Are You Certain About Your Faith?

Introduction

1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

As we start Luke's gospel we see see his clear purpose.  He acknowledges others who have written gospels about Jesus by he wants to write and orderly account based on the eyewitnesses.  Luke's gospel is usually thought to have been written between 60-70 A.D., about the same time period as Matthew's gospel. Both Matthew and Luke took a lot of their material from Mark and then had unique material of their own.  We see the key distinctive of Luke's gospel write off the bat.  Luke says, 

"Since I myself have investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught."  

We know from other passages that Luke was a physician, so he had an eye for details.  But the important part of his introduction is when he says, "So you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught."  We call this "faith seeking understanding".  Theophilus had faith.  He had been taught the basics of the faith.  Now he needed more confidence and certainty, so Luke writes story solidify his faith in Christ.  

By this introduction we can conclude that Luke's gospel is historical in nature.  The story of Jesus' life, death and resurrection is not just a sweet bedtime story.  It is a factual story that happened in history over 2,000 years ago.  Either it is true or not true.  The one thing you cannot say is that it is partly true.  History either happened or not.  Either JFK was shot or not.  So though Luke's gospel borrows material from other writers and eyewitnesses, he also has his own particular interest and purpose. 

The internal evidence in the bible suggests that Luke was a Gentile.  We also know that he was present with Paul on his missionary journeys.  That is why he says "we" in his gospel at times. Paul's mission, after he was rejected by the Jews, was to be the apostle to the Gentiles.  Luke also wrote the book of Acts. If you read chapter 1, you will see the same prologue as in the first verses above. 

As we continue through our journey the New Testament with this third gospel, may we also grow in the certainty of the things we have been taught. When we grow in the certainty of our beliefs, we are a more confidence a witness to others of the Good News about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.