Luke 1 Bible study: Favor with God

In the WEB, Luke's first four verses are one sentence, written to one reader. It begins, "Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us" (1:1). Those things were delivered "to us" by "those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word" (1:2) (tap eyewitnesses). The writer, "having traced the course of all things accurately from the first", writes "to you in order, most excellent Theophilus" (1:3), and gives the reason: "that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed" (1:4) (tap certainty). The writer speaks as "me" (1:3) and gives no name, and says no more of Theophilus than these verses do.

Luke 1:31→leads toLuke 2:21

The angel Gabriel tells Mary, "Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Jesus.’" (Luke 1:31). In the next chapter Luke says the name he was called was the one the angel gave: "When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb." (Luke 2:21).

χάριςcharissay KHAR-ees

Strong's: "graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act". Thayer, in one of its senses: "good-will, loving-kindness, favor". "Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God." (1:30). Luke's Greek has the word eight times, counted in the Byzantine text the WEB translates, and the WEB gives it in several ways: favor here and in "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (2:52); grace in "the grace of God was upon him" (2:40); "the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth" (4:22); credit three times, "what credit is that to you?" (6:32, 6:33, 6:34); and thank (17:9).