This is the very beginning of Luke’s Gospel. Luke may be exaggerating a bit when he writes to Theophilus that “many” have already undertaken to write the story of Jesus’ prophetic teaching, preaching and healing ministry. Theophilus may have been particularly puzzled as to why a popular teacher was put to death by the Romans and even more intrigued by the claims that this man had “risen from
the dead.”
Luke wants to share his version of the events, even though he was neither one of the direct eyewitnesses nor a “minister of the word.” Jesus did not name him as one of the Twelve (or ‘Apostles.’), but he was one of the men who accompanied Paul on some of his missionary journeys and was with Paul during his imprisonment in Rome. We note that Paul also did not know the historical Jesus in person, so he wanted to learn as much
as he could about the life of that amazing man of Galilee.
Luke’s claim to have investigated everything accurately might not meet modern scientific standards. He wasn’t writing bland facts as we think of history today. Instead, his Gospel and its continuation in The Acts of the Apostles are designed to convince the reader that Jesus was the unique Son of a saving God who has a mission for the whole world. This is how Luke
understood Jesus, and his writing was to help Theophilus to come to the same conclusion. So, more than any other Gospel writer, Luke has researched and provided us with stories about Jesus' conception, relatives, infancy, and early life before his public ministry in Galilee.
How closely do I read the Gospel? Am I interested in studying the Bible this year? Am I getting to know the Word of God more deeply?
Reflections by Peter Knox SJ
