The Gospel of Luke is the only gospel with a formal introduction, in which the author explains his methodology and purpose. It states that many others have already "undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word." [1]
The Gospel According to Luke is written as an eyewitness account.[2] The purpose of Luke is to write a historical account,[3] while bringing out the theological significance of the history. The evangelist divides history into three stages: the first ends with John the Baptist, the second consists of Jesus' earthly ministry, and the third is the life of the church after Jesus' resurrection.[4] Luke portrays Christianity as divine, respectable, law-abiding, and international. Here, Jesus' compassion extends to all who are needy, women are important among his followers, he commends the despised Samaritans, and Gentiles are promised the opportunity to accept the gospel.[5] Although the gospel is written as a historical narrative, many of the facts portrayed there in are based on previous traditions of the Gospel and is thought by scholars to not be an actual historical account. Many scholars believe that like all of the other synoptic gospels, Luke used the Gospel of Mark to write his gospel.
[1] Bauckham,Richard, Jesus and the Eyewitnesses (Cambridge: Eerdmans, 2006), pp. 116-117.
[2] Ehrman, B.D. The New Testament, (New York: Oxford University Press, 2004.)
[3] N. B. Stonehouse, The Witness of Luke to Christ (1951), pp. 24-45; H. J. Cadbury, The Beginnings of Christianity II, 1922, pp. 489-510; R. Bauckham, Jesus and the Eyewitnesses (Eerdmans, 2006)
[4] "Biblical Literature." Encyclopedia Britannica. 2010. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 06 Nov. 2010
[5] N. B. Stonehouse, The Witness of Luke to Christ (1951), pp. 24-45; H. J. Cadbury, The Beginnings of Christianity II, 1922, pp. 489-510; R. Bauckham, Jesus and the Eyewitnesses (Eerdmans, 2006)
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