Sermon Tone Analysis

“Inasmuch as”

ἐπειδήπερ

ἐπειδήπερ

While the term is found nowhere else in the NT (BDF §107 calls it a “classicism” of Luke) or in the LXX, it is frequently used by Hellenistic writers and “contributes to the formal and literary flavor of the preface” (Nolland, 1:6).

It is one of Luke’s strategies for relating “his entire composition to a well-known literary introductory form” (Fitzmyer, 1:290–91).

Ἐπειδήπερ

2. Endeavored

ἐπιχειρέω

Aorist active Indicative 3 plural

Constative Aorist (Wallace 557): Notes that others have undertaken the same task.

Luke is not the only one (no Lone Ranger)

Luke is relying upon others

Do not know how many others.

Presumably, some previous works are Scripture and some are not.

Only used two other times in NT.

Each of these two other instances are negative in nature (and a failed attempt).

Could read this (failed previous attempts) into Luke’s writing but this is not necessarily the case.

Such a reading certainly fits Luke’s use of the verb in Acts, where it is used to refer to failed attempts at some action (Acts 9:29; 19:13).

The term itself, however, does not imply the failure of previous attempts (see, e.g., LN 68.59).

It is best, then, not to read any disparagement into Luke’s language, but rather to see it perhaps as a reference to the difficulty of the task (cf.

Marshall, 41; Nolland, 1:12).

3. To compile

ἀνατάξασθαι

to organize in a series, to compose, to compile

Logical ordering speaks of a quality mind.

4.

An account

An account

διήγησιν

Only used here in the NT

A narration, history

At issue is whether the διήγησιν is primarily that of the witnesses (i.e., an oral narrative) or whether the oral tradition becomes narrative through the literary efforts of the “many.”

The literary context here strongly favors the latter because of the use of διήγησις for the ordered narrative presentation of events in a literary work (cf.

Lucian, How to Write History, 55).

The attention to order indicated by ἀνατάξασθαι is to be compared with the καθεξῆς, “in order,” claimed by Luke for his own effort.

5. Accomplished

πεπληροφορημένων

πληροφορέω plḗrophoréō; contracted plērophorṓ, fut.

plērophorḗsō, from plḗrēs (4134), full, and phoréō (5409), to fill.

To fulfill, thoroughly accomplish, equivalent to persuade fully, give full assurance.

Found for the most part only in biblical and Patristic Gr.

Trans.

(I) Of persons, pass., to be fully assured, persuaded (Rom.

4:21; 14:5; Sept.: Eccl.

8:11).

(II) Of things, to make fully assured, give full proof of, confirm fully.

With the acc.

(2 Tim.

4:5, “make full proof of thy ministry,” i.e., by fulfilling to the utmost all its duties); pass., to be fully established as true (Luke 1:1; 2 Tim.

4:17).

Passive voice: things done among us.

Things accomplished (the reader, even Luke, had nothing to do with bringing them about).

Only five other uses in NT

Of what God is able to accomplish

Be fully convinced

Be fully convinced