Luke, the Beloved Physician

By Bob Myhan

Almost universally accepted as the author of the third Gospel and the book of Acts, Luke is actually men­tioned by name only three times in the New Testament. However, we can learn a great deal about him from these few references.

He was “the be­loved physi­cian” (Col. 4: 14). The Greek word for physi­cian, “iatros,” means “healer.” It is part of several familiar Eng­lish medical terms, such as geriatrics and pediatrics. Of course, phy­sicians of the first century were not special­ists but simply “healers” (see Luke 4:23). “The words, ‘the beloved one,’ breathe with Paul’s gratitude for his services.” (Wuest’s Word Studies, Vol. 1, p. 238) It is likely that Paul re­quired the attending services of a personal physician (2 Cor. 11:24-27). His apostolic power [“the signs of an apostle” – 2 Cor. 12:12] was for the confirmation of the word (Mark 1:16-20; Heb. 2:4), and was not to be used arbitrar­ily. Otherwise, he would not have left Trophimus “in Miletus sick” (2 Tim. 4:20).

Luke was one of Paul’s “fellow work­ers” (Philemon 24), which is an indica­tion that, to an extent, Luke was involved in spiritual labor, as well as the practice of medicine. When a Christian’s occupation be­comes so demanding, so time consuming, and so important that he does not have the energy, time or inclination to be spiritually active, he needs to be reminded of the Lord’s words, “Do not labor for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him” (John 6:27), and “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33).

Of all Paul’s fellow workers, “only Luke” was with him at Rome during his final days (2 Tim. 4:6-11). Not only had Luke ac­companied Paul on much of the sec­ond and third preaching trips (Acts 16:8-12; 20:1-17; 21:1-17) and on his voyage to Rome (Acts 27:1; 28:16), he also stayed in Rome during much of Paul’s first imprison­ment there, which lasted “two whole years” (Acts 28:30-31).

The beloved physician was obviously one who could be counted on. What a contrast to Demas, who forsook Paul, “having loved this present world” (2 Tim. 4:10). Can you be counted on like Luke, or will you prove to be more like Demas? &

Preaching Jesus

By David A. Cox

There are many people in the reli­gious world today that say "We need to just preach Jesus, and forget about the church and the plan of salvation." Their thoughts are that preaching Jesus should be "about the man and the plan." It is agreed that we must be preaching the good news of Jesus Christ and the world of His saving grace for that is God's plan for saving man (1 Corin­thians 1:18; Romans 1:16). Our emphasis in preaching and teaching must be the same emphasis as in the first century or else we will cease the practice of New Tes­tament Christianity. All we need to do is to go to the Bible and read what kind of preaching was done under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

The Day of Pentecost

The first example of preaching is seen in Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost. In Acts 2, we have Jews gathered from every nation at Jerusalem to keep the feast of Pentecost (Acts 2:5). Peter preached to them about Jesus Christ and who he was (Acts 2:14-36). After the conclusion of Pe­ter's sermon, those that heard were pained immensely for their sins and asked, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Peter told them to "repent, and be baptized every one of you … for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:37-38). Peter was preaching Jesus. If preaching Jesus did not include re­pentance and baptism, then Peter would not have preached it. But preach­ing Jesus did in­clude these commands. Jesus taught the ne­cessity of these commands. "I tell you Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all like­wise perish" (Luke 13:3). The command Jesus gave just before He ascended to heaven. "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believ­eth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:15-16). As a result Peter preached Jesus and included these commands that Jesus taught that were necessary for the forgiveness of sin. As a result of Peter preaching Jesus, we read, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:41).

The Preaching To the Samaritans

Another example is in Acts 8. After the persecution arose against the church the Chris­tians "were all scattered abroad throughout the regions... they that were scattered abroad went every where preach­ing the word" (Acts 8:1, 4). In verse 5, we are told that Philip "went to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them" (Acts 8:5). Philip was preaching Christ and confirming the word he preached by performing miracles. "When they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized" (Acts 8:12). Even a man that had used sorcery and be­witched the people of Samaria believed and was baptized (Acts 8:13). Here in the city of Samaria, Philip preached Christ or Jesus. Af­ter believing what Philip was preaching was the truth from God they were baptized.

The Ethiopian Eunuch

After the conversion in Samaria, Philip came into contact with a man, the Ethiopian treasurer, on the road to Gaza. This man had been to Jerusalem to worship Cod. He had travelled many miles and was reading from the prophet Isaiah while returning home. The prophecy which he was reading was about Christ, but he did not understand of whom Isaiah was speaking and he in­quired of Philip to see if could give him an answer. "Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus" (Acts 8:35). Here again we have Philip preaching Jesus. As they went along the road they came upon some water and the Ethiopian said, "See, here is water what doth hinder me to be baptized?" As a result of Philip preaching Jesus, the Ethio­pian learned of his need to obey the com­mands of the Lord and desired to be bap­tized.

The Corinthians

Another example of one preaching Jesus is Paul. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, "And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him cru­cified" (1 Corinthians 2:1-2). Paul was de­scribing the time when he first came to Cor­inth and preached "Jesus Christ and Him crucified." In Acts 18, we have re­corded the time that Paul is referring to in First Corin­thians. We are told that Paul reasoned with the Jews and the Greeks in the synagogue testifying to them that Jesus was the Christ. In verse 8 we read, "And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Co­rinthians hearing believed, and were bap­tized" (Acts 18:8). Re­member Paul said that his only concern when he came to Cor­inth was to preach Christ and Him crucified. Paul did just that, he preached Jesus and those convicted of the message obeyed the commands of the Lord.

Application

These examples of preaching Jesus show that to preach Jesus means to preach Him completely. If one were to teach you about Abraham Lincoln, what would one need to teach you about him? If you are going to know Abraham Lincoln it would be neces­sary to talk about him. Not just his death, but his birth, what he did, what he accom­plished and what he stood for. That is ex­actly what those in the first century did when they preached Jesus. Their preaching involved everything about Jesus, His love, His compassion, His righteousness, His judgment, His birth, His death, His resur­rection, His church and His plan to save man. As Peter, Philip and Paul preached Jesus they did not stop short of telling men completely about Jesus. They were not ugly or hateful, but told men because of their love for their souls.

Today, we need to be sure we are preach­ing Jesus. Making him the focus of the mes­sage because that is exactly what we see they did in the first century. The preaching of Jesus then pricked the hearts of men and they responded overwhelmingly to obey. (Acts 2, 8, 18) & (Gospel Power; Volume XV, No. 1)