External Evidence: Luke's Prologue
External Evidence: Luke's PrologueIn the fine tradition of the best Greek historiographers, the author traditionally identified as Luke, a companion of Paul (Philem 24; cf. Col 4:14; 2 Tim 4:11), prefaced his account with a brief statement of the purpose in writing.
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| 1 Επειδηπερ πολλοὶ ἐπεχείρησαν ἀνατάξασθαι διήγησιν περὶ τῶν πεπληροφορημένων ἐν ὑμῖν πραγμάτων, 2 καθὼς παρέδοσαν ἡμῖν οἱ ἀπ' ἀρχῆς αὐτοπται καὶ ὑπηρέται γενόμενοι τοῦ λόγου, 3 ἔδοξε κἀμοι παρηκολουθηκότι ἄνωθεν πᾶσιν ἀκριβῶς καθεξῆς σοι γράψαι, κράτιστε Θεόφιλε, 4 ἵνα ἐπιγνῷς περὶ ὧν κατηχήθης λόγων τὴν ἀσφάλειαν. | 1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to set down an account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as we were taught by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, 3 it seemed to me too, after researching everything from the top, that I should write accurately and orderly for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you would realize the certainty of the matters about which you have been instructed. |