Loading...As I indicated a few posts ago, I have decided to add a feature to my discussion of each NT book some of the additional materials I present in my New Testament textbook the books I discuss. These are (a) rapid fire summaries of each book that I call “At a Glance” and (b) a set of study questions that challenge students to take a position on key aspects of the book, that I call “Take a Stand.”
Here they are now for the Gospels of Luke and John.
The Gospel of Luke
AT A GLANCE:
- Luke was probably written around 80–85 c.e., by a Greek-speaking Christian living outside of Palestine.
Unlock 4,000+ Articles Like This!
Get access to Dr. Ehrman's library of 4,000+ articles plus five new articles per week about the New Testament and early Christianity. It costs as little as $2.99/mth and every cent goes to charity!
Learn More!
3. gLuke is the *smart* Gospel.
If I were telling a roomie? I’d say it begins with letters to Theophilus the High Priest c. 37-41 CE, and contains reports over time as the author’s testimony.
Theophilus is installed by the New Emperor, Gaius (reign 37-41 CE, nicknamed Caligula). New Emperor Administration IS IN OPPOSITION to Old Emperor Administration. Jesus’ persecutors like King Herod Antipas, Caiaphas’ line, and Tiberius are Out.
Black sheep 🐏 become white sheep 🐑- Agrippa replaces exiled Herod Antipas and the Roman Empire military campaign on the march to Nabataea to punish them for whomping Herod Antipas is called off.
Saul, the former High Priest’s lackey, flips to the winning side. He’s likely Saulus, the Agrippa superfan per Josephus. No one kisses the rear lower quadrant of Agrippa more than the Apostle Paul.
Nero’s administration then, holy cow – the Second Temple takes out Jesus’ brother James. Chaos chaos chaos, then Vespasian’s line, anti-Nero (likely meaning pro-The Way), removes the Second Temple, with the assistance of Nabataea and Syria (Aramaea) in quelling the rebellions. In the sacred text of John the Baptist’s followers, the Hawron Gawaitha, this is celebrated Ewok-style as they escape First Century Jerusalem for the Nabataean Hauron.
Oh and I’d go a little earlier on the publication of gLuke, 73-81 CE?
73 CE is 40 years after the Crucifixion (33 CE Harvard dating), and 40 is a meaningful number to them. If the author of gLuke is disciple-young at the start, then he’s around 60 when his Gospel is published.
Vespasian (r. 69-79 CE) and his son Titus (79-81 CE) Mr. Second Temple Remover persecute Jews and DO NOT persecute Christians.
gLuke is very Rome friendly. And it frames the Second Temple removal as a prophet win to Jesus. Josephus’ Jewish Wars explains it as Jewish intransigence, published under *Titus* (79-81 CE). They both probably work from Nicolas of Damascus’ history books.
The next emperor Domitian persecutes Christians, but gLuke says, “Christians, this is why you can trust Rome!”
gLuke also understands proto Mandaeanism. Pilate washing those paws, Luke 1:77 “To give his people the knowledge of salvation/life to his people through the forgiveness of their sins.” Knowledge of Life is Manda d’ Hayyi, the emanation of the Great Life that guides material folks. I say proto because he may understand Hayyi Rabba as deriving from Hayya Rabbu, an inscription found in Ebla for their adoption of Ea.
homeless or incarcerated Americans were most responsive to gJohn.