Luke 1:1-4
Perfect Understanding
Tonight, I believe we enter again into the waters of a verse-by-verse
Bible Study. I don’t think I will be as preachy as we begin this
study for we need to lay some ground work that will help us place the
book of Luke in its context.
Introductory Material:
1. Written by Luke even though his name is not mentioned.
2. Luke was a doctor.
Col 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas,
greet you.
3. Luke is quite probably a Gentile.
a. From \\9-11\\, Paul was listing friend in Christ
and closes the list in this verse.
Col 4:11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, WHO
ARE OF THE CIRCUMCISION. These only are my
fellowworkers unto the kingdom
of God, which have been a comfort unto me.
b. Paul ended the first list by saying all of those are part
of the circumcision.
c. He then started a new list \\#12-15\\ with the
introduction that "These only are my fellowworkers unto
the kingdom…."
d. That would indicate that those in the remainder of the
list were related to Paul via salvation.
e. Luke is listed in THAT list \\#Col 4:14\\.
4. \\#Acts 1:1-2\\ Acts was also written by Luke.
a. Theophilus is mentioned only twice in the Bible.
(1) \\#Luke 1:3\\
(2) \\#Acts 1:1\\
Ac 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O
Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to
do and teach,
b. Because both of these books are written to the same man
for the same purpose to tell the same continuous story.
It then seems logical that they are being written by the
same man.
c. What can be known about Theophilus? Very little.
(1) He must have been a very good friend of Luke’s for
Luke spend quite a bit of time writing these letters
for him.
(2) Theophilus must have been somewhat notable for his
personal letter were found and returned to the
church.
5. The personal pronoun "we" that the writer of Acts sometimes
used made Paul and Luke traveling companions.
6. \\#2Tim 4:11\\ Luke will stay with Paul to the end.
2Tim 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and
bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me
for the ministry.
7. Luke wrote the gospel only slightly before Acts. Acts seems to
stop before Paul was executed AD 66 (how much sooner we do not
know.) Hence both Luke and Acts are believed to be written
before 66 AD.
In doing some research, I was somewhat aggravated at man’s notions of
how the four gospels (especially the three synoptic gospels, Matthew,
Mark, and Luke) could be so similar. It reminds me of why I so
rarely refer to commentaries.
In essence, there seem to be four theories:
1. That each of the gospels is a collection of oral traditions
(folk tales). Matthew and John needed no folk tales. They
were there!
2. That some unknown source wrote an account from which all the
gospel writers copied.
3. That Matthew wrote his account first, the others copied it.
4. That Mark wrote his account first, the others copied it.
Let me place my two cents worth into that list.
I. Each gospel account is a completely autonomous work and that each
writer wrote as he was moved by the Holy Ghost.
A. That is called INSPIRATION.
1. It means that God told all four writers what to write.
2. That is why they are so similar.
2Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time
by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as
they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness:
B. That does not mean that the writers did not hear or read
stories of Jesus life.
1. However, folklore, true accounts, or even being there
did not get an event placed into the Word of God.
2. The only thing that did was the Holy Spirit telling the
writers what to write!
3. I can say things that are true but they are not inspired.
4. For something to be inspired, God must speak it and
the Holy Spirit carry that breathe to the ears of
the holy men who were to write it.
C. To reduce the gospel writings to hearsay is to:
1. Diminish the Holy Spirit of God and His work.
2. Diminish the Bible.
3. Diminish the purposes for God giving us the different
perspectives of gospel accounts.
a. They are not given because they are different.
b. They are not given to give us a complete picture.
c. They were given to portray Jesus to different
sets of people.
(1) Matthew is written to the Jews to portray
Jesus as King of the Jews.
(2) Mark is written to the Romans to portray
Jesus as the loyal and faithful Servant.
(3) Luke is written to the Gentiles (slaves) to
portray Jesus as the Servant of Man.
(4) John is written to the world to portray Jesus
as the Son of God.
II. If you have a question about what the Bible says, let the Bible
answer it!!
A. Luke states his purpose for writing these books.
1. Luke’s purpose for writing.
a. \\#1\\ Many have set forth collections of hearsay.
b. \\#3\\ But Luke has PREFECT UNDERSTANDING.
2. Are those the statements that a man makes who is just
gathering tall tales?
B. \\#1\\ Luke testifies to the authenticity of what he was
writing.
Luke 1:1 …those things which are most surely
believed among us,
1. These are the things we believe, the things that produce
salvation and assurance.
2. Will Luke make that statement and then record folklore?
C. \\#3\\ Luke names his Source. "FROM THE VERY FIRST"
1. The word FIRST is not translated incorrectly; however,
the word FIRST is not its only meaning.
2. It can be translated ABOVE, so that the text would
read, HAVING PERFECT UNDERSTANDING FROM ABOVE.
3. In fact, it quite often is translated FROM ABOVE.
John 3:31 He that cometh from above is above all:
he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh
of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above
all.
John 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no
power at all against me, except it were given
thee from above: therefore he that delivered
me unto thee hath the greater sin.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift
is from above, and cometh down from the Father of
lights, with whom is no variableness, neither
shadow of turning.
James 3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above,
but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is
first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to
be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits,
without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
4. Since Luke was a Gentile and probably not saved until
after Jesus’ ascension, Luke’s "first" knowledge likely
came from "above."
D. \\#4\\ Luke states his desire for what these books will
accomplish.
Luke 1:4 That thou mightest know the certainty
of those things, wherein thou hast been
instructed.
1. Questionable sources cannot give unquestionable
confidence.
2. No doubt, some of what was circulating was folklore and
fairytales, but not what Like wrote!
3. What Luke was penning was true and was intended to set
straight the falsehoods and give assurance.
III. Some wonder, "How could Luke write something without being
there?"
A. The same way Job was written without the writer being there.
B. The way Moses wrote about creation, the fall, and Noah
without being there.
C. The same way Kings and Chronicles were written without the
writer being there.
D. The same way John wrote about the end times without being
there.
E. Just being there is not the seal of authenticity.
Inspiration is!
1 Corinthians 2:10 But God hath revealed them
unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth
all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Isaiah 51:16 And I have put my words in thy
mouth….
Jeremiah 1:9 Then the LORD put forth his hand,
and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me,
Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.
F. The Bible is more than just true, more than just reliable,
more than just correct, more than just accurate, more than
just virtuous, and more than informative. It is INSPIRED!
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