The beginning of the book of Luke is on this wise: "Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto you in order, most excellent Theophilus, That you might know the certainty of those things, wherein you have been instructed." (Luke 1:1-4)
In the Revised Version the third verse is slightly different, thus: "It seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto you." (Luke 1:3)
It is most certain that Luke himself was not an eyewitness of all the things which he narrates, for he begins back before the birth of John the Baptist, and relates the story of his birth, as well as that of Jesus. He also tells the details of the temptation in the wilderness, of the transfiguration, and of many other things which occurred when he could not have been present. Therefore his "perfect understanding of all things from the very first," (Luke 1:3) was not through personal acquaintance with the events as they occurred. If we take the reading of the Revision: "Having traced the course of all things accurately from the first," (Luke 1:3) to mean that he had compared and sifted the different accounts, then we throw discredit upon his narrative; for how could Theophilus or we ourselves have the certainty of our knowledge increased by the narrative of one who himself received it second hand?
What shall we do, then? Shall we doubt the accuracy of the Gospel of Luke? Not by any means. We shall take the most consistent course, namely, to believe that he received his knowledge by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, which is really what he himself claims.
It is a fact, which the one who reads only English can verify by consulting Young's Analytical Concordance, that the Greek word which is rendered in the common version by, "from the very first," and in the Revision by, "from the first," may properly be rendered, as it often is, by the words, "from above."
In the following texts the words italicized are from the same word that is used in Luke 1:3. The reader will see that in these cases no other rendering would be admissible. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above." (James 1:17) "This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish." (James 3:15) "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy." (James 3:17) "Jesus answered, You could have no power at all against me, except it were given you from above." (John 19:11) "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again [from above], he cannot see the kingdom of God. ... Marvel not that I said unto you, You must be born again [from above]." (John 3:3,8)
In the last two texts the marginal reading is "from above," the same as in the others. It is true that the word which is thus rendered occurs in one case in the Bible, where it must mean, "from the beginning," namely in Acts 26:5 "Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee." (Acts 26:5); but the texts above quoted are sufficient to show that "from above" is a perfectly proper rendering. There is nothing whatever to forbid its being so rendered in Luke 1:3, thus: "It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from above, to write unto you in order, most excellent Theophilus, That you might know the certainty of those things wherein you have been instructed." (Luke 1:3-4)
This is not only allowable, but is the only really consistent rendering. It is only from above that one can receive "perfect understanding" of anything, and especially of such things as Luke narrates; and it is only by wisdom "from above" that we can have certain knowledge of the truth of those things.
Luke simply states the fact that he wrote by inspiration of the Spirit, which alone can make us "know the certainty" of those things which we believe.--Present Truth, January 18, 1894--Timeline: Nativity-1 (The Announcement to Zacharias)--Luke 1:1-4.