Luke 1:1-4

Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, ² just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, ³ it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, ⁴ that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

Commentary

To begin Luke opens his Gospel with a brief explanation as to why he has written it, and that is to clarify all of the accounts of the Lord Jesus Christ’s Life, Death, and Resurrection. Thus, to present an orderly account (i.e. a narrative, gr. epeidēper, which means a complete or full narrative) of all the events that the Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled in accord with the Word of God. Now in this Luke has the first-hand accounts from the those who were eye witnesses and ministers of the Word delivered to them by Him for us all, (thus Luke has His Word from the Apostles, and then the testimony of the ,early disciples of Jesus including the Apostle Paul whom he was ministering the Gospel with) and thus Luke having access to these can say he has perfect understanding of all things from the very first. Now in wanting to bring forth an accurate account of the Lord Jesus Christ’s Life, Death, and Resurrection for his friend Theophilus, Luke say’s his Gospel is given so, “that you may that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.” Luke then in writing his Gospel wants to remove any doubts and fill in any gaps in the Gospel Narrative that Theophilus has, so as to assure Theophilus of all the things that he has been instructed in. Could Luke have known that when he began this good work that it would not only strengthen Theophilus’ faith, but many generations of believers after him? Now Luke may not have known, but the Lord knew, and through Luke by the Holy Spirit brought forth a written Gospel account that not only builds and strengthens people’s faith in Him, but also filled in some aspects of the three other Gospel accounts, so as to tie together and unify them all, so as to reveal the Lord Jesus Christ to us all, through them all. 

Scripture Quotations 

The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.