Why Is It Called “The Gospel of Luke”?

Who Was Luke?

To understand why this gospel is attributed to Luke, we must look at who Luke was. Luke is traditionally believed to have been a physician and a close companion of the Apostle Paul. He is mentioned in Paul's letters (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 1:24; 2 Timothy 4:11), which gives us insight into his background and the trust Paul placed in him. Luke is unique among the gospel writers because he was likely a Gentile, which influences the perspective and themes he emphasizes in his writing. His professional background as a physician suggests he was well-educated, meticulous, and detailed in his approach to recording events and teachings.

Authorship and Attribution

The gospel does not explicitly name its author within the text itself. However, early Christian tradition and historical evidence strongly attribute this gospel to Luke. The earliest manuscripts and writings from early church fathers such as Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Clement of Alexandria support Luke’s authorship.

• Irenaeus, in his work Against Heresies (circa 180 AD), explicitly attributes the Gospel to Luke. He writes: "Luke also, the companion of Paul, recorded in a book the Gospel preached by him" (Against Heresies 3.1.1).

• Tertullian, in his work Against Marcion (circa 207 AD), refers to the authorship of Luke's Gospel while discussing Marcion's edited version of the Gospel: "...that Gospel of Luke which we are defending with all our might" (Against Marcion 4.2).

• Clement of Alexandria, writing around the end of the 2nd century, references this gospel and attributes it to Luke, “As it is written in the Gospel according to Luke.” (Stromata 5.12)

These early attestations provide strong historical evidence that the early church unanimously accepted Luke, the physician and companion of Paul, as the author of the third Gospel.

Scholarly Views on Luke’s Authorship

Scholarly consensus largely supports the traditional view that Luke, the physician and companion of Paul, authored the gospel that bears his name. This consensus is built upon several lines of evidence:

Language and Style

The Greek used in the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles (also attributed to Luke) is sophisticated and consistent with that of an educated individual. The medical terminology occasionally found in the text further supports the identification of Luke as a physician.

Sophisticated Greek Language

The Greek used in Luke and Acts is considered some of the best in the New Testament, with a high level of vocabulary and grammatical sophistication. This indicates a well-educated author who was proficient in the Greek language. For example:

• The prologue of Luke (Luke 1:1-4) is written in classical Greek style, using a complex sentence structure and sophisticated vocabulary. It resembles the prefaces of contemporary Hellenistic historians.

• The use of technical medical terms, precise descriptions, and detailed accounts further reflect an educated background.

Medical Terminology and Concepts

• Luke 4:38: The account of Simon's mother-in-law suffering from a "high fever" (πυρετῷ μεγάλῳ). The term "high fever" (πυρετός μέγας) is specific and reflects a clinical observation.

• Luke 14:2: The mention of a man suffering from dropsy (ὑδρωπικὸς ἄνθρωπος). "Dropsy" (ὑδρωπικὸς) is a technical term for edema or swelling caused by fluid accumulation, again indicating a medical understanding.

• Acts 28:8: The description of Publius's father suffering from dysentery (πυρετοῖς καὶ δυσεντερίᾳ συνεχόμενον). "Dysentery" (δυσεντερία) is a specific medical condition, showing familiarity with medical diagnoses.

Detailed Medical Observations

• Acts 3:7-8: The healing of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate includes detailed descriptions of his condition and healing process: "Immediately his feet and ankles were made strong" (παραχρῆμα ἐστερεώθησαν αἱ βάσεις καὶ τὰ σφυρὰ αὐτοῦ). The detailed anatomical reference to "feet and ankles" (βάσεις καὶ σφυρὰ) indicates a precise observation.

• Luke 8:43-44: The story of the woman with a flow of blood who had suffered for twelve years and had spent all her living on physicians. This account includes medical details such as the duration of her ailment and her interactions with doctors, reflecting an understanding of chronic medical conditions and the medical practices of the time.

Analytical Descriptions

• Luke 22:44: The description of Jesus's agony in Gethsemane, where he sweat "like drops of blood" (ὡσεὶ θρόμβοι αἵματος), is a vivid and medically accurate portrayal of extreme stress, known today as hematidrosis.

• Acts 9:18: The recovery of Saul's sight is described with a detailed metaphor: "something like scales fell from his eyes" (ἀπέπεσαν ἀπὸ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ λεπίδες). This vivid description is medically insightful, likely referring to a recovery from a form of temporary blindness.

Historical Detail

The attention to historical and geographical details in Luke’s gospel is like that of someone with a meticulous and investigative nature, aligning with what we know of Luke’s background.

Specific Historical References

• Luke 2:1-2: The birth narrative of Jesus includes a precise historical context: "In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria." This reference to the census under Quirinius aligns with known historical events and reflects a concern for situating the narrative within a specific historical framework.

• Luke 3:1-2: Luke provides a detailed chronological marker for the beginning of John the Baptist's ministry: "In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas." This passage demonstrates an extensive and precise use of historical and political figures to date the events accurately.

Geographical Accuracy

• Luke 1:26: The annunciation to Mary occurs in Nazareth, a town in Galilee. This specific identification of location shows geographical knowledge.

• Acts 16:11-12: Luke's account of Paul’s journey to Philippi includes detailed travel routes and descriptions: "Setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony." The precise travel itinerary and description of Philippi reflect an accurate understanding of the region’s geography and political status.

Detailed Descriptions of Local Customs and Practices

• Luke 22:1: The description of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, demonstrates knowledge of Jewish customs and festivals: "Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover."

• Acts 19:24-27: The account of the riot in Ephesus includes details about the local economy and religious practices, specifically mentioning the silversmith Demetrius and the temple of Artemis. This passage shows familiarity with the socio-economic and religious context of Ephesus.

Political and Social Context

• Luke 19:1-2: The story of Zacchaeus the tax collector includes specific details about his role and social status: "He entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich." This reflects an understanding of the local administrative structure and the social implications of tax collection.

• Acts 24:24-27: The interaction between Paul and Felix, the Roman governor, includes specific historical figures and their political roles: "After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus." This detailed account reflects an awareness of the political landscape of the time.

Integration of Historical Events

• Luke 13:1-4: Jesus refers to contemporary events, such as the Galileans killed by Pilate and the tower of Siloam that fell, killing eighteen people. These references to recent events show Luke’s effort to ground Jesus’s teachings in a concrete historical context.

Church Tradition

Early church fathers, writing in the second and third centuries, uniformly attribute the gospel to Luke. Their writings reflect an early and widespread acceptance of Luke’s authorship within the Christian community. (Noted above.)

Internal Evidence

The close relationship between the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, both addressed to Theophilus, suggests common authorship. Acts contains several “we” passages (e.g., Acts 16:10-17) that imply the author was a companion of Paul, fitting Luke’s profile.

Addressed to Theophilus

Both the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles are explicitly addressed to Theophilus, indicating a unified work intended for the same recipient.

• Luke 1:3: "It seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus."

• Acts 1:1: "In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach."

"We" Passages

• Acts 16:10-17: "When Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi..."

• Acts 20:5-15: "These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days..."

• Acts 21:1-18: "And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara..."

• Acts 27:1-28:16: "And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius..."

Companion of Paul

• Colossians 4:14: "Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas."

• Philemon 1:24: "Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers."

• 2 Timothy 4:11: "Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry."

These passages suggest that Luke was a close associate of Paul, present during key moments of Paul's ministry, and likely the author of the detailed accounts in Acts.

These passages suggest that Luke was a close associate of Paul, present during key moments of Paul's ministry, and likely the author of the detailed accounts in Acts.

Conclusion

The combination of internal and external evidence strongly supports the attribution of the third Gospel to Luke, the physician and companion of Paul. The early church's consistent testimony, the linguistic and stylistic analysis, the detailed historical and geographical references, and the internal clues within Luke-Acts all converge to affirm Luke’s authorship. This traditional view has been maintained by scholars throughout history and remains a robust explanation for the origins of this Gospel.