LUKE 1:4 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) so that you could know the definite background behind what you were taught.

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT so that you might know the certainty concerning the things that you have been taught.

BLB so that you may know the certainty concerning the things which you were instructed.

AICNT so that you may know the certainty of the things[fn] you have been taught.

1:4, things: Or “words”

OEB in order that you may be able to satisfy yourself of the accuracy of the story which you have heard from the lips of others.

WEBBE that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET so that you may know for certain the things you were taught.

LSV that you may know the certainty of the things wherein you were instructed.

FBV I have done this dear Theophilus[fn] so you can be certain that what you were taught is completely reliable.

1:4 “Theophilus” means one who loves God. Also in Acts 1:1.

TCNT so that yoʋ may know the certainty of the things about which yoʋ have been instructed.

T4T I want you to know the truth about what you have been taught {what others have taught you}.

LEB so that you may know the certainty concerning the things about which you were taught.

BBE So that you might have certain knowledge of those things about which you were given teaching.

Moff to let you know the solid truth of what you have been taught.

Wymth that you may fully know the truth of the things which you have been taught by word of mouth.

ASV that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou wast instructed.

DRA That thou mayest know the verity of those words in which thou hast been instructed.

YLT that thou mayest know the certainty of the things wherein thou wast instructed.

Drby that thou mightest know the certainty of those things in which thou hast been instructed.

RV that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou wast instructed.
(that thou/you mightest/might know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou/you wast instructed. )

SLT That thou mightest know the certainty of the words concerning which thou hast been instructed.

Wbstr That thou mayest know the certainty of those things in which thou hast been instructed.

KJB-1769 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
(That thou/you mightest/might know the certainty of those things, wherein thou/you hast been instructed. )

KJB-1611 That thou mightest know the certainetie of those things wherein thou hast bene instructed.
(That thou/you mightest/might know the certaintie of those things wherein thou/you hast been instructed.)

Bshps That thou myghtest knowe the certentie of those thinges wherof thou hast ben infourmed.
(That thou/you mightest/might know the certaintie of those things whereof thou/you hast been infourmed.)

Gnva That thou mightest acknowledge the certaintie of those things, whereof thou hast bene instructed.
(That thou/you mightest/might acknowledge the certaintie of those things, whereof thou/you hast been instructed. )

Cvdl that thou mightest knowe the certete of ye wordes, wherof thou art infourmed.
(that thou/you mightest/might know the certete of ye/you_all words, whereof thou/you art infourmed.)

TNT that thou myghtest knowe the certente of thoo thinges wher of thou arte informed.
(that thou/you mightest/might know the certainte of those things wher of thou/you art informed. )

Wycl thou best Theofile, that thou knowe the treuthe of tho wordis, of whiche thou art lerned.
(thou/you best Theofile, that thou/you know the truth of those words, of which thou/you art learned/learnt.)

Luth auf daß du gewissen. Grund erfahrest der Lehre, in welcher du unterrichtet bist.
(on/in/to that you(sg) conscience. Grund you_will_learn the/of_the teaching, in which you(sg) taught/informed are.)

ClVg ut cognoscas eorum verborum, de quibus eruditus es, veritatem.
(as cognoscas their of_words, from/about to_whom instructsus you_are, the_truth. )

UGNT ἵνα ἐπιγνῷς περὶ ὧν κατηχήθης λόγων τὴν ἀσφάλειαν.
(hina epignōis peri hōn kataʸⱪaʸthaʸs logōn taʸn asfaleian.)

SBL-GNT ἵνα ἐπιγνῷς περὶ ὧν κατηχήθης λόγων τὴν ἀσφάλειαν.
(hina epignōis peri hōn kataʸⱪaʸthaʸs logōn taʸn asfaleian.)

RP-GNT ἵνα ἐπιγνῷς περὶ ὧν κατηχήθης λόγων τὴν ἀσφάλειαν.
(hina epignōis peri hōn kataʸⱪaʸthaʸs logōn taʸn asfaleian.)

TC-GNT ἵνα ἐπιγνῷς περὶ ὧν κατηχήθης λόγων τὴν ἀσφάλειαν.
(hina epignōis peri hōn kataʸⱪaʸthaʸs logōn taʸn asfaleian. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:1–4: Luke wrote this book about Jesus for Theophilus

In these Notes, Luke 1:1–4 is both a division and a section of the book of Luke. You may want to include a section heading here. It is good to read the verses before you decide on a heading for the section.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Luke writes to Theophilus about Jesus

Luke addressed this book to Theophilus

Luke’s purpose in writing this book

Paragraph 1:1–4

Paragraph 1:1–4 in the Greek text is one long sentence. In some languages, it may be natural to use more than one sentence for this paragraph. For example, the GNT uses four sentences.

The Greek sentence in 1:1–4 talks about several events and ideas. It mentions them in an order that may not be natural in some languages. Here are the main ideas:

Many people attempted to compile an account of what happened among them (that is, of Jesus’ life) (1:1a–b).
They wrote what eyewitnesses told them (1:2a–c).
Luke also investigated all those things carefully (1:3a).
Luke thought that he also should write those things in an orderly way for Theophilus (1:3b).
Luke did this so that Theophilus could know that what he was taught was accurate (1:4).

You should present these ideas in an order that is natural in your language. See the General Comments on 1:2a–c and 1:1–2 at the end of the notes on 1:2b–c for specific suggestions.

You also need to think about how to connect the clauses. For example, in English there are different ways to connect the reasons in (a)-(c) with the result in (d):

^1a Since many others have written a report on the things that have happened…

^3bit seemed good for me to also write a report…. (See 1:1–4 in the RSV, NASB, NJB, KJV for similar examples.)

^1aMany others have written a report on the things that have happened….

^3b Therefore it seemed good for me to also write a report. (See 1:1–4 in the BSB, NIV, GNT, NET, CEV, GW, and JBP for similar examples.)

You should connect the clauses in the most natural way in your language.

Luke did not address Theophilus by name until near the end of his introduction. In some languages, it may be more appropriate to begin the introduction with Theophilus’ name. See the Display for 1:1a for an example.

1:4

so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

in order for you to know that the things which others have taught you are true.
so that you may be completely sure that the things that you have learned are true.
I have done this so that you may be certain that the things about Jesus that you have been taught are true/reliable.

so that you may know: The Greek word that the BSB translates as so that introduces the purpose for which Luke wrote to Theophilus. He wrote in order that Theophilus would know that everything that he had been taught about Jesus was true. The word may is one way to express purpose in this context. It does not indicate uncertainty. Some other ways to translate so that you may know are:

so you can be certain (NLT)

to help you know (NCV)

Express this purpose in a natural way in your language. In some languages, it may be natural to begin a new sentence here. For example:

I do this so that you will know (GNT)

the certainty of the things you have been taught: The Greek word that the BSB translates as the certainty means “the reliability.” It describes something as worthy of trust. Luke wanted Theophilus to be confident that the things that he had learned about Jesus were true. Some other ways to translate this are:

that what you have been taught is true (NCV)

that the teaching you received is reliable

the things you have been taught: The phrase the things you have been taught refers to the history and teachings of Jesus that believers had taught or told Theophilus. It is passive in form. It may be more natural in your language to use an active form. For example:

the things that others have taught you

General Comment on 1:1–4

Luke inserted the phrase that the BSB translates as “most excellent Theophilus” into the middle of the long sentence in 1:3–4. If it is not natural in your language to do this, here are other options:

Translate the name Theophilus and the description “most excellent” at the beginning of 1:1. For example:
Great Theophilus, many….
Use a natural way to begin a letter in your language and translate the description “most excellent” in 1:3 or in 1:4. For example:
^1aDear Theophilus, many…. ^3dSo it seemed good to me, too, to write to you who are highly respected….
^1a I am writing this book for you, Theophilus. Many others…. ^4aso that you whom people greatly esteem….

In this second division, Luke told how God sent Jesus to save people. Before God sent Jesus to the world, God sent John the Baptizer to prepare people to receive Jesus. This division gives details about the birth of John and the birth of Jesus. It also tells about John’s preaching and about other events that happened before Jesus started his ministry.

Parallel LUKE 1:4

Section 1:1–4: Luke wrote this book about Jesus for Theophilus

Paragraph 1:1–4

1:4

General Comment on 1:1–4