Reformation Seminary - Luke's Special Contributions to the New Testament - Apologetics

 

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Paul wrote the most letters, so he wins the race in numbers.

The so-called scholars try their best to determine exactly how Matthew, Mark, and Luke coordinated their works. Nils Dahl said, "No one really knows. No one has the answer." The alleged scholars - with no evidence - consign the Fourth Gospel to oblivion because they want it to be Gnostic and 300 years after Christ. 

There are various hocus-pocus games with John. 

1. "It was originally written in Aramaic." Still waiting for the evidence.
2. "It got all mixed up and no one can fix it" - because they erased the woman caught in adultery passage. Leave it in, and it makes perfect sense.
3. "Two endings! How did that happen?" John 20 and John 21.

These soi-disant experts no longer put the best construction on the New Testament. Any speculation is good for a dissertation, a book, and fame.

Back to Luke. His two contributions make up 25% of the New Testament.

Starting with Acts - this not only filled with Gospel, but also gives us a description of the earliest days of the Christian Church, including tensions and conflicts. Ultimately Paul emphasized the Gentiles and the two segments were united in the Word.

The Gospel of Luke holds such treasures that we would almost be orphans if we did not have the second Gospel.

The Virgin Birth is clearly established.

The unique parables - 

1. The Good Samaritan (10:25-37) 
2. The Friend at Midnight (11:5-8) 
3. The Rich Fool (12:13-21) 
4. The Barren Fig Tree (13:6-9) 
5. The Great Feast (14:15-24) 
6. The Parables of the Lost (15:1-32) Nota bene!
7. The Dishonest Manager (16:1-13) 
8. The Rich Man and Lazarus (16:19-31) 
9. The Judge and the Widow (18:1-8) 
10. The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (18:9-14) 

The number  of parables unique to Luke varies somewhat, but there they are.

The ending of Luke fits well with the Acts of the Apostles.

Simon Greenleaf tried to prove "all the errors" of the four Gospel narratives of the Resurrection of Christ. Instead, he was converted, saw the harmony, and became a noted Christian apologist (a term derived from the Greek word for defender). Now we have clergy who are not apologists and they want traditional Christians to apologize for their adherence to the Word.