Luke 1:1-4 | The Wolfe Notes

These notes follow our 7-step rhythm for Bible study. Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotes are from the EasyEnglish Bible translation.


Notes on Luke, the Author 
(from Luke 1:1-4)


1. Annotation Notes

? Denotes a question, * a personal thought, x a cross reference, ! a connection, and italics a referenced source.
  1. ? Who is Luke?
    1. The name "Luke" means "from Lucania", a region in Southern Italy. ("Luke" at Behind the Name)
    2. Likely, Luke was born a Gentile but lived as a Jew. His audience was a Jewish audience. ("E86: Luke - Ordered" at BEMA Discipleship Podcast)
  2. ? Who are the many people referenced in Luke 1:1? "Many people have written about the things that have happened..."  Is Luke referring to the gospel writers - Matthew, Mark, and John?
  3. ? What is the Good News? We can all interpret "Good News" differently, but Luke references that these people wrote "the Good News"? Is it everything Jesus taught? (Luke 1:2)
  4. ? Who is Theophilus and who taught him? (Luke 1:3)
  5. * "Now you can be sure that [the things you have heard] are true." (Luke 1:4) This assurance of faith is really what we all crave, isn't it?

2. Summary

Luke writes his accounting of the gospel based on fact-checked research to reassure a friend that the things he has heard are true.

3. N/W/L Statements

  1. I NOTICED that Theophilus must have doubts, and because Luke cares deeply about Theophilus and his faith, he undertook an intensive investigative project to quell his worries or concerns.
  2. I WONDER how Luke and Theophilus knew each other.
  3. I think God wants us to LEARN that:
    1. There is value in hearing the Good News in various ways. 
    2. There is value in doing the work to record the Good News in a way that makes sense to you. 
    3. It is good for us to reassure one another about the Good News.

4. Key Verse

That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou has been instructed. Luke 1:4 KJV

This verse both reminds me that we all crave this reassurance. It also identifies Luke's reason for writing the gospel. 

5. God's Character

  1. God encourages us to be curious, to seek and to find.
    • God's glory is shown when He conceals things; a king's glory is shown in his ability to explore the facts of the matter. Proverbs 25:2 VOICE
    • And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6 NIV
    • Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger in here. Look at my hands. Put your hand here, in my side. Do not refuse to believe what is true. Now, believe.' John 20:27 
    • You will want to find me, and I will be ready to meet with you. If you really want to find me. Jeremiah 29:13 
    • Immediately, the boy's father shouted, 'Oh! I believe! Help me to believe more!' Mark 9:24
    • A man came and fought with [Jacob] for a long time. They continued until dawn. Then the man said to Jacob, 'Now let me go because dawn has come.' But Jacob said, 'I will not let you go unless you bless me.'...Then the man said, 'Your name will not be Jacob any longer. Your name will now be Israel. That is because you have fought with God and you have fought with men. And you have won!' Genesis 32:22-32 (excerpts)
  2. God wants us to tell others about Him.
    • So then, people must hear the message before they can trust God. And people hear that message when someone tells them about Christ. Romans 10:17
    • We have an important message to tell you. We want to tell you about the person who was already there before the beginning of the world. We have heard him speak. We have seen him with our own eyes. We watched him and we touched him. He is the Word that gives us life with God...We also want you to share this new life with us. We share this life with God the Father and Jesus Christ his Son. That is why we are telling you about everything that we have seen and heard. We are writing to you so that together we all may be completely happy. I John 1:1, 3-4 

6. Pray

Thank You for Luke, God. Thank You for showing us that it is okay to doubt, but also for giving us an example of what to do in our doubt: to dig in and find out. Then, when we are reassured, we stand up and encourage each other. Help me remember to dig in when I doubt and to reassure others when I see them doubting.

7. Act

  1. When I doubt, I will:
    1. Pray for God's guidance.
    2. Explore the Bible.
    3. Seek help from other people who are also seeking God.
  2. When I see others doubting, I will:
    1. Pray that God increases their desire to know the truth and guides them to it.
    2. Search scripture to help direct my prayers for them.
    3. Encourage them in their journey. 

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