Who was Luke in the bible?
Luke (Greek Loukas, contracted from Latin Lucanus) appears in Paul’s greetings as “the beloved physician” and a “fellow worker,” and is named in Colossians, 2 Timothy, and Philemon.
With Paul
During a difficult time, Paul wrote, “Only Luke is with me” (2 Timothy 4:11). In greetings to others, “Luke... and Demas greet you” (Colossians 4:14).
Learn More →Named in Greetings
Luke is listed among those sending greetings: “as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke” (Philemon 1:24). Paul also wrote, “All the saints greet you” (2 Corinthians 13:13).
Learn More →Luke (Greek ) is a man named (Loukas), a name understood to be a contracted form from the Latin Lucanus. In the New Testament letters cited here, he appears among those who send greetings and is identified as “the beloved physician” and as a “fellow worker.”
Luke in Scripture
Luke is mentioned explicitly in three letters, and he is also included in a closing scene of communal greeting. In Paul’s closing words to the Corinthians, Luke is not singled out by name, but he stands within the wider circle of believers whose greetings are conveyed to the recipients. The setting is a concluding exhortation and benediction. Paul writes of his purpose for writing and the tone he intends to use when present, “according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for tearing down” (2 Corinthians 13:10). He then urges unity and peace before the final greetings are delivered.
“Finally, brothers, rejoice! Be perfected. Be comforted. Be of the same mind. Live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.” (2 Corinthians 13:11)
“All the saints greet you.” (2 Corinthians 13:13)
Within this chapter’s closing movement—calls to rejoice, to be “of the same mind,” and to “live in peace”—the greeting “All the saints greet you” situates Luke (as a known individual elsewhere in Paul’s circle) among the gathered “saints” whose fellowship is expressed to the church.
Luke is named directly in Colossians, in a section where Paul relays greetings and describes various people connected with his ministry. Paul has just identified a set of workers “of the circumcision” as “my only fellow workers for God’s Kingdom who are of the circumcision, men who have been a comfort to me” (Colossians 4:11). He then conveys the greeting of Epaphras, describing his prayerful labor: “always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (Colossians 4:12), and testifying to his “great zeal” for multiple communities (Colossians 4:13). In that same flow of greetings and pastoral instructions, Luke is introduced with a distinctive description.
“Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.” (Colossians 4:14)
This brief line provides Luke’s most specific identification in the passages given: he is “the beloved physician.” He appears alongside Demas as one who is actively sending greetings to the Colossian believers. The surrounding sentences continue with instructions to greet believers in Laodicea and a household assembly (Colossians 4:15), to circulate the letter (Colossians 4:16), and to exhort Archippus to fulfill his ministry (Colossians 4:17). The chapter closes with Paul’s personal signature note: “The salutation of me, Paul, with my own hand: remember my bonds” (Colossians 4:18). Luke is therefore presented within a concrete epistolary scene of greetings, inter-church communication, and reminders of Paul’s imprisonment.
In 2 Timothy, Luke is mentioned in a more urgent, personal context. The chapter section provided opens with Paul’s reflection on what is “stored up” for him and extends to his request that Timothy come quickly (2 Timothy 4:8–9). Paul describes a scattering of associates: “Demas left me, having loved this present world,” while others have gone to various places, and Tychicus has been sent to Ephesus (2 Timothy 4:10, 12). In that moment of isolation, Luke is identified as Paul’s lone companion.
“Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.” (2 Timothy 4:11)
The narrative movement here is tightly framed: others have departed or been dispatched, and Paul asks for practical items (“Bring the cloak… and the books, especially the parchments,” 2 Timothy 4:13) while also warning about opposition (“Alexander, the coppersmith, did much evil to me,” 2 Timothy 4:14). Paul recalls that at a prior defense “no one came to help me, but all left me” (2 Timothy 4:16), yet also testifies, “the Lord stood by me and strengthened me” so that “the message might be fully proclaimed” (2 Timothy 4:17). Luke’s presence—“Only Luke is with me”—is thus set within a scene of abandonment by many, continued mission, and reliance on the Lord’s strengthening.
Luke appears again at the close of Philemon, among a group of named associates who send greetings. The immediate context is Paul’s confident appeal and his hope of visiting: “prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you” (Philemon 1:22). Greetings then follow from others, including “Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus” (Philemon 1:23). Luke is listed as part of a team explicitly described in terms of shared labor.
“Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,” (Philemon 1:23)
“as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.” (Philemon 1:24)
Here Luke is not only a greeter but also one of Paul’s “fellow workers,” named alongside Mark, Aristarchus, and Demas. The letter then closes with a benediction: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.” (Philemon 1:25). Across these passages, Luke is consistently placed within a circle of coworkers and companions who participate in ministry through presence and support and through sending greetings to churches and individuals.
Name and Meaning
Luke’s name is written in Greek as ( ), transliterated Loukas and pronounced “loo-kas’.” The name is explained as a contracted form derived from the Latin Lucanus.
Brief observation
In the evidence given, Luke is remembered in especially personal terms: he is “the beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14) and, in a moment when many have left, the one of whom Paul can say, “Only Luke is with me” (2 Timothy 4:11).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Luke mean?
Luke is a Greek form contracted from the Latin name Lucanus, and it is glossed as “Luke.”
How many times does Luke appear in the Bible?
Luke appears 4 times.
Who was Luke?
Luke is named as “the beloved physician” in Colossians 4:14 and is also called a “fellow worker” in Philemon 1:24.
What is one moment where Luke is specifically mentioned?
In 2 Timothy 4:11, it says, “Only Luke is with me.”
Explore Further
If you found this page about Luke interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.
Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).
