Back to Today
Luke 9:23
He said to all, "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
Permalink Verse page
Interpretation

Jesus teaches a deny self that is embodied in family life. Luke 9:23: trace "said" and "anyone". Choose deny self in promises we keep—anchor courage in promise.

Context

Luke speaks here as gospel narrative writing, naming deny self. Placed in ch. 9, the nearby lines set its tone. The nearby sentences supply the texture.

Authorship & Historical Background

Long‑standing tradition credits Luke to Luke the physician (companion of Paul). Luke is frequently described this way: Anonymous; author also wrote Acts; polished Greek historian‑theologian.. Scholars commonly date Luke AD 80–90. Recipients in mind: Broader Greco‑Roman audience.. A careful narrative for a wide audience. A careful historian-theologian frames a universal horizon.

More details
Traditional:Luke the physician (companion of Paul)
Modern scholarship:Anonymous; author also wrote Acts; polished Greek historian‑theologian.
Date:AD 80–90
Audience:Broader Greco‑Roman audience.
Manuscripts & Textual Witnesses
The Greek text is preserved in thousands of manuscripts. Early papyri (P46, P66, P75) from the 2nd-3rd centuries, along with major uncials like Sinaiticus and Vaticanus (4th century), provide strong textual witness. Minor variants exist but do not affect the core meaning.
Sources & witness notes
SinaiticusVaticanusP46