March 19, 2025

Luke's Gospel and the Defense of Paul's Apostleship

Luke's writings, particularly his Gospel and the Book of Acts, play a crucial role in defending the apostleship of Paul. Irenaeus highlights this in his arguments against those who questioned Paul's legitimacy. By accepting the Gospel of Luke, one must also accept Luke's account of Paul's divine calling and ministry.

Luke's Testimony to Paul

Irenaeus argues that those who reject Paul as an apostle must also reject portions of the Gospel of Luke. He poses a challenge: "that they should either reject the other words of the Gospel which we have come to know through Luke alone, and not make use of them; or else, if they do receive all these, they must necessarily admit also that testimony concerning Paul" (Source: Document: 1739749258570-eotm94-anf01.txt).

Luke's account includes the Lord's direct communication with Paul on the road to Damascus: "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? I am Jesus Christ, whom thou persecutest" (Source: Document: 1739749258570-eotm94-anf01.txt). Furthermore, Luke records the Lord's instructions to Ananias regarding Paul: "Go thy way; for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name among the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him, from this time, how great things he must suffer for My name's sake" (Source: Document: 1739749258570-eotm94-anf01.txt).

The Consequences of Rejecting Paul

According to Irenaeus, rejecting Paul is tantamount to despising God's election: "Those, therefore, who do not accept of him [as a teacher], who was chosen by God for this purpose...do despise the election of God, and separate themselves from the company of the apostles" (Source: Document: 1739749258570-eotm94-anf01.txt).

Furthermore, questioning Paul's apostleship implies that Luke is guilty of falsehood, which Irenaeus refutes by asserting that Luke "proclaims the truth to us with all diligence" (Source: Document: 1739749258570-eotm94-anf01.txt). Luke's writings are presented as a unified and trustworthy account of the acts and doctrines of the apostles.

The Importance of Luke's Gospel

Irenaeus suggests that God purposefully revealed many Gospel truths through Luke so that people would recognize the subsequent testimony about the apostles, including Paul. He says that "God set forth very many Gospel truths, through Luke's instrumentality, which all should esteem it necessary to use, in order that all persons, following his subsequent testimony...may be saved" (Source: Document: 1739749258570-eotm94-anf01.txt).

Luke's Gospel and Acts provide an "unadulterated rule of truth" (Source: Document: 1739749258570-eotm94-anf01.txt). The doctrines taught by the apostles were consistent and public, not secretive or contradictory. This contrasts with the methods of false teachers, like those of Valentinus, who taught different doctrines to different groups of people.

In conclusion, Irenaeus leverages the widespread acceptance of Luke's Gospel to defend Paul's apostleship. By highlighting Luke's account of Paul's conversion and commissioning, Irenaeus challenges those who would reject Paul's authority, arguing that to do so is to reject the truthfulness of Scripture itself.