This verse, Luke 1:2, is a crucial part of the introduction to the Gospel of Luke. Let's break it down:
"even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses": This refers to people who directly observed the events of Jesus' life and ministry. They were present and saw things happen firsthand.
"and servants of the word": These eyewitnesses also became teachers and messengers of the Gospel. They devoted themselves to spreading the story of Jesus and his teachings. "Servants of the word" implies they weren't just passively observing; they were actively engaged in communicating the message.
"delivered them to us": This means these eyewitnesses and servants passed on the accounts of Jesus to the next generation, including Luke. They shared the stories, teachings, and significance of Jesus with those who came after them. This "delivery" likely involved both oral tradition (telling the stories) and perhaps some written accounts that predate Luke's Gospel.
In essence, Luke is saying that his Gospel is based on information received from reliable sources: those who were present at the events themselves and dedicated their lives to sharing the story of Jesus. This verse serves to establish the credibility and authority of Luke's account. He's not making things up; he's building on the established testimony of those who witnessed Jesus' life and ministry.
The significance of this verse lies in a few key areas:
Apostolic Authority: While not explicitly mentioning the apostles, the verse implies that the source material has roots in the earliest followers of Jesus.
Continuity: The phrase "from the beginning" links Luke's Gospel to the very start of the Christian movement.
Reliability: Luke is presenting his Gospel as being based on dependable and trustworthy sources.
Transmission of Tradition: The phrase "delivered them to us" highlights the importance of oral tradition and the passing down of information in the early church.
In summary, Luke 1:2 provides the foundation for the Gospel's authority by establishing that the information comes from eyewitnesses and dedicated followers of Jesus who passed down the story to those who wrote it down later.
This verse, Luke 1:2, is a crucial part of the introduction to the Gospel of Luke. Let's break it down:
"even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses": This refers to people who directly observed the events of Jesus' life and ministry. They were present and saw things happen firsthand.
"and servants of the word": These eyewitnesses also became teachers and messengers of the Gospel. They devoted themselves to spreading the story of Jesus and his teachings. "Servants of the word" implies they weren't just passively observing; they were actively engaged in communicating the message.
"delivered them to us": This means these eyewitnesses and servants passed on the accounts of Jesus to the next generation, including Luke. They shared the stories, teachings, and significance of Jesus with those who came after them. This "delivery" likely involved both oral tradition (telling the stories) and perhaps some written accounts that predate Luke's Gospel.
In essence, Luke is saying that his Gospel is based on information received from reliable sources: those who were present at the events themselves and dedicated their lives to sharing the story of Jesus. This verse serves to establish the credibility and authority of Luke's account. He's not making things up; he's building on the established testimony of those who witnessed Jesus' life and ministry.
The significance of this verse lies in a few key areas:
Apostolic Authority: While not explicitly mentioning the apostles, the verse implies that the source material has roots in the earliest followers of Jesus.
Continuity: The phrase "from the beginning" links Luke's Gospel to the very start of the Christian movement.
Reliability: Luke is presenting his Gospel as being based on dependable and trustworthy sources.
Transmission of Tradition: The phrase "delivered them to us" highlights the importance of oral tradition and the passing down of information in the early church.
In summary, Luke 1:2 provides the foundation for the Gospel's authority by establishing that the information comes from eyewitnesses and dedicated followers of Jesus who passed down the story to those who wrote it down later.