§ 1. — Sections into which Third Gospel divisible.
2. — Questions arising, in study of a book of Scripture. Authorship of Third Gospel; career of Luke; characteristics of “the most beautiful book in the world”; date of its appearance.
Theophilus. — Conditions under which Synoptic Gospels may have been composed. Originality and indebtedness of Biblical writers. The “Synoptic Problem.” Apostolic tradition.
Catechizing. Relation of the written Gospels to tradition. The question of memory. List of passages specially peculiar to Luke’s Gospel. Dependence on eyewitnesses: apostles and private persons (the Lord’s mother, Joanna, Philip the evangelist, Nicodemus). Alleged “strata” in development of Gospels. Order in which Gospels were written. Whether Luke had seen the Gospels bearing the names of Matthew and Mark. His independence of “Matthew.” Result of analytical comparison of Luke’s with Mark’s Gospel; close connection in order and wording; the “common tradition of the Synoptic Gospels”; alleged borrowing by Luke of the Marcan narrative portion; contrary views. Theory as to the source (“Q”) of our Lord’s teaching as recorded by Luke; the “double tradition”; passages representing it. Characteristics of this supposed source. Question of language and translation. Attitude of certain critics towards general theory. The residue of matter in Luke, attributed to “L” (“S”), or other special sources, running through every chapter; the “single tradition of Luke.” Question as to arrangement being chronological or not. Summary of the literary analysis. Defects of German critical inquiry. Augustine’s idea of fusion of oral and documentary materials affords best solution.
Narratives referred to in verse l. — The matters “fully believed.” Question of Biblical inspiration to the front in religious literature. In what this consists. Views of past and living theologians. Unwise definitions of verbal inspiration. Tregelles quoted. As to apparent discrepancies. Singly-attested incidents. The Bible viewed as an Eastern book. Roman Catholic, High Anglican, and Unitarian positions. Paramount importance and value of Holy Scripture.
Expositor’s view of what the Evangelist himself says in Prologue, already broached by Thirlwall and De Wette. Luke’s “thorough acquaintance” with, and reproduction of, things “from the outset”; in “regular order.”
Interpretation of Scripture.: popular Bible reading. Position of Church of Rome; its claim to monopoly of “teaching office.” Diversity in Patristic exposition. Precedence of “Evangelists,” through whom Church formed, to “teachers.” Provost Hawkins’ principle. The Church, witness to the Bible, which derives no authority from it (saying of Augustine). Misuse of 2 Pet. 1:2020Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (2 Peter 1:20). Dispensational differences. Pregnancy of Scripture exaggerated by Coccceius. The Evangelists’ command of certainty. The catechetical process.
§3. — The English “Authorized” version based on relatively late Greek copies; he “Revised” version, on a more ancient text. Defect of Westcott and Hort’s system of selection. German reaction in Favor of a third group of authorities. Westcott and Hort’s arrangement and theory; attitude of Scrivener and of (Inlet. The “Western” text, and that of “D” in particular; its peculiarities.
Theory of Friedrich Blass; two editions of Luke’s Gospel. Marcion’s recension.
Relation of textual criticism to inspiration. Recently found MSS., and fragmentary copies of the text of this Gospel. “Conflations.” Some recent literature. Translation.
C.C.
Chapter 1
― 5 ff. — Meaning of “Judaea.” Character of the Liman canticles. Archangels. The names “Jesus,” “The Highest.” The Virgin Birth: Messianic requirements; the “Son of God”; Joseph’s legal heir; Isaiah’s prediction as to a “virgin”; stages in New Testament view of the Person of Christ; the Marcan, Matthæo-Lucan, Johannine; Pauline Christology; miraculous conception in sub-apostolic literature; repugnant to Jewish mind; the Christ of History and the Christ of Faith; essential holiness of JESUS. The “Magnificat”; “soul” and “spirit.” The “Benedictus.” Supposed conclusions of separate documents.
Chapter 2
―The Lord’s “own city.” The census question. Date of the Birth of Christ. Messianic designation. Mary’s being called “Mother of God;” JESUS, Messiah by birth. “Peace of complacency.” “Revelation of the Gentiles.” Education of the Holy Child. “My Father’s business.” Apocryphal records of the childhood.
Chapter 3
— Luke’s historical accuracy. Jewish idea of enjoyment of eternal life. Stage of His ministry at which the Lord’s Messianic claims were raised. Luke follows Old Testament manner of record. Connection of the Messianic vocation with the Baptism. The Genealogy: history of ecclesiastical view as to whether Joseph’s, or that of Mary; the Jewish view; change of front among Christians; reversion to primitive view; modern return to Patristic standpoint; view of advanced “critics”; the genealogies compared; our Lord’s Messianic claim, virtually through Mary, so prominent at beginning of this Gospel; the genealogies not questioned of old.
Chapter 4
— A personal Devil. The different order of temptations. Evangelist’s source of information. First Judean ministry. Fatly Messianic claim. Duration of the ministry. “Joseph’s Son.” The Lord’s repeated sayings. Marcion: his recension of Luke’s Gospel; his doctrinal system. Pauline coloring of Luke’s Gospel. The present cry of “Back to Christ.” Unclean spirits. Attitude of moderns towards miracles. Alleged first “strata” show the Lord working miracles. Gospel of the Kingdom.
Chapter 5
— Two distinct scenes pictured (by Luke and John respectively) by the Lake of Galilee, in which Peter prominent figure. The Word of Gen. Disciples’ impression as to the Lord’s sinlessness. JESUS as “Son of Man.” Parable of cloth and wineskins.
Chapter 6
— The “second-first Sabbath.” Matthew’s account of Sermon on the Mount compared with Luke’s. Relation between Religion; Morality, and Theology: their respective history and characteristics; Faith; Mysticism; “Seat of authority”; Syncretism; relation of Religion to politics; detachment of Morality from Religion; Mosaic account of development of conscience set aside by modern theory as to origin of Morality; duty arising from relationships, not from man’s moral power; views of philosophers and of scientific theologians; moral training of young. Theology: systematic development of truth; Biblical, Symbolic, and Dogmatic; typical theologians of the past; meaning of “Dogma”; “Orthodoxy”; “Pragmatism.” Demoniacal possession. The “poor” of this discourse; theory of an Ebionite origin. Hillel’s “quintessence of the Law.”
Chapter 7
— The title “the Lord,” characteristic of this Gospel. Three stages in the cases in the Gospels of dead being raised. Fluctuation in John the Baptist’s faith. “Little” in the Kingdom of Heaven. Mistakes made a treatment of the last section of this chapter.
Chapter 8
— Parables; instrument of religious instruction; interpretation; those special to Matthew and to Luke compared: various classifications significance of there being none in Apocryphal Gospels. “Honest and good.” As to Matthew’s and Luke’s silence about the description of the Lord as “beside himself” (Mark). Question as to parentage of His “brethren”: the different theories.
Chapter 9
— Preaching of the Kingdom and of the Gospel. Sacrifice, of the essence of Christianity. The way in which the Transfiguration is introduced in this Gospel. Extended record of Ministry, peculiar to Luke. Fitness for the Kingdom distinguished from qualification for Eternal Life.
Chapter 10:1-37
— Judean ministry. Comparison of the two missions. Critical allegory. Supposed quotation of this Gospel by Paul. Apostolic interpretation of Christ’s words needed. Apocalyptic collapse of Satan. Synoptic requirement by JESUS of faith in His Person; His pre-existence. Characteristics of parable of Good Samaritan.
Chapter 10:38 – 11:54
— Judean ministry continued. The function of PRAYER; Communion; in the energy of the Spirit. Philosophical criticism. Fatherhood of God under Christianity. The Kingdom of God; of the Father; of the Son. Present and future aspects. Essential meaning of the “Kingdom.” How viewed by Catholics and by Protestants. Increased attention to doctrine of reward according to works. The petition for “daily” bread: various explanations. Purpose of “the Lord’s Prayer.” Not intended as liturgical formula. Stereotyped and extemporaneous prayer. Early history of the Prayer. Luke’s “Holy Spirit” and Matthew’s “good things.” The “Kingdom of Heaven,” not co-extensive with “Kingdom of God”; how treated by Apostle Paul. Modern depreciation of types. Religion of the Pharisees; their attitude towards the Kingdom.
Chapter 12
— The Kingdom variously regarded as a gift, and as a prize. Its relation to service.
Chapter 13
— “Leaven,” in the Gospels and in the Classics. The question as to “few being saved.” Meaning of the Lord’s being “perfected.”
Chapter 14
— The “Resurrection of the just,” equivalent to the “First Resurrection.” Resurrection not limited in our Lord’s words to the just. A resurrection from among the dead, preceding that of the rest of the dead. Early and late Patristic views; the opinion of the ancient Pharisees; of Maimonides and Jews of the present day, with some “Christians”; of Rabbi Manasseh, distinguishing the resurrections in point of time. Renunciation of all for Christ.
Chapter 15
— Parable of Lost Sheep treated by Matthew and Luke from different points of view. Marcion’s attitude towards Parable of Prodigal Son so-called. Divine ideal contrasted with that of Greek philosophy. German treatment of this parable. The “Fatherhood of God” again. The religion of bondage. Newman’s and Robertson’s respective use of the Prodigal story. The religion of spiritual whitewash. Under Grace, not Law.
Chapter 16
— Secularism. The unjust steward. The word “everlasting.” Paradise and Hades. Question of retribution in the Intermediate State. The Catholic theory of Judgment. Ebionism suggested in modern exposition. Jewish purgatory. Jews’ attitude towards Resurrection of JESUS. Critical treatment of the “Lazarus” of Luke and of John respectively.
Chapter 17
— Jewish idea of Messianic reward. The geography of this section. The Kingdom according as visible and invisible. Noah and Lot, typical of Jews in the last days.
Chapter 18
— The unjust judge. Low ebb of faith at the end. Analysis of FAITH. Prayer and Fasting. “Justification” of the tax-gatherer. The Kingdom: “inheriting” life; the twofold inheritance; standing in grace and standing in responsibility; the time of recompense; relation of Kingdom to Eternal Life; no essential difference between the Synoptists and John’s Gospel; in the Kingdom initial manifestation of Eternal Life; early Patristic view of Kingdom; unpopularity of Paul’s declaration of “the whole counsel of God.” Limitations attaching to our Lord’s humanity. Apparent discrepancies witness to the Evangelists’ mutual independence.
Chapter 19
— Parables of Pounds and Talents compared. When Kingdom of Heaven endured. Apparent discrepancy as to ass and colt. Luke’s Circumstantial account of siege of Jerusalem.
Chapter 20
— God the FATHER it was who “came” in connection with the fall of Jerusalem. “Deemed worthy,” said of the Kingdom, not of Eternal Life. JESUS, as at the same time Lord and Son of David. The Lord’s reasoning contrasted with the Socratic. The New Testament regarded as enabling us to test other men’s views of Christ.
Chapter 21
— The Prophecy on Olivet in Luke compared with the other Synoptic accounts. No confusion on the part of this Evangelist between “Desolation” and “Abomination.” The flight to Pella. Break between verses 24 and 25, illustrated from Old Testament prophets. Christ’s casing again: Presence (secret) and Manifestation. What the Lord disclosed, and the disciples’ imperfect apprehension of it. That “Generation” not ending until all should be fulfilled. “Deemed worthy to stand before the Son of Man.”
Chapter 22
―The Lord’s anticipation of the Judean hour for keeping the Paschal feast, and His suffering within the same day. “Made ready the pass-over,” not coextensive with observance of the “preparation.” The celebration, that of the Passover pure and simple. The “Lord’s Supper” the bread, figure of Christ’s body; Catholic notion; Hooker’s view; Bishop Gore’s theory; question as to verses 19 and 20 being part of genuine text, and as to the Lord’s institution of a permanent ordinance; the historical and spiritual functions of the Supper; Ritschl’s repugnance to certain hymns voicing the “blood theology”; the great lesson of the ordinance. Isaiah’s “banquet” in the future Kingdom. Emphatic contemporary reaffirmation of the eschatological aspect of the Kingdom. Early Patristic doctrine; Origen’s declension from this stereotyped in Augustine’s attitude; views of Newman and Martensen; of modern millenarians. Relation of 1 Thess. 4:1313But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (1 Thessalonians 4:13) ff. to Rev. 20:1111And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (Revelation 20:11) ff. Literature on the “Kingdom.” The word “conversion” in modern usage. The agony in Gethsemane, an incident much misunderstood. A Divine sufferer. Textual question. Discrimination of the three trials.
Chapter 23
―Critical treatment of omissions in Luke’s record. “Paradise”: its relation to “Hades”; Peter’s citation of Psa. 16:1010For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Psalm 16:10); Patristic view of the Separate State; recoil since Reformation from earlier ideas transformation of the primitive “unseen” world from gloom to comfort; hearing of the Tribunal of Christ on the question of the Intermediate State; the “dead in Christ.” Meaning of the “Preparation.”
Chapter 24
―The Resurrection. Its impeachment: alleged discrepancies, legends, and accretions in text. The Pauline argument. Harnack’s attitude. Psychical research. Lessing’s caustic observation. Modern questioning of the Lord’s physical resurrection. Sin: nature and definitions. Diminished sense of “Sin.” “Original Sin.” “Total Depravity.” Revolt of Culture. Forgiveness available. Possibility of this questioned. Grace and Government. Gospels and Epistles in harmony. Forgiveness within Christian circle. Apostle Paul preached Kingdom as well as a glorified Christ. Default of Historical Church.