The letter of Julle to the readers of the Luke (NIV)

Luke: Are his writings in the New Testament didactical or historical?                                                                                        

Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about Bruce, Menzie and Stronstad we share, I felt I had to write and urge to contend for the unity that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord  Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you. My brothers, some of the books have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Luke”, still another “I follow my Ratio.”

It is actually reported that there is confusion among you if the texts of Luke are useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

I give you this charge: Preach the word, like the texts of Luke are describing. And what more shall I say? I do not have room to tell you about John the Baptist, Peter the Denialer, Philip the Flyer, Stephen the Martyr or the cloud of witnesses, who through being filled with the Spirit conquered the kingdoms, administered gospel, and gained what was promised; Who shut the mouths of the possessed, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness turn to was turned to strengh. Men received back their dead, raised to life again.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us in the writings of Luke. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith as well as the writings of Luke through the same Spirit He promised.

Luke told you was what was written: Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. It happened. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In Jesus name they drive out the demons; they speak in tongues; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well. All that happened, as your Brother Mark told it will, in his writings.

Now about spiritual gifts brothers. There are several kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one is given the faith by the same spirit, to another miraculous power, to still another the speaking in different kind of tongues, as Brother Paul taught.

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially gift of prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in number too, like Luke constantly sums up for you.

What, after all is Paul? And what is Luke? Only writers, through whom you came to know the Spirit –as the Lord has assigned to each his task. Do not you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? Be holy for the Spirit is holy in you! You are sanctified and accepted as the temple of the Holy Spirit and of self-discipline to prepare God’s people for works of service, like Luke emphases, so that the body of Christ may be built up. Pray and you can filled with the Holy Spirit and speak the word of God boldly, like the united congregation at the beginning in Luke’s writing.

Now to another matter you were confused: it is good for man not to worry, for there is no distinction in the Lord for thoughts of Paul and Luke. There was no distinction between them when they concluded that God had called them to preach the gospel to gentiles (Acts 16:10), or when they were breaking of bread (Acts 20:7), or baptized gentiles with the water (Acts 16.15).

What comes to their pneumatology, we know that we all possess the knowledge. The man who speaks in tongues is known by Spirit. But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to models of latter Christianity that they think speaking in tongues as having been model only for the early Christianity. But tongues do not bring us near to God; we are not be the content of the Holy Scriptures of Luke as equal of Paul. Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authoritative writing among men: whether to the historical narrative, as the didactic epistles. For it is God’s will that by doing that you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.

For the contemporary non-pentecostals scholars I say: You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears. You are not like your fathers: you nowadays resist the Holy Spirit. And now you have silenced and extinguished Him. When you hear this, do not get furious and gnash your teeth at me, instead repent and be baptized in the Spirit.

You then, my brothers, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have read me write in the presence of my fellow students entrust to the reliable lecturer who also is qualified to teach others. Remind the people to be subject to writers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is from the Spirit.

May the God of peace equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us through his Spirit what is pleasing to him. Amen.

Grace be with you all.