Luke E-Book

C. D. "Jimmy" Agan III

• Herausgeber: Crossway
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Serie: Knowing the Bible
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 106

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Beschreibung

The Knowing the Bible series is a resource designed to help Bible readers better understand and apply God's Word. These 12-week studies lead participants through books of the Bible and are made up of four basic components: (1) Reflection questions help readers engage the text at a deeper level; (2) "Gospel Glimpses" highlight the gospel of grace throughout each book; (3) "Whole-Bible Connections" show how any given passage connects to the Bible's overarching story of redemption, culminating in Christ; and (4) "Theological Soundings" identify how historic orthodox doctrines are taught or reinforced throughout Scripture. With contributions from an array of influential pastors and church leaders, these gospel-centered studies will help Christians see and cherish the message of God's grace on each and every page of the Bible. The Gospel of Luke is the most thorough historical account of the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But Luke's book is more than just history; it's also a rich source of life-giving theology, revealing Jesus's identity as Israel's long-awaited Messiah and the Savior of the world. In this study, New Testament scholar Jimmy Agan III walks readers through Luke's Gospel, helping Christians see that Jesus is not simply a great teacher but the great Savior.

Leseprobe

LUKE

A 12-WEEK STUDY

C. D. “Jimmy” Agan III

Knowing the Bible: Luke, A 12-Week Study

© 2015 by Crossway

Published by Crossway 1300 Crescent Street Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law.

Some content used in this study guide has been adapted from the ESV Study Bible (Crossway), copyright 2008 by Crossway, pages 1935–2014. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Cover design: Simplicated Studio

First printing 2015

Printed in the United States of America

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added by the author.

Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1-4335-4469-9 EPub ISBN: 978-1-4335-4472-9 PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-4470-5 Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-4471-2

Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

TABLEOF CONTENTS

  Series Preface: J. I. Packer and Lane T. DennisWeek   1: OverviewWeek   2: Sing for Joy—The Savior Is Born! (1:1–2:52)Week   3: Our Redeemer Is Ready (3:1–4:15)Week   4: Salvation Comes with Power (4:16–6:49)Week   5: Greater Than a Prophet, More Humble Than a King (7:1–9:50)Week   6: The Journey of the King, Part 1 (9:51–13:21)Week   7: The Journey of the King, Part 2 (13:22–17:10)Week   8: The Journey of the King, Part 3 (17:11–19:27)Week   9: The Tragic Triumph of Jesus’ Jerusalem Ministry (19:28–21:38)Week 10: The Death of God’s Son (22:1–23:56)Week 11: The Resurrection of God’s Son (24:1–53)Week 12: Summary and Conclusion

SERIES PREFACE

KNOWING THE BIBLE, as the series title indicates, was created to help readers know and understand the meaning, the message, and the God of the Bible. Each volume in the series consists of 12 units that progressively take the reader through a clear, concise study of that book of the Bible. In this way, any given volume can fruitfully be used in a 12-week format either in group study, such as in a church-based context, or in individual study. Of course, these 12 studies could be completed in fewer or more than 12 weeks, as convenient, depending on the context in which they are used.

Each study unit gives an overview of the text at hand before digging into it with a series of questions for reflection or discussion. The unit then concludes by highlighting the gospel of grace in each passage (“Gospel Glimpses”), identifying whole-Bible themes that occur in the passage (“Whole-Bible Connections”), and pinpointing Christian doctrines that are affirmed in the passage (“Theological Soundings”).

The final component to each unit is a section for reflecting on personal and practical implications from the passage at hand. The layout provides space for recording responses to the questions proposed, and we think readers need to do this to get the full benefit of the exercise. The series also includes definitions of key words. These definitions are indicated by a note number in the text and are found at the end of each chapter.

Lastly, for help in understanding the Bible in this deeper way, we would urge the reader to use the ESV Bible and the ESV Study Bible, which are available online at www.esvbible.org. The Knowing the Bible series is also available online. Additional 12-week studies covering each book of the Bible will be added as they become available.

May the Lord greatly bless your study as you seek to know him through knowing his Word.

J. I. Packer Lane T. Dennis

WEEK 1: OVERVIEW

Getting Acquainted

Like other Gospels, Luke’s Gospel recounts the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God, who fulfills all of his Father’s saving promises. Unlike other Gospels, Luke has a companion volume—Acts—in which salvation1 advances, in Jesus’ name, to “the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Luke’s Gospel invites us to be part of this worldwide spread of the Christian message by showing how Jesus brings salvation to the last, the lost, and the least.

Luke’s Gospel describes a world turned upside down. Sinners are saved while religious leaders are exposed as frauds. “Outsiders” embrace Jesus while “insiders” reject him. The poor rejoice while the rich are “sent away empty” (Luke 1:53). Because such paradoxes can create doubt, Luke writes to assure us that Jesus represents the fulfillment of God’s saving purposes.

The most glaring paradox Luke presents is that of Jesus himself. No person has ever lived more faithfully than Jesus, yet no person has ever endured more suffering. As it points us to Jesus’ cross and resurrection, Luke’s Gospel prepares us to follow Jesus through hardship and humiliation, strengthened by faith in the God who exalts the lowly. (For further background, see the ESVStudy Bible, pages 1935–1938, or visit www.esvbible.org.)

Placing It in the Larger Story

Luke’s Gospel begins, and Acts ends, with a pointed reminder that the coming of Jesus fulfills God’s promises, expressed in the Old Testament, to redeem2 the world through Israel. As Luke’s genealogy of Jesus makes clear, everyone who is descended from Adam—all humanity—has departed from God. Only “repentance and forgiveness of sins” (Luke 24:47) can restore us to the fullness of life that God intends for his human creatures. God’s purpose is to raise up a king in Israel who can remove sin, defeat death, and pour out the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit on all who embrace his rule. Jesus is this messianic King, the greater “son of David” who brings God’s promises to completion, and through whom “all flesh shall see the salvation of God” (Luke 3:6, citing Isa. 52:10).

Key Verse

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)

Date and Historical Background

Luke was likely written in the early 60s, sometime after the events described in Acts 28 but before two major events that are not mentioned in Luke or Acts—Paul’s martyrdom in AD 64/65, and the destruction of the temple in AD 70. This means that Luke wrote within decades of Jesus’ ministry and death.

In Luke’s day, the Christian message had spread throughout Palestine, Asia Minor, Greece, and Rome. The stability of the Roman empire enabled Paul and other Christian missionaries to travel extensively, preaching to Jews and Gentiles alike. Both groups had difficulty accepting the possibility that a crucified man could be the Savior of the world—Jews because crucifixion represented a divine curse, and Gentiles because crucifixion represented weakness and humiliation. Other questions were raised by the fact that many Gentile “outsiders” were embracing Jesus, while many Jewish “insiders” continued to reject him and his followers. Luke wrote, at least in part, to reassure readers that the message about Jesus is true, despite such paradoxes. Today, Luke’s Gospel continues to offer assurance to anyone who wrestles with the challenges of trusting and following Jesus.

Outline

   I.The Prologue (1:1–4)

  II.The Infancy Narrative (1:5–2:52)

A.The birth of John the Baptist foretold (1:5–25)

B.The birth of Jesus foretold (1:26–38)

C.Mary visits Elizabeth (1:39–56)

D.The birth of John the Baptist (1:57–80)

E.The birth of Jesus Christ (2:1–52)

 III.Preparation for the Ministry of Jesus (3:1–4:15)

A.John the Baptist prepares the way (3:1–20)

B.Jesus’ baptism, genealogy, and temptation (3:21–4:15)

  IV.The Ministry of Jesus in Galilee (4:16–9:50)

A.The beginning (4:16–5:16)

B.The beginning of controversy (5:17–6:11)

C.Jesus teaches the disciples (6:12–49)

D.Who is this Jesus? (7:1–50)

E.Jesus teaches in parables (8:1–21)

F.Jesus is Lord of nature, demons, disease, and death (8:22–56)

G.Jesus and the Twelve (9:1–50)

   V.The Journey to Jerusalem (9:51–19:27)

A.The first mention of the journey to Jerusalem (9:51–13:21)

B.The second mention of the journey to Jerusalem (13:22–17:10)

C.The third mention of the journey to Jerusalem (17:11–19:27)

  VI.The Ministry of Jesus in Jerusalem (19:28–21:38)

A.The Triumphal Entry (19:28–40)

B.Jesus weeps over Jerusalem (19:41–44)

C.Jesus cleanses the temple (19:45–48)

D.The authority of Jesus challenged (20:1–8)

E.The parable of the wicked tenants (20:9–18)

F.Paying taxes to Caesar (20:19–26)

G.Sadducees ask about the resurrection (20:27–40)

H.Whose son is the Christ? (20:41–44)

I.Beware of the scribes (20:45–47)

J.The widow’s offering (21:1–4)

K.Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem (21:5–24)

L.Jesus foretells the coming of the Son of Man (21:25–38)

 VII.The Suffering and Death of Jesus (22:1–23:56)

A.The plot to kill Jesus, and the Passover meal (22:1–38)

B.The arrest and trial (22:39–23:56)

VIII.The Resurrection of Jesus (24:1–53)

A.The empty tomb (24:1–12)

B.Jesus’ appearance on the road to Emmaus (24:13–35)

C.Jesus appears to his disciples (24:36–49)

D.The ascension of Jesus (24:50–53)

As You Get Started . . .

What teachings of Jesus or events from his life do you associate with Luke’s Gospel in particular (as opposed to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and John)? (Hint: some of Jesus’ best-known parables are found only in Luke.) How have these shaped your understanding of salvation?

What is your current understanding of how Luke’s Gospel contributes to Christian theology? Are you aware of any ways in which this book clarifies our understanding of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, sin, salvation, or any other doctrine?

What aspects of Luke’s Gospel would you like to understand better? Are there any specific questions that you hope to have answered through this study?

As You Finish This Unit . . .

Take a few minutes to ask God to bless you with increased understanding and a transformed heart and life as you begin this study of Luke.

Definitions

1Salvation – Deliverance from the eternal consequences of sin, in order that one may completely enjoy all of God’s promised blessings. Jesus’ death and resurrection purchased salvation for believers.

2Redeem – In the context of the Bible, to buy back someone who had become enslaved or something that had been lost to someone else. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus purchased redemption from slavery to sin and its consequences for all believers (Col. 1:13–14).

WEEK 2: SING FOR JOY—THE SAVIOR IS BORN!

Luke 1:1–2:52

The Place of the Passage

After a brief prologue (Luke 1:1–4), Luke recounts the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. This section forms a link back to the Old Testament, so that we see these two births as means of fulfilling God’s promises to redeem Israel and, through her, “all peoples” (2:31). The section also foreshadows major themes that will occur again and again throughout Luke’s Gospel as this “good news of great joy” (v. 10) unfolds. In particular, we learn that while the proper response to the coming of Jesus is exuberant praise for God, this newborn King will also incite painful opposition (v. 34)—so that the shadow of the cross hangs even over the manger.

The Big Picture

Luke 1–2 presents Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s saving promises, whose birth prompts joyful response on the part of God’s people.

Reflection and Discussion

Read through the complete passage for this study, Luke 1–2. Then review the questions below and write your notes on them concerning this introductory section of Luke’s Gospel. (For further background, see the ESV Study Bible, pages 1942–1952, or visit www.esvbible.org.)

1. Luke’s Prologue (1:1–4)

Theophilus (Luke 1:3) is likely a Gentile convert to Christianity. The themes of Luke and Acts suggest that such converts were experiencing a crisis of faith.1 How does Luke’s prologue offer reassurance to those whose beliefs are being challenged and undermined?

2. God Renews His Promises (1:5–38)