Description

Introduction To Luke 1

What we know as the Gospel of Luke, along with the book of Acts were, actually letters to Theophilus and not the Church as a whole. While Theophilus' identity is never revealed in the Bible, the assumption is that he was either a friend of Luke's or someone in a high ranking position.

Luke's letters were to serve as an eyewitness testimony to Theophilus, presumably so that he would become a believer himself. While Matthew focused mainly on Joseph and the males in Christ's lineage, Luke begins by focusing on two women relatives of Christ; Mary and Elisabeth.

Luke gives us a contrast of two miraculous births associated with the same event. Zacharias and Elisabeth were both past the age of having children and Mary was a virgin. The Most High demonstrates that no matter what the extremes are, he will do all his pleasure (Isaiah 46:10).

Date: c 80 – 90 AD

Writer: Luke "the beloved physician" (Colossians 4:14)

Composition

Luke 1 is broken up into several parts. Verses 1 – 25 deal with Zacharias being told that he would have a son, even though he and his wife were of old age. Zacharias expressed his doubt and was temporarily punished by The Most High. Verses 26 – 38 cover Mary's conversation with the angel Gabriel about the coming birth of Christ.

1. The foretelling of John's birth.

2. The foretelling of Jesus' birth.

3. Mary and Elisabeth see each other.

4. The birth and calling of John.

Viewpoints

Luke's focus on Mary, her conversation with Gabriel, and her encounter with Elisabeth, give us deeper insight into who she was prior to the birth of Christ. She was a virgin, engaged to be married, and accepted the unexpected responsibility of giving birth to the savior of mankind and all of the dangers that came with it.

Importance

Luke 1 is the story of two miracles. Elizabeth was old and barren, but was blessed by The Most High, to give birth to John The Baptist. Mary was a virgin that had never slept with a man, but she was also blessed by The Most High to give birth to the Messiah.