Do the writing methodologies of Greco-Roman historians have an impact on Luke’s writing order?

• Published in: Hervormde teologiese studies Vol. 73; no. 3; pp. 1 - 10
• Main Authors: Spencer, Aida B., Fung, Benjamin W.W., Viljoen, Francois P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: AOSIS 07.09.2017; Reformed Theological College of the Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Pretoria and Society for Practical Theology in South Africa
• Subjects: chronological; Greco-Roman and Jewish historians; logical; Luke; Religion; writing order
• ISSN: 0259-9422; 2072-8050; 2072-8050
• DOI: 10.4102/hts.v73i3.4623

Luke in the preface of his Gospel says that he is going to write ‘in an orderly account’ (Lk 1:3). However, scholars have no consensus about the kind of order Luke is seeking. Many believe that Luke writes as a historian. Because Greco-Roman historians seem to have a practice to indicate in their prefaces the writing methodologies of their writings, this article aims to ascertain Luke’s writing order through a comparison of Luke’s two prefaces with those in the writings of the Greco-Roman historians. This article proposes that Luke most likely adopts the common writing methodologies of the Greco-Roman historians and writes in chronological order.