Luke 1:4

so that you may know for certain ¹  the things you were taught. ² 

so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.

to reassure you of the truth of all you were taught.

so you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught.

So that you might have certain knowledge of those things about which you were given teaching.

so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed.

that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

so that you may know for certain ¹  the things you were taught. ² 

¹ tn Or “know the truth about”; or “know the certainty of.” The issue of the context is psychological confidence; Luke’s work is trying to encourage Theophilus. So in English this is better translated as “know for certain” than “know certainty” or “know the truth,” which sounds too cognitive. “Certain” assumes the truth of the report. On this term, see Acts 2:36; 21:34; 22:30; and 25:26. The meaning “have assurance concerning” is also possible here.

² tn Or “you heard about.” This term can refer merely to a report of information (Acts 21:24) or to instruction (Acts 18:25). The scope of Luke’s Gospel as a whole, which calls for perseverance in the faith and which assumes much knowledge of the OT, suggests Theophilus had received some instruction and was probably a believer.