NOTES for Luk 1:1-4
These opening lines of the Gospel contain one of the greatest mysteries of the New Testament. As he begins his account, Luke addresses a certain most excellent Theophilus, who was apparently his disciple. This address transforms the whole text from an abstract legend into a deeply personal story that one person wishes to share with another. The evangelist does not begin with grand words or portentous phrases; it is far more important to him to explain to his reader exactly what one needs to know about the life of Christ.
Christianity is not a collection of doctrines and rules, but a living faith passed from heart to heart. It is a faith that lives in the relationships between people who, like Luke and Theophilus, wish to share with one another the glad tidings of the Savior's life, death, and resurrection.