:21–23, 25, 39)

2. The Centrality of Jerusalem

a. The Journey Narrative (9:51–18:14)

3. LXX Foreshadowings

a. Mary and Hannah (Luke 1:46–55; cf. 1 Sam 2:1–10)

b. Jesus and Samuel (Luke 2:48–52; cf. 1 Sam 2:21, 26)

4. But why do many Jews refuse this salvation? (Luke 23:34; Acts 3:17; 7:60; 13:27)

B. . . . and also to the Greek (A Cosmopolitan Christ and Gospel)

2. The Spread of the Gospel (Luke 2:32; 4:25–30;13:28–30; 24:47)

3. Helps for Gentile readers

a. E.g., omitting a technical ritual discussion (Mark 7:1–23)

b. E.g., translating Hebrew terms like Golgotha (=“Skull”; 23:33) and Rabbi (="Lord” or “Teacher”)

IV. Other Important Themes in Luke

B. The Necessary Delay of the Parousia (Luke 21:23–24; cf. Acts 1:6–11)

C. The Plan of God and Salvation History (Luke 2:34–35; Acts 2:22–23; 4:26–28)

D. The Social Justice Concerns of Jesus the Prophet

1. The Poor and the Hungry (Luke 6:20–21; cf. Mt 5:3,6; Luke 1:53; 3:7–14)

2. The Outcasts (e.g., Luke 1:52; 10:29–37; 14:15–24; 15; 19:1–10)