"eyewitnesses and ministers of the word"

[Michael BG]

It would be very interesting if Luke referred to “the Word” in the same way as in the Gospel of John.

John uses ὁ λόγος, for “the Word”, which is seen as a heavenly being that becomes Jesus. Luke has here τοῦ λόγου, which could be seen as “that which has been said” or together both words as “of the communication”. Luke only uses the word again in 20:20 where he rejects the Marcan version for “they sent spies who pretended to be sincere, that they might take hold of what he said” (αὐτοῦ λόγου – “of his words”).

It does not seem that Luke is referring to Jesus as the Word.

Luke uses ὑπηρέται, which here is translated as ministers, but it could be translated as deputies as in assistants or subordinates or preachers.

“Eyewitnesses and ministers of the word” could be translated as “eyewitnesses to the sayings (of Jesus) and preachers of the sayings (of Jesus)”.

As Neilgodfrey says Luke uses λόγων in verse 4. It can be translated as “words” or “sayings” so in context it could be “that you may know the truth of the sayings (of Jesus) you were taught”.

Luke may have meant more than the sayings of Jesus. He may have meant the message of Jesus in verses 2 and 4.