Luke 1: 3 Commentary

Right, that Luke has done his job deligently. He has mentioned many a things that are not found in other gospels, like the shepherds in the field of Bethlehem, the topic of the conversation on the Mount of Transfiguration was the death of Jesus that was to take place in Jerusalem, that an angel was seen strenthening Jesus in Gethsemane, so on and so forth. He has successfully presented Jesus as the saviour of the world.

By Jayant Christian (wrote 287 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 1/15/2010 09:19 am

Good point Bro. Lamb. I would also remind Matt that “perfect” in the language of Scripture carries with it the idea of maturity.

By Jason Elder (wrote 321 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 11/21/2009 05:03 am

Luke is certainly not saying, “Ever since I first heard about Jesus from the eyewitnesses, I have understood Him and His gospel completely.” I am no Greek expert, but I understand that the word translated “perfect” here also means “accurate”, “careful”. It is the word King Herod used when he told the wise men to “Go and search carefully” (AV/KJV has “diligently”) for Jesus. Luke means that he has carefully investigated all the evidence from the start. William Tyndale’s translation (1526) and the so-called “Bishops’ Bible” (1568) both have, “searched out diligently all thinges from the beginnynge.” Wycliffe (14th century) translates it: “hauynge alle thingis diligentli bi ordre.” (That is, “having all things diligently by order”.)

Indeed, the same word is used in Acts 18.24-25, where it is translated “accurately”:

24 ¶ Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.

So to me, it is not at all necessary to call the infallibility of Luke 1.3 into question.

By David Lamb (wrote 1 Bible Commentary - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 11/17/2009 11:55 am

I feel as though this is a very important verse in the bible, and it raises important questions as to the infallability of said scripture. It emphasis the fact that the bible is written by man. Luke says to have had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, and but the nature of perfection this is not possible, unless Luke was Christ himself.

Let him who has ears hear.

By matt (wrote 1 Bible Commentary - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 11/19/2008 19:31 pm