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Luke 1:4

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Luke 1:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou wast instructed.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou wast instructed.
Luke 1:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Luke 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,
2even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word,
3it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus;
4that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou wast instructed.
5There was in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were [now] well stricken in years.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“That thou mightest know the certainty, etc.] The end the evangelist had in writing this Gospel, and sending it to Theophilus, was, that he might be more strongly assured of and more firmly established in the truths of the Gospel. The Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions render it, “that thou mightest know the truth”; that is, the certain truth of things: the truth he did in some measure know before, but Luke's view was, that he might have a more certain knowledge of it; both truth, and the certainty of it may be intended: so the Hebrew word, hnwma, signifies both truth and firmness; and the word here used signifies such a certain evidence of things, as may be safely depended on; even…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“that thou mightest know--"know thoroughly." hast been instructed--orally instructed--literally, "catechized" or "catechetically taught," at first as a catechumen or candidate for Christian baptism.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The certainty - Have full evidence or proof of. Been instructed - By the preachers of the gospel. The original word is the one from which is derived our word “catechism - been catechized;” but it does not denote here the “manner” in which the instruction was imparted, as it does with us, but simply the fact that he had been taught those things. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Joh 20:31; Pe2 1:15, Pe2 1:16 Luke 1:5”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification