who preserved His word.
Luke 1:1–4 (ESV)
Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.
Take a moment to let the enormity of this passage sink in. Luke is the foremost author in the New Testament. The books of Luke and Acts together (formerly known as “The History of Christian Origins”) are longer than all of Paul’s writings. Here begins the greatest story ever told in its most complete version.
Luke is inspired, literally, to write an orderly account for you, that would add to the many other attempts to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us. As someone who has followed all things closely for some time past, Luke feels obligated to weigh in with his perspective.
He does this so that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. There’s a hint of concern here about those other narratives. Luke seems to be trying to fill in some gaps.
To put it bluntly, Luke realized that he knew some things that he hadn’t seen covered in the other accounts and he felt compelled to get that knowledge out there where it could do some good.
Thank God he did. Imagine the Bible without the book of Acts.
We don’t know who this book was written to. Theophilus is Greek for “lover of God.” There were real people with that name in the first century, so it may refer to one of them.
But it seems more likely that Theophilus just refers to anyone who loves God.
It’s addressed to you.
What a wonder it is that we have this book (and the rest of scripture) preserved for us by the labor of countless scribes. As great as Luke’s effort was to put this all down, those who copied it did even more.
Just as God called Luke to write this, He also called many people to be human copiers. Imagine deciding to devote your life to copying the Bible. It’s lonely work. Your hand aches. No one thanks you. The copies you make may rot to dust in a century or two, or could be destroyed any number of ways.
But you are part of one of the greatest enterprises in human history. No scientist, no general, no king will have an impact on human history anywhere near as significant or important as what you’re a part of.
Those incredible saints kept God’s word alive through the ages.
It’s amazing that so many were inspired to do so much for so little reward.
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These weekday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. Saturdays’ by Matt Richardson. Subscribe here: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community
The weekly study guides, which include questions for discussion or meditation, are here: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies
Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV stands for the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NIV stands for The Holy Bible, New International Version®. © Copyright 1973 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NASB stands for the New American Standard Bible. Used by permission. All rights reserved. KJV stands for the King James Version.
