Establishing the Groundwork

The New Testament writers were insistent on establishing the truth of their message. They wanted people to know that Jesus was real, not a creation of their imaginations. They wanted to confirm that people had seen, heard, and touched him.

In recent generations, certain scholars have considered it fashionable to question the historical reliability of the four biographers of Jesus—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These scholars claim to be engaged in a search for the “historical Jesus,” suggesting that the world has been waiting for them to discover just who Jesus really was, how he actually lived, and precisely what he taught. Their assumption is that ancient historians lacked the objectivity that is essential to accurate reporting, or that they were moved more by emotional, doctrinal, or legendary motives and sources than by an impartial, investigative technique.

These criticisms are lengthy and involved, but essentially unconvincing. In support of the work of Luke, there are some factors that cannot be ignored. First, he was a well-educated man, accustomed to dealing with facts. As a physician (Paul calls him “our dear friend Luke, the doctor” in Colossians 4:14), Luke recognized the importance of getting all relevant information and getting it accurately. Second, his research was intensive. Investigating everything related to the life story of Jesus, he wrote from the direct testimony of eyewitnesses rather than rely on hearsay. Third, Luke’s testimony sprang from the totally unselfish motive of a man who was sure of his convictions and stood by them, not for personal gain, but because he had a vital message to share.

(Compiled by Douglas Redford, The Life and Ministry of Jesus: The Gospels (New Testament, Volume One), Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing, 2007, 11, Excerpt from Chapter 1, “The Word Became Flesh”, Luke 1:1-4; John 1:1-18)