Reference: Gospels
Easton
The central fact of Christian preaching was the intelligence that the Saviour had come into the world (Mt 4:23; Ro 10:15); and the first Christian preachers who called their account of the person and mission of Christ by the term evangelion (= good message) were called evangelistai (= evangelists) (Eph 4:11; Ac 21:8).
There are four historical accounts of the person and work of Christ: "the first by Matthew, announcing the Redeemer as the promised King of the kingdom of God; the second by Mark, declaring him 'a prophet, mighty in deed and word'; the third by Luke, of whom it might be said that he represents Christ in the special character of the Saviour of sinners (Lu 7:36; 15:18); the fourth by John, who represents Christ as the Son of God, in whom deity and humanity become one. The ancient Church gave to Matthew the symbol of the lion, to Mark that of a man, to Luke that of the ox, and to John that of the eagle: these were the four faces of the cherubim" (Eze 1:10).
Date. The Gospels were all composed during the latter part of the first century, and there is distinct historical evidence to show that they were used and accepted as authentic before the end of the second century.
Mutual relation. "If the extent of all the coincidences be represented by 100, their proportionate distribution will be: Matthew, Mark, and Luke, 53; Matthew and Luke, 21; Matthew and Mark, 20; Mark and Luke, 6. Looking only at the general result, it may be said that of the contents of the synoptic Gospels [i.e., the first three Gospels] about two-fifths are common to the three, and that the parts peculiar to one or other of them are little more than one-third of the whole."
Origin. Did the evangelists copy from one another? The opinion is well founded that the Gospels were published by the apostles orally before they were committed to writing, and that each had an independent origin. (See Matthew, Gospel according to.)
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and the likeness of their faces was the face of a man, with the face of a lion to the right of the four of them, and the face of an ox on the left, of the four of them, - the face of an eagle, also had they four;
And Jesus was going round throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the glad-message of the kingdom, - and curing every disease, and every infirmity, among the people.
And a certain one of the Pharisees was requesting him, that he would eat with him; and, entering into the house of the Pharisee, he reclined.
I will arise, and go unto my father, and will say unto him - Father! I have sinned against heaven, and before thee:
and, on the morrow departing, we came to Caesarea, and, entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was of the seven, we abode with him.
And how shall they proclaim, except they be sent? Even as it is written - How beautiful the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things!
And, he, gave - some, indeed, to be apostles, and some, prophets, and some, evangelists, and some, shepherds and teachers, -
Fausets
From the Old English god spel, "good news." The providential preparations for the gospel attest its divine origin.
(1) The translation at Alexandria of the Old Testament into Greek (by the Septuagint), rendering the Jewish Scriptures accessible through that then universal language of the refined and polite to the literary of all nations. All possibility of questioning the existence or falsifying the contents of Old Testament prophecy was precluded thereby, however much the Jews who rejected Jesus would have wished to alter the prophecies which plainly identified Him as the foretold Messiah. The canon of the Old Testament having been completed, and prophecy having ceased before the Sept. translation, they could not deny that the divine knowledge derivable from it was complete.
(2) Greek and oriental philosophy had drawn attention to religious and moral speculations, which at once exposed and undermined paganism, and yet with all its endless labors gave no satisfactory answer to the questionings and cravings of man's spiritual being.
(3) The Roman empire had broken down the barriers between E. and W. and united almost the whole world, Asia, Africa, and Europe, in one, and established peace and good order, making possible the rapid transmission of the glad tidings from country to country; compare Lu 2:1; Mt 22:21.
(4) The universal expectation in the East of a great king to arise in Judea, probably due to fragments of revelation (as the prophecy of Balsam, Nu 24:17) such as led the wise men of the East to conic seeking "the king of the Jews."
(5) The settling of the Jews, and the consequent erection of synagogues, throughout all the towns of Asia. Greece, Italy, Africa, and western Europe. Hence by the reading of the law and the prophets in the synagogues everywhere each sabbath proselytes of righteousness were gathered from the Gentiles, such as the eunuch or chamberlain of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, a student of Scripture, Cornelius the centurion who "feared God with all his house, and gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always."
These not being bound under the ceremonial yoke, as the original Jews, formed a connecting link with the Gentiles; and hence at Antioch in Pisidia, when the Jews rejected the preaching of Paul and Barnabas, these proselytes, with the Gentiles, "besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath, ... and on that day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God" (Ac 13:15-44). So at Iconium (Ac 14:1), and at Thessalonica (Ac 17:1-4). Such were the "devout men, out of every nation under heaven," the collected representatives of the world, to whom Peter preached with such success (Ac 2:4-11). The 3,000 converts of that day and the 5,000 of a few days after (Ac 4:4) would act as missionaries on their return to their several nations. To the Jews first in each synagogue abroad the apostles preached, and gathered many converts from among them; and then to the Gentiles.
The Jews' national rejection of Jesus is no valid objection to the gospel, since He foretold it Himself (Mt 16:21; 26:2), and the Old Testament prophets did so too (Isa 49:16,21,26/type/emb'>26,26/type/emb'>26; Psalm 22); so that, fixing their eyes on the prophecies of Messiah's glory and kingdom which they wrested to mean His setting up a temporal kingdom at Jerusalem and overthrowing the Roman existing dominion, and shutting their eyes to the prophecies of His humiliation, "they knew Him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath," and yet in spite of themselves, like their types Joseph's brethren (Ge 50:20), "they have fulfilled them in condemning Him" (Ac 13:27; 3:18). The harmony in Christ of prophecies seemingly so opposite, His temporal and temporary humiliation, and yet His spiritual dominion now and His final visible and everlasting kingdom, furnish conclusive proof of the Divinity of prophecies which no human sagacity could have anticipated or human agency fulfilled.
The correspondence of the gospel event to the predictions of the Old Testament is thus established by the Jews, unwilling witnesses and therefore beyond suspicion. Graves (Pentateuch, 2:3,6) well says, had they universally embraced the gospel at its first publication, the sceptic might allege the prophecies to have been fabricated or altered to fit them to the events; the contrary is now certain. This is one great cause why the national conversion of the Jews is delayed "until the fullness of the Gentiles shall come in" (Ro 11:35). They continue guardians of the prophetic records until these shall have had their contents examined, and their application ascertained, by every other nation in the world. Genuineness and inspiration of the Four Gospels. The "prophets" in the Christian church who had the spiritual gift of "discerning spirits" were an effectual check on the introduction of a pseudo-inspired writing. Paul appeals to them on the inspiration of his letters (1Co 14:37; 12:10; compare 1Jo 4:1).
Thus, by the two-fold inspiration, that of the authors and that of the judges, the canonicity of the four Gospels, as of the other books of New Testament, is established. The anonymous fragment of the canon of the New Testament attributed to Caius a presbyter of Rome (published by Muratori, Antiq. Ital., iii. 854, and known as the Muratorian Fragment), recognizes the Gospels (Luke and John, the sentences as to Matthew and Mark are obliterated) as inspired, and condemns as uninspired the Shepherd by Hermes, "written very recently in our own times," i.e. in the first part of the second century, the age in which John the last apostle died. Theophilus (Ad Autol., iii. 11), Bishop of Antioch A.D. 168, refers to "the evangelists" and "the Holy Scriptures" of the New Testament. Clement of Alexandria in the latter part of the second century refers to the collection of Gospels as one whole, "the gospel" (Quis Dives Salvus?).
The anonymous letter to Diognetus (sec. 11 ed. Hefele) attributed to Justin Martyr refers to "the Gospels and the Apostles" (i.e. the letters). Ignatius of Antioch, a hearer of John (Ep. ad Philad., sec. 5), calls "the (written) Gospel the flesh of Jesus," and classes it with the Old Testament prophets. Tertullian (Adv. Marc. iv. 2), mentioning the Four Gospels two as the work of apostles and two as that of apostolic men (A.D. 208); Irenaeus (Adv. Haer., ii. 27; iii. 11, sec. 7); martyred A.D. 202; Origen, speaking of the four Gospels as "the elements of the church's faith"; Eusebius; and not only these orthodox writers but heretics, Marcion dud others, appeal to the Gospels as the inspired standard Canon. (See CANON.) .
They were translated into Syriac in the second century, and into Latin and the two Egyptian dialects by the fourth century. We have better evidence for their genuineness than for any other ancient writing. Theophilus arranged the Four Gospels so as to form one work (Jerome, Ep. ad Algas., iv. 197). Tartan, who died A.D. 170, formed a Diatessaron or harmony of the Four Gospels. Barnabas (Paul's companion), Clement of Rome (Php 4:3), and Polycarp quote the Gospels, though not with verbal exactness. Justin Martyr quotes Matthew, Luke, and John largely and exactly. As the heretic Gnostics and Marcion arose early in the second century their acceptance of the Gospels proves that these had been promulgated some time before (i.e. in the apostolic age itself), for after the dissensions between the orthodox and heretics had arisen the Gospels would never have been accepted by mutually hostile parties.
A distinct line was drawn between the apocryphal and the genuine Gospels. Unbelievers, as Celsus in controversy with Origen, could not deny the genuineness of the four even while rejecting their contents. The fathers' large quotations (Origen's especially) prove our Gospels were the same as theirs. Our Saviour wrote nothing Himself, the alleged letter to Abgarus, king of Edessa, being probably spurious. If He had (like Muhammed) recorded His own miracles and teachings, internal consistency would have been nothing marvelous. People would have deified the form, while failing to discern the inner essence. "If I bear witness of Myself My wit
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Ye, indeed, planned against me, evil, - God, planned it, for good, for the sake of doing, as at this day, to save alive much people.
I see One, who is not now, I observe One, who is not nigh, - There hath marched forth a Star out of Jacob. And arisen a Sceptre out of Israel, That hath dishonoured the beard of Mesh, Yea the crown of the head of all the tumultuous;
Yet through all the earth, hath gone forth their voice, - and, to the end of the world, their sayings, - For the sun, hath he set up a tent therein;
Yahweh, hath become king, Let the peoples, tremble, He is enthroned on the cherubim, Let the earth, shake.
Lo! on the palms of my hands, have portrayed thee, - Thy walls are before me continually.
Then shalt thou say in thy heart, - Who hath borne me, these, Seeing, I, have been bereaved and unfruitful, a captive and banished, These, therefore, who hath brought them up? Lo! I, was left, alone, These, where were they.
Then will I feed thy tormentors with their own flesh, And as with new wine - with their own blood, shall they be drunk, - So shall all flesh, know, that, I - Yahweh, am thy Saviour, And, thy Redeemer, is the Mighty One of Jacob.
Then will I feed thy tormentors with their own flesh, And as with new wine - with their own blood, shall they be drunk, - So shall all flesh, know, that, I - Yahweh, am thy Saviour, And, thy Redeemer, is the Mighty One of Jacob.
And a certain scribe, coming near, said unto him, - Teacher; I will follow thee, whithersoever Thou goest. And Jesus saith unto him: The foxes, have, dens, and, the birds of the heavens, nests, - but, the Son of Man, hath not where, his head he may recline. read more. And, another of the disciples, saith unto him, - Lord! suffer me, first, to depart, and bury my father. But, Jesus, saith unto him, - Be following me, and leave, the dead, to bury, their own dead.
And, when he, came, unto the other side, into the country of the Gadarenes, there met him, two men demonized, out of the tombs, coming forth, - fierce exceedingly, so that no one could pass that way;
And Jesus, passing aside from thence, saw a man presiding over the tax-office, called, Matthew, and saith unto him, - Be following me. And, arising, he followed him.
Philip, and Bartholomew, - Thomas, and Matthew, the tax-collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thadaeus;
And, he, said - Come! And, descending from the boat, Peter walked upon the waters, and came unto Jesus.
And, Simon Peter, answering, said - Thou, art the Christ, the Son of the Living God. And Jesus, answering, said to him - Happy, art thou, Simon Bar-yona, - because, flesh and blood, revealed it not unto thee, but my Father who is in the heavens.
From that time, began Jesus Christ to be pointing out to his disciples that he must needs, into Jerusalem, go away, and, many things, suffer, from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, - and on, the third day, arise.
And, when they came into Capernaum, they who, the half shekel, were receiving, came near unto Peter, and said, Your teacher, doth he not pay the half shekel?
And, when they came into Capernaum, they who, the half shekel, were receiving, came near unto Peter, and said, Your teacher, doth he not pay the half shekel? He saith - Yea. And, coming into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, How, to thee, doth it seem, Simon? The kings of the earth, of whom receive they dues or tax? from their sons, or from the aliens? read more. And, when he said, From the aliens, Jesus said unto him, Well then, free, are the sons! But, that we may not cause them to stumble, go unto the sea, and cast in a hook, and, the first fish that cometh up, take, and, opening its mouth, thou shalt find a shekel, - that, take, and give to them for me and thee.
They say - Caesar's. Then, saith he unto them - Render, therefore, the things of Caesar, unto Caesar, - and, the things of God, unto God.
Jerusalem! Jerusalem! that slayeth the prophets, and stoneth them that have been sent unto her, - how often, would I have gathered thy children, like as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, - and ye would not!
Ye know that, after two days, the passover, taketh place, - and, the Son of Man, is to be delivered up, to be crucified.
and said: This, man said - I am able to pull down the shrine of God, and, in three days, to, build, it.
And, the eleven disciples, went into Galilee, unto the mountain which, Jesus, had appointed them;
And Jesus, coming near, spake unto them, saying - All authority, in heaven and on earth, hath been given unto me; Go ye, therefore, and disciple all the nations, Immersing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, - read more. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I myself have commanded you, And lo! I, am, with you, all the days, until the conclusion of the age.
and he was in the wilderness, forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts, - and, the messengers, were ministering unto him.
and, straightway, he called them, - and, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat, with the hired men, they came away after him.
And, passing by, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting over the tax-office, - and saith unto him - Be following me! And, arising, he followed him.
And, looking round upon them with anger, being at the same time grieved on account of the hardening of their heart, he saith unto the man - Stretch forth thy hand! and he stretched it forth, and his hand, was restored.
and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (and imposed on them a name - Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder);
And, taking him away from the multitude apart, he thrust his fingers into his ears, and, spitting, touched his tongue; and, looking up into the heaven, sighed deeply, and saith unto him - Ephphatha! that is, Be opened!
And, straightway, all the multitude, seeing him, were greatly amazed, and, running near, began saluting him.
And, from thence, going forth, they were journeying through Galilee, - and he was not wishing that any should get to know it; for he was teaching his disciples and saying unto them, The Son of Man, is to be delivered up, into the hands of men, and they will slay him, - and, being slain, after three days, will he arise. read more. But they were not understanding the declaration, and feared, to question, him. And they came into Capernaum. And, happening to be, in the house, he was questioning them - What, in the way, were ye discussing?
A certainone of the by-standers, drawing a sword, smote the servant of the High priest, and took off his, ear.
But go your way, tell his disciples, and Peter - He is going before you into Galilee: there, shall ye yourselves see him, - according as he said unto you.
Seeing, indeed, that, many, had taken in hand to re-arrange for themselves a narrative, concerning the facts which have been fully confirmed amongst us, -
Now, in the sixth month, was the messenger Gabriel sent forth from God, into a city of Galilee, the name of which was Nazareth, -
the same, shall be great, and, Son of the Most High, shall be called, and the Lord God, will give unto him, the throne of David his father, -
Now it came to pass, in those days, that there went forth a decree from Caesar Augustus, for all the inhabited earth to be enrolled:
Now, in the fifteenth year of the supremacy of Tiberius Caesar, - Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and, Philip his brother, tetrarch of Ituraea and the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanius, tetrarch of Abylene, - in the High-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, came a word of God unto John the son, of Zechariah, in rue desert; read more. and he came into all the country about the Jordan, proclaiming an immersion of repentance into remission of sins: as it is written in the book of the discourses of Isaiah the prophet: A voice of one crying aloud! In the desert, prepare ye the way of the Lord, straight, be making his paths; Every chasm, shall be filled up, and, every mountain and hill, be made low; and the, crooked, places shall become, straight, and the, rugged, places, smooth ways; - And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. He was saying, therefore, unto the multitudes who were going forth to be immersed by him - Broods of vipers! who suggested to you, to flee from the coming wrath? Bring forth, therefore, fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to be saying within yourselves, As our father, we have, Abraham; for, I say unto you - God is able, out of these stones, to raise up children unto Abraham. And, already, even the axe, unto the root of the trees is being laid; every tree, therefore, not bringing forth goodfruit, is to be hewn down, and, into fire, to be cast. And the multitude began to question him saying - What, then, shall we do? And, answering, he said unto them - He that hath two tunics, let him share with him that hath none, and, he that hath food, in like manner, let him be doing. And there came, even tax-collectors, to be immersed; and they said unto him - Teacher! what, shall we, do? And, he, said unto them, Nothing more than what is appointed you, exact ye. Then were questioning him, soldiers also, saying - What shall, even we, do? And he said unto them - Molest ye, no one, neither accuse falsely; and be content with your supplies. Now, as the people were in expectation, and all were deliberating in their hearts, concerning John, - whether by any means, he, might be, the Christ, John answered, saying unto all - I, indeed, in water, am immersing you, but he that is mightier than I, cometh, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to unloose, - he, will immerse you m Holy Spirit and fire: whose fan is in his hand, to clear out his threshing-floor, and to gather the wheat into his granary; but, the chaff, will he burn up with fire unquenchable. So then indeed, as to many things and various, he exhorted, and continued telling his glad-message unto the people. But, Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him concerning Herodias, the wife of his brother, and concerning all the wicked things Herod had done, added this also unto all, - he locked up John in prison. Now it came to pass, when one and all the people were immersed, Jesus also, having been immersed, and being at prayer, heaven was opened; and the Holy Spirit descended, in bodily appearance, as a dove, upon him, - and, a voice out of heaven, came - Thou, art my Son, the Beloved, in thee, I delight. And, Jesus himself, was, when he began, about thirty years of age, being the son, as was supposed - of Joseph, of Heli:
And Jesus returned, in the power of the Spirit, into Galilee; and, a report, went out along the whole of the region, concerning him;
And, when this they had done, they enclosed a very large number of fishes, and their nets began to break.
And Simon, beholding, fell down at the knees of Jesus, saying - Depart from me! Because, a sinful man, am I, O Lord!
likewise also, both James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon - Do not fear! henceforth, shall thou be taking, men, that they may, live.
And, after these things, he went forth, and looked upon a tax-collector, by name Levi, - presiding over the tax-office; and he said to him - Be following me!
And it came to pass, on a Sabbath, that he was passing along through cornfields, and his disciples were plucking and eating the ears of corn, rubbing them with their hands.
And it came to pass, in due course, that he was passing through, city by city and village by village, proclaiming, and delivering the glad-message of the kingdom of God, - and, the twelve, were with him;
And they sailed down into the country of the Gerasenes, the which is over against Galilee.
Now, Peter, and they who were with him, had become heavy with sleep; but, waking up, they saw his glory, and the two men who were standing with him.
And Jesus said unto him - Do not forbid; for, whosoever is not against you, is, for you. And it came to pass, when the days for taking him up were on the point of being fulfilled, even he himself, set, his face, to be journeying unto Jerusalem;
And it came to pass, when the days for taking him up were on the point of being fulfilled, even he himself, set, his face, to be journeying unto Jerusalem;
And, as they were journeying on the road, one said unto him - I will follow thee, whithersoever thou shalt depart. And Jesus said unto him - the foxes, have, dens, and, the birds of heaven, nests; but, the Son of Man, hath not where, his head, he may recline. read more. And he said unto another - Be following me! But, he, said - Suffer me, first, to depart, and bury my father. And he said unto him - Leave, the dead, to bury their own dead; but, thou, departing, be declaring the kingdom of God. And, yet another, said - I will follow thee, Lord; But, first, suffer me to bid adieu to them that are in my house.
And he was journeying on, city by city and village by village, and making, progress, unto Jerusalem. And one said unto him - Lord! are they, few, who are being saved? And, he, said unto them -
In that very hour, came near certain Pharisees, saying unto him, Go forth, and be journeying hence, because, Herod, desireth to slay thee.
Jerusalem! Jerusalem! she that slayeth the prophets, and stoneth them that are sent unto her! How often, have I desired to gather together thy children, like as a hen, her own brood, under her wings, - and ye did not desire!
And it came to pass, during the journey unto Jerusalem, that, he, was going through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
And it came to pass, during the journey unto Jerusalem, that, he, was going through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
And they were bringing unto him, even the babes, that he might touch, them; but the disciples, seeing it, began to rebuke them.
But, they, began to be urgent, saying - He is stirring up the people, teaching along all Judaea, even beginning from Galilee unto this place.
saying - In truth, the Lord hath arisen, and hath appeared unto Simon!
On the morrow, he desired to go forth into Galilee. And Jesus findeth Philip, and saith unto him - Be following me!
Jesus answered, and said unto them - Take down this shrine, and, in three days, will I raise it.
After these things, came Jesus, and his disciples, into the Judaean land; and, there, was he tarrying with them, and immersing.
he left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. Now he must needs pass through Samaria. read more. He cometh, therefore, unto a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the parcel of ground which Jacob gave unto Joseph his son. Now Jacob's fountain was there. Jesus, therefore, having become toil-worn with the journey, was sitting thus, upon the fountain. It was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus saith unto her - Give me to drink! for, his disciples, had gone away into the city, that, food, they might buy. The Samaritan woman, therefore, saith unto him - How dost, thou, being, a Jew, ask to drink, of me, who am, a Samaritan woman? for, Jews, have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered, and said unto her - If thou hadst known the free gift of God, and who it is that is saying unto thee, Give me to drink, thou, wouldst have asked him, and he would have given thee living water. She saith unto him - Sir! not even a bucket, hast thou, - and, the well, is, deep: - Whence, then, hast thou the living water? Art, thou, greater than, our father Jacob, who gave us the well, - and, himself, out of it drank, and his sons, and his flocks? Jesus answered, and said unto her - Whosoever drinketh of this water, will thirst, again; But, whosoever shall drink of the water which, I, will give him, in nowise shall thirst, unto times age-abiding, - but, the water which I will give him, shall become, within him, a fountain of water, springing up unto life age-abiding. The woman saith unto him - Sir! give me this water, that I thirst not, neither be coming hither to draw. He saith unto her - Go, call thy husband, and come hither! The woman answered, and said unto him- I have no husband. Jesus saith unto her - Well, saidst thou, A husband, I have not; for, five husbands, thou hast had, - and, now, he whom thou hast, is not thy, husband: This true thing, hast thou spoken. The woman saith unto him - Sir! I perceive that, a prophet, art, thou: - Our fathers, in this mountain, worshipped; and, ye, say, that, in Jerusalem, is the place, where, to worship, it behoveth. Jesus saith unto her - Believe me, woman! There cometh an hour, when, neither in this mountain, nor yet in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father. Ye, worship, that which ye know not; We, worship, that which we know; because, salvation, is, of the Jews. But there cometh an hour, and, now, is, - when, the real worshippers, shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for, even the Father, is seeking, such as these, as his worshippers. God is, spirit; and, they that worship him, in spirit and truth, must needs worship. The woman saith unto him - I know that, Messiah, cometh, who is called Christ, - Whensoever, he, shall come, he will tell us, everything. Jesus saith unto her - I, that speak unto thee, am he. And, hereupon, came his disciples, and they began to marvel, that, with a woman, he was talking. No one, however, said - What seekest thou? or - Why talkest thou with her? The woman, therefore, left her water-vessel, and went away into the city, and saith unto the men - Come! see a man, that told me all things that ever I did: Can, this, be, the Christ? They came forth out of the city, and were coming unto him. In the meantime, the disciples were requesting him, saying - Rabbi! eat. But, he, said unto them - I, have, food, to eat, of which, ye, know not. The disciples, therefore, began to say, one to another - Hath anyone brought him, to eat? Jesus saith unto them - My food, is, that I should do the will of him that sent me, and complete, his work. Are, ye, not saying - Yet, a fourmonth, it is, and, the harvest, cometh? Lo! I say unto you - Lift up your eyes, and gaze at the fields, - that, white, are they unto, harvest. Already, he that reapeth, receiveth, a reward, and gathereth fruit unto life age-abiding; that, he that soweth, together may rejoice, with him that reapeth. For, herein, doth the saying, hold good, - One, is the sower, and, another, is the reaper. I, sent you forth, to be reaping that whereon, ye, have not toiled: Others, have toiled, and, ye, into their toil, have entered. And, out of that city, many, believed on him - of the Samaritans, - by reason of the word of the woman in bearing witness - He told me all things that ever I did. When, therefore, the Samaritans came unto him, they went on to request him to abide with them; and he abode there two days. And, many more, believed by reason of his discourse; and, unto the woman, began to say - No longer, by reason of thy talk, do we believe; for, we ourselves, have heard, and know that, This One, is, in truth, the Saviour of the world. But, after the two days, he went forth from thence, into Galilee.
After these things, was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up unto Jerusalem.
And, after these things, Jesus was walking in Galilee; for he was not wishing, in Judaea, to be walking, because the Jews were seeking to slay him.
And, after these things, Jesus was walking in Galilee; for he was not wishing, in Judaea, to be walking, because the Jews were seeking to slay him. But the feast of the Jews was near, that of the pitching of tents.
But, when his brethren had gone up unto the feast, then, he also, went up, - not openly, but as it were in secret.
Jesus, therefore, no longer openly, was walking among the Jews, but departed thence, into the country near the desert, unto a city called, Ephraim; and, there, abode, with his disciples.
Simon Peter, therefore, having a sword, drew it, and smote the High-priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. Now the name of the servant was Malchus.
After these things, Jesus manifested himself again, unto the disciples, by the sea of Tiberias; and manifested himself, thus: -
And, he, said unto them - Cast the net, on the right side of the boat, - and ye shall find. They cast, therefore; and, no longer, were they able, to draw, it, for the multitude of the fishes. That disciple, therefore, whom Jesus loved, saith unto Peter - It is, the Lord! Simon Peter, therefore, hearing that it was the Lord, girded about him, his upper garment, - for he was naked; and cast himself into the sea;
The first narrative, indeed, made I, concerning all things, O Theophilus, which Jesus began both to do and teach, -
And they were all filled with Holy Spirit, and began to be speaking with other kinds of tongues just as the Spirit was giving unto them to be sounding forth. Now there were in Jerusalem sojourning Jews, reverent men from every nation who were under heaven; read more. And this sound occurring the throng came together and was thrown into confusion, because each one severally heard in his own language them who were speaking; Yea they were beside themselves and did marvel, saying - Lo! are not all these who are speaking Galilaeans? How then do, we, hear each one in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judaea also and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia also and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of the Libya that is towards Cyrene, and the sojourning Romans, - both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we do hear them speaking in our own tongues the magnificent things of God.
Howbeit, God - what things he had before declared, through the mouth of all the prophets, for his Christ to suffer, - did thus fulfill!
Howbeit, many of them that heard the word, believed; and the number of the men became about five thousand.
But Peter said - By no means, Lord! because, at no time, have I eaten anything common or unclean.
And, finding him, he brought him unto Antioch. And so it was with them, that, for a whole year, they were brought together in the assembly, and taught a considerable multitude; also that the disciples, first in Antioch, were called, Christians.
And, considering the matter, he came unto the house of Mary, the mother of John who was surnamed Mark, where a considerable number were gathered together and praying.
And, setting sail from Paphos, Paul's company came into Perga of Pamphylia; but, John, withdrawing from them, returned unto Jerusalem.
And, after the reading of the law and the prophets, the synagogue-rulers sent unto them, saying - Brethren! if there is in you a word of exhortation unto the people, say on. And Paul, standing up, and making a sign with his hand, said - Ye men of Israel! and such as revere God! hearken: - read more. The God of this people Israel, chose our fathers, and, the people, he exalted, by their sojourn in the land of Egypt, - and, with a high arm, brought he them out of it; And, for the time of about forty years, bare with their manners in the desert; And, overthrowing seven nations in the land of Canaan, gave them their land as an inheritance - about four hundred and fifty years. And, after these things, he gave them judges, until Samuel the prophet. And, from that time, they asked for themselves a king, and God gave them Saul, son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, during forty years; And, setting him aside, raised up, David, unto them for king, - of whom he also said, bearing witness - I have found David, the son of Jesse, - a manaccording to my heart, who will do all my will. From this man's seed, hath God, according to promise, brought unto Israel, a saviour - Jesus: John, beforehand proclaiming, before the face of his coming in, an immersion of repentance, unto all the people of Israel. And, as John was fulfilling his course, he was saying - Whom are ye supposing that I am? I, am not he! But lo! there cometh, after me, one of whom I am not worthy, the sandals of his feet, to loosen. Brethren! sons of the race of Abraham, and those who among you revere God, - unto you, hath this word of salvation been sent forth. For, they who were dwelling in Jerusalem, and their rulers, not recognising him, have, by judging him, fulfilled, the very voices of the prophets which every sabbath are being read;
For, they who were dwelling in Jerusalem, and their rulers, not recognising him, have, by judging him, fulfilled, the very voices of the prophets which every sabbath are being read; And, though no single cause of death they found, yet claimed they of Pilate that he should be slain. read more. And, when they had finished all those things which, concerning him, had been written, taking him down from the tree, they put him in a tomb. But, God, raised him from among the dead: Who appeared, during many days, unto them who had come up with him from Galilee unto Jerusalem; who, indeed, noware his witnesses unto the people. We, therefore, unto you, bring the good news, as to the promise which, unto our fathers, was made, - That God hath fulfilled, the same, for our children, by raising up Jesus: as also, in the second psalm, it is written - My son, art, thou: I, this day, have begotten thee. And, in that he raised him from among the dead, no more destined to return unto corruption, on this wise hath he spoken - I will give unto you the faithful lovingkindnesses of David. Wherefore also, in a different place , he saith - Thou wilt not give thy man of lovingkindness to see corruption. For, David, indeed, unto his own generation having done service, by the counsel of God, fell asleep, and was added unto fathers, and saw corruption; But, he whom God hath raised, did not see corruption. Be it known unto you, therefore, brethren, - that, through this man, unto you, remission of sins is declared; And, from all things from which ye could not, by the law of Moses, be justified, by this man, everyone that believeth, is justified. Be taking heed, therefore, lest that come upon you which hath been spoken in the prophets - See, ye despisers, and marvel, and disappear: in that, a work, am, I, working in your days, - a work, which in nowise will ye believe, though one relate it in full unto you. And, as they were going out, they kept on beseeching that, on the ensuing sabbath, might be spoken unto them these things. And, when the congregation was broken up, there followed many of the Jews, and of the devout proselytes, with Paul and Barnabas; who, indeed, in speaking unto them, went on persuading them to abide in the favour of God. And, on the coming sabbath, almost all the city, was gathered together, to hear the word of God.
And it came to pass in Iconium that they together entered into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake that there believed, both of Jews and Greeks, a great throng.
but Paul deemed it right, as to him who had withdrawn from them, back from Pamphylia, and had not gone with them unto the work, not to be taking with them, this, man.
And, travelling through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews; and, according to Paul's custom, he went in unto them, and, for three sabbaths, reasoned with them from the Scriptures, - read more. opening up, and setting forth, that it was needful for, the Christ, to suffer, and to arise from among the dead; and saying , This, is the Christ, - Jesus, whom, I, am declaring unto you. And, some from among them, were persuaded, and cast in their lot with Paul and Silas; also, of the devout Greeks, a great throng, and, of the chief women, not a few.
and, spending some time, he went forth, passing through, in order, the country of Galatia and Phrygia, confirming all the disciples.
For, in the law of Moses, it is written - Thou shalt not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the corn: - Is it, for the oxen, God is caring? Or, for our sakes altogether, is he saying it? For our sakes, it was written; because, he that ploweth, ought, to plow, in hope, - and, he that thresheth, to thresh in hope of partaking.
And, unto another, energies of mighty works, and, unto another, prophesying, and, unto another, discriminations of spirits, - unto a different one, kinds of tongues, and, unto another, translation of tongues; -
If anyone thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge the things which I am writing to you, - that they are, a commandment, of the Lord.
Howbeit, we also set forward, with him, the brother, whose praise in the Glad Tidings, hath gone through all the assemblies: -
But, when Cephas came unto Antioch, to the face, even , him, I resisted, because he stood condemned; For, before that certain came from James, with them of the nations, used he to eat; whereas, when they came, he used to withdraw, and keep himself separate, fearing them of the circumcision; read more. And the rest of the Jews alsoused hypocrisy with him, so that, even Barnabas, was carried away by their hypocrisy. But, when I saw that they were not walking with straightforwardness as regardeth the truth of the glad-message, I said unto Cephas, before all: If, thou, although, a Jew, like them of the nations, and not like the Jews, dost live, how dost thou compel, them of the nations, to live like Jews?
Yea! I request thee also, true yokefellow, be thou helping together with these women, - who, indeed, in the joyful message, have maintained the combat with me, along with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow-workers, whose names, are in the book of life.
Aristarchus, my fellow-captive, saluteth you; and Mark, the first cousin of Barnabas, - concerning whom ye have received commands - if he come unto you, give him welcome;
Luke, alone is with me. Receiving, Mark, back, bring him with thyself, for he is very useful to me for ministering;
Salute ye one another with a kiss of love. Peace unto you all who are in Christ.
For, not as having followed, cleverly devised stories, made we known unto you the power and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, but as having been made, spectators, of his majesty.
Beloved! not in every spirit, believe ye, but test the spirits, whether they are, of God; because, many false prophets, have gone out into the world.
Hastings
Under this heading we may consider the four Gospels as a whole, and their relations to one another, leaving detailed questions of date and authorship to the separate articles.
1. The aims of the Evangelists.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Then, came up Hazael, king of Syria, and fought against Gath, and captured it, - so Hazael set his face to go up against Jerusalem.
To proclaim - The year of acceptance of Yahweh, and The day of avenging of our God: To comfort all who are mourning;
Son of man Set thy face against Jerusalem, And drop thy word against the holy places And prophesy against the so of Israel.
Do not think, that I came to pull down the law, or the prophets, - I came not to pull down, but to fulfil.
Ye have heard, that it was said, to them of olden time, - Thou shalt not commit murder, and, whosoever shall commit murder, shall be, liable, to judgment.
No one, unto two masters, can be in service; for either, the one, he will hate, and, the other ,love, or, one, he will hold to, and, the other, despise: Ye cannot be in service, unto God, and, unto Riches.
But who from among you, being anxious, can add to his stature one cubit?
But, that ye may know, that the Son of Man hath, authority, upon the earth, to be forgiving sins, then, saith he to the paralytic, - Rise! take up thy couch, and withdraw unto thy house.
Come unto me! all ye that toil and are burdened, and, I, will give you rest:
And, recognizing him, the men of that place, sent out into all that region, and they brought unto him all who were sick;
Wherefore do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands, when they eat bread!
And, he, saith unto them - Because of your little faith. For, verily, I say unto you - If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say to this mountain, remove hence yonder; and it shall be removed, and, nothing, shall be impossible to you.
And Jesus, answering, said unto them - Verily, I say unto you, If ye have faith, and do not doubt, not only, this of the fig-tree, shall ye do, - but, even if, unto this mountain, ye shall say, Be lifted up, and be cast into the sea, it shall be done.
Jerusalem! Jerusalem! that slayeth the prophets, and stoneth them that have been sent unto her, - how often, would I have gathered thy children, like as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, - and ye would not!
Jerusalem! Jerusalem! that slayeth the prophets, and stoneth them that have been sent unto her, - how often, would I have gathered thy children, like as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, - and ye would not! Lo! your house is left to you; read more. For I say unto you - in no wise, may ye see me, henceforth, until ye say, Blessed, is he that cometh, in the name of the Lord!
But, whensoever the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the messengers with him, then will he sit on his throne of glory;
According as it is written in Isaiah the prophet - Lo! I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way, -
But, that ye may know that the Son of Man hath authority to be forgiving sins upon the earth, he saith to the paralytic:
For, Herod himself, had sent and secured John and bound him in prison, for the sake of Herodias the wife of Philip his brother, - for, her, had he married,
For, whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also, will be ashamed, of him, whensoever he shall come, in the glory of his Father, with the holy messengers.
For, even the Son of Man, came not to be ministered unto, but minister, - and to give his life, a ransom instead of many.
And, he being in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining, there came a woman, holding an alabaster-jar of perfume, pure spikenard, very costly; and breaking the jar she was pouring down the perfume , upon his head.
And he said unto them - This, is, my blood of the covenant, that is to be poured out in behalf of many.
And Jesus said - I, am; and ye shall see the Son of Man - sitting, on the right hand, of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.
OTHERWISE.
Seeing, indeed, that, many, had taken in hand to re-arrange for themselves a narrative, concerning the facts which have been fully confirmed amongst us, -
Seeing, indeed, that, many, had taken in hand to re-arrange for themselves a narrative, concerning the facts which have been fully confirmed amongst us, - according as they who from the beginning became eye-witnesses and attendants of the Word delivered them unto us,
according as they who from the beginning became eye-witnesses and attendants of the Word delivered them unto us,
according as they who from the beginning became eye-witnesses and attendants of the Word delivered them unto us, it seemed good, even to me, having closely traced from the outset all things accurately, to write unto thee, in order, most excellent Theophilus: read more. that, as touching the matters which thou hadst been taught by word of mouth, thou mightest obtain full knowledge, of the certainty.
But, Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him concerning Herodias, the wife of his brother, and concerning all the wicked things Herod had done,
But, that ye may know that, the Son of Man, hath, authority, upon the earth to forgive sins - he said to the paralyzed man - To thee, I say, Arise, and, taking up thy couch, be going thy way unto thy house.
And it came to pass, when the days for taking him up were on the point of being fulfilled, even he himself, set, his face, to be journeying unto Jerusalem;
And it came to pass, when the days for taking him up were on the point of being fulfilled, even he himself, set, his face, to be journeying unto Jerusalem;
And, who from among you, though anxious, can, unto his stature, add a cubit?
Jerusalem! Jerusalem! she that slayeth the prophets, and stoneth them that are sent unto her! How often, have I desired to gather together thy children, like as a hen, her own brood, under her wings, - and ye did not desire!
No domestic, can, unto two masters, be in service; for either, the one, he will hate, and, the other, love, or, unto the one, he will hold, and, the other, despise: Ye cannot, unto God, be in service, and unto Riches.
I tell you - This one went down justified, unto his house, rather than that one; because, every one who exalteth himself, shall be abased, but, he that abaseth himself, shall be exalted?
(the same had not consented unto their plan and deed), - from Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was awaiting the kingdom of God,
And, the Word, became, flesh, and pitched his tent among us, and we gazed upon his glory, - a glory, as an Only-begotten from his Father. Full of favour and truth.
And, the Word, became, flesh, and pitched his tent among us, and we gazed upon his glory, - a glory, as an Only-begotten from his Father. Full of favour and truth.
On the morrow, he beholdeth Jesus, coming unto him, and saith - See! the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world.
And John bare witness, saying - I have gazed upon the Spirit, descending like a dove, out of heaven, - and it abode upon him.
I, therefore, have seen, and borne witness - That, this, is, the, Son of God.
The same findeth, first, his own brother Simon, and saith unto him - We have found the Messiah! which is, when translated, Anointed.
Philip, findeth, Nathanael, and saith unto him - Him, of whom wrote Moses in the law, and the Prophets, have we found. - Jesus, son of Joseph, him from Nazareth! And Nathanael said unto him - Out of Nazareth, can any good thing come? Philip saith unto him - Come, and see!
Nathanael answered him - Rabbi! thou, art, the Son of God: Thou, art, King, of Israel.
Nicodemus saith unto him - How, can a man be born, when he is, old? Can he, into the womb of his mother, a second time, enter, and be born?
The Samaritan woman, therefore, saith unto him - How dost, thou, being, a Jew, ask to drink, of me, who am, a Samaritan woman? for, Jews, have no dealings with Samaritans.
She saith unto him - Sir! not even a bucket, hast thou, - and, the well, is, deep: - Whence, then, hast thou the living water?
The woman saith unto him - Sir! give me this water, that I thirst not, neither be coming hither to draw.
The Jews, therefore, began to strive one with another, saying - How can this one, unto us, give his flesh to eat?
Now he was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot: for, the same, was about to deliver him up, - one of the twelve.
The Jews, therefore, said unto themselves - Whither, is, this one, about to go, that we shall not find him? Unto the dispersion of the Greeks, is he about to go, and teach the Greeks?
Others, were saying - This, is, the Christ. But, others, were saying - Out of Galilee, is, the Christ, to come?
They answered and said unto him - Surely, thou also, art not, of Galilee? Search and see! That, out of Galilee, a prophet is not to arise.
I and the Father, are, one.
Now it was the preparation of the passover, - it was about the sixth hour. And he saith unto the Jews - See! your King!
And, he that hath seen, hath borne witness; and, genuine, is his testimony, and, he, knoweth that he saith, what is true, that, ye also, may believe.
Jesus saith unto her - Be not detaining me, for, not yet, have I ascended unto the Father; but be going unto my disciples, and say unto them - I am ascending unto my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.
but, these, are written, that ye may believe that, Jesus, is, the Christ, the Son of God; and that, believing, ye may have life in his name.
And, though I have the gift of prophesying, and know all sacred secrets, and all knowledge, - and though I have all faith, so as to be removing mountains, and have not, love, I am, nothing;
Smith
Gos'pels.
The name Gospel (from god and spell, Ang. Sax. good message or news, which is a translation of the Greek euaggelion) is applied to the four inspired histories of the life and teaching of Christ contained in the New Testament, of which separate accounts are given in their place. They were all composed during the latter half of the first century: those of St. Matthew and St. Mark some years before the destruction of Jerusalem; that of St. Luke probably about A.D. 64; and that of St. John towards the close of the century. Before the end of the second century, there is abundant evidence that the four Gospels, as one collection, were generally used and accepted. As a matter of literary history, nothing can be better established than the genuineness of the Gospels. On comparing these four books one with another, a peculiar difficulty claims attention, which has had much to do with the controversy as to their genuineness. In the fourth Gospel the narrative coincided with that of the other three in a few passages only. The received explanation is the only satisfactory one namely, that John, writing last, at the close of the first century had seen the other Gospels, and purposely abstained from writing anew what they had sufficiently recorded. In the other three Gospels there is a great amount of agreement. If we suppose the history that they contain to be divided into 89 sections, in 42 of these all the three narratives coincide, 12 more are given by Matthew and Mark only, 5 by Mark and Luke only, and 14 by Matthew and Luke. To these must be added 5 peculiar to Matthew, 2 to Mark and 9 to Luke, and the enumeration is complete. But this applies only to general coincidence as to the facts narrated: the amount of verbal coincidence, that is, the passages either verbally the same or coinciding in the use of many of the same words, is much smaller. It has been ascertained by Stroud that "if the total contents of the several Gospels be represented by 100, the following table is obtained: Matthew has 42 peculiarities and 58 coincidences. Mark has 7 peculiarities and 93 coincidences. Luke has 59 peculiarities and 41 coincidences. John has 92 peculiarities and 8 coincidences. Why four Gospels. --
1. To bring four separate independent witnesses to the truth.
2. It is to give the Lord's life from every point of view, four living portraits of one person. There were four Gospels because Jesus was to be commended to four races or classes of men, or to four phases of human thought,--the Jewish, Roman, Greek and Christian. Had not these exhausted the classes to be reached, there would doubtless have been more Gospels. In all ages, the Jewish, Roman and Greek natures reappear among men, and, in fact, make up the world of natural men, while the Christian nature and wants likewise remain essentially the same. The FIRST GOSPEL was prepared by Matthew for the Jew. He gives us the Gospel of Jesus, the Messiah of the Jews, the Messianic royalty of Jesus. He places the life and character of Jesus, as lived on earth, alongside the life and character of the Messiah, as sketched in the prophets, showing Christianity as the fulfillment of Judaism. Mark wrote the SECOND GOSPEL. It was substantially the preaching of Peter to the Romans. The Gospel for him must represent the character and career of Jesus from the Roman point of view, as answering to the idea of divine power, work, law, conquest and universal sway; must retain its old significance and ever-potent inspiration at the battle-call of the almighty Conqueror. Luke wrote the THIRD GOSPEL in Greece for the Greek. It has its basis in the gospel which Paul and Luke, by long preaching to the Greeks, had already thrown into the form best suited to commend to their acceptance Jesus as the perfect divine man. It is the gospel of the future, of progressive Christianity, of reason and culture seeking the perfection of manhood. John, "the beloved disciple," wrote the FOURTH GOSPEL for the Christian, to cherish and train those who have entered the new kingdom of Christ, into the highest spiritual life. --Condensed from, Prof. Gregory.