Luke's account of the Christmas story secures details the other Gospel writers do not include. Perhaps the reasons for this are, he was able to base his documentation upon the testimonies of living eyewitnesses to the life of Christ. And, given his scientific mind, education and training, St. Luke attended to important details. His thirst for detailed accuracy was transferred to his extraordinary, historical accounts.
These eyewitnesses might have included the Gospel writers Mark and John, perhaps James, the brother of Jesus, and of course the mother of Jesus, Mary. And last, but not least, the testimony of the passionately dedicated, Apostle Paul (known as Saul of Tarsus) who experienced a blinding vision of the risen Christ while journeying to Damascus with warrants to jail Christians. [1].
St. Luke was a loyal friend to the Apostle Paul, even when this dynamic apostle was captive under Roman authority, prior to his martyrdom.
St. Luke's Gospel was written approximately 60 A.D. He is also the author of the Book of Acts, an account of the series of events during the foundational years of the early Christian church. [2].
Brief Biography of St. Luke
Unfortunately, information regarding Luke's early years is scarce. What is generally accepted is, he was a native of Antioch, Syria and was a Greek (Gentile) - the only Gentile Gospel writer. He was educated, trained as a physician.
It is unknown as to whether or not St. Luke was martyred. He did not marry, and did not have any children. [3].
A body buried beneath the St. Justina Cathedral/Basilica in Padua, Italy, may be that of St. Luke's. Strenuous DNA testing has, "revealed... a man from Syria, where St. Luke is known to have been born. Carbon-dating shows that the man died between AD 72 and AD 416 and had lived to be at least 70....Intriguingly, the headless body also fits anatomically with a skull in Prague...."[4].
St. Luke's Gospel
The language of St. Luke's Gospel stands alone from the other three Gospels (Matthew, Mark and John). He is eloquent, poetic and melodic in his style.
Again, his attention to detail is outstanding. It is evident, that Luke seeks to establish facts, removing any room for fiction or fantasy.
Events in St. Luke's Gospel Not in the Other Gospels
Some of the events contained in St. Luke's gospel includes the visitation by the Archangel Gabriel to not only Mary, the mother of Jesus, but to Zacharias, the priest at the Temple.
Gabriel declared to Zacharias that his wife, Elizabeth, now an old woman, would give birth to a son who was to be named, John. Gabriel struck the old priest dumb, for his lack of faith. Speech was withheld until Zacharias declared at the birth of this son that his name would indeed, be John, just as Gabriel had instructed.
The reader also learns about the Roman tax and the pilgrimage Joseph and Mary, the earthly parents of Jesus made to Bethlehem for the census. St. Luke clearly declared and tenaciously called rulers by their specific titles, even the locations of their authority such as, Caesar Augustus (Ruler of Rome and Roman provinces), Quirinius, Governor of Syria, and Herod the Tetrarch of Galilee.
As one dives into the research of the information presented in St. Luke's Gospel, it is clear that supernatural events did take place, and there was reliable, cumulative, eyewitness testimony.
Sources:
[1].Christiancourier.com/articles/1372-the-conversion-of-saul-of-tarsusTraces-cl.com/archive/2000/novembre/luca.htm
[2].Abu.nb.ca/Courses/NTIntro/Acts.htm
[3].Catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=76
[4].Msgr.ca/msgr-3/st_luke_relics.htm
[4].Catholicforum.com/saints/stl06001.htm
New American Standard Bible, Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee 37234, no date of publication, pgs. 1011-1014.
Jeannie Delahunt - Welcome! My Prelude I have many passions--problem, not enough time to indulge in all of them. Because I am mainly interested in ...
