Introduction to the Gospel according to Luke (Pioneer Bible Translators)

(Pioneer Bible Translators and The Word for the World use the following introduction in many of their translation projects around the world.)

The Gospel according to Luke is one of four books in the New Testament that describe the life of Jesus Christ. Each one of them is called a “gospel,” which means “good news.” They were written after Jesus’ death by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Luke not only wrote the story of Jesus’ life, but he also wrote about the things Jesus’ disciples did after his death and resurrection, a book called Acts of the Apostles. No one knows the exact time that The Gospel according to Luke was written or where it was written, but most scholars agree that it was probably written around 70 years after the birth of Christ.

The author is Luke, who was a medical doctor. His way of writing and using language shows that he was an educated man. Luke wanted to write a correct description of the life of Jesus, telling the events in the way they happened, so that others could benefit from reading it (1:13). He was not Jewish (Colossians 4:1014) and he wrote in a way that non-Jewish people could understand. This is clearly seen in the way he explains Jewish customs (1:8).

The Gospel according to Luke is very similar to the books of Matthew and Mark, because they describe the same things and in a similar way. Among the three books, Luke gives the most details about the birth of John the Baptist. Luke also emphasizes forgiveness (verses 3:3, 11:4, 17:34, 23:34, 24:47) and prayer (verses 3:21, 5:16, 6:12, 11:112, 22:32).

Outline:

1. In chapter 1:1-4, Luke introduces his Gospel and explains why he wrote it.
2. Then he describes the birth of Jesus and how He was prepared for ministry (1:5-4:13).
3. For the biggest part of the rest of the Gospel (4:14-21:38), Luke tells about the work that Jesus did, especially the miracles He performed and the things He taught.
4. Finally, in the last three chapters (22-24), he describes how Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the dead.

This work is owned by Pioneer Bible Translators International and The World for the World International and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License .

Translation: French

Introduction à l’évangile selon Luc

L’évangile selon Luc est un des quatre livres du Nouveau Testament qui décrivent la vie de Jésus-Christ. Chacun s’appelle un « évangile », ce qui veut dire « bonne nouvelle ». Ils ont été écrits après la mort de Jésus par Mathieu, Marc, Luc et Jean. Non seulement Luc a écrit sur la vie de Jésus, mais il a aussi écrit sur les choses que les disciples de Jésus ont faites après sa mort et sa résurrection, un livre qui s’appelle les Actes des apôtres. Personne ne sait exactement le temps dans lequel l’évangile selon Luc a été écrit ni où il a été écrit mais la plupart des experts sont d’accord qu’il a été écrit probablement environ 70 ans après la naissance de Christ.

L’auteur est Luc qui était médecin. Sa façon d’écrire et d’utiliser la langue montre que c’était un homme instruit. Luc voulait écrire une description correcte de la vie de Jésus en relatant les événements tels qu’ils s’étaient déroulés afin que d’autres personnes puissent bénéficier de sa lecture (1 :1-3). Il n’était pas juif (Colossiens 4 :10-14) et il a écrit de telle façon que les non-juifs puissent comprendre. Ceci apparaît clairement dans la manière qu’il décrit les coutumes juives (1 :8).

L’évangile selon Luc est très semblable aux livres de Matthieu et Marc parce qu’ils décrivent les mêmes choses et d’une manière semblable. Parmi les trois livres, Luc donne le plus de détails sur la naissance de Jean-Baptiste. Luc met aussi l’accent sur le pardon (chapitres 3 :3, 11 :4, 17 :3-4, 23 :34, 24 :47) et sur la prière (chapitres 3 :21, 5 :16, 6 :12, 11 :1-12, 22 :32).

Résumé

1. Dans le chapitre 1 :1-4 Luc introduit son évangile et explique pourquoi il l’a écrit.
2. Il décrit ensuite la naissance de Jésus et comment il a été préparé pour le ministère (1 :5-4 :13).
3. Dans la plus grande partie du reste de l’évangile (4 :14-21 :38) Luc raconte le travail que Jésus a accompli, surtout les miracles qu’il a faits et les choses qu’il a enseignées.
4. Finalement dans les trois derniers chapitres (22-24) il décrit comment Jésus est mort, a été enseveli et a été ressuscité d’entre les morts.

Translation: Swahili

Utangulizi wa injili kama ilivyoandikwa na Luka

Injili kama ilivyoandikwa na Luka ni kitabu kimojawapo kati ya vitabu vinne vya Agano Jipya vinavyoelezea maisha ya Yesu Kristo. Kila kimojawapo kinaitwa “injili” neno lenye maana “habari njema.” Hivi ni vitabu vilivyoandikwa baada ya kufa kwa Yesu, navyo ni Mathayo, Marko, Luka na Yohana. Luka hakuandika masimulizi juu ya maisha ya Yesu tu, bali pia aliandika juu ya mambo ambayo wanafunzi wa Yesu waliyafanya baada ya kufa na kufufuka kwake. Kitabu hicho huitwa Matendo ya Mitume. Hakuna ajuaye tarehe kamili ilipoandikwa Injili kama ilivyoandikwa na Luka, wala mahali ilipoandikwa. Wasomi wengi hukubaliana kwamba iliandikwa mnamo mwaka 70 baada ya kuzaliwa Yesu Kristo.

Mwandishi wake alikuwa ni Luka, aliyekuwa tabibu. Umahiri wa uandishi wake na utumiaji wa lugha vinadhirisha kwamba alikuwa mtu mwenye elimu. Luka alitaka kuandika maelezo sahihi juu ya maisha ya Yesu kwa kusimulia kama vile yalivyotokea ili wengine wafaidike wayasomapo (Luka 1:1-3). Luka hakuwa Myahudi (Wakolosai 4:10-14), na aliandika kwa namna ambayo wale wasio Wayahudi wangeelewa. Jambo hili linadhihirika wazi anapozielezea desturi za Kiyahudi (Luka 1:8).

Injili kama ilivyoandikwa na Luka ni kitabu kinachofanana na vitabu vya Mathayo na Marko, kwa vile vitabu hivi husimulia mambo yale yale katika njia inayofanana. Kati ya vitabu hivi vitatu, kitabu cha Luka ndicho pekee husimulia habari za kuzaliwa kwa Yohana Mbatizaji kwa kina zaidi. Luka anakazia msamaha (3:3, 11:4, 17:3-4, 23:34) na maombi pia (3:21, 5:16, 6:12, 11:1-12, 22:32).

Muhtasari

1. Katika sura ya 1:1-4 Luka anatoa utangulizi wa Injili yake na kueleza sababu ya kuiandika.
2. Kisha anaeleza habari za kuzaliwa kwa Yesu na jinsi alivyotayarishwa kwa ajili ya huduma (sura 1:5-4:13).
3. Katika sehemu kubwa ya Injili inayobakia (sura 4:14-21:38) Luka anasimulia kazi ambazo Yesu alizifanya, hasa miujiza aliyotenda na mambo aliyofundisha.
4. Katika sura tatu za mwisho (22-24), anasimulia jinsi Yesu alivyokufa na kufufuka kutoka kwa wafu.

Introduction to Luke (Christian Community Bible)

(The Catholic Christian Community Bible [first English edition 1997, other translations into Indonesian, Chinese, Cebuano, Chavacano, French, Ilonggo, Korean, Quechuan, Spanish, and Tagalog] “for the Christian Communities of the Third World” uses the following introduction.)

Luke, a Syrian doctor, was converted to Christianity when the first missionaries left the Jerusalem and Caesarea communities to take the Gospel beyond the borders of the Jewish country. Luke then left his homeland to accompany the Apostle Paul.

He arrived in Rome, the capital of the then known world, where he stayed for at least two years. There he met Peter and Mark who were preaching among the Christians in Rome.

When he wrote his Gospel, various texts containing deeds and miracles of Jesus were available to him, the same texts which Mark and Matthew had used. In his travels, he had also picked up other stories that came from Jesus’ first disciples. These stories were preserved in the oldest churches of Jerusalem and Caesarea.

On this we have the witness of his first paragraph (1:1-4): he was concerned with finding the testimonies of the first ministers of the Word, this is the apostles.

Then it would be wrong to think that Luke wrote long after the events, as some people say, and elaborates on things he doesn’t know. Though the last corrections to his gospel were done about the year 70, the bulk is much older. This is the case specially for the first two chapters of Luke’s Gospel telling us about Jesus’ infancy. They are the translations almost word to the word of a Hebrew or Aramaic writing from the first Christian generation based on information which his mother Mary must have supplied.

Luke’s cultural background was Greek and he was writing for Greek people. He omitted several Marcan details, dealing with Jewish laws and customs which would have been hard for his readers to understand.

Luke saw in the Gospel the power reconciling people with God and with one another. Therefore, he was concerned about giving us the parables of mercy and the words condemning money — a divisive factor between people. Likewise, Luke showed the very natural way Jesus treated women, who were completely marginalized by the world.

The Gospel of Luke has three sections (see Introduction to the New Testament):

– Jesus’ ministry in Galilee, 3:19:56;
– the journey to Jerusalem, 9:5718:17;
– the arrival in Jerusalem and the passion, 18:18–23.

The last chapter on the apparitions of the risen Jesus will serve as an invitation to read the Book of Acts, which is a continuation of Luke’s Gospel.

Down below are the introductions in the Mandarin Chinese, Tagalog, Cebuano, and Spanish editions.

Translation: Mandarin Chinese

第三部福音由保禄的一个门徒所撰写,他是一位原籍叙利亚的医生(哥4:14)。公元40年左右,他拥有了基督信仰。当时正值受迫害的基督徒离开耶路撒冷和凯撒勒雅,在巴勒斯坦境外避难,传播福音。从50年起,他就跟随保禄开始了传教工作(宗6:10)。路加很有可能在希腊撰写了福音及宗徒大事录--一部作品的两个部分,然后在64-65年间于罗马完稿。

路加说到他曾经去寻找圣言的最初见证人,即宗徒们(1:1-5)。实际上,他跟保禄不止一次去过耶路撒冷和凯撒勒雅--在巴勒斯坦的教会的两个中心。在那里,初期教会团体保留的材料给前三部福音的撰写提供了素材。路加所采用的主要材料也被马尔谷采纳,我们可以在后者的福音中读到许多相同的章节。

路加保存记叙了两大部分内容:耶稣在加里利的活动;他在耶路撒冷的最后时日。在此基础上,教会最初的教义得以形成。路加在这两部份内容之间插上了另外一段材料,内有耶稣的言语,被设想成是他从加里利前往耶路撒冷的途中所宣讲的。路加还采用了巴勒斯坦初期教会的文件,是用希伯来文写成的。这些材料构成了路加福音首二章有关耶稣童年的记叙,并且从一开始就赋予整部福音与众不同的特色,那就是最具人情味。

路加深深的人性化意识,可以从他描写耶稣面对妇女的态度中发现:耶稣并不赞同置妇女于下等地位的大众偏见。之后,由于路加追随传教者保禄,生活始终不稳定、前途不可知,所以,他更著重强调福音精神和个人占有之间的不可相容性。

路加从保禄那里学到了很多,他懂得如何表达对耶稣的言语的理解,从而开启读者的心智:救赎的意义远远胜於只是对个人功劳的酬报,那全属天主的无限仁慈。在第15章中可见这些难忘的话语。

路加福音包含三部分:

耶稣在加里利传教3:1-9:56

前往耶路撒冷的行程9:57-18:17

到达耶路撒冷和受难18:18-23

最后一章有关复活的耶稣的显现,可作为《宗徒大事录》的引子。

Translation: Tagalog

Naging Kristiyano si Lucas na isang doktor na taga-Siria nang magpadala ang mga pamayanan ng Jerusalem at Cesarea ng mga unang misyonero para ihatid ang Ebanghelyo sa labas ng lupain ng mga Judio. Hindi nagtagal, nilisan niya ang bayang sinilangan para sumama kay apostol Pablo.

Nakarating siya sa Roma, ang kapitolyo ng mundo noon. Mga dalawang taon siya roon at nakilala niya sina Pedro at Marcos na nangangaral sa mga Kristiyano sa Roma.

Sa pagsulat ng kanyang ebanghelyo, mga taong 70 noon, pinagbatayan niya ang iba’t ibang tekstong naglalaman ng mga gawa at himala ni Jesus na ginamit din nina Marcos at Mateo. Nakatulong din sa kanya ang iba pang mga kuwentong galing sa mga unang alagad ni Jesus na iningatan ng mga kauna-unahang Iglesya ng Jerusalem at Cesarea. Nalaman niya sa kanyang mga paglalakbay ang mga ito.

Sa mga ito hinango ni Lucas ang unang dalawang kabanata ng kanyang Ebanghelyo na nagsasalaysay ng kamusmusan ni Jesus. Hindi malayong si Maria mismo na ina ni Jesus ang nagbigay ng mga impormasyon ng nasabing mga kuwento.

Laki sa kulturang Griyego si Lucas at nagsulat siya para sa mga Griyego. Kaya naman di niya inuulit ang ilang detalyeng binabanggit ni Marcos tungkol sa mga batas at mga kaugaliang Judio na hindi gaanong maiintindihan ng kanyang mga mambabasang Griyego.

Nakita ni Lucas sa ebanghelyo ang kapangyarihang muling nagbubuklod sa mga tao at sa Diyos, at sa mga tao sa isa’t isa. Kaya binigyang-diin niya na maihatid sa atin ang mga talinhaga ng awa at ang mga salitang laban sa pera na dahilan ng pagkakawatak-watak ng mga tao. Ipinakita rin ni Lucas ang makataong pakikitungo ni Jesus sa mga babae na lubhang binabale-wala noon.

Translation: Cebuano

Si Lucas mananambal nga Sirio. Nakristyano siya sa pagbiya sa Jerusalem ug Caesarea sa unang mga misyonaryo aron pagsangyaw sa Ebanghelyo latas sa mga utlanan sa nasod sa mga Judio. Sukad adto, mibiya siya sa ila ug miuban ni Pablo, ang Apostol.

Miabot siya sa Roma, ang naila kaniadto nga ulohang syudad sa kalibotan, ug mipuyo didto mga duha ka tuig. Gikahinagbo niya didto si Pedro ug Marcos nga ining panahona, nagwali sa mga kristyano sa Roma.

Sa pagsulat niya sa Ebanghelyo, duna nay mga sinulat bahin sa mga buhat ug mga milagro ni Jesus nga iyang magamit nga gigamit sab ni Marcos ug Mateo. Apan sa iyang mga panaw, nakapanghagdaw pod siyag ubang istorya gikan sa unang mga tinun-an ni Jesus. Kining mga istoryaha hinipos gikan sa karaan na kaayong mga simbahan sa Jerusalem ug Caesarea.

Ingon ini ang unang duha ka ulohan sa Ebanghelyo ni Lucas nga naghisgot sa pagkatawo ni Jesus, nga tingali naggikan sa mga taho ni Maria mismo, ang inahan ni Jesus.

Si Lucas nagtubo sa Griyegong kultura ug nagsulat alang sa mga Griyego. Wala niya ilakip ang pipila ka detalye sa Ebanghelyo ni Marcos, labi na ang naghisgot sa mga balaod ug kostumbre sa mga Judio nga lisod sabton sa iyang magbabasa.

Sa Ebanghelyo nakita ni Lucas ang gahom sa pagpasig-uli sa katawhan ngadto sa Diyos ug sa usag usa. Mao nga gihatagan niyag gibug-aton ang mga sambingay sa pasaylo ug kaluoy. Gipanghimaraot niya ang salapi nga hinungdan sa pagkabahinbahin sa katawhan. Sa samang pagkaagi, gipakita ni Lucas ang talagsaong pagtagad nga gihatag ni Jesus sa kababayen-an, sa mga kabos ug sa tanang sinalikway sa kalibotan.

Translation: Spanish

El tercer Evangelio es obra de un discípulo de Pablo, un médico (Col 4,14) probablemente de origen sirio, que acompañó a Pablo en sus misiones (He 16,10). Tal vez fue en Grecia donde redactó su Evangelio y el libro de los Hechos. Para él eran dos partes de una misma obra, y tal vez tanto la una como la otra fueron terminadas el año 63 o 64.

Lucas conservó los dos grandes bloques de la catequesis primitiva de la Iglesia, que también conservó el Evangelio de Marcos: la actividad de Jesús en Galilea y sus últimos días en Jerusalén; pero insertó entre medio el contenido de otro documento que contenía muchos discursos de Jesús. Los colocó durante la subida de Jesús de Galilea a Jerusalén, para mostrar que la vida cristiana se desarrolla bajo el signo de la cruz.

Otro documento le proporcionó el contenido de sus dos primeros capítulos, consagrados a la infancia de Jesús. Tal documento conservaba el testimonio de la comunidad primitiva, de la que formaba parte María. Esos dos capítulos otorgan de partida al Evangelio de Lucas su carácter propio; si hubiera que caracterizarlo en pocas palabras, se podrían citar estas líneas que se leen en las Cartas pastorales:

“Acaba de manifestarse la bondad de Dios, nuestro Salvador, y su amor a los hombres... Él quiere que todos los hombres se salven y lleguen al conocimiento de la verdad” (Ti 2,11 y 1Tim 2,3).

Lucas se propuso manifestar ante todo la incomprensible “humanidad” de Dios que Jesús vino a revelarnos, y con esta convicción nos dio un evangelio que es el más humano de los cuatro. Se notará, por ejemplo, el cuidado que puso para recordar la actitud de Jesús con respecto a las mujeres: no compartió el prejuicio universal que las discriminaba.

Lucas recibió mucho de su maestro Pablo; puso de relieve las palabras de Jesús que recuerdan que la salvación es siempre y ante todo, no la recompensa por nuestros méritos, sino un don personal de Dios. Por eso quiso salvar las parábolas del capítulo 15 que ilustran la tan asombrosa misericordia de Dios

Después del evangelio de la infancia (1–2) se notan tres secciones:

– El ministerio de Jesús en Galilea: 3,1–9,56
– El viaje a Jerusalén atravesando Samaria: 9,57–18,17
– Los acontecimientos de Jerusalén: 18,18–23.

El último capítulo sobre las apariciones de Jesús es como una invitación a leer el libro de los Hechos, que es la continuación del Evangelio de Lucas.