Reasons For Writing

by D. S. Parrack (England)

PAPER 2

"That thou mayest know the certainty of those things"  Luke 1.4
By recording that “many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things most surely believed among us,” Lk.1.1, Luke makes it plain that in the early church era there were a good many more ‘gospels’ in circulation than just the four which we now have in the N.T. But such a profusion of material, rather than promoting greater understanding or assuring greater reliability, can often cause a sense of bewilderment or confusion. What Luke set out to do, specifically for Theophilus, but, for us too, was to present a clear, concise and wholly dependable record. Not to replace or supercede “those things which are most surely believed among us,” but to assure our minds of “the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed,” Lk.1.4.

The pressures of physical persecution, endured by believers from the N.T. period right through, in some parts of the world, to present times, here, in the so-called West, have been largely replaced by more subtle, and in many cases more dangerous, problems. Today we have a plethora of manuals, commentaries and aids to learning, many of which may have some merit, but few of which are without a degree of leeway for argument, dissent and contention. What we need is a thoroughly reliable guide to steer us through such minefields, such an array of ‘helps’.

That is what Luke saw as being Theophilus’ problem and why he set out to provide just such a guide. It must have been difficult for Theophilus though, to decide on what basis he could judge the value of this new set of records against those already available to him and which were presumably in general circulation amongst, and being generally accepted by, his fellow-believers. Was there any independent standard which he could use or must he just rely on Luke really “having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first,” Lk.1.3. We, thankfully, do not have that problem. We accept Luke’s gospel as being a part of Scripture, all of which is “given by inspiration of God and is profitable,” 2Tim.3.16. Instead of having to compare Luke’s gospel with other people's writings, we can use it itself as part of the gauge, the perfect standard, against which everything else, written or oral, must be judged. Such assessing need not, indeed should not, be just destructive criticism or inbred scepticism. We are, after all, told that the Bereans “received the word (i.e. Paul’s teaching) with all readiness of mind,” but even so, after that “they searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so,” Acts 17.11. There are probably teachers, and we have confidence in their written and oral ministry, but they may get things wrong from time to time. The Scriptures though will never let you down, they are the touchstone against which everything should be judged, especially so if you have reason to wonder about the reliability of something which you have read or been taught.

There are people whom we may accept as being very sincere in what they write or say, but they may be sincerely wrong. Paul could say of some of his own nation that “I bear them record that they have a zeal of (for JND) God.” Surely we can accept the teaching of someone like that. “But” continues the apostle their zeal is “not according to knowledge,” Rom.10.2, which means at the best it was misinformed religious zeal and that is, by itself, of no worth.

If you feel that you are not clear regarding certain facets of what you are being, or have been taught, even of some things which are held in your own circles as sacrosanct conventional wisdom, certainly ask for help from someone whom, based on past experience, you have confidence in. But, gently, ask him, or her, to show you from the Scriptures why they follow that particular line. To teachers among God’s people comes the injunction “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples,” Isa.8.16, and to all of us in our consideration of what is being taught. “To the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them,” Isa.8.20.

Luke recognised what was a potentially growing problem, a need that would develop as more and more would-be teachers entered the field. His aim was to provide a source of spiritual understanding which was totally reliable. That provision in the shape of what we know as ‘Luke’s gospel’ is, as just a small part of Scripture as a whole, available to us now. It is there for us, as and when we too perhaps become a little unsure of “those things wherein thou hast been instructed,” Lk.1.4. But if we don’t turn to it, use it, the purpose for which it was written will not be achieved as far as we are concerned.

—to be continued (D.V.)