12. Six Parts of the harmony are enumerated. I. The History preceding the public ministry of Christ. II. The beginning of His ministry from His Baptism unto the first Passover. III. History of the first Passover, or of the first year after the initial half. IV. History of the second Passover. V. History of the third Passover. VI. History of the fourth Passover, or the one pertaining to His death. Interpreters of the Harmony of the Gospels, and a Synoptic Table of it.
On the whole, six parts of the Gospel Harmony are able to be established. For, first, the history preceding the public ministry of Christ: Second, the commencement of His ministry from His Baptism to the first Passover: Third, the history of the first Passover: Forth, the history of the second Passover: Fifth, the history of the third Passover: finally, Sixth, the history of the fourth and final Passover: come to be woven together:
I. The history preceding the public ministry of Christ. In which is:
1. A general description of the person and office of Christ: John 1:1-14.
2. The conception of John and of Christ, and also the visitation of Elisabeth: Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:5-56.
3. The nativity of John, and the song of his father on account of it: Luke 1:57-80.
4. The nativity of Jesus Christ, and also of His circumcision and presentation: Luke 2:1-38; Matthew 1:25; John 1:14.
5. The genealogy of Christ, as the King of Israel, and as the son of Adam: Matthew 1:1-18; Luke 3:23-38.
6. The coming of the Magi; Christ’s flight into Egypt and return: Matthew 2.
7. Christ’s education and progress in wisdom, openly demonstrated in the Temple in His twelfth year: Luke 2:39-52.
II. The commencement of Christ’s ministry, from His baptism to the first passover, in the interval of about six months. In which is:
1. The ministry of John, calling to repentance and baptizing: Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-18.
2. Christ’s baptism: Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21, 22.
3. Preparation for ministry through temptation in the wilderness: Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12, 13; Luke 4:1-13.
4. John’s testimony concerning Christ: Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:7; Luke 3:16; John 1:15-37.
5. The commencement of the preaching of Christ in Galilee: Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:14, 15; Luke 4:15, etc.
6. The calling of His disciples: Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-22; Luke 5:1-11; John 1:37-51.
7. His first miracle, wrought at a wedding in Cana of Galilee: John 2:1-12.
III. The history of the first Passover, or of the first year after the initial half-year. In which is:
1. The journey from Galilee into Judea, and what things were done there, and in the return. Where are:
a. The going up of Christ to Jerusalem for the Passover; the cleansing of the Temple, and a great number of miracles: John 2:13-25.
b. His conversation with Nicodemus: John 3:1-21.
c. His stay in Judea, where He baptizes through His disciples: John 3:22-25.
d. The final testimony of John concerning Christ, emitted before his jealous disciples: John 3:26-36.
e. The captivity of John, of which heard, Jesus, with Judea left behind, returns to Galilee: Matthew 14:3, 4; Mark 6:17-20.
f. The conversation of Christ, while traveling to Galilee, and passing through Samaria, with a Samaritan woman: John 4:1-30: and also with His disciples concerning His food, and the harvest of the Gospel: John 4:31-38: with many Samaritans believing upon Him: John 4:39-42.
2. The return into Galilee: Mark 1:14, 15; Luke 4:14, 15; John 4:42-45: and what things were done there. In which are:
a. The preaching of the Kingdom of Heaven: Mark 1:14, 15.
b. The healing of a Royal child: John 4:46-54.
c. His coming into Nazareth, where, expounding the Prophet Isaiah, He is first received, then, having been cast out of the Synagogue, He departs (Luke 4:16-30.
d. His stay at Capernaum, where He teaches on the Sabbath Days: Matthew 4:13-17; Mark 1:21, 22; Luke 4:31, 32. He casts out an unclean spirit: Mark 1:23-28; Luke 4:33-37. He heals the mother-in-law of Simon: Matthew 8:14, 15; Mark 1:29-31; Luke 4:38, 39. He cures the sick brought to Him: Matthew 8:16, 17; Mark 1:32-34; Luke 4:40, 41.
e. His walking through the cites of Galilee, where He teaches in Synagogues, and casts out demons: Mark 1:39; Luke 4:44. He teaches a crown from Simon’s boat: Luke 5:1-3. He commands a miraculous catch of fish, and makes Simon Peter, James, Andrew, etc., fishers of men; He teaches everywhere in the Synagogues: Matthew 4:18-25; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11. He heals a leper in a certain city, with multitudes flocking to Him from all parts: Matthew 8:1-4; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-16. While teaching at Capernau, He remits the sins of a Paralytic man: Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26. He teaches a crown near the sea; He calls Levi or Matthew: Matthew 9:9; Mark 2:13, 14; Luke 5:27, 28: in whose house He defends Himself and the Publicans feasting together; He vindicates those not fasting: Matthew 9:10-17; Mark 2:15-22; Luke 5:29-38. On the δευτεροπρώτῳ/ second-first Sabbath, passing through fields, He defends His disciples plucking grain: Matthew 12:1-8; Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-5.
IV. The history of the second Passover, or of the second year, after the initial half-year. In which is:
1. The going up of Christ to Jerusalem, where He heals a man sick for thirty-eight years at the pool of Bethesda, and gives a detailed defense of Himself, that He had called God His Father: John 5:1-47. He teaches in a Synagogue on another Sabbath day, and heals a withered hand: Matthew 12:9-14; Mark 3:1-6; Luke 6:6-12.
2. Withdrawing to the sea on account of their plots, where He heals multitudes: Matthew 12:15-21; Mark 3:7-12. Withdrawing to a mountain, He prays; before His disciples and a crowd He delivers a most divine sermon on the same mountain: Matthew 5-7; Mark 3:13-21; Luke 6:12-49.
3. His walking through various places, where
a. At Capernaum He heals the servant of a centurion: Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10.
b. In Nain He resurrects the only begotten son of a widow: Luke 7:11-17.
c. He responds to the disciples sent by John, and, commending John, rebukes ungrateful cities: Matthew 11:2-30; Luke 7:18-35.
d. In the house of Simon He defends a woman wetting His feet with her tears: Luke 7:36-50.
e. Healing a demoniac, He defends Himself against those blaspheming, that He casts out demons by Beelzebub: Matthew 12:22-37; Mark 3:22-30. He refuses a sign to those asking: Matthew 12:38-45. He shows who is His mother, brother, and sister: Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35; Luke 8:19-21.
f. On the sea He teaches the parable of the sower and several others from a boat: Matthew 13:1-53; Mark 4:1-34; Luke 8:4-18. Passing unto a farther shore, He stills the sea and rebukes the winds: Matthew 8:18-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25.
g. Among the Gadarenes He casts out demons, which He allows to enter into swine; and He returns from there to Capernaum: Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39.
h. While He was near the sea, He responds to the disciples of John about fasting; He raises the daughter of Jairus; He heals a woman with an issue of blood: Matthew 9:14-26; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56.
i. Withdrawing from there, He opens the eyes of the blind men; He heals a demoniac: Matthew 9:27-34.
k. Traversing all their cities, teaching and healing, He returns to His own country; there He is again despised as a mere carpenter: Matthew 9:35; 13:54-58; Mark 6:1-6.
l. Feeling compassion for the crowd, the great harvest, and the few laborers, He sends the two Apostles with commissions: Matthew 9:35-10:42; Mark 6:7-11; Luke 9:1-5. They, traveling through individual villages, preach and heal: Mark 6:12-16; Luke 9:6.
m. With John the Baptist beheaded: Matthew 14:6-12; Mark 6:17-29: Herod and others conceive various opinions concerning Christ: Matthew 14:1-5; Luke 9:7-9.
n. With the Apostles returned from their first Legation: Mark 6:30; Luke 9:10: Christ, with the death of John and the deeds of the disciples heard, departs into the wilderness of the city of Bethsaida with His disciples, with crowds following Him, whence going up into a mountain, He feeds five thousand men with five loaves and two small fish; and, with them wanting to make Him King, commanding His disciples to enter their ship, and to go before Him to the other shore, towards Capernaum, He walks upon the sea at night; He comes to Gennesaret, where the sick, having been brought, are soon healed: Matthew 14:13-36; Mark 6:31-56; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-21.
o. At Capernaum He preaches in a Synagogue concerning the bread of life, and asserts that He is the bread of life (John 6:22-71).
V. The history of the third Passover (John 6:4), or of the third year after the initial half-year. In which Christ:
1. Convicts the Pharisees, reproaching His disciples for eating with polluted hands, of abolishing Divine commands under the pretext of traditions: Matthew 15:1-20; Mark 7:1-23.
2. He withdraws to the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and there frees the daughter of a Syrophenician woman from a demon: Matthew 15:21-28; mark 7:24-30.
3. Coming to the sea of Galilee, He restores a deaf man: Mark 7:31-37. He goes up into a mountain, and heals many: Matthew 15:29-31. In a wilderness He feeds a multitude: Matthew 15:32-38; Mark 8:1-9.
4. Coming into parts of Dalmanutha, or parts of Magdala: Matthew 15:39; Mark 8:10: He denies a sign to the Pharisees seeking a sign, except that of Jonah: Matthew 16:1-4; Mark 8:11-13. Departing unto the far shore, He directs them away from the leaven of the Pharisees: Matthew 16:5-12; Mark 8:14-21.
5. At Bethsaida He heals a blind man: Mark 8:22-26.
6. In the villages of Cæsarea Philippi He hears the confession of Peter, foretells His own death, etc.: Matthew 16:13-28; Mark 8:27-38; Luke 9:18-27. After eight days He is transfigured on a high mountain; and, on the following day, coming down from the mountain, He restored a Lunatic son, freed from a demon, to his Father: Matthew 17:1-21; Mark 9:1-29; Luke 9:28-42.
7. Take a journey thence through Galilee, He teaches His disciples concerning His death and resurrection: Matthew 17:22, 23; Mark 9:30-32; Luke 9:43-45.
8. Coming to Capernaum, He instructs the tribute to be paid for Himself and Peter: Matthew 17:24-27. He settles a rising disputing among His disciples concerning primacy: Matthew 18:1-35; Mark 9:33-37; Luke 9:46-50.
9. He goes up secretly to Jerusalem for the feast of tabernacles: John 7:1-10. Sending messengers before Himself, who, having advanced into a village of the Samaritans, are not received: Luke 9:51-56. And, sending seventy disciples before His face, by twos into every city and place: Luke 10:1-16: with the multitude seeking Him, He teaches in the Temple: John 7:11-53. Departing soon into the mount of olives, at dawn He teaches again in the Temple, refuses to condemn an adulterous woman, etc.: John 8:1-59. He heals a man born blind: John 9:1-41. He preaches concerning Himself, as the door of the sheep, Shepherd, etc.: John 10:1-21. He receives His returning disciples, instructs a Lawyer concerning eternal life, turns aside to the house of Martha: Luke 10:17-42. He teaches to pray, casts out a demon, etc.: Luke 11:1-54. He directs away from the leaven of the Pharisees, etc.: Luke 12:1-59. With a message received concerning Galileans ill-treated by Pilate, He exhorts to repentance, etc.: Luke 13:1-21.
10. With the cities and villages passed through again, He goes up to Jerusalem for the Feast of Dedication, where He responds to one asking, whether few be saved: Luke 13:22-35. He heals a man suffering from dropsy, and sets forth parables concerning the great feast, a man planning to build a tower: Luke 14:1-35: concerning a lost sheep, a lost coin, the prodigal son: Luke 15:1-32: concerning the dissipating steward, etc.: Luke 16:1-31. He discourses against offenses; concerning the power of faith, etc.: Luke 17:1-37. By the example of a widow He teaches to pray continually: Luke 18:1-14. At Jerusalem, during the Feast of Dedication He teaches that He and the Father are one: John 10:22-39. Departing unto the crossing of Jordan, He teaches and heals: Matthew 19:1, 2; Mark 10:1; John 10:40-42. He responds to the Pharisees concerning divorce: Matthew 19:3-12; Mark 10:2-12. He places His hands on infants, shows a rich man to be proud: Matthew 19:13-20:16; Mark 10:13-31; Luke 18:15-30.
11. At Bethany He raises Lazarus from the dead: John 11:1-53.
12. Thence He departs unto a city of Ephraim: John 11:54-57.
13. Going up to Jerusalem for Passover, He foretells His death to His disciples: Matthew 20:17-19; Mark 10:32-34; Luke 18:31-34. He instructs the sons of Zebedee in true primacy: Matthew 20:20-28; Mark 10:35-45. He converts Zachæus: Luke 19:1-10. He narrates a parable concerning a nobleman going abroad: Luke 19:11-27. At Bethany, He reclines with Lazarus at table: John 12:1-11. With an ass-colt fetched to the mount of olives, He is carried to Jerusalem, weeps over the city, puts to flight those buying and selling in the Temple, heals the blind and lame, preaches to the Greeks concerning His suffering, withdraws with His twelve to Bethany, where the citizens do not believe upon Him; departing from there, He curses a fig tree, casts out those selling from the Temple again: Matthew 21:1-46; Mark 11:1-33; Luke 19:28-48; John 12:12-50. He responds to the Priests concerning His authority: Luke 20:1-8. He narrates the parable of the vineyard contracted out to farmers: Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19. He sets forth a parable of a wedding; He responds to the Herodians concerning tribute, to the Sadducees concerning the resurrection, to a Pharisee concerning the great commandment: Matthew 22:1-46; Mark 12:13-37; Luke 20:20-44. He denounces woe against the Scribes and Pharisees, and destruction against the city: Matthew 23:1-39; Mark 12:38-40; Luke 20:45-.47. He commends the alms of a widow: Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4. Going out of the Temple, He foretells the ruin of Jerusalem: Matthew 24:1-51; Mark 13:1-37; Luke 21:5-38. He narrates the parable of the ten Virgins, of the talents: Matthew 25:1-45. He foretells His betrayal and crucifixion; at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper He defends the woman anointing Him, with Satan then entering into Judas: Matthew 26:1-16; Mark 14:1-11; Luke 22:1-6.
VI. The history of the fourth and final Passover σταυρωσίμου, pertaining to the crucifixion. In which are:
1. The history of the passion. In which are:
a. Things preceding. The celebration of the Passover; the institution of the Supper: Matthew 26:17-29; Mark 14:12-25; Luke 22:7-20. The washing of the feet of the disciples; the departure of Judas, with a cake accepted: Luke 22:21-38; John 13:1-38. Comfort bestowed upon the disciples against sorrow, and other things, and their departure after the singing of a hymn: Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26; Luke 22:39; John 14:1-31. During the departure the similitude recited of the vine and branches, and other things: John 15:1-27. Various promises against sadness: John 16:1-33. An altogether Divine prayer for the revelation of His glory, to the Apostles, and all those that would believe: John 17:1-26.
b. The passion itself. In which are:
α. The anxiety, which He endured in the garden of Gethsemane: Matthew 26:31-46; Mark 14:27-42; Luke 22:40-46; John 18:1.
β. His arrest, with Judas as betrayer, during which He is bound, and, proceeding from the mount of olives, is sent to the house of Caiaphas: Matthew 26:47-57; Mark 14:43-53; Luke 22:47-54; John 18:2-13.
γ. The accusation, condemnation, and mockery at the house of Caiaphas, during which also is the denial of Peter: Matthew 26:58-75; Mark 14:54-72; Luke 22:55-65; John 18:14-27.
δ. The things that He suffered in the early morning Council, in which, having been asked whether He be the Messiah, He responds, and is sent bound to Pontius Pilate, with Judas in the meantime brought to regret, and laying violent hands on himself: Matthew 27:1; Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66-71; John 18:28.
ε. The things that He first endured in the halls of Pontius Pilate; where He is accused of false teaching, of denial of tribute, of affected kingship: then in the halls of Herod, tetrarch of Galilee: Matthew 27:2-10; Mark 15:1-5; Luke 23:1-12; John 18:28-32.
ζ. The things that, having been brought back to the halls of Pilate, He suffered: among which are the repeated accusation, stripping, flogging, crowing, mockery, and condemnation to the death of the cross: Matthew 27:11-31; Mark 15:6-20; Luke 23:13-25; John 18:33-19:16.
η. Those things that He suffered, when He was taken from the house of Pilate to the place of punishment: Matthew 27:32-34; Mark 15:21-24; Luke 23:26-32; John 19:17.
θ. His crucifixion on mount Calvary, death, and the signs accompanying and following it: Matthew 27:35-56; Mark 15:25-41; Luke 23:33-49; John 19:18-37.
2. The history of His burial, and of the custody of the body of Christ: Matthew 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42.
3. The history of Christ’s resurrection from the dead: Matthew 28:1; Mark 1:1; Luke 24:1; John 20:1.
4. Confirmation of the resurrection through witnesses and appearances. See:
a. The witnesses:
α. Heavenly, namely, two Angels: Matthew 28:2-7; Luke 24:4-7; John 20:12, 13.
β. Earthly. And they are Mary Magdalene, Mary of James and Joses, Mary Salome, Johanna, and another ἀνώνυμος/anonymous woman; Peter and John, and the soldiers themselves, the keepers of the body of Christ: Matthew 28:1-15; Mark 16:1-11; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-10.
b. The appearance of Christ, nine in number, namely:
α. To Mary Magdalene: Matthew 28:9, 10; Mark 16:9, 10; John 20:11-18.
β. To two disciples going to Emmaus: Mark 16:12, 13; Luke 24:13-35.
γ. To Peter: Luke 24:34.
δ. To James: 1 Corinthians 15:7.
ε. To the Apostles at Jerusalem, while Thomas was absent: Luke 24:36-49.
ζ. To the Apostles again at Jerusalem, with Thomas present: John 20:19-31.
η. To the Apostles at Galilee.
א. At the sea of Tiberias: John 21:1-25.
ב. On a mountain, perhaps Tabor: Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:14-20.
θ. To the Apostles, when He ascended.
5. The history of Christ’s ascension, from Bethany: Mark 16:19; Luke 24:50-53.