Scripture

Luke

by Jacob Abshire on December 13, 2023

Luke presents Jesus as the Son of Man, coming to save all humanity. Jesus demonstrates God’s love to people of all backgrounds. Despite being unjustly betrayed and executed, He rises again.

Luke utilizes careful historical research, orderly narrative, and reliability to provide certainty to his readers. He wants readers to feel most supremely assured about the gospel. Certainty is a result of the gospel.

Other significant themes include “salvation” and “compassion.” The word “salvation” best summarizes the mission of Jesus in Luke (Lk. 19:10). This also ties Luke to Acts (salvation to the nations). However, it is also a significant theme in other books of the Bible. The word “compassion” captures the texture of Luke and how he desires his readers to imitate Jesus. However, this word could overlap with books like John. In short, “certainty” is Luke’s stated purpose, “salvation” is Luke’s central mission of Christ, and “compassion” is Luke’s unique narrative flavor.

The Greek word “ἀσφάλεια” (translated “exact truth” in NASB and “have certainty” in ESV) literally means firmness, stability, safety, and security. It conveys something solid, reliable, trustworthy, and not easily moved. In Luke 1:4, the writer wants the reader to know the “firm reliability” of what he has been taught. So, Luke is aiming not only for knowledge (ἐπιγνῷς, know fully or recognize deeply), but for a kind of grounded assurance—a truth you can stand on without fear it will collapse. 

The word “certainty” is what the ESV, NIV, and NASB use to translate this idea. It is rooted in objectivity—evidence and reliability. The word “confidence” conveys personal assurance—trust that leads to courage, not just knowledge. It is warmer and more relational than “certainty” (such as confidence in Christ). It also matches Luke’s pastoral intent. He is not just proving facts, but strengthening faith. Furthermore, it is less connected to the original meaning of the Greek word.

Certainty in the gospel gives confidence in Christ.

Outline for Luke: Certainty for Confidence

  1. Certainty in the Coming of Christ — Luke 1:1-4:13
    God gives His people certainty through the careful record of fulfilled promises in the coming of Christ.
    • The Prologue of Certainty — 1:4
      • The Foundation of Certainty — 1:1-2
      • The Fulfillment of Certainty — 1:3-4
    • The Promises of Certainty — 1:5-80
      • The Preparation for Certainty — 1:5–25
      • The Proclamation of Certainty — 1:26–38
      • The Praise of Certainty — 1:39–56
      • The Performance of Certainty — 1:57–80
    • The Proof of Certainty — 2:1-52
      • The Birth of Certainty — 2:1–21
      • The Blessings of Certainty — 2:22–40
      • The Boy of Certainty — 2:41–52
    • The Preaching of Certainty — 3:1–4:13
      • The Prophet of Certainty — 3:1–20
      • The Person of Certainty — 3:21–38
      • The Proof of Certainty — 4:1–13
  2. Certainty in the Compassion of Christ — Luke 4:14-9:50
    The compassion of Christ confirms the certainty of God’s kingdom for all who hear, believe, and follow Him.
    • The Authority of Compassion — 4:14–44
      • The Sermon of Compassion — 4:14–30
      • The Signs of Compassion — 4:31–44
    • The Calling of Compassion — 5:1–6:16
      • The Fishermen of Compassion — 5:1–11
      • The Forgiveness of Compassion — 5:12–26
      • The Fellowship of Compassion — 5:27–39
      • The Formation of Compassion — 6:1–16
    • The Teaching of Compassion — 6:17–49
      • The Blessings of Compassion — 6:17–26
      • The Behavior of Compassion — 6:27–38
      • The Basis of Compassion — 6:39–49
    • The Works of Compassion — 7:1–50
      • The Faith of Compassion — 7:1–10
      • The Widow and Compassion — 7:11–17
      • The Witness to Compassion — 7:18–35
      • The Woman and Compassion — 7:36–50
    • The Mission of Compassion — 8:1–56
      • The Spreading of Compassion — 8:1–21
      • The Storm and Compassion — 8:22–25
      • The Spirits and Compassion — 8:26–39
      • The Suffering and Compassion — 8:40–56
    • The Training of Compassion — 9:1–50
      • The Sending of Compassion — 9:1–9
      • The Sustenance of Compassion — 9:10–17
      • The Supremacy of Compassion — 9:18–36
      • The Struggle of Compassion — 9:37–50
  3. Certainty in the Commission of Christ — Luke 9:51-19:27
    The commission of Christ brings certainty by calling His followers to embrace the cost, mission, and values of His kingdom.
    • The Resolve of the Commission — 9:51–62
      • The Direction of the Mission — 9:51–56
      • The Demands of the Mission — 9:57–62
    • The Reach of the Commission — 10:1–42
      • The Sending of the Seventy-Two — 10:1–24
      • The Compassion of the Samaritan — 10:25–37
      • The Devotion of the Sisters — 10:38–42
    • The Requests of the Commission — 11:1–54
      • The Prayer of the Commission — 11:1–13
      • The Power of the Commission — 11:14–36
      • The Purity of the Commission — 11:37–54
    • The Readiness of the Commission — 12:1–59
      • The Warnings of Readiness — 12:1–34
      • The Watching of Readiness — 12:35–48
      • The Witness of Readiness — 12:49–59
    • The Repentance of the Commission — 13:1–35
      • The Call to Repent — 13:1–9
      • The Compassionate Healer — 13:10–21
      • The Closing of the Door — 13:22–35
    • The Requirements of the Commission — 14:1–35
      • The Humility of Discipleship — 14:1–24
      • The Cost of Discipleship — 14:25–35
    • The Realities of the Commission — 15:1–32
      • The Lost Sheep — 15:1–7
      • The Lost Coin — 15:8–10
      • The Lost Sons — 15:11–32
    • The Resources of the Commission — 16:1–31
      • The Steward’s Use of Wealth — 16:1–13
      • The Self-Righteous Reproved — 16:14–31
    • The Responsibility of the Commission — 17:1–37
      • The Duties of Disciples — 17:1–10
      • The Display of the Kingdom — 17:11–37
    • The Reward of the Commission — 18:1–19:27
      • The Persistence of Prayer — 18:1–14
      • The Promise to the Humble — 18:15–43
      • The Purpose of Salvation — 19:1–10
      • The Parable of Stewardship — 19:11–27
  4. Certainty in the Cross of Christ — Luke 19:28-23:56
    The cross of Christ gives certainty that God’s plan of salvation is fulfilled through the suffering and sacrifice of His Son.
    • The Presentation of the King — 19:28–48
      • The Coming of the King — 19:28–40
      • The Compassion of the King — 19:41–44
      • The Cleansing of the Temple — 19:45–48
    • The Preaching of the King — 20:1–21:38
      • The Authority of the King — 20:1–19
      • The Answers of the King — 20:20–47
      • The Advent of the King — 21:1–38
    • The Passover of the King — 22:1–46
      • The Plot against the King — 22:1–6
      • The Preparation for the Passover — 22:7–23
      • The Prediction of Denial — 22:24–38
      • The Prayer in the Garden — 22:39–46
    • The Passion of the King — 22:47–23:56
      • The Arrest of the King — 22:47–71
      • The Accusation of the King — 23:1–25
      • The Atonement of the King — 23:26–49
      • The Burial of the King — 23:50–56
  5. Certainty in the Conquest of Christ — Luke 24:1-53
    The resurrection and ascension of Christ give certainty that He has conquered sin and death and reigns as Lord forever.
    • The Resurrection of Christ — 24:1–12
      • The Empty Tomb — 24:1–7
      • The Eyewitness Testimony — 24:8–12
    • The Revelation of Christ — 24:13–35
      • The Road to Emmaus — 24:13–27
      • The Recognized Savior — 24:28–35
    • The Reality of Christ — 24:36–49
      • The Presence of Christ — 24:36–43
      • The Proclamation of Christ — 24:44–49
    • The Reign of Christ — 24:50–53
      • The Ascension of Christ — 24:50–51
      • The Adoration of Christ — 24:52–53

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