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judgment in the various volumes written on the question of Textual Criticism, and of Mark 16, in particular those
of Scrivener, Dean Burgon, Hammond and Gaussen may be cited as authors to be consulted early in the enquiry.
For our own part we are satisfied with the evidence at hand (whether these last twelve verses be the work of Mark
himself, or added by another) that they form a part of those canonical Scriptures given by inspiration of God which
we ignore at our peril.
LUKE'S GOSPEL SETS FORTH CHRIST AS "THE MAN".
According to Eusebius and Jerome, Luke was born at Antioch, in Syria. He is reckoned among the
uncircumcision by Paul (Col. 4), and was by profession a "physician" (Col. 4:14). Tradition also has it that Luke
was a painter of no mean skill. A fellow-labourer of Paul, he joined the apostle at Troas and accompanied him to
Macedonia as far as Philippi (Acts 16:7-12), where he apparently left him for a time. Van Doren says of Luke's
gospel "we are plainly not listening to the Galilean fishermen, but to the educated citizen of Antioch, well versed in
the literary language of empire".
"Origen, Eusebius and Jerome understand the expression "my gospel" is used in Romans 2:16 of the Gospel of
Luke. But the language of Luke's preface forbids the notion of any exclusive influence of Paul" (Van Doren).
The truth concerning this expression lies midway, though Paul did not come into contact with Christ during His
earthly ministry, the peculiar Gentile trend of Luke's Gospel would provide a complete background for the gospel
preached by the apostle of the Gentiles.
The outline suggested by Dr. Campbell Morgan for Luke's Gospel is an adaption of the words found in Luke
13:32. Omitting lesser subdivisions, here it is in substance:
Luke's Gospel. The Man.
PERFECT
A 1:1 to 3:38.
1:1-4
Prologue.
(1)
1:5 to 2:39 Being and Birth.
(2)
2:40-52
Childhood and Confirmation.
(3)
3:1-38
Development and Anointing.
PERFECTED
B 4:1 to 9:36.
(1)
4:1-14
Temptation.
(2)
4:15 to 9:27
Teaching.
(3)
9:28-36
Transfiguration.
PERFECTING
C 9:37 to 24:53.
9:37-50
Prelude.
(1)
9:51 to 18:30
Purpose and Preparation.
(2)
18:31 to 24:12 Approach and Accomplishment.
(3)
24:13-53 Administration.
Of the four Gospels Luke's is the one that is associated with the gospel as preached by Paul, not merely
because Luke was a fellow-worker with the apostle, but because he so evidently wrote with the Gentile convert in
mind.