June 17, 2017 - Luke the Historian

Luke the Historian

“Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.  With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.”  Luke 1:1-4

This is how the Gospel, according to Luke, begins.  What is interesting about Luke is that he does not begin his account like a Jewish writer.  Instead he introduces us to a completely different style of writing, Greco-Roman history.  Everything about the introduction, the style, the vocabulary, the rhythm, says Greco-Roman history.  He is a historian in the vein of Herodotus and Thucydides.  

Though Luke says, “many have undertaken” the writings of Jesus life and ministry and that these were handed down from those who were eyewitnesses, he does not copy the other gospels.  In fact, 50% of what is contained in Luke’s gospel narrative is unique to Luke, and almost all of Acts is unique to him.  So how did Luke do things differently than the other guys?

Greeks were more concerned with scientific proof than with matters of faith.  That is most likely why the pagan religion of the time was virtually dead.  Who believes a man in the sky throws thunderbolts?  Or who believes a woman races across the sky creating the rainbow?  By the time of Luke’s writings, there were many great men who made strides in science, such as Aristotle, Archimedes, Ptolemy, Hippocrates, and dozens more if you care to research it.  The religion of the Greeks and Romans was dead.

Luke’s works take up 25% of the New Testament, more than any other author.  He is important to our understanding of Christ and the history of the early church.

Luke sets out to trace the stories back to their source.  Many were still alive that were eyewitnesses.  It is quite possible that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was still alive, but also his brothers and sisters were young enough to still be alive.  Mary would have been around 75 at the time of Luke’s gospel.  If you look at the beginning of Luke, you would suppose that the man spent time with Jesus’ family and got their story into his gospel.  If you read between the lines of Acts 21:17 and 18, you’d see that Luke did spend time with James, the brother of Jesus.  Imagine what he told Luke about Mary pondering things in her heart, because we know that moms will talk to their sons about such things as this.  

It seems that the more Luke researched, the more information Luke discovered.  He felt compelled to write it all down for future believers.  I have no proof of this, but I think Theophilus is not an actual person.  The name means “someone who loves God.”  It is likely he wrote it to you and me, hoping that with our love for God, we will want to know more.

So, then the question begs, was Luke historically accurate?  

Sir William Ramsay, a famous atheist and archaeologist, had an agenda to disprove the Bible.  He was part of a group that believed if the Bible were not accurate, then the Jewish people could be eradicated.  Did you know this was a major desire of the educated people of a century ago?  What he ended up doing after 25 years in the Middle East was defend Luke.  He is quoted as saying,

“Luke is a historian of first rank; not merely are his statement of facts trustworthy…this author should be placed along with the very greatest of historians… Luke’s history is unsurpassed in respect of its trustworthiness.”

What are some things archaeologists have proven correct that Luke wrote about?  Here are four people thought to have been invented by Luke:

1.     Lysanius, tetrarch of Abilene – Inscription on a temple near Damascus mentions the exact man.  He was tetrarch from 14 to 37.  Luke mentions him in Luke 3:1, announcing the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.  

2.     Gallio, proconsul of Achaea – an inscription in Delphi, dated to 52 AD, mentions him by name.  In Acts 18, Paul is brought before the proconsul of Achaea.  The timing is right according to the inscription.

3.     Erastus, city treasurer of Corinth – An inscription records that he paved a road in Corinth dated to 50 AD, the time that corresponds to Paul’s time in Corinth.  

4.     Plubius, first man of the island – This is how Luke addresses the man in charge of Malta in Acts 28:7.  Historians thought it a strange title, but recent findings have indeed given him that title.

On my blog from March 26, I listed 11 confirmed facts from Acts 17 that had been listed as proof that Luke made up his material.  All of those confirmed by historians.  That is just in one chapter of Acts, but there are 24 chapters in Luke and 28 in Acts that are filled with information that has been proven by archaeology.  I am one that concludes that Luke is one of the most amazing historians in the history of the world, yet he is ignored because of his faith in Jesus Christ.  If the books Luke wrote are so accurate, might also the spiritual aspects of writings be accurate?

And as for you, will you look at the facts or ignore them?  What will you do with Jesus?

 

Sources:

The Church at Lake Mead – thecalm.org

The Christian Courier

God’s Not Dead: Evidence for God in an Age of Uncertainty by Rice Broocks