Studies in the Gospels: Luke the Gospel for the Greeks [pp. 448-475]

1875.] STUDIES IN THE GOSPELS. 449
by the Grace of God manifested in the new religion. But
these classes, for which the Gospels were originally prepared,
were representative classes. Human nature, in all ages, is essentially made up of these same four tendencies or temperaments. The Four Gospels, in their differences and contrasts,
are therefore still suited to meet the four-fold need of the individual and of the race, and so to be a Gospel for the whole
wofid to the end of time.
In the two articles mentioned above, the attempt was made
to show that the early traditions of the Church, the entire
structure of the Gospels, according to Matthew and Mark, and
especially their respective peculiarities, are satisfactorily explained and accounted for only on the hypothesis just stated;
in the present article a like work is attempted for the Gospel
according to Luke.
In relation to the third Gospel, the proposed explanation is
as yet mere hypothesis; and it is therefore necessary to begin
with the fundamental question: For whom was the Gospel according to Luke written?
Manifestly, this gospel was immediately addressed to the
same Theophilus (Luke i: 3) to whom the Acts of the Apostles
was addressed (Acts i: i). The name is, of course, Greek. Who
he was can only be conjectured. Some have supposed, from
the meaning of Theophilus (lover of Cod), that it was used not
to represent any particular individual, but Christians in general;
others, that he was probably some honored Greek with whom
the Evangelist had been, at some time, intimately associated;
while most have agreed that he was only the representative of
a large class to whom the Gospel had been preached, and with
whom Luke, under the influence of the Holy Ghost, desired to
leave it as a permanent treasure.
But, although addressed immediately to Theophilus, the
most general and trustworthy tradition makes sufficiently clear
the fact, that Luke wrote this Gospel for the Greek race-one of
the three great representative races of which, in his age, the
civilized world was made up.
Our first witness to the fact is Jren~us, who flourished in
the second century, and was, in his day, the most celebrated
teacher in that School of Church teachers in Asia Minor, which
may be traced back to the labors of the Apostle John, and