Preface to the harmonized Table of Contents. A HARMONIZED TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THE FOUR GOSPELS. THE following harmonized Table of Contents of the four Gospels, I have borrowed from Professor Michaelis, Introduction to the New Testament, by Dr. Marsh, vol. iii. p. 40, &c. and think it will be of use to the Reader in pointing out where the same transaction is mentioned by the Evangelists; what they have in common, and what is peculiar to each. The arrangement of facts, as they occur in St. Matthew, is here generally followed; and the other Evangelists collated with his account. From this Table it will at once appear, how little St. John has, in common with the other three, except in the concluding part of his Gospel: and hence the propriety will be self-evident of considering his work in the light of a most important supplement to the Evangelical History. A few directions for the proper use of this Table may be necessary; though it is in general so very plain, that there is little danger of its being misunderstood. The sections, Nos. 1, 2, 3, &c. are produced in a sort of chronological order; and therefore are found prefixed to those facts in the different Evangelists, in the order of time in which those facts are supposed to have succeeded each other: e. g. Luke's Preface is sect. 1st. Matthew having nothing of the kind. The genealogy under Matt. sect. 2d. Birth of John, sect. 3d. under Luke, &c. and thus, the apparent irregularity of the numbers prefixed to the transactions mentioned in the different columns, headed by the names of the Evangelists, is to be understood. The arrangement of Matthew is seldom altered; but the consecutive facts are numbered as nearly as possible, in the supposed chronological order of their occurrence. Besides this general harmonical Table of Contents of the four Gospels, I have added three others. The first is a Synopsis of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, constructed by Professor Griesbach, in order to shew that the whole Gospel of Mark, twenty-four verses excepted, is contained nearly in the same words, in Matthew and Luke. The second, a Table of forty-two sections, which contain such Transactions as are common to the three first Evangelists. And the third, a Table representing those passages in our Lord's sermon on the Mount, which are found either in word or substance in certain places of St. Luke's Gospel. These Tables, it is hoped, will be considered of real importance by every serious and intelligent Reader. * ** As I judged some kind of a general Table necessary, I give this as the most convenient, but I shall not consider my work complete without a regular Harmony of the four Gospels, in which the whole text from our own Version shall be inserted, with some improvements on Abp. Newcome's plan, and with some additional notes. This work, which is in hand, will be printed in the same form as these notes, but separately, that the subscribers who do not wish for a work of this kind, may not be obliged to take it. London, June 1, 1813. he obtained his first disciples, lee, and turns water into wine § 18. Goes to Jerusalem at the § 19. Instructs. Nicodemus in $20. Remains in Judea; ad- ditional testimony of John § 21. Returns (after the im- "In point of chronology, this does not belong to the present place, even according to St. Luke: but I place it here because St. Luke has introduced it immediately after the preceding history Perhaps it belongs to No 50. though I have not placed it there, because it does not exactly agree with the accounts quoted in that article from St. Matthew and St. Mark.” + Some critics and harmonists who agree in the main with Professor Michaelis in this part of his Harmony, dissent in a few particulars. Michaelis thinks that all the transactions included from No. 25 to No. 30. happened on one day. And Professor Marsh states the argument thus: No. 27. is the sermon on the Mount, related by Matthew, chap. v. vi. and vii. No. 28, 29, and 30. The cure of the leper-of the Centurion's servant-of Peter's mother-in-law-and other such persons at Capernaum, are all related by St. Matthew, chap. viii. 1—17. as events which took place on the same day, on which the Sermon on the Mount was delivered. No. 25. not mentioned by Matthew, took place according to Mark, i. 29, 30. Luke iv. 38. on the same day as the cure of St. Peter's mother-in-law, No. 30. No. 26. Christ's choice of the twelve apostles (not mentioned by St. Matthew) immediately preceded the Sermon on the Mount, according to Luke, vi. 12 -49. consequently all the events in Nos. 25-30. happened on the same day. Dr. Marsh allows the probability of Nos. 27-30 happening on the same day, but thinks Nos. 25, and 26. should not be referred to the same time. "On these two articles," says he, "Matthew is totally silent, and therefore we have the authority only of St. Mark and St. Luke. But though St. Mark and St. Luke refer No. 25. to the same day as they refer No. 30. yet they both agree in referring No. 26 to a later day. We have no authority whatsoever, therefore, to refer No. 26. to that day assigned by our author: and even if we refer No. 25. to that day, it ought not to occupy the place which he has allotted to it, but should immediately precede No. 30. for the reason already assigned. On the other hand, if we refer No. 26. to that day, we must necessarily refer No. 25. to an earlier day; for on these two articles, St. Mark and St. Luke are our only guides, and they both agree in making a very distinct and circumstantial separation of them." Marsh's Notes to Michaelis' Introd. vol. iii. part ii. p. 69–71. * ix. 1-6. and (but at a later "I place the sending out of the seventy disciples in the same article with that of the twelve apostles, merely because the two facts resemble each other; for we have no knowledge of the precise period in which the former event happened. The Evangelists themselves have often adopted a similar plan." |