Luke the historian

There is a theory that Luke was a Gentile, but personally, I believe it is highly likely that he was a Diaspora (scattered) Jew. Luke shows deep concern for the following three matters: (1) Jerusalem, (2) the faith and service of women, (3) evangelism to the Gentiles. In order to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles (Greeks), Luke placed a spotlight on the humanity of Jesus, the Son of God. That is because he was trying to show that the ideal image of a human being, which the Greeks were pursuing, is found here. He was also a physician (Col. 4:14), and a great historian. In verse 3, let us focus on the following three points: (1) He says he investigated “everything.” This refers to the documents and oral traditions that had already been written about the life of Jesus. (2) He says he investigated “from the beginning.” In other words, from the very beginning of Jesus’ life. (3) He says he investigated “carefully.” He examined each event in detail and recorded them in an orderly manner to match the purpose of his writing. There was a mysterious guidance and protection of the Holy Spirit in that process. As a result, the Gospel of Luke was born. It is understandable that many people call this Gospel “the most beautiful book in the world.”

Who is Theophilus?

This Gospel begins with a dedicatory preface addressed to a person named Theophilus. The name Theophilus means “lover of God.” At that time, many Greek and Roman writings followed this format. The question is, who was this person named Theophilus? At that time, the term “most excellent” was a title of respect used for high officials. Same term is used to address Felix the governor in Acts 23:26. With this in mind, the most natural interpretation is that Theophilus was a real, noble individual. He was likely a patron of Luke who supported the completion of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles financially. Have you ever had your faith shaken and started to doubt whether what you have believed is the truth? Christianity is a faith based on historical facts. When you experience doubt, it is necessary to return immediately to the Bible and gain assurance directly from the Bible.