The Meaning of παρακολουθέω in Luke 1:1-4

 

The Gospel of Luke is the only one which gives a preface describing the nature and process of the producing the work at hand:

"1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely (παρακολουθέω) for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught." (Luke 1:1-4 ESV)

Verse 3 is of particular importance. The meaning Greek verb παρακολουθέω (translated in the ESV as "having followed all things closely") is debated in modern scholarship and studies. Most translations render it in this text as "to investigate" or "to investigate closely". If this meaning is correct (which I believe it is, as I will argue in this article), then it indicates that Luke had done his research into the historical realities of Christ's life and teachings. This would support the traditional Christian view which has considered Luke to be a reliable historian of the life of Christ. In this article, I will examine ancient sources and modern commentaries, lexicons, and studies to show that the word παρακολουθέω does indeed mean "to investigate closely", thus showing that Luke had a robust knowledge of the life of the Lord Jesus, and thus was a reliable historian of antiquity.

Data from Ancient Sources

Ancient Greco-Roman and Jewish literature consistently use παρακολουθέω in the sense of investigation and close acquaintance with the thing that one is investigating:

"Blepyrus: 'Lead on, my lass. I'll follow close [παρακολουθῶ] behind'." (Aristophanes, Ecclesiasuzae, ln. 725)

"In order that you may extend your best indulgence to me when I, who have the most accurate knowledge of his villainies, and have watched him closely [παρηκολουθηκὼς] throughout, appear as his prosecutor." (Demosthenes, On the False Embassy, 257)

"for living in perpetual observance [παρακολουθῶν ] of his malady, which was incurable, he was not able to effect a cure" (Plato, Republic, 3.406b)

"I thought it necessary, if we were to get an adequate and comprehensive view [ παρακολουθῆσαι] of their present supreme position, to trace clearly how and when the Romans, after the disaster which they sustained in the loss of their own city, began their upward career; and how and when, once more, after possessing themselves of Italy, they conceived the idea of attempting conquests external to it." (Polybius, Histories, 1.12.7)

"Surely they ought to recognize that it is the duty of one who promises to present his readers with actual facts first to obtain an exact knowledge of them himself, either through having been in close touch [παρηκολουθηκοτα] with the events, or by inquiry from those who knew them." (Josephus, Against Apion, 1.10.53) 

"How much easier it is to acquire and peruse forty Books, all as it were connected by one thread, and thus to follow clearly [παροκολουθησαι] events in Italy, Sicily, and Libya from the time of Pyrrhus to the capture of Carthage" (Polybius, Histories, 3.32.2) 

The above examples indicate that the word παρακολουθέω generally was understood to mean "to follow closely", which in essence means the exact same thing as "to investigate".

Modern Scholarship

The BDAG lexicon (pg. 619) cites Luke 1:3 as a place where παρακολουθέω means "to investigate". 

"...the traditional interpretation of parekolouthekoti, "having traced, investigated." See further M. Goguel, W. Grundmann, M.-J. Lagrange, K. Rengstorf, J. Schmid, N. Stonehouse, M. Zerwick, etc. It seems to be the preferable sense, although this choice does not rule out Luke's being contemporary with some of the events" (Joseph Fitzmyer, Anchor Bible Commentary: The Gospel According to Luke I-IX, pg. 297)

"But his claim that the word cannot mean ‘to investigate’ is not compelling, and this is the better meaning here...Luke means that he has thoroughly investigated all the facts (πᾶσιν) in the light of the available evidence." (I. Howard Marshall, The New International Greek Testament Commentary: The Gospel of Luke, pg. 42)

"Haenchen argues strongly for the second view, asserting that the meaning “to investigate” is present in Josephus and that Cadbury’s interpretation does not fit the Lucan context. Josephus uses the verb to mean “to follow, ” but with a catch. The idea is to follow an account or events so as to understand them. If Luke’s meaning parallels that of Josephus, then the Gospel writer is asserting here that he gave careful attention to the events, something that implies investigation, since he did not experience all the events." (Darrell L. Bock, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Luke 1:1-9:50, pg. 60)

In short, the majority of modern scholarship agrees with the meaning "to investigate". However, H.J. Cadbury is a notable exception, having argued that παρακολουθέω means "to observe" or of "intimate association" 

Haenchen responded to him by noting two important points.

1) Josephus uses παρακολουθέω in the sense of "to follow", but with the extra meaning of "to follow events so as to understand them" (something which is evident from the passage quoted above from Against Apion). This clearly carries the idea of investigation.

2) If one assume Cadbury's definition of παρακολουθέω and takes into account the following word ἀκριβῶς, then Luke would not make any sense, thus Cadbury's definition does not fit the context of Luke.

A.T. Robertson also noted that the meaning "to investigate" fits perfectly with the fact that Luke uses παρακολουθέω in its perfect participial form (with indicates past action with ongoing effects of said action, see William D. Mounce's Basics of Biblical Greek for more information).