“It seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, concerning the things you have been taught.”
“An orderly account.” What do you think that means?
For most modern Western readers, this phrase suggests a chronological (in-order) account. Our biographies and historical narratives are almost always chronological. Our movies generally follow a sequential timeline. We prefer chronology in our entertainment and demand it in nonfiction. When events are presented out of sequence, it can feel confusing because we are conditioned to expect chronological order.
But our expectations do not determine the meaning of a biblical text. The author’s intent does. We must ask what the author meant when he wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
So what did Luke mean when he said he intended to write “an orderly account”? Understanding his meaning helps us read and interpret The Gospel According to Luke correctly.
What Luke Did Not Mean
When we compare Luke’s Gospel with Matthew and Mark, we notice that the events are not always arranged in the same chronological order. Consider a few examples: the temptation of Christ (Mt 4:1–11; Lk 4:1–13), John the Baptist’s imprisonment (Mt 14:3; Lk 3:19–20), the Sermon on the Mount/Plain (Mt 5–7; Lk 6:20–49), and the identification of the betrayer (Mk 14:18–25; Lk 22:17–23).
For modern Western readers, this difference can feel problematic. But the Gospels were not written from a modern Western perspective and a modern Western audience were not the original recipients.
In the first century, chronological arrangement was not the primary way historical narratives were structured. That shift began to develop much later, gradually emerging in late antiquity and the Middle Ages and becoming the standard expectation only in the 18th century (see note 1).
Ancient writers typically organized material thematically rather than strictly chronologically. This is an important point: when Luke said he was writing “an orderly account” (kathexēs in Greek), he did not mean chronological order, and his original audience would not have assumed that he did.
What Luke Did Mean
If Luke did not mean chronological order, what did he mean?
In Luke’s day, historical narratives were commonly arranged by themes. When we read Luke’s Gospel, we can see clear thematic groupings that shape the structure of the book.
This fits well with what we know about Luke. He was a Gentile physician, and his strong command of Greek likely reflects a Roman education. Such an education would have exposed him to the common literary patterns used in Greco-Roman historical writing, including thematic organization.
Considering both the literary conventions of the time and the internal structure of Luke’s Gospel, it is reasonable to conclude that Luke’s “orderly account” refers to a carefully organized narrative arranged around themes rather than strict chronology.
How This Impacts Our Reading of Luke
Understanding this helps us read the Gospel with confidence. Even though the events are not arranged according to modern chronological expectations, the Gospel remains completely truthful and reliable.
The differences in chronology between the Gospels reflect the authors’ use of thematic arrangement, not historical error. Each writer, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, arranged events and teachings in a way that clearly communicates truth about Christ.
Rather than creating confusion, this organization helps us understand the message each Gospel writer intends to emphasize. The placement of events often carries meaning. This is why studying a passage within its immediate context—what comes before and after it—is so important.
The sequence itself is part of the message.
Luke’s Stated Purpose
Luke also tells us a great deal about his purpose in the opening verses of his Gospel (Luke 1:1–4). From this introduction we learn several important things:
- Luke is writing a historical narrative (v. 1).
- The information he records comes from eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word (v. 2).
- Luke carefully investigated these sources while compiling his account (v. 3).
- His Gospel is written for both Jew and Gentile readers, demonstrating that Christ came not just to be Messiah for the Jews, but to save a people for Himself “from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages (Rev 7:9).”
- His purpose is that the reader may have certainty concerning the things they have been taught about Christ (v. 4).
Luke’s purpose is clear. He writes so that his readers may have confidence in the truth about Jesus Christ.
Everything that follows in the Gospel should be read in light of that purpose. The events Luke records and the way he arranges them work together to show that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, the promised King from the line of David whose kingdom will never end (Luke 1:31–33).
If we want to honor Luke’s intended meaning (and by extension God’s since Luke was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write what he wrote), we must read every passage in light of that purpose.
Note 1
The following notes provide a summary of findings and sources discussing the organization of ancient historical narratives and biographies, as well as the later development of chronological arrangement:
Ancient historians frequently organized their works around literary and rhetorical themes rather than strict chronology.
Marincola, John. Authority and Tradition in Ancient Historiography. Cambridge University Press, 1997.
Early historical writings were often structured around themes rather than continuous chronological narratives.
Fowler, Robert L. Early Greek Mythography: Volume 2 Commentary. Oxford University Press, 2013.
Plutarch’s biographies of Greek and Roman figures, for example, were organized around themes, character traits, and significant events rather than strict chronological sequence.
Burridge, Richard A. What Are the Gospels? A Comparison with Graeco-Roman Biography. Cambridge University Press, 1992.
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