A Note on aacgr{sigma}{varphi}{alpha}{lambda}{varepsilon}{iota}{alpha} (Luke 1.4)

doi:10.1177/0142064X07084774

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A Note on $aacgr$ ${sigma}$ ${varphi}$ ${alpha}$ ${lambda}$ ${varepsilon}$ ${iota}$ ${alpha}$ (Luke 1.4)

Rick Strelan

The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia 4072 rick.strelan{at}uq.edu.au

The noun $aacgr$ ${sigma}$ ${varphi}$ ${alpha}$ ${lambda}$ ${varepsilon}$ ${iota}$ ${alpha}$ in Lk 1.4 is usually understood to refer to the certaintyof the facts about Jesus that Luke wishes to convey to Theophilusthrough his Gospel. This article proposes another interpretationof this noun, namely that it refers to the sureness of the wordsand the soundness of their argument. It does so by noting theuse of the noun and its cognates in Greek literature on stylewhere it indicates balance, soundness and the assurance thatan argument not be contradicted. Luke writes in a known andaccepted literary style, using `sound' and `safe' words in orderto shore up against potential contradiction and argument.

Key Words: asphaleia • certainty • literary style • Luke's Preface

References

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1924 `St. Luke's Preface: $aacgr$ ${sigma}$ ${varphi}$ ${alpha}$ ${lambda}$ ${varepsilon}$ ${iota}$ ${alpha}$ and ${pi}$ ${alpha}$ ${rho}$ ${alpha}$ ${kappa}$ o ${lambda}$ o ${upsilon}$ ${theta}$ ${varepsilon}$ ${iota}$ ${nu}$ ', JTS 25: 67-71.

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