Most of my small library consists of books related to Biblical study. I recently purchased this small (129 pages) used book with the intent of putting it with the other reference books. But I have decided to summarize it for you. Once I started reading I could not put it down.

An introduction to Dr. Gonzalez, taken from the Wesley Theological Seminary. Dr. Justo L. González was born and raised in Cuba where he did his first university and seminary studies.  In 1961 he became the youngest person to be awarded a Ph. D. in historical theology at Yale University.  He is an ordained Minister of Word and Sacraments by the Methodist Church. For thirty years he taught in a variety of theological institutions. Justo has written over one hundred books. I will add that his wife, Catherine, is an ordained Presbyterian minister.

I assumed the book was a commentary on the Gospel of Luke, but it is a description of the essential elements of both GLuke and Acts. In eight chapters Gonzalez describes Luke’s belief system regarding humanity, Israel, great reversal (servant king, etc.), gender, salvation, drink (and food), worship, and the Holy Spirit.

Luke focused on women, starting with Mary and the birth story and ending with the women who went to the tomb. Matthew and Mark never call Jesus Savior and GJohn uses the address only once. Luke has Jesus eating and drinking more than the other three combined. Luke includes many acts of worship, including the detail that his family attended Passover every year. Luke also includes 76 references to the Holy Spirit in his two-volume account of Jesus and the early church.

Nearly every page gave me a new look at Luke and a greater respect for his gift to all of us. While much of his writing is available in Spanish only, there is plenty left for we anglos to read.

Mike Lawrence