Prologue to the Gospel
See the "Overview of the Book of Luke" below. Dr. Luke wrote the opening paragraph in a classical style of Greek. %%SBPapyrus3.jpg%%Papyrus 3 on Luke%% It is the kind of introduction one would expect in a literary book written for a wide circulation. Luke addressed Theophilus as though he were his patron, and he explained why he had written.
Who is "Luke"? Hughes states:
He was definitely non-apostolic, and he was a Gentile (cf. Colossians 4:11, 14). By his own admission he was not an eyewitness to the story he records in his brilliant account (Luke 1:2). But Luke was well-educated and cultured, and a physician to boot. Though we don't know the details of his conversion, he apparently reached Christian maturity before coming under Paul's influence. He became an intimate acquaintance of Paul, as the so-called "we-sections" in Acts attest (Acts 16:10-17; 20:5; 21:18; 27:1-28:16). Very possibly he is the anonymous brother "who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel." in 2 Corinthians 8:18 This certainly accords with his humble, self-effacing manner in keeping himself in the background of both Luke and Acts.
Much more may be written of Dr. Luke (see "Introduction"). In the Book of Luke, he begins by citing others' earlier work (Luke 1:1). He sees them as laying a foundation for what he was about to write. He says, "Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilleda among us" (Luke 1:1). What type of things? Bock says, "What these accounts discussed were the things that have been fulfilled among us. This detail raises an important Lukan theme right at the start. The events surrounding Jesus fulfilled the plan of God. Numerous passages make this point (Luke 1:20, 57; 2:6, 2122; 4:21; 9:31; 21:22, 24; 24:44-47)."
There were eyewitnesses. There was reliable evidence for what was written (Luke 1:2). People who preached the message God gave. Luke regarded preaching the word (Acts 8:4) as preaching Jesus (see Acts 9:20, where "preach" literally reads in the Greek "preached Jesus"). Hughes' says, "The earlier accounts had come from people who had seen with their own eyes the sacred events that began with the ministry of John the Baptist (cf. 1 John 1:1). These eyewitnesses ultimately became "servants of the word" - that is, preachers of the gospel. They were not detached observers but men vitally involved with the Word they preached."
Though Luke himself was not an eyewitness of all that transpired, he made inquiries and declared that his information was reliable. Luke had gone back in his research to the beginning of the Christian movement. His investigation had been thorough, probably oral (Luke 8:39; 9:10) and written forms (cf. Heb. 11:32).
Luke saw fit to write an orderly account for 'most excellent Theophilus, so that he may know the certainty of the things he has been taught' (Luke 1:3-4). Theophilus, is called "most excellent" the appropriate address for a person of high rank in Hellenistic culture (Acts 23:26; 24:3). Luke was writing so that he may be well grounded in the Christ faith (Luke 1:4), what Jude calls "the faith once delivered" (Jude 1:3).
Picture (Ref#: Pap. G. 2323) courtesy of Osterreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna, Austria. Luke explains the context and purpose for writing his account of the Gospel. It is an example of skillful Greek writing. This displays his learning and abilities.