A Greco Roman Audience On The Gospel Of Luke - 1013 Words

A Greco-Roman Audience Readers of the Gospel of Luke often try to identify Luke’s intended audience. Understanding Luke’s intended audience can provide insight into how Luke used current culture to strategically spread the word of God. Specifically, we can look at the period of Hellenization, along passages, to interpret Luke’s Gospel as intended for a Greco-Roman audience. After the campaigns of Alexander the Great, but before the Birth of Jesus, Palestine endured a period of Hellenization. This period of Hellenization brought a sense of unity to Alexander’s empire, as Greek culture, language, politics and religions spread. Greek culture was so strong that even the Hebrew kings felt compelled to take Greek names in an effort to integrate. However, Alexander’s rule did not last for long. Eventually, King Herod took control, splitting the empire into three parts, two of which were ruled by Herod’s sons. The Herodian dynasty brought Roman influences in architecture, language, economics and culture, mixing with the Greco-influence from Alexander’s reign. Jesus was born into a world filled with Greco-Roman culture. Thus, it was imperative that Luke understood the culture and framed his writing in a way that attracted the Greco-Romans. Luke begins his Gospel, which was written in Greek, with a dedication to Theophilus, â€Å" It seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write and orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (LukeShow MoreRelatedThe Canonical Structure Of The New Testament1679 Words   |  7 Pagesaccredits thirteen of them to the Apostle Paul. The writings of Luke, in particular the Acts of the Apostles, can be used as a theological and historical basis, but it presents strong point and restrictions for Pauline interpretation. Primarily, Acts of the Apostles can be used for Pauline interpretation as a theological basis. 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