Knowing with Certainty

Welcome.  

I have recently started a study of the Gospel of Luke.  I have studied Luke before, but now I am trying to dig deeper to see what more I can learn.  I am translating from the Greek, using Alan Thompson's Exegetical Guide to the Greek: Luke and Darrell Bock's commentary on Luke, which is widely considered to the best commentary available. In this blog, I want to share with you some of what I am learning from Luke. 

Here is my translation of Luke 1:1-3:

1 Since many have attempted to put together an organized account concerning the events that have been fulfilled, 2 just as it has been handed down to us from those who were eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the very beginning, 3 it seemed to me, that I should carefully investigate everything from the beginning and write an orderly account of it, for you, most excellent Theophilus. 4 so that you may know with certainty the things you have been taught. 

Here we go. Luke tells us in 1:1 that many had attempted to put together an account of the events that have been fulfilled in their lifetimes.  Stories were handed down from eyewitnesses and those who served in that mininstry from the beginning (verse 2).  Undoubtedly there were many stories being told about Jesus.  How could one differentiate between what was true and what was some fanciful story about Jesus that had just been made up? 

From what I have read, most historians date the writing of Luke somewhere between 70 and 90 AD. Also, most historians also believe that the Gospel of Mark had already been written. Other written accounts existed as well. Luke, then, conducts an investigation to learn what is true and what is false.  Luke uses the phrase Παρηκολουθηκότι, (parakolouthakoti) which means 'follow closely.' Darrell Bock tells us that are several possible meanings for this word. The context would indicate that the best word to use here is 'investigate.' The next Greek words are ᾃνωθεν (anothen), which means "from the beginning', and πᾶσιν (pasin) which means 'all things.'  ἀκριβῶς (akribos) which means 'carefully,' and καθεξῆς (kathexas) which means 'in order' or 'in sequence."  When we put that all together we can see that Luke conducted an orderly and thorough investigation into all of the stories circulating about Jesus and then wrote them up in an orderly account. 

Awesome.  Then he tells us why.  Luke is writing to someone named Theophilus, which happens to mean 'friend of God.'  It is not known with certainty who Theophilus was.  Luke tells Theophilus in verse 4 that he has conducted this thorough investigation so that he can know with certainty ,ἀσφάλειαν, (asphaleian) the things he had been taught about Jesus.  Bock talks about that word ἀσφάλειαν. He asks  “Does it vouch for the message’s 1) correctness or 2) reliability, or 3) is it giving assurance to the reader?” (Bock, 64). I would say ‘yes’, to all of these.  

OK. So what?  I think that Luke's investigation has meaning for more than just Theophilus.  Luke took the time and put forth the effort in a way that benefits all of us.  We, too, can know with certainty the truth of what we have been taught about Jesus. 

Tom

     Bock, Darrell L. Luke. Vol. 1 1:1-9:50. Grand Rapids, Mich. Baker Academic, 2008.