The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1940-10-03

to write that thou highest know
the certainty of those things. wherein thou
hast been instructed.-Luke 1;3, 4.
Reading book is a privilege and
should be an illuminating and stir
ring experience. What a pity that
so few read good books in our day!
To study a book is far more fruit
full and interesting experience. Few
are the books worthy of prolonged
and repeated study. Therein do we
find one of the great differences be-
tween books of men and Gods Book
the Bible. Again and again we
turn to its pages and find it's truth
inexhaustible, ever interesting, in
forming, and soul-stirring in its
beauty and power.
In reading any book, we want to
know who wrote it, what kind of a
man he was, why he wrote, what he
wrote about, and what kind of a
book he wrote We recognize that
the Holy Spirit is the real author of
the Word (II Tim. 3:16; II Pet.
12D, but He chose and used human
writer's. AS we begin a six-month
study of the Gospel according to
Luke, we properly ask about both
the author and his writing.
l. The Writer-Luke.
Our information regarding Luke is
found in the New Testament, in the
Introductory words of the books he
wrote duke and Acts) and in the
writings of his friend and CO.
worker, Paul. There we learn of his
1, Nationality and Religion. His
name, Luke" is contraction of
the Greek name "Loukios" and,
since we know from Colossians I'LL
and IA that he was not "of the cir
cumcision," we know he was a Gen
tile and evidently Greek. When,
where and by whom he was won to
Christ, we do not know. We do
know that this intelligent Greek,
versed in all the philosophers of the
perfection of personality, found in
Christ the fulfllment of all his de-
sires and dreams.
2. Professional Physician (Col. 4:
IA. See also medical terms in all
his writings). Luke wrote scholarly
Greek; he was familiar with the life
of sailor (Acts 30; he joined with
his scientific accuracy an esthetic
culture often revealed in his writ
ings.
3. His Friends. A mans friends
indicate his character Luke had
a close friend and possibly a patron,
chs excellency" Theophilus (Acts
IL; Luke 1:3), evidently a man of
standing and ability. He was also a
close friend and fellow laborer with
perhaps the greatest man of all
time, Paul the apostle.
4. His Activities. Fellow mission
airy with Paul (Acts 1911; 20:5, 6,
and elseWhere), physician, preacher
of the gospel, and author.
II. The Book-the Gospel by Luke.
To have written book may be a
doubtful distinction, but to have
been used of the Holy Spirit to write
such book as this Gospel-what an
honor and privilege! Following DR..
G. Campbell Morgan, we note:
/. Its Subject. "The Word" duke
1:2). He wrote about the perfect
personality of Jesus Christ, but he,
like John John 1:14, recognized
that it was the divine and eternal
Word which became flesh in the per-
feet humanity of Jesus Christ.
2. It's Sources. He doubtless read
what many had written duke I'D.
He also talked with "eyewitnesses"
duke 1:2) and ministers of the
word who had known the Lord.
His sources were excellent and I'M
impeachable.
3. It's Method He traced the
course" (for so does the R. V. prop
erly translate Luke :3) of the ma
terial he gathered; that is, he did
original research and investigation,
always under the control and guild
ance of the Holy Spirit. This result
ed in a placing of all things "in or
der" After gathering, sitting, in
vestigating, the Holy Spirit saw that
Luke put all things in proper order
(see l Cor. 1888, 40).
4. Its Purpose. Luke wanted The
ophilus (and others who read his
Gospel to know with certainty"
duke 1:4) those things in which he
was already instructed by word of
mouth. Important matters must al
ways be written down, carefully and
in order. To pass things on by word
of mouth inevitably results in
change, conscious or unconscious.
So desperately vital a matter as
our eternal salvation calls for writ
ings, exact and complete. Luke,
who had a knowledge Of all these
things, was moved by the Holy
Spirit to write, and thus we have
this glorious Gospel which we are
to study from now until the end Of
March, 1941.
A closing word. A 12-page book
let, Can America Be Saved? by the
writer of these notes, will be sent
free on request. Use the address
above. A post card will do, but if
convenient, enclose postage. Your
comments or suggestions regarding
the lessons will also be appreciated
-f-
The United States paraded hundred.