Reading Luke

Luke's Gospel is meant to give readers certainty about what they have already been taught concerning Jesus. This book examines how Luke pursues that goal by reading the Gospel as a narrative set in its historical world, while paying attention to the author's craft and theological outlook.

The first part introduces the groundwork for reading Luke closely. It considers who wrote the Gospel and who its earliest readers were, what kind of writing it is, how its plot and characters develop, why certain programmatic passages matter, and how to make sense of the many parables it contains. The second part traces major themes that recur throughout the Gospel: Jesus's mission, salvation, discipleship, the kingdom of God, the resurrection, and the ascension.

Taken together, these two parts offer a working map of Luke's overall design, helping readers see how the Gospel shapes its account of Jesus's life and encouraging them to read it on their own with greater assurance.