1 (a) Explain the arguments surrounding the dating of Luke’s Gospel. There has been arguments predicting the date of Luke's gospel and the possible dates are the AD60’s, AD80’s (middle late first century), AD180’s (late second century). The argument for the dating to be the AD60’s is that the book of acts had to have been written before AD62 as the book suddenly ends with the imprisonment of the apostle Paul. The book of acts ended with Paul’s imprisonment which was unexpected as it did not include any of the other important events that happened after the imprisonment took place for example: James martyrdom the brother of Jesus and the leader of Jerusalem which happened in AD62, also Paul’s martyrdom and the persecution of emperor Nero etc. Another example of evidence that Luke’s gospel was written before AD62 is that there is no mention of the fall of Jerusalem in the book of acts which happened in the AD70’s this was quite a big event that took place and was still not mentioned. The book of acts only seems to focus on the events that were relevant before the fall of Jerusalem. If the book of acts was written before AD62 then the gospel of Luke was written a short time before this. Luke’s purpose was to present the progression of the gospel from Jerusalem and Rome. Another possible date that is argued is the AD80’s as Luke’s knowledge of the great fall of Jerusalem as an event of the past is more apparent compared to Matthew and mark. Luke depended on marks gospel which is usually dated in the late AD70’s and the early AD80’s, but however the timing of mark and Luke’s use of it would have to require a date for Luke in the AD80’s. Luke refers to previous events or accounts he has investigated before composing them on his own behalf; this would therefore suggest a later rather than earlier date for Luke. In the book of acts Paul is made out to be an heroic and idealised figure in the time of the early church, for someone who was portrayed to be quite a controversial person who was not one of the twelve apostles must have had some time to develop and prove themselves to come across as heroic or idealised person of the church. The last argument was that the gospel of Luke was written in the AD180’s there is evidence that Luke used Josephus `Antiquities of the Jews’ which was written around AD94 where it has been argued there for it could not have been written in the AD80’s or the AD60’s. This means that is Josephus wrote this around AD94 that means Luke would have had the access to this around the early second century. There is no clear evidence showing that Luke depended on Josephus as there are significant differences where they overlap with each other. In the book of acts there are similarities between the mid second century of Justin martyr; however the supposed similarities can be better explained by Luke’s influence on Justin. The second-century heretic Marcion round about AD140 used an early addition of Luke’s gospel which was later expanded to make the Luke’s gospel that we have today, however it is more likely that Marcion altered the gospel of Luke that we have today for his purpose. A second century date for Luke’s gospel seems also unlikely because of Luke’s evident ignorance of Paul’s letters. So there are three possible dating's that have been argued but scholars have said that the arguments for the middle dating seem more persuasive and think that the gospel of Luke was written in the AD80’s. (637words)

1 (b) Explore the view that Luke’s only purpose was to write an historical account of the life
Of Jesus. Justify your answer.
It was Luke’s main purpose to write an historical account of the life of Jesus but however it was not the only purpose for example he also wanted to write a theological, geographical account of the life of Jesus as well as an historical account. we know this as theology means the study of god which is exactly what Luke did also Luke has stressed particularly on `gods purpose’ and the plan of god being central to himself more so than any of the other first three Gospels which describe events in Christ's life from a similar point of view. Also the story of Jesus is shown to be deep within the story of Israel and both are presented as the outworking of the one purpose of God. Luke’s purpose also to write on a geographical account is evident as he shows special emphasis to Jerusalem for example Luke the only one of the evangelists to begin and end his own account within Jerusalem. Another example of Luke’s special emphasis on Jerusalem is that the one journey that Jesus makes to Jerusalem in mark has a lot more detail and is focused more within Luke. Also Jerusalem is an important written account linked which bind the last chapter of Luke’s Gospel and the first chapter of acts. So even though there are other purposes which Luke has written on different accounts of the life of Jesus and historical account seems to be more of an important purpose to Luke as , Luke is concerned about the presentation of story of Jesus within the context of contemporary and world history. For example; in the opening chapters of his book Luke relates his account to the historical context three times also Luke makes links referring to roman history in references Augustus and Tiberius. there is more evidence showing that Luke wanted to write on behalf of an historical account and even though there was evidence he had also written on a theological and geographical account as it was also his purpose to have these accounts while writing about the life of Jesus but coming across as an historical account was his main priority that he succeeded in. (390 words)