This new Pillar commentary devotes attention throughout to the
vocabulary, historical background, special themes, and narrative purpose
that make the book of Luke unique among the four Gospels.
Though the Gentile focus of Luke is often held to be primary, James
Edwards counterbalances that by citing numerous evidences of Luke's
overarching interest in depicting Jesus as the fulfillment of the
providential work of God in the history of Israel, and he considers the
possibility that Luke himself was a Jew. Edwards also draws out other
important thematic issues in excursuses scattered throughout the
commentary, including discussion of Luke's infancy narrative, the
mission of Jesus as the way of salvation, and Luke's depiction of the
universal scope of the gospel.
This readable, relevant commentary attends to the linguistic,
historical, literary, and theological elements of Luke that are
essential to its meaning and considers Luke's significance for the
church and the life of faith today.