Theophilus
Named recipient of Luke’s orderly account — “lover of God.”
Lesson 4 · Course 64
Luke
Jesus the Savior — reversal for Gentiles, sinners, women, and the poor.
At a glance
Summary
Luke presents Jesus as the compassionate Savior for a wider Gentile Christian audience — orderly history for Theophilus, salvation as reversal and deliverance, with special attention to the poor, sinners, Gentiles, and women.
Quiz 4.1 100%. Quiz 4.2 87.5% (miss: temple cleansing — Gentiles crowded out, not merely buying/selling). Quiz 4.3 80% (miss: salvation is primarily reversing people's conditions). Cumulative 95% (miss: salvation defined as deliverance from evil's tyranny and God's judgment, not "reconciliation with God").
Big ideas
What to teach and remember
- Luke: Paul’s partner and physician — not a Jew, not an apostle — writing orderly history for Theophilus and a wider Gentile Christian audience.
- Date window: after Mark (~AD 65), before about 67; comparisons show Luke used Mark.
- Structure tracks geography and salvation history: Galilee → journey to Jerusalem → ministry in/near Jerusalem → crucifixion and resurrection; smaller-scale guideline is geography.
- Salvation in this lesson: primarily reversing people’s conditions (least/last/lost become first/most/found); deliverance from tyranny of evil and God’s judgment against sin; often called “necessary.”
- Surprising saved: the poor, sinners, Gentiles, and women.
- Temple cleansing: they were leaving no room for the Gentiles — that most upset Jesus in this lesson.
- Miracles show He is the Messiah; baptized to identify with sinful humans as Savior.
- Review misses: Gentiles crowded out at the temple; salvation as reversal (not “forgiveness” as the primary word here); deliverance from evil and judgment (not only reconciliation).
Key terms
People, places, and words that matter
Salvation (Luke lesson)
Primarily reversing people’s conditions; deliverance from evil’s tyranny and God’s judgment against sin.
Necessary
Luke’s frequent word for Jesus fulfilling God’s plan — it must happen.
Temple cleansing
What most upset Jesus here: leaving no room for the Gentiles.
Muratorian Fragment / Papyrus 75
Early witnesses tied to Luke’s reception in the course material.
Structure
Outline / timeline
- Galilee ministry
- Journey to Jerusalem
- Ministry in and near Jerusalem
- Crucifixion and Resurrection
- Geographic guideline on the smaller scale
Must remember
Facts to keep straight
| Author | Luke — Paul’s partner, doctor; not Jew, not apostle |
|---|---|
| Audience | Probably Gentile Christians (Theophilus + wider) |
| Date factors | Used Mark (≥~65); before ~67 in the lesson’s window |
| Portrait | Compassionate Savior |
| Salvation focus | Reversing conditions; deliverance from evil and judgment |
| Surprising saved | Poor, sinners, Gentiles, women |
| Baptism reason | Identify with sinful humans as Savior |
Compare
Side-by-side contrasts
What salvation is (this lesson)
- Primarily reversing people’s conditions
- Deliverance from tyranny of evil and God’s judgment
- Not graded here as merely “forgiveness” or only “reconciliation”
For the pulpit
Sermon hooks
- Preach the reversal: least become first — Luke’s Savior finds the lost without flattering the powerful.
- Temple courts matter: when worship crowds out the nations, Jesus overturns tables.
- “Necessary” is pastoral courage — the cross was not Plan B.
Quiz drill
Quiz drill / review · open to practice · 42 items
Lesson 4 is complete: Quizzes 4.1-4.3 plus the Cumulative Test. No essays.
Quiz 4.1 · 100% · 1 attempt
1. Factors for a probable date of Luke (select all that apply).
Comparisons with Mark show Luke used Mark, so no earlier than about AD 65. Acts does not report Paul's martyrdom or the fall of Jerusalem, so probably before AD 67.Window: after Mark (~65), before 67. Wrong: dating by Peter's martyrdom/Jerusalem to 48, or Matthew as source from 54.
2. Wider audience?
Probably Gentile ChristiansGentile Christians are Luke's wider audience.
3. Valid facts about Luke (select all that apply).
He was Paul's partner. He was a doctor.Coworker and physician. Not a Jew, not an apostle.
4. Valid facts about the addressee (select all that apply).
Possibly a Roman official; named Theophilus ("lover of God"); a person of much prestige; financially supported the writing.Prestigious Roman patron named Theophilus. Not a Jewish authority, not a doctor, did not accompany Paul.
5. Same author of Luke and Acts (select all that apply).
Similar style of Greek; similar themes; addressed to the same person.Style, themes, and Theophilus. Not the same closing greetings, not originally Aramaic.
6. How did Luke obtain his information?
From apostles in Jerusalem and others who knew Jesus when he was in RomeJerusalem apostles plus Rome witnesses.
7. Valid evidence Luke authored Luke/Acts?
The author of Acts was with Paul; 2 Timothy mentions Luke as a coworker.The 'we' passages in Acts plus 2 Timothy's coworker.
8. Earliest known document listing NT books and assigning the third gospel to Luke (AD 170-180)?
Muratorian FragmentMuratorian Fragment, about 170-180.
9. Purpose of Luke?
To encourage Gentile Christians facing challenges to their faithStrengthen Gentile believers under pressure.
Quiz 4.2 · 87.5% · 1 attempt
1. John's disciples ask if He is the Messiah?
Go and tell him what you see and hearPoint John to the works, not a slogan.
2. What most upset Jesus at the temple cleansing?
They were leaving no room for the Gentiles in the temple.Miss / partialMiss — Jay-R chose buying/selling in a sacred place. Moodle: the court of the Gentiles was crowded out.
3. Why was Jesus baptized by John?
Identifying with sinful human beings as our SaviorHe stands with sinners as Savior, not as one who needs repentance.
4. Main purpose of miracles?
To show that He was the MessiahSigns that He is the Messiah.
5. Crowd attitude at His condemnation?
Most people were opposed to JesusThe crowd was against Him.
6. Five major sections in order?
Beginnings 1:5-4:13; Galilee 4:14-9:50; Journey to Jerusalem 9:51-19:27; Ministry in/near Jerusalem 19:28-21:38; Crucifixion and Resurrection 22:1-24:53Five blocks, geography carrying the story toward the cross.
7. Smaller-scale organizing guideline?
geographyGeography organizes the smaller stretches.
8. Angel in Daniel 9 / announcing John and Jesus?
GabrielGabriel in Daniel, and at the announcements of John and Jesus.
Quiz 4.3 · 80% · 1 attempt
1. Surprising saved groups (select all that apply).
The poor, sinners, Gentiles, and women.Those four. Not Pharisees, not "the Jews," not the rich.
2. Jesus fulfilling God's plan is often described as?
necessaryLuke's word is "necessary" — the plan must happen.
3. Salvation is primarily a matter of?
reversing peoples' conditionsMiss / partialMiss — Jay-R chose forgiveness of sins. Moodle: reversing people's conditions (least/last/lost become first/most/found).
4. Salvation is impossible with men.
TrueImpossible with men — possible with God.
5. The least, the last, and the lost become?
"the first, the most, and the found"Luke's reversal in a sentence.
Cumulative Test · 95% · 1 attempt
1. Surprising saved groups (select all that apply).
Sinners, women, the poor, and Gentiles.The four surprising groups.
2. What most upset Jesus at the temple cleansing?
They were leaving no room for the Gentiles in the temple.Correct this time. Gentiles crowded out.
3. Valid facts about Luke (select all that apply).
Paul's partner; a doctor.Coworker and physician.
4. Angel who announced John and Jesus?
GabrielGabriel.
5. Valid facts about Theophilus (select all that apply).
A person of prestige; financially supported the writing; named Theophilus ("lover of God"); possibly a Roman official.Prestigious Roman patron.
6. Ways to date a manuscript (select all that apply).
Chemical / carbon-14; paleography; external comments.Those three. Not parchment thickness/color. Not paleontology.
7. Salvation is primarily a matter of?
reversing peoples' conditionsReversal — Moodle's primary answer.
8. How does the lesson define salvation?
Deliverance from the tyranny of evil, and from God's judgment against sin.Miss / partialMiss — Jay-R chose reconciliation with God. Moodle: deliverance from evil's tyranny and from God's judgment against sin.
9. Smaller-scale organizing guideline?
geographyGeography.
10. Match the Luke references.
Luke 4:18-21 — the Spirit of the Lord / good news to the poor. Luke 22:67-70 — Son of God. Luke 23:43 — paradise. Luke 23:46 — into your hands I commit my spirit.Poor, Son of God, paradise, commit my spirit.
11. Jesus fulfilling God's plan is often described as?
necessaryNecessary.
12. The least, the last, and the lost become?
"the first, the most, and the found"Luke's reversal.
13. Manuscript about AD 180 with the title Gospel According to Luke?
Papyrus 75P75 carries that title around AD 180.
14. Earliest NT canon list assigning the third gospel to Luke?
Muratorian FragmentMuratorian Fragment.
15. Which is NOT a topic on the journey to Jerusalem?
True believers blessed with good health, favor, and economic prosperityThat prosperity line is not Luke's journey theme.
16. Evidence Luke authored Luke/Acts?
The author of Acts was with Paul; 2 Timothy mentions Luke as a coworker.Acts 'we' plus 2 Timothy.
17. Purpose of miracles?
To show that He was the MessiahMessiah signs.
18. John's disciples ask if He is the Messiah?
Go and tell him what you see and hearShow John the works.
19. Why was Jesus baptized?
Identifying with sinful human beings as our SaviorHe stands with sinners as Savior.
20. Same author of Luke and Acts (select all that apply).
Similar themes; similar style of Greek; addressed to the same person.Themes, Greek, Theophilus.