Luke the Evangelist
c. 1 – c. 84 · Antioch
Also known as Luke the Physician
Feast: 18 October
Physician and companion of Paul, traditional author of the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles. Identified by Irenaeus as 'a follower of Paul'.
Highlights
- Main contribution
- Luke gave the church its only continuous narrative from Jesus' ministry into the mission of Paul.
- Primary source
- Colossians 4:14
Luke gave the church its only continuous narrative from Jesus' ministry into the mission of Paul. His Gospel preserves parables, songs, women disciples, table fellowship, mercy to outsiders, and the road to Emmaus; Acts then follows the gospel from Jerusalem toward Rome. The 'we' passages show the author close to parts of Paul's mission, and early tradition names him as Luke the physician. Without Luke-Acts, the first generation after the resurrection would be much harder to see as a connected story.
Primary sources
- ·Colossians 4:14
- ·2 Timothy 4:11
- ·Irenaeus, Adv. Haer. 3.1.1; 3.14.1
Book of the day
The Apostolic Fathers
Clement of RomeA reading pick tied to today's figure, quote, era, or event. Best first collection for Clement, Ignatius, Polycarp, the Didache, Barnabas, Hermas, and Papias in one place.
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