Resurrection Shock Background Guide

Despite being our earliest writer, Paul does not give us details of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee, as noted above. He does not illustrate how compelling and memorable Jesus’ teaching was, how he trains his often slow-on-the-uptake disciples, or how events lead up to his arrest, trial, excruciating death and alleged miraculous comeback. For this type of information, we have other documents. They belong to the genre commonly called “gospel”, meaning “good news”.

In fact, we have four NT gospels. In the major aspects of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus the four accounts concur. One of the only exceptions comes with the appearances by Jesus after his resurrection, which figure prominently in three gospel accounts, but are missing in Mark (see Chapter 2).

Now not so fast, the trained historians object. It is not enough just to look at the content in the writings, comparing and contrasting. The historian wants to ask more questions about the writers themselves. Where did they get their information? Who were they as people, as best we can ascertain? When did they write and are they independent of each other?

The questions asked of ancient documents are much harder to answer because there was a tradition for authors not to identify themselves, not to date their works, and not to credit or catalog any sources they utilize.

We are in luck however with the biography of Jesus which is commonly called the gospel of Luke. Luke does not identify himself as the author in either the gospel of Luke or in his sequel, Acts. Luke’s name is attached later by succeeding generations of Christian leaders who vouch for him as the author. He is mentioned by name in the NT in letters attributed to Paul, as one of Paul’s close and most loyal associates (Philemon 1:24, Col. 4:14, 2 Tim. 4:11). On Paul’s second extended journey, Luke meets up with him at Troas. The city is on the eastern Aegean Sea, a major port for crossing over to Greece, and possibly Luke’s hometown. He then travels frequently with Paul, including the hazardous voyage to Rome from Caesarea (see Chapter 6). Luke is identified as a doctor (Col. 4:14). His prose shows that he is highly educated and that Greek almost certainly is his first language. He likely is the only non-Jewish author in the NT, for conspicuously he is not mentioned among the circumcised in one incidental list (Col. 4:10-11, 14).

In the preamble to his first book, the gospel, Luke offers a few clues about his writing’s purpose and process, as well as his patron.

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
Acts 1:1-4

The name Theophilus has the meaning “lover of God”. This meaning has led some to assert that it is a generic term for a believer. Yet it is a common Greek name. So most scholars conclude it addresses an individual, probably the affluent patron or publisher of Luke’s book. Luke is clear that his purpose is to bring “certainty” to the things that have been “taught” or “believed”. The written word by definition makes things more specific and more stable, so that any reader can consult the document as needed. Just by writing, Luke locks in the information and brings more stability. The greater certainty also derives from the way he researches. “I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning.” Luke claims he has been meticulous and comprehensive. Also, he adds another goal, to produce an “orderly account”. Luke mentions he is not the first to attempt this task. “Many have undertaken to draw up an account,” he notes. We can surmise that Luke has read other accounts and not been satisfied by them, so he says, “I too decided to write.” The other accounts likely were not measuring up to his standards. To his mind, they were not ordered properly, not comprehensive or not carefully researched. However, the fact that he mentions other accounts, shows that he is working with some written materials in order to produce his own.

As part of his research, Luke also indicates that he has spoken directly with eyewitnesses. Reports about what happened with Jesus “were handed down to us”. These are not just secondhand. These probably include firsthand reports told to him “by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word”. Eyewitnesses would include not only the inner circle of handpicked disciples, but also the larger entourage that accompanies Jesus, including many women (Lk 24:9-10, 33-35, Acts 1:14-15). Luke probably could access other witnesses, such as Manaen, a Christian later based in Antioch, who was raised alongside Herod Antipas (Acts 13:1). The term “servants of the word” would likely refer to teachers in the early church (Lk 6:2-4). Initially, these teachers are drawn from Jesus’ select band of original disciples. Prominent among them would be Peter and John. In both NT letters attributed to him, Peter asserts his experience as an eyewitness (1 Pet. 5:1, 2 Pet.1:16-18), as does John in his first letter (1 Jn 1:1).

In this short yet telling preamble, Luke makes clear he is basing his account on highly reputable sources. He clarifies that he is not himself an eyewitness. But he has been in contact with multiple witnesses and reviewed other writings that have tried to capture the content of Jesus’ life.