The King of Stories -- harmonization index
Introductory note from Jason Pratt:
Early in 2004, for purposes of taking a winter break from book editing elsewhere, I decided to research and write up a harmonization study of the canonical Gospels.
For Lent season, Easter 2007, I posted up roughly the last half of that study, one per day, on the Cadre journal; and then, beginning shortly before Christmas 2007, I began posting up the first half, ending around Easter 2008.
This index page sorts the entries by Gospel/chapter/verse, and sorts the Gospel/chapter/verses by journal entry. Hyperlinks have been created for ease of navigation between entries, and for help in locating where particular Gospel elements ended up in my harmonization efforts.
My primary method was to study pericope forms, classifying each pericope as to whether the author included very specific time/place cues; included no time or place cues at all; or fell somewhere on a paradigm line between those two extreme. (A pericope is like a small chapter telling a particular small story or situation in the text.) My first goal was to test to what extent these time/place cues fit together or, alternately, excluded one another.
As a general observation, I found that where multiple authors reported the same thing in different ways (or at different places in the story), one of them would have a more specific timing/place cue and the others would be more general. When I combined these results together with single-attested pericopes (where those had time/space cues), I discovered that a decent chronological framework resulted, with few serious problems and several intriguing solutions to otherwise obscure or problematic time/place questions. This study could be done without presupposing historicity behind the texts, while inductively pointing toward a significant and substantial amount of single-story evidence predating the canonical Gospels.
Put another way, these results pointed toward either a more complex and coherent original narrative (oral or written) behind the four canonical texts, and/or to substantial historicity behind the texts (which would naturally be both coherent and, by expectation, more complexly nuanced than a set of ancient and somewhat polemical texts could be expected to fully reproduce.)
My secondary method (though still highly important) was to hypothetically assume coherent historicity behind the texts, and then to check for narrative clues within the pericopes that might suggest historical synching, especially when factoring in independently attested historical data (whether or not that data occurs in the pericopes). The results not only synched reasonably well in themselves, and not only synched reasonably well with my time/space cue pericopal analysis, but also suggested resolutions to remaining problems in the pericopal analysis results. This result lends probative weight toward abductive confirmation of the hypothesis (distinct from deductive confirmation, which would be circular and thus fallacious.)
My tertiary method was to check within the links being forged through primary and secondary methodology, for thematic cues, suggestive of unity between various pericopal data. This also yielded promising results, generally dovetailing with the framework being built and polished through the other methodologies.
This process did not register flagrantly disjunctive alterations in commonsensical inferences from the texts: the basic thrust of the life of Jesus in all four canonical texts remains unaffected. (An unreasonably disjunctive result would have been evidence either of bad methodology, poor execution, or seriously problematic narrative contradictions between canonical sources.) It did however result in some surprising suggestions and (perhaps more importantly) some clarifications as to where various authors shifted data around for topical conveniences of their own.
While these results cannot of themselves deductively establish confirmation of core historicity behind the pericopal material, they do tend to inductively lend weight toward both historicity and generally good fidelity to the historical sourcing behind the resultant texts, keeping in mind that chronology might be less important than topical structuring to these authors, though always within reasonable narrative limits. For example, some scholars have occasionally suggested that the Transfiguration or the walking on water are post-mortem Appearance scenes placed out of order in the texts; but narrative and thematic structuring around them is very solid, as are timing cues for the walking on water scene. These facts point strongly away from the anecdotes being mere topical porting in disregard of chronological order. Moreover, the water-walking sequence in itself, not even counting its connections to the Feeding of the 5000 in all accounts or the subsequent Capernaum discourse in GosJohn, demonstrates stereoscopic qualities: the story elements, put together, reveal a curious detail that fits surrounding narrative contexts in other regards but easily gets lost when one or another account is read by itself. At the very least this is strong evidence of dependence on a complexly nuanced core narrative of some sort, for all three Gospels using the account; and it would be a textbook example of independent reports of an otherwise unattested historical event--except for the whole “water-walking” thing!
And now, a list of other relevant eccentricities (so to speak) in my presentation:
1.) I'm doing a comparative translation from several English and Greek texts, including with reference to the standard UBS Greek NT used by practically all scholars across the board. (Actually they would use the Nestle/Aland to get the full apparatus, but when every single remote variation doesn't have to be referenced, only the ones that might possibly be relevant to meaning, the UBS is the way to go.)
2.) I aimed for reproducing the text in a rhythmic English prose. (This is for flavor purposes, but also helps get across the mnemonic construction found in a number of the sayings.)
3.) Occasionally I go with connotations in the translation, and sometimes I translate things a bit more literally than usual (when it seems interesting or perhaps important to do so.) This includes rendering the grammar a little more accurately (than usual in translations) to the Greek; which looks a bit freaky in English (which is why translators typically avoid doing it), but does give it a more exotic taste. If you see me seeming to switch past and present tenses for no good reason, for example, that’s why.
4.) Seven periods simply represent topical breaks of my own.
5.) Remarks in normal parenthesis (like this) are contextual remarks of my own, and aren't found in the source texts. (Of course, some English words in translation aren't found there either; that's just part of moving from Greek to English.) Remarks in square brackets [like this] are more like footnotes. Soemtimes I drop lengthier footnotes into comments for the entries; but sometimes I just take a break in the middle of the text for [Plotnotes], too.
6.) For flavor purposes, and to avoid contention/complexifying over authorship claims, I call the authors the Disciple, the Follower, the Scholar and the Evangelist (Matt, Mark, Luke, John).
For the record, I think GosMark and GosLuke are written by their respective attributants (with Luke using various written and interview sources including other Gospel texts); GosJohn also is written by its attributant (though I differ from various majority opinions by strongly suspecting John Mark as the author of this text, too) but following a more personal and less official strand of authoritative report from a largely different set of people; and GosMatt is written either by the Apostle or a disciple of his, following the official standard material used by church authorities (often represented in GosMark and GosLuke, too) but including unique testimony.
Mostly, though, those issues can be set aside for my current purposes; I practically never had authorship-issues in mind while doing the compositing. (Though the results of the compositing were what originally gave me the idea of John Mark being the author/redactor of GosJohn.)
7.) This is still a work-in-progress, and shouldn't be treated as final results (much less as sacred text!) Nor (I will emphasize again) should it be considered some kind of proof of historicity. At best, plausible harmonization of sources suggests historicity in original sourcing, especially where doing so helps add to an understanding of situations (per a hypothesis of historical sourcing). But the inference is abductive and shouldn't be treated otherwise, nor apart from a larger and more comprehensive analysis.
I hope this work will be interesting and helpful for all students of the canonical Gospel texts, whatever side of the ideological aisle you may be on.
Jason Pratt
April 7, 2008
Index 'A' (entries by book/chapter/verse)
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A Prologue of Prologues
John 1:1-18
The Messengers of the King
Matthew 1:18-25a
Luke 1:1-79
The Birth of the King
Luke 2:1-20
Blood of Kings and Children
Matthew 1:25b
Matthew 2:1-23
Luke 2:21-51
The Forerunner of the King
Matthew 3:1-17
Matthew 4:1a
Mark 1:1-12a
Luke 1:80
Luke 2:52
Luke 3:1-18
Luke 3:21-22
Luke 4:1b
First Adversaries
Matthew 4:1b-11
Mark 1:12b-13
Luke 4:1a
Luke 4:2-13
John 1:19-34
First Disciples
John 1:35-51
First Sign
John 2:1-11
The Teacher of the People
John 2:12-23
John 3:1-21
The Final Witness of the Forerunner
John 3:22-36
John 4:1-3
The Woman at the Well
John 4:4-44
The (semi-)Triumphant Return
Matthew 4:12
Matthew 14:3-5
Mark 11:14
Luke 4:14-30
The Nobleman and the King
Matthew 4:13a
Matthew 4:17
Mark 1:15
John 4:45-54
First Night in A New Home
Matthew 4:13-16
Matthew 4:18
Matthew 4:20-22
Matthew 8:14-17
Mark 1:16-17a
Mark 1:18-39
Luke 4:31-43
Actions and Consequences
Matthew 8:2-4
Mark 1:40-45
Luke 4:44
Luke 5:12-14
Luke 11:37-41
Luke 11:45-46a
Luke 11:52-54
John 5:1-15
John 7:53
John 8:1-11
Days of Courage and Turmoil and Peace
Matthew 4:19
Matthew 9:2-26
Mark 1:17b
Mark 2:1-22
Mark 5:22-43
Luke 5:1-11
Luke 5:17-39
Luke 7:36-50
Luke 8:1-3
Luke 8:41-56
The King of the Sabbaths (a two-part entry)
Matthew 4:23-24
Matthew 8:18-22
Matthew 11:2-30
Matthew 12:1-15a
Matthew 13:54-58
Mark 2:23-28
Mark 3:1-7a
Mark 6:1-6a
Luke 5:15-16
Luke 6:1-11
Luke 7:18-35
Luke 9:57-62
Luke 10:13-15
John 5:16-47
John 6:1
Knights
Matthew 4:25
Matthew 5:1
Matthew 7:7-11
Matthew 8:1a
Matthew 8:5-13
Matthew 9:27-33a
Matthew 10:1-4
Matthew 12:15b-21
Mark 3:7b-8
Mark 3:11-19
Luke 6:12-16
Luke 7:2-10
Luke 11:1-13
The King Declares the Kingdom (a two-part entry)
Matthew 5:2-48
Matthew 6:1-18
Matthew 6:22-23
Matthew 7:1-6
Matthew 7:12-29
Matthew 8:1b
Matthew 9:33b-34
Matthew 12:22-50
Matthew 18:8-9
Mark 3:9-10
Mark 3:20-35
Luke 6:17-38
Luke 6:39-40
Luke 6:41-49
Luke 7:1
Luke 8:19-21
Luke 11:14-36
Luke 14:34-35
Parables of the Kingdom
Matthew 13:1-53
Mark 4:1-34
Luke 8:4-18
Luke 13:18-21
Enemy Forces
Matthew 8:23-34
Matthew 9:1a
Mark 4:35-41
Mark 5:1-20
Luke 8:22-39
Knights and King, Errant
Matthew 9:1b
Matthew 9:35-38
Matthew 10:5-16
Matthew 11:1
Mark 5:21
Mark 6:6b-13
Luke 8:40
Luke 9:1-6
Luke 10:25-37
Luke 13:10-17
Luke 14:1-24
Luke 17:20-21
Luke 18:9-14
Passings Over (a two-part entry)
Matthew 14:1-2
Matthew 14:6-36
Mark 6:14-56
Luke 9:7-17
John 6:2-71
John 7:1
Blind Sheep, Blind Shepherds, and the Door of Life
Luke 7:11-17
John 7:2-13
John 9:1-41
John 10:1-21
The Good Portion
Matthew 15:1-20
Mark 7:1-23
Luke 10:38-42
Of Light and Water... and Tenting Among Us
John 7:14-52
John 8:12-59
The Death of the Year
John 10:22-42
John 11:1-54
Administrations
Matthew 6:24
Luke 14:25-33
Luke 15:1-32
Luke 16:1-31
To the 'Puppies'
Matthew 15:21-39
Matthew 16:1-12
Mark 7:24-37
Mark 8:1-21
The Resolution of the King
Matthew 16:13-28
Matthew 17:1-21
Mark 8:22-38
Mark 9:1-29
Luke 9:18-45
The Salting In Capernaum
Matthew 17:22-27
Matthew 18:1-35
Mark 9:30-50
Luke 9:46-50
Luke 17:1-4
The Sending through the Kingdom
Luke 9:51-56
Luke 10:1-12
Luke 10:16-24
Luke 17:11-19
Lawyers and Second Comings (8 and 7 days until the end...)
Matthew 6:19-21
Matthew 6:25-34
Matthew 10:29-33
Matthew 19:1-30
Matthew 20:1-28
Mark 10:1-45
Luke 12:1-32
Luke 12:54-59
Luke 13:1-9
Luke 18:15-34
John 11:55-57
Dinners and Proposals (7 and 6 days until the end...)
Matthew 20:29-34
Matthew 26:6-13
Mark 10:46-52
Mark 14:3-9
Luke 18:35-43
Luke 19:1-28
John 12:1-11
The King's Triumphant Entry (5 days until the end...)
Matthew 21:1-11
Mark 11:1-11
Luke 13:22-33
Luke 19:29-44
John 12:12-19
The Scourging of the Rebellious Figs (4 days until the end...)
Matthew 21:12-22
Mark 11:12-26
Luke 17:5-10
Luke 19:45-48
Luke 21:37-38
With All His Understanding... (3 days until the end...)
Matthew 21:23-46
Matthew 22:1-40
Matthew 22:46b
Mark 11:27-33
Mark 12:1-34
Luke 20:1-40
The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...) (a two-part entry)
Matthew 10:17-28
Matthew 10:34-42
Matthew 22:41-46
Matthew 23:1-39
Matthew 24:1-51
Matthew 25:1-36
Matthew 26:1-5
Matthew 26:14-16
Mark 12:35-44
Mark 13:1-37
Mark 14:1-2
Mark 14:10-11
Luke 11:42-44
Luke 11:47-51
Luke 12:35-53
Luke 17:22-37
Luke 18:1-8
Luke 20:41-47
Luke 21:1-36
Luke 22:1-6
The Hiding of the Bread (the day before the end...)
Matthew 26:17-25
Mark 14:12-21
Luke 22:7-14
Luke 22:21-30
John 12:20-50
John 13:1-30
The Body and the Blood (the night before the end...)
Matthew 26:26-29
Mark 14:22-25
Luke 22:15-20
John 13:31-37
John 14:1-31
Through the Shadows of Death (the night before the end...)
Matthew 26:30-35
Mark 14:26-31
Luke 22:31-38
John 13:37b-38
John 15:1-25
John 16:1-33
John 17:1-26
John 18:1
The End Begins
Matthew 26:36-56
Mark 14:32-52
Luke 22:39-53
John 18:2-12
Into The Trials
Matthew 26:57-75
Matthew 27:3-10
Mark 14:53-72
Luke 22:54-65
John 18:15-27
The King of Trials
Matthew 27:1-2
Matthew 27:11-30
Mark 15:1-19
Luke 22:66-71
Luke 23:1-25
John 18:28-40
John 19:1-16
John 19:19-22
The Passing
Matthew 27:31-54
Mark 15:20-39
Luke 23:26-44
John 19:17-18
John 19:23-37
And On That Day He Rested
Matthew 27:55-66
Mark 15:40-47
Luke 23:48-56
John 19:38-42
Anastasis
Matthew 27:53
Matthew 28:1-15
Mark 16:1-8
Luke 24:1-8
John 20:1-18
Returns
Matthew 28:16-20
Luke 24:9-53
John 20:19-31
John 21:1-25
Acts 1:1-14
Acts 2:1-15
Acts 2:22-36
Index 'B' (book/chapter/verse, by journal entry; (f)=final verse of chpt)
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The Gospel According to Matthew
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Matthew 1:1-17; skipped (the ancestor list)
Matthew 1:18-25a; The Messengers of the King
Matthew 1:25b(f); Blood of Kings and Children
Matthew 2:1-23(f); Blood of Kings and Children
Matthew 3:1-17(f); The Forerunner of the King
Matthew 4:1a; The Forerunner of the King
Matthew 4:1b-11; First Adversaries
Matthew 4:12; The (semi-)Triumphant Return
Matthew 4:13a; The Nobleman and the King
Matthew 4:13-16; First Night in A New Home
Matthew 4:17; The Nobleman and the King
Matthew 4:18; First Night in A New Home
Matthew 4:19; Days of Courage and Turmoil and Peace
Matthew 4:20-22; First Night in A New Home
Matthew 4:23-24; The King of the Sabbaths
Matthew 4:25(f); Knights
Matthew 5:1; Knights
Matthew 5:2-48(f); The King Declares the Kingdom
Matthew 6:1-18; The King Declares the Kingdom
Matthew 6:19-21; Lawyers and Second Comings (8 and 7 days until the end...)
Matthew 6:22-23; The King Declares the Kingdom
Matthew 6:24; Administrations
Matthew 6:25-34(f); Lawyers and Second Comings (8 and 7 days until the end...)
Matthew 7:1-6; The King Declares the Kingdom
Matthew 7:7-11; Knights
Matthew 7:12-29(f); The King Declares the Kingdom
Matthew 8:1a; Knights
Matthew 8:1b; The King Declares the Kingdom
Matthew 8:2-4; Actions and Consequences
Matthew 8:5-13; Knights
Matthew 8:14-17; First Night in A New Home
Matthew 8:18-22; The King of the Sabbaths
Matthew 8:23-34(f); Enemy Forces
Matthew 9:1a; Enemy Forces
Matthew 91b; Knights and King, Errant
Matthew 9:2-26; Days of Courage and Turmoil and Peace
Matthew 9:27-33a; Knights
Matthew 9:33b-34; The King Declares the Kingdom
Matthew 9:35-38(f); Knights and King, Errant
Matthew 10:1-4; Knights
Matthew 10:5-16; Knights and King, Errant
Matthew 10:17-28; The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Matthew 10:29-33; Lawyers and Second Comings (8 and 7 days until the end...)
Matthew 10:34-42(f); The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Matthew 11:1; Knights and King, Errant
Matthew 11:2-30(f); The King of the Sabbaths
Matthew 12:1-15a; The King of the Sabbaths
Matthew 12:15b-21; Knights
Matthew 12:22-50(f); The King Declares the Kingdom
Matthew 13:1-53; Parables of the Kingdom
Matthew 13:54-58(f); The King of the Sabbaths
Matthew 14:1-2; Passings Over
Matthew 14:3-5; The (semi-)Triumphant Return
Matthew 14:6-36(f); Passings Over
Matthew 15:1-20; The Good Portion
Matthew 15:21-39(f); To the 'Puppies'
Matthew 16:1-12; To the 'Puppies'
Matthew 16:13-28(f); The Resolution of the King
Matthew 17:1-21; The Resolution of the King
Matthew 17:22-27(f); The Salting In Capernaum
Matthew 18:1-35(f); The Salting In Capernaum
Matthew 19:1-30(f); Lawyers and Second Comings (8 and 7 days until the end...)
Matthew 20:1-28; Lawyers and Second Comings (8 and 7 days until the end...)
Matthew 20:29-34(f); Dinners and Proposals (7 and 6 days until the end...)
Matthew 21:1-11; The King's Triumphant Entry (5 days until the end...)
Matthew 21:12-22; The Scourging of the Rebellious Figs (4 days until the end...)
Matthew 21:23-46(f); With All His Understanding... (3 days until the end...)
Matthew 22:1-40; With All His Understanding... (3 days until the end...)
Matthew 22:41-46a; The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Matthew 22:46b(f); With All His Understanding... (3 days until the end...)
Matthew 23:1-39(f); The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Matthew 24:1-52(f); The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Matthew 25:1-36(f); The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Matthew 26:1-5; The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Matthew 26:6-13; Dinners and Proposals (7 and 6 days until the end...)
Matthew 26:14-16; The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Matthew 26:17-25; The Hiding of the Bread (the day before the end...)
Matthew 26:26-29; The Body and the Blood (the night before the end...)
Matthew 26:30-35; Through the Shadows of Death (the night before the end...)
Matthew 26:36-56; The End Begins
Matthew 26:57-75(f); Into The Trials
Matthew 27:1-2; The King of Trials
Matthew 27:3-10; Into The Trials
Matthew 27:11-30; The King of Trials
Matthew 27:31-54; The Passing
Matthew 27:53; Anastasis
Matthew 27:55-66(f); And On That Day He Rested
Matthew 28:1-15; Anastasis
Matthew 28:16-20(f); Returns
The Gospel According to Mark
----------------------------
Mark 1:1-12a; The Forerunner of the King
Mark 1:12b-13; First Adversaries
Mark 1:14; The (semi-)Triumphant Return
Mark 1:15; The Nobleman and the King
Mark 1:16-17a; First Night in A New Home
Mark 1:17b; Days of Courage and Turmoil and Peace
Mark 1:18-39; First Night in A New Home
Mark 1:40-45(f); Actions and Consequences
Mark 2:1-22; Days of Courage and Turmoil and Peace
Mark 2:23-28(f); The King of the Sabbaths
Mark 3:1-7a; The King of the Sabbaths
Mark 3:7b-8; Knights
Mark 3:9-10; The King Declares the Kingdom
Mark 3:11-19; Knights
Mark 3:20-35(f); The King Declares the Kingdom
Mark 4:1-34; Parables of the Kingdom
Mark 4:35-41(f); Enemy Forces
Mark 5:1-20; Enemy Forces
Mark 5:21; Knights and King, Errant
Mark 5:22-43(f); Days of Courage and Turmoil and Peace
Mark 6:1-6a; The King of the Sabbaths
Mark 6:6b-13; Knights and King, Errant
Mark 6:14-56(f); Passings Over
Mark 7:1-23; The Good Portion
Mark 7:24-37(f); To the 'Puppies'
Mark 8:1-21; To the 'Puppies'
Mark 8:22-38(f); The Resolution of the King
Mark 9:1-29; The Resolution of the King
Mark 9:30-42; The Salting In Capernaum
Mark 9:43-50(f); The King Declares the Kingdom
Mark 10:1-45; Lawyers and Second Comings (8 and 7 days until the end...)
Mark 10:46-52(f); Dinners and Proposals (7 and 6 days until the end...)
Mark 11:1-11; The King's Triumphant Entry (5 days until the end...)
Mark 11:12-26; The Scourging of the Rebellious Figs (4 days until the end...)
Mark 11:27-33(f); With All His Understanding... (3 days until the end...)
Mark 12:1-34; With All His Understanding... (3 days until the end...)
Mark 12:35-44(f); The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Mark 13:1-37(f); The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Mark 14:1-2; The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Mark 14:3-9; Dinners and Proposals (7 and 6 days until the end...)
Mark 14:10-11; The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Mark 14:12-21; The Hiding of the Bread (the day before the end...)
Mark 14:22-25; The Body and the Blood (the night before the end...)
Mark 14:26-31; Through the Shadows of Death (the night before the end...)
Mark 14:32-52; The End Begins
Mark 14:53-72(f); Into The Trials
Mark 15:1-19; The King of Trials
Mark 15:20-39; The Passing
Mark 15:40-47(f); And On That Day He Rested
Mark 16:1-8(f); Anastasis
The Gospel According to Luke
----------------------------
Luke 1:1-79; The Messengers of the King
Luke 1:80(f); The Forerunner of the King
Luke 2:1-20; The Birth of the King
Luke 2:21-51; Blood of Kings and Children
Luke 2:52(f); The Forerunner of the King
Luke 3:1-18; The Forerunner of the King
Luke 3:19-20; The (semi-)Triumphant Return
Luke 3:21-22; The Forerunner of the King
Luke 3:23a; The (semi-)Triumphant Return
Luke 3:23b-38(f); skipped (the ancestor list)
Luke 4:1a; First Adversaries
Luke 4:1b; The Forerunner of the King
Luke 4:2-13; First Adversaries
Luke 4:14-30; The (semi-)Triumphant Return
Luke 4:31-43; First Night in A New Home
Luke 4:44(f); Actions and Consequences
Luke 5:1-11; Days of Courage and Turmoil and Peace
Luke 5:12-14; Actions and Consequences
Luke 5:15-16; The King of the Sabbaths
Luke 5:17-39(f); Days of Courage and Turmoil and Peace
Luke 6:1-11; The King of the Sabbaths
Luke 6:12-16; Knights
Luke 6:17-49(f); The King Declares the Kingdom
Luke 7:1; The King Declares the Kingdom
Luke 7:2-10; Knights
Luke 7:11-17; Blind Sheep, Blind Shepherds, and the Door of Life
Luke 7:18-35; The King of the Sabbaths
Luke 7:36-50(f); Days of Courage and Turmoil and Peace
Luke 8:1-3; Days of Courage and Turmoil and Peace
Luke 8:4-18; Parables of the Kingdom
Luke 8:19-21; The King Declares the Kingdom
Luke 8:22-39; Enemy Forces
Luke 8:40; Knights and King, Errant
Luke 8:41-56(f); Days of Courage and Turmoil and Peace
Luke 9:1-6; Knights and King, Errant
Luke 9:7-17; Passings Over
Luke 9:18-45; The Resolution of the King
Luke 9:46-50; The Salting In Capernaum
Luke 9:51-56; The Sending through the Kingdom
Luke 9:57-62(f); The King of the Sabbaths
Luke 10:1-12; The Sending through the Kingdom
Luke 10:13-15; The King of the Sabbaths
Luke 10:16-24; The Sending through the Kingdom
Luke 10:25-37; Knights and King, Errant
Luke 10:38-42(f); The Good Portion
Luke 11:1-13; Knights
Luke 11:14-36; The King Declares the Kingdom
Luke 11:37-41; Actions and Consequences
Luke 11:42-44; The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Luke 11:45-46a; Actions and Consequences
Luke 11:46b-51; The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Luke 11:52-54(f); Actions and Consequences
Luke 12:1-32; Lawyers and Second Comings (8 and 7 days until the end...)
Luke 12:35-53; The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Luke 12:54-59(f); Lawyers and Second Comings (8 and 7 days until the end...)
Luke 13:1-9; Lawyers and Second Comings (8 and 7 days until the end...)
Luke 13:10-17; Knights and King, Errant
Luke 13:18-21; Parables of the Kingdom
Luke 13:22-33; The King's Triumphant Entry (5 days until the end...)
Luke 13:34-35(f); The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Luke 14:1-24; Knights and King, Errant
Luke 14:25-33; Administrations
Luke 14:34-35(f); The King Declares the Kingdom
Luke 15:1-32(f); Administrations
Luke 16:1-31(f); Administrations
Luke 17:1-4; The Salting In Capernaum
Luke 17:5-10; The Scourging of the Rebellious Figs (4 days until the end...)
Luke 17:11-19; The Sending through the Kingdom
Luke 17:20-21; Knights and King, Errant
Luke 17:22-37(f); The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Luke 18:1-8; The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Luke 18:9-14; Knights and King, Errant
Luke 18:15-34; Lawyers and Second Comings (8 and 7 days until the end...)
Luke 18:35-43(f); Dinners and Proposals (7 and 6 days until the end...)
Luke 19:1-28; Dinners and Proposals (7 and 6 days until the end...)
Luke 19:29-44; The King's Triumphant Entry (5 days until the end...)
Luke 19:45-48(f); The Scourging of the Rebellious Figs (4 days until the end...)
Luke 20:1-40; With All His Understanding... (3 days until the end...)
Luke 20:41-47(f); The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Luke 21:1-6; The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Luke 22:7-14; The Hiding of the Bread (the day before the end...)
Luke 22:15-20; The Body and the Blood (the night before the end...)
Luke 22:21-30; The Hiding of the Bread (the day before the end...)
Luke 22:31-38; Through the Shadows of Death (the night before the end...)
Luke 22:39-53; The End Begins
Luke 22:54-65; Into The Trials
Luke 22:66-71(f); The King of Trials
Luke 23:1-25; The King of Trials
Luke 23:26-44; The Passing
Luke 23:48-56(f); And On That Day He Rested
Luke 24:1-8; Anastasis
Luke 24:9-53(f); Returns
The Gospel According to John
----------------------------
John 1:1-18; A Prologue of Prologues
John 1:19-34; First Adversaries
John 1:35-51(f); First Disciples
John 2:1-11; First Disciples
John 2:12-23(f); The Teacher of the People
John 3:1-21; The Teacher of the People
John 3:22-36(f); The Final Witness of the Forerunner
John 4:1-3; The Final Witness of the Forerunner
John 4:4-44; The Woman at the Well
John 4:45-54(f); The Nobleman and the King
John 5:1-15; Actions and Consequences
John 5:16-47(f); The King of the Sabbaths
John 6:1; The King of the Sabbaths
John 6:2-71(f); Passings Over
John 7:1; Passings Over
John 7:2-13; Blind Sheep, Blind Shepherds, and the Door of Life
John 7:14-52; Of Light and Water... and Tenting Among Us
John 7:53(f); Actions and Consequences
John 8:1-11; Actions and Consequences
John 8:12-59(f); Of Light and Water... and Tenting Among Us
John 9:1-41(f); Blind Sheep, Blind Shepherds, and the Door of Life
John 10:1-21; Blind Sheep, Blind Shepherds, and the Door of Life
John 10:22-42(f); The Death of the Year
John 11:1-54; The Death of the Year
John 11:55-57(f); Lawyers and Second Comings (8 and 7 days until the end...)
John 12:1-11; Dinners and Proposals (7 and 6 days until the end...)
John 12:12-19; The King's Triumphant Entry (5 days until the end...)
John 12:20-50(f); The Hiding of the Bread (the day before the end...)
John 13:1-30; The Hiding of the Bread (the day before the end...)
John 13:31-37; The Body and the Blood (the night before the end...)
John 13:37b-48(f); Through the Shadows of Death (the night before the end...)
John 14:1-31(f); The Body and the Blood (the night before the end...)
John 15:1-25(f); Through the Shadows of Death (the night before the end...)
John 16:1-33(f); Through the Shadows of Death (the night before the end...)
John 17:1-26(f); Through the Shadows of Death (the night before the end...)
John 18:1; Through the Shadows of Death (the night before the end...)
John 18:2-12; The End Begins
John 18:15-27; Into The Trials
John 18:28-40(f); The King of Trials
John 19:1-16; The King of Trials
John 19:17-18; The Passing
John 19:19-22; The King of Trials
John 19:23-37; The Passing
John 19:38-42(f); And On That Day He Rested
John 20:1-18; Anastasis
John 20:19-31(f); Returns
John 21:1-25(f); Returns
The Acts of the Apostles
------------------------
Acts 1:1-14; Returns
Acts 2:1-15; Returns
Acts 2:22-36; Returns
Early in 2004, for purposes of taking a winter break from book editing elsewhere, I decided to research and write up a harmonization study of the canonical Gospels.
For Lent season, Easter 2007, I posted up roughly the last half of that study, one per day, on the Cadre journal; and then, beginning shortly before Christmas 2007, I began posting up the first half, ending around Easter 2008.
This index page sorts the entries by Gospel/chapter/verse, and sorts the Gospel/chapter/verses by journal entry. Hyperlinks have been created for ease of navigation between entries, and for help in locating where particular Gospel elements ended up in my harmonization efforts.
My primary method was to study pericope forms, classifying each pericope as to whether the author included very specific time/place cues; included no time or place cues at all; or fell somewhere on a paradigm line between those two extreme. (A pericope is like a small chapter telling a particular small story or situation in the text.) My first goal was to test to what extent these time/place cues fit together or, alternately, excluded one another.
As a general observation, I found that where multiple authors reported the same thing in different ways (or at different places in the story), one of them would have a more specific timing/place cue and the others would be more general. When I combined these results together with single-attested pericopes (where those had time/space cues), I discovered that a decent chronological framework resulted, with few serious problems and several intriguing solutions to otherwise obscure or problematic time/place questions. This study could be done without presupposing historicity behind the texts, while inductively pointing toward a significant and substantial amount of single-story evidence predating the canonical Gospels.
Put another way, these results pointed toward either a more complex and coherent original narrative (oral or written) behind the four canonical texts, and/or to substantial historicity behind the texts (which would naturally be both coherent and, by expectation, more complexly nuanced than a set of ancient and somewhat polemical texts could be expected to fully reproduce.)
My secondary method (though still highly important) was to hypothetically assume coherent historicity behind the texts, and then to check for narrative clues within the pericopes that might suggest historical synching, especially when factoring in independently attested historical data (whether or not that data occurs in the pericopes). The results not only synched reasonably well in themselves, and not only synched reasonably well with my time/space cue pericopal analysis, but also suggested resolutions to remaining problems in the pericopal analysis results. This result lends probative weight toward abductive confirmation of the hypothesis (distinct from deductive confirmation, which would be circular and thus fallacious.)
My tertiary method was to check within the links being forged through primary and secondary methodology, for thematic cues, suggestive of unity between various pericopal data. This also yielded promising results, generally dovetailing with the framework being built and polished through the other methodologies.
This process did not register flagrantly disjunctive alterations in commonsensical inferences from the texts: the basic thrust of the life of Jesus in all four canonical texts remains unaffected. (An unreasonably disjunctive result would have been evidence either of bad methodology, poor execution, or seriously problematic narrative contradictions between canonical sources.) It did however result in some surprising suggestions and (perhaps more importantly) some clarifications as to where various authors shifted data around for topical conveniences of their own.
While these results cannot of themselves deductively establish confirmation of core historicity behind the pericopal material, they do tend to inductively lend weight toward both historicity and generally good fidelity to the historical sourcing behind the resultant texts, keeping in mind that chronology might be less important than topical structuring to these authors, though always within reasonable narrative limits. For example, some scholars have occasionally suggested that the Transfiguration or the walking on water are post-mortem Appearance scenes placed out of order in the texts; but narrative and thematic structuring around them is very solid, as are timing cues for the walking on water scene. These facts point strongly away from the anecdotes being mere topical porting in disregard of chronological order. Moreover, the water-walking sequence in itself, not even counting its connections to the Feeding of the 5000 in all accounts or the subsequent Capernaum discourse in GosJohn, demonstrates stereoscopic qualities: the story elements, put together, reveal a curious detail that fits surrounding narrative contexts in other regards but easily gets lost when one or another account is read by itself. At the very least this is strong evidence of dependence on a complexly nuanced core narrative of some sort, for all three Gospels using the account; and it would be a textbook example of independent reports of an otherwise unattested historical event--except for the whole “water-walking” thing!
And now, a list of other relevant eccentricities (so to speak) in my presentation:
1.) I'm doing a comparative translation from several English and Greek texts, including with reference to the standard UBS Greek NT used by practically all scholars across the board. (Actually they would use the Nestle/Aland to get the full apparatus, but when every single remote variation doesn't have to be referenced, only the ones that might possibly be relevant to meaning, the UBS is the way to go.)
2.) I aimed for reproducing the text in a rhythmic English prose. (This is for flavor purposes, but also helps get across the mnemonic construction found in a number of the sayings.)
3.) Occasionally I go with connotations in the translation, and sometimes I translate things a bit more literally than usual (when it seems interesting or perhaps important to do so.) This includes rendering the grammar a little more accurately (than usual in translations) to the Greek; which looks a bit freaky in English (which is why translators typically avoid doing it), but does give it a more exotic taste. If you see me seeming to switch past and present tenses for no good reason, for example, that’s why.
4.) Seven periods simply represent topical breaks of my own.
5.) Remarks in normal parenthesis (like this) are contextual remarks of my own, and aren't found in the source texts. (Of course, some English words in translation aren't found there either; that's just part of moving from Greek to English.) Remarks in square brackets [like this] are more like footnotes. Soemtimes I drop lengthier footnotes into comments for the entries; but sometimes I just take a break in the middle of the text for [Plotnotes], too.
6.) For flavor purposes, and to avoid contention/complexifying over authorship claims, I call the authors the Disciple, the Follower, the Scholar and the Evangelist (Matt, Mark, Luke, John).
For the record, I think GosMark and GosLuke are written by their respective attributants (with Luke using various written and interview sources including other Gospel texts); GosJohn also is written by its attributant (though I differ from various majority opinions by strongly suspecting John Mark as the author of this text, too) but following a more personal and less official strand of authoritative report from a largely different set of people; and GosMatt is written either by the Apostle or a disciple of his, following the official standard material used by church authorities (often represented in GosMark and GosLuke, too) but including unique testimony.
Mostly, though, those issues can be set aside for my current purposes; I practically never had authorship-issues in mind while doing the compositing. (Though the results of the compositing were what originally gave me the idea of John Mark being the author/redactor of GosJohn.)
7.) This is still a work-in-progress, and shouldn't be treated as final results (much less as sacred text!) Nor (I will emphasize again) should it be considered some kind of proof of historicity. At best, plausible harmonization of sources suggests historicity in original sourcing, especially where doing so helps add to an understanding of situations (per a hypothesis of historical sourcing). But the inference is abductive and shouldn't be treated otherwise, nor apart from a larger and more comprehensive analysis.
I hope this work will be interesting and helpful for all students of the canonical Gospel texts, whatever side of the ideological aisle you may be on.
Jason Pratt
April 7, 2008
Index 'A' (entries by book/chapter/verse)
---------------------
---------------------
A Prologue of Prologues
John 1:1-18
The Messengers of the King
Matthew 1:18-25a
Luke 1:1-79
The Birth of the King
Luke 2:1-20
Blood of Kings and Children
Matthew 1:25b
Matthew 2:1-23
Luke 2:21-51
The Forerunner of the King
Matthew 3:1-17
Matthew 4:1a
Mark 1:1-12a
Luke 1:80
Luke 2:52
Luke 3:1-18
Luke 3:21-22
Luke 4:1b
First Adversaries
Matthew 4:1b-11
Mark 1:12b-13
Luke 4:1a
Luke 4:2-13
John 1:19-34
First Disciples
John 1:35-51
First Sign
John 2:1-11
The Teacher of the People
John 2:12-23
John 3:1-21
The Final Witness of the Forerunner
John 3:22-36
John 4:1-3
The Woman at the Well
John 4:4-44
The (semi-)Triumphant Return
Matthew 4:12
Matthew 14:3-5
Mark 11:14
Luke 4:14-30
The Nobleman and the King
Matthew 4:13a
Matthew 4:17
Mark 1:15
John 4:45-54
First Night in A New Home
Matthew 4:13-16
Matthew 4:18
Matthew 4:20-22
Matthew 8:14-17
Mark 1:16-17a
Mark 1:18-39
Luke 4:31-43
Actions and Consequences
Matthew 8:2-4
Mark 1:40-45
Luke 4:44
Luke 5:12-14
Luke 11:37-41
Luke 11:45-46a
Luke 11:52-54
John 5:1-15
John 7:53
John 8:1-11
Days of Courage and Turmoil and Peace
Matthew 4:19
Matthew 9:2-26
Mark 1:17b
Mark 2:1-22
Mark 5:22-43
Luke 5:1-11
Luke 5:17-39
Luke 7:36-50
Luke 8:1-3
Luke 8:41-56
The King of the Sabbaths (a two-part entry)
Matthew 4:23-24
Matthew 8:18-22
Matthew 11:2-30
Matthew 12:1-15a
Matthew 13:54-58
Mark 2:23-28
Mark 3:1-7a
Mark 6:1-6a
Luke 5:15-16
Luke 6:1-11
Luke 7:18-35
Luke 9:57-62
Luke 10:13-15
John 5:16-47
John 6:1
Knights
Matthew 4:25
Matthew 5:1
Matthew 7:7-11
Matthew 8:1a
Matthew 8:5-13
Matthew 9:27-33a
Matthew 10:1-4
Matthew 12:15b-21
Mark 3:7b-8
Mark 3:11-19
Luke 6:12-16
Luke 7:2-10
Luke 11:1-13
The King Declares the Kingdom (a two-part entry)
Matthew 5:2-48
Matthew 6:1-18
Matthew 6:22-23
Matthew 7:1-6
Matthew 7:12-29
Matthew 8:1b
Matthew 9:33b-34
Matthew 12:22-50
Matthew 18:8-9
Mark 3:9-10
Mark 3:20-35
Luke 6:17-38
Luke 6:39-40
Luke 6:41-49
Luke 7:1
Luke 8:19-21
Luke 11:14-36
Luke 14:34-35
Parables of the Kingdom
Matthew 13:1-53
Mark 4:1-34
Luke 8:4-18
Luke 13:18-21
Enemy Forces
Matthew 8:23-34
Matthew 9:1a
Mark 4:35-41
Mark 5:1-20
Luke 8:22-39
Knights and King, Errant
Matthew 9:1b
Matthew 9:35-38
Matthew 10:5-16
Matthew 11:1
Mark 5:21
Mark 6:6b-13
Luke 8:40
Luke 9:1-6
Luke 10:25-37
Luke 13:10-17
Luke 14:1-24
Luke 17:20-21
Luke 18:9-14
Passings Over (a two-part entry)
Matthew 14:1-2
Matthew 14:6-36
Mark 6:14-56
Luke 9:7-17
John 6:2-71
John 7:1
Blind Sheep, Blind Shepherds, and the Door of Life
Luke 7:11-17
John 7:2-13
John 9:1-41
John 10:1-21
The Good Portion
Matthew 15:1-20
Mark 7:1-23
Luke 10:38-42
Of Light and Water... and Tenting Among Us
John 7:14-52
John 8:12-59
The Death of the Year
John 10:22-42
John 11:1-54
Administrations
Matthew 6:24
Luke 14:25-33
Luke 15:1-32
Luke 16:1-31
To the 'Puppies'
Matthew 15:21-39
Matthew 16:1-12
Mark 7:24-37
Mark 8:1-21
The Resolution of the King
Matthew 16:13-28
Matthew 17:1-21
Mark 8:22-38
Mark 9:1-29
Luke 9:18-45
The Salting In Capernaum
Matthew 17:22-27
Matthew 18:1-35
Mark 9:30-50
Luke 9:46-50
Luke 17:1-4
The Sending through the Kingdom
Luke 9:51-56
Luke 10:1-12
Luke 10:16-24
Luke 17:11-19
Lawyers and Second Comings (8 and 7 days until the end...)
Matthew 6:19-21
Matthew 6:25-34
Matthew 10:29-33
Matthew 19:1-30
Matthew 20:1-28
Mark 10:1-45
Luke 12:1-32
Luke 12:54-59
Luke 13:1-9
Luke 18:15-34
John 11:55-57
Dinners and Proposals (7 and 6 days until the end...)
Matthew 20:29-34
Matthew 26:6-13
Mark 10:46-52
Mark 14:3-9
Luke 18:35-43
Luke 19:1-28
John 12:1-11
The King's Triumphant Entry (5 days until the end...)
Matthew 21:1-11
Mark 11:1-11
Luke 13:22-33
Luke 19:29-44
John 12:12-19
The Scourging of the Rebellious Figs (4 days until the end...)
Matthew 21:12-22
Mark 11:12-26
Luke 17:5-10
Luke 19:45-48
Luke 21:37-38
With All His Understanding... (3 days until the end...)
Matthew 21:23-46
Matthew 22:1-40
Matthew 22:46b
Mark 11:27-33
Mark 12:1-34
Luke 20:1-40
The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...) (a two-part entry)
Matthew 10:17-28
Matthew 10:34-42
Matthew 22:41-46
Matthew 23:1-39
Matthew 24:1-51
Matthew 25:1-36
Matthew 26:1-5
Matthew 26:14-16
Mark 12:35-44
Mark 13:1-37
Mark 14:1-2
Mark 14:10-11
Luke 11:42-44
Luke 11:47-51
Luke 12:35-53
Luke 17:22-37
Luke 18:1-8
Luke 20:41-47
Luke 21:1-36
Luke 22:1-6
The Hiding of the Bread (the day before the end...)
Matthew 26:17-25
Mark 14:12-21
Luke 22:7-14
Luke 22:21-30
John 12:20-50
John 13:1-30
The Body and the Blood (the night before the end...)
Matthew 26:26-29
Mark 14:22-25
Luke 22:15-20
John 13:31-37
John 14:1-31
Through the Shadows of Death (the night before the end...)
Matthew 26:30-35
Mark 14:26-31
Luke 22:31-38
John 13:37b-38
John 15:1-25
John 16:1-33
John 17:1-26
John 18:1
The End Begins
Matthew 26:36-56
Mark 14:32-52
Luke 22:39-53
John 18:2-12
Into The Trials
Matthew 26:57-75
Matthew 27:3-10
Mark 14:53-72
Luke 22:54-65
John 18:15-27
The King of Trials
Matthew 27:1-2
Matthew 27:11-30
Mark 15:1-19
Luke 22:66-71
Luke 23:1-25
John 18:28-40
John 19:1-16
John 19:19-22
The Passing
Matthew 27:31-54
Mark 15:20-39
Luke 23:26-44
John 19:17-18
John 19:23-37
And On That Day He Rested
Matthew 27:55-66
Mark 15:40-47
Luke 23:48-56
John 19:38-42
Anastasis
Matthew 27:53
Matthew 28:1-15
Mark 16:1-8
Luke 24:1-8
John 20:1-18
Returns
Matthew 28:16-20
Luke 24:9-53
John 20:19-31
John 21:1-25
Acts 1:1-14
Acts 2:1-15
Acts 2:22-36
Index 'B' (book/chapter/verse, by journal entry; (f)=final verse of chpt)
---------------------
---------------------
The Gospel According to Matthew
-------------------------------
Matthew 1:1-17; skipped (the ancestor list)
Matthew 1:18-25a; The Messengers of the King
Matthew 1:25b(f); Blood of Kings and Children
Matthew 2:1-23(f); Blood of Kings and Children
Matthew 3:1-17(f); The Forerunner of the King
Matthew 4:1a; The Forerunner of the King
Matthew 4:1b-11; First Adversaries
Matthew 4:12; The (semi-)Triumphant Return
Matthew 4:13a; The Nobleman and the King
Matthew 4:13-16; First Night in A New Home
Matthew 4:17; The Nobleman and the King
Matthew 4:18; First Night in A New Home
Matthew 4:19; Days of Courage and Turmoil and Peace
Matthew 4:20-22; First Night in A New Home
Matthew 4:23-24; The King of the Sabbaths
Matthew 4:25(f); Knights
Matthew 5:1; Knights
Matthew 5:2-48(f); The King Declares the Kingdom
Matthew 6:1-18; The King Declares the Kingdom
Matthew 6:19-21; Lawyers and Second Comings (8 and 7 days until the end...)
Matthew 6:22-23; The King Declares the Kingdom
Matthew 6:24; Administrations
Matthew 6:25-34(f); Lawyers and Second Comings (8 and 7 days until the end...)
Matthew 7:1-6; The King Declares the Kingdom
Matthew 7:7-11; Knights
Matthew 7:12-29(f); The King Declares the Kingdom
Matthew 8:1a; Knights
Matthew 8:1b; The King Declares the Kingdom
Matthew 8:2-4; Actions and Consequences
Matthew 8:5-13; Knights
Matthew 8:14-17; First Night in A New Home
Matthew 8:18-22; The King of the Sabbaths
Matthew 8:23-34(f); Enemy Forces
Matthew 9:1a; Enemy Forces
Matthew 91b; Knights and King, Errant
Matthew 9:2-26; Days of Courage and Turmoil and Peace
Matthew 9:27-33a; Knights
Matthew 9:33b-34; The King Declares the Kingdom
Matthew 9:35-38(f); Knights and King, Errant
Matthew 10:1-4; Knights
Matthew 10:5-16; Knights and King, Errant
Matthew 10:17-28; The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Matthew 10:29-33; Lawyers and Second Comings (8 and 7 days until the end...)
Matthew 10:34-42(f); The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Matthew 11:1; Knights and King, Errant
Matthew 11:2-30(f); The King of the Sabbaths
Matthew 12:1-15a; The King of the Sabbaths
Matthew 12:15b-21; Knights
Matthew 12:22-50(f); The King Declares the Kingdom
Matthew 13:1-53; Parables of the Kingdom
Matthew 13:54-58(f); The King of the Sabbaths
Matthew 14:1-2; Passings Over
Matthew 14:3-5; The (semi-)Triumphant Return
Matthew 14:6-36(f); Passings Over
Matthew 15:1-20; The Good Portion
Matthew 15:21-39(f); To the 'Puppies'
Matthew 16:1-12; To the 'Puppies'
Matthew 16:13-28(f); The Resolution of the King
Matthew 17:1-21; The Resolution of the King
Matthew 17:22-27(f); The Salting In Capernaum
Matthew 18:1-35(f); The Salting In Capernaum
Matthew 19:1-30(f); Lawyers and Second Comings (8 and 7 days until the end...)
Matthew 20:1-28; Lawyers and Second Comings (8 and 7 days until the end...)
Matthew 20:29-34(f); Dinners and Proposals (7 and 6 days until the end...)
Matthew 21:1-11; The King's Triumphant Entry (5 days until the end...)
Matthew 21:12-22; The Scourging of the Rebellious Figs (4 days until the end...)
Matthew 21:23-46(f); With All His Understanding... (3 days until the end...)
Matthew 22:1-40; With All His Understanding... (3 days until the end...)
Matthew 22:41-46a; The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Matthew 22:46b(f); With All His Understanding... (3 days until the end...)
Matthew 23:1-39(f); The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Matthew 24:1-52(f); The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Matthew 25:1-36(f); The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Matthew 26:1-5; The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Matthew 26:6-13; Dinners and Proposals (7 and 6 days until the end...)
Matthew 26:14-16; The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Matthew 26:17-25; The Hiding of the Bread (the day before the end...)
Matthew 26:26-29; The Body and the Blood (the night before the end...)
Matthew 26:30-35; Through the Shadows of Death (the night before the end...)
Matthew 26:36-56; The End Begins
Matthew 26:57-75(f); Into The Trials
Matthew 27:1-2; The King of Trials
Matthew 27:3-10; Into The Trials
Matthew 27:11-30; The King of Trials
Matthew 27:31-54; The Passing
Matthew 27:53; Anastasis
Matthew 27:55-66(f); And On That Day He Rested
Matthew 28:1-15; Anastasis
Matthew 28:16-20(f); Returns
The Gospel According to Mark
----------------------------
Mark 1:1-12a; The Forerunner of the King
Mark 1:12b-13; First Adversaries
Mark 1:14; The (semi-)Triumphant Return
Mark 1:15; The Nobleman and the King
Mark 1:16-17a; First Night in A New Home
Mark 1:17b; Days of Courage and Turmoil and Peace
Mark 1:18-39; First Night in A New Home
Mark 1:40-45(f); Actions and Consequences
Mark 2:1-22; Days of Courage and Turmoil and Peace
Mark 2:23-28(f); The King of the Sabbaths
Mark 3:1-7a; The King of the Sabbaths
Mark 3:7b-8; Knights
Mark 3:9-10; The King Declares the Kingdom
Mark 3:11-19; Knights
Mark 3:20-35(f); The King Declares the Kingdom
Mark 4:1-34; Parables of the Kingdom
Mark 4:35-41(f); Enemy Forces
Mark 5:1-20; Enemy Forces
Mark 5:21; Knights and King, Errant
Mark 5:22-43(f); Days of Courage and Turmoil and Peace
Mark 6:1-6a; The King of the Sabbaths
Mark 6:6b-13; Knights and King, Errant
Mark 6:14-56(f); Passings Over
Mark 7:1-23; The Good Portion
Mark 7:24-37(f); To the 'Puppies'
Mark 8:1-21; To the 'Puppies'
Mark 8:22-38(f); The Resolution of the King
Mark 9:1-29; The Resolution of the King
Mark 9:30-42; The Salting In Capernaum
Mark 9:43-50(f); The King Declares the Kingdom
Mark 10:1-45; Lawyers and Second Comings (8 and 7 days until the end...)
Mark 10:46-52(f); Dinners and Proposals (7 and 6 days until the end...)
Mark 11:1-11; The King's Triumphant Entry (5 days until the end...)
Mark 11:12-26; The Scourging of the Rebellious Figs (4 days until the end...)
Mark 11:27-33(f); With All His Understanding... (3 days until the end...)
Mark 12:1-34; With All His Understanding... (3 days until the end...)
Mark 12:35-44(f); The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Mark 13:1-37(f); The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Mark 14:1-2; The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Mark 14:3-9; Dinners and Proposals (7 and 6 days until the end...)
Mark 14:10-11; The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Mark 14:12-21; The Hiding of the Bread (the day before the end...)
Mark 14:22-25; The Body and the Blood (the night before the end...)
Mark 14:26-31; Through the Shadows of Death (the night before the end...)
Mark 14:32-52; The End Begins
Mark 14:53-72(f); Into The Trials
Mark 15:1-19; The King of Trials
Mark 15:20-39; The Passing
Mark 15:40-47(f); And On That Day He Rested
Mark 16:1-8(f); Anastasis
The Gospel According to Luke
----------------------------
Luke 1:1-79; The Messengers of the King
Luke 1:80(f); The Forerunner of the King
Luke 2:1-20; The Birth of the King
Luke 2:21-51; Blood of Kings and Children
Luke 2:52(f); The Forerunner of the King
Luke 3:1-18; The Forerunner of the King
Luke 3:19-20; The (semi-)Triumphant Return
Luke 3:21-22; The Forerunner of the King
Luke 3:23a; The (semi-)Triumphant Return
Luke 3:23b-38(f); skipped (the ancestor list)
Luke 4:1a; First Adversaries
Luke 4:1b; The Forerunner of the King
Luke 4:2-13; First Adversaries
Luke 4:14-30; The (semi-)Triumphant Return
Luke 4:31-43; First Night in A New Home
Luke 4:44(f); Actions and Consequences
Luke 5:1-11; Days of Courage and Turmoil and Peace
Luke 5:12-14; Actions and Consequences
Luke 5:15-16; The King of the Sabbaths
Luke 5:17-39(f); Days of Courage and Turmoil and Peace
Luke 6:1-11; The King of the Sabbaths
Luke 6:12-16; Knights
Luke 6:17-49(f); The King Declares the Kingdom
Luke 7:1; The King Declares the Kingdom
Luke 7:2-10; Knights
Luke 7:11-17; Blind Sheep, Blind Shepherds, and the Door of Life
Luke 7:18-35; The King of the Sabbaths
Luke 7:36-50(f); Days of Courage and Turmoil and Peace
Luke 8:1-3; Days of Courage and Turmoil and Peace
Luke 8:4-18; Parables of the Kingdom
Luke 8:19-21; The King Declares the Kingdom
Luke 8:22-39; Enemy Forces
Luke 8:40; Knights and King, Errant
Luke 8:41-56(f); Days of Courage and Turmoil and Peace
Luke 9:1-6; Knights and King, Errant
Luke 9:7-17; Passings Over
Luke 9:18-45; The Resolution of the King
Luke 9:46-50; The Salting In Capernaum
Luke 9:51-56; The Sending through the Kingdom
Luke 9:57-62(f); The King of the Sabbaths
Luke 10:1-12; The Sending through the Kingdom
Luke 10:13-15; The King of the Sabbaths
Luke 10:16-24; The Sending through the Kingdom
Luke 10:25-37; Knights and King, Errant
Luke 10:38-42(f); The Good Portion
Luke 11:1-13; Knights
Luke 11:14-36; The King Declares the Kingdom
Luke 11:37-41; Actions and Consequences
Luke 11:42-44; The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Luke 11:45-46a; Actions and Consequences
Luke 11:46b-51; The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Luke 11:52-54(f); Actions and Consequences
Luke 12:1-32; Lawyers and Second Comings (8 and 7 days until the end...)
Luke 12:35-53; The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Luke 12:54-59(f); Lawyers and Second Comings (8 and 7 days until the end...)
Luke 13:1-9; Lawyers and Second Comings (8 and 7 days until the end...)
Luke 13:10-17; Knights and King, Errant
Luke 13:18-21; Parables of the Kingdom
Luke 13:22-33; The King's Triumphant Entry (5 days until the end...)
Luke 13:34-35(f); The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Luke 14:1-24; Knights and King, Errant
Luke 14:25-33; Administrations
Luke 14:34-35(f); The King Declares the Kingdom
Luke 15:1-32(f); Administrations
Luke 16:1-31(f); Administrations
Luke 17:1-4; The Salting In Capernaum
Luke 17:5-10; The Scourging of the Rebellious Figs (4 days until the end...)
Luke 17:11-19; The Sending through the Kingdom
Luke 17:20-21; Knights and King, Errant
Luke 17:22-37(f); The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Luke 18:1-8; The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Luke 18:9-14; Knights and King, Errant
Luke 18:15-34; Lawyers and Second Comings (8 and 7 days until the end...)
Luke 18:35-43(f); Dinners and Proposals (7 and 6 days until the end...)
Luke 19:1-28; Dinners and Proposals (7 and 6 days until the end...)
Luke 19:29-44; The King's Triumphant Entry (5 days until the end...)
Luke 19:45-48(f); The Scourging of the Rebellious Figs (4 days until the end...)
Luke 20:1-40; With All His Understanding... (3 days until the end...)
Luke 20:41-47(f); The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Luke 21:1-6; The Greater Condemnations (2 days until the end...)
Luke 22:7-14; The Hiding of the Bread (the day before the end...)
Luke 22:15-20; The Body and the Blood (the night before the end...)
Luke 22:21-30; The Hiding of the Bread (the day before the end...)
Luke 22:31-38; Through the Shadows of Death (the night before the end...)
Luke 22:39-53; The End Begins
Luke 22:54-65; Into The Trials
Luke 22:66-71(f); The King of Trials
Luke 23:1-25; The King of Trials
Luke 23:26-44; The Passing
Luke 23:48-56(f); And On That Day He Rested
Luke 24:1-8; Anastasis
Luke 24:9-53(f); Returns
The Gospel According to John
----------------------------
John 1:1-18; A Prologue of Prologues
John 1:19-34; First Adversaries
John 1:35-51(f); First Disciples
John 2:1-11; First Disciples
John 2:12-23(f); The Teacher of the People
John 3:1-21; The Teacher of the People
John 3:22-36(f); The Final Witness of the Forerunner
John 4:1-3; The Final Witness of the Forerunner
John 4:4-44; The Woman at the Well
John 4:45-54(f); The Nobleman and the King
John 5:1-15; Actions and Consequences
John 5:16-47(f); The King of the Sabbaths
John 6:1; The King of the Sabbaths
John 6:2-71(f); Passings Over
John 7:1; Passings Over
John 7:2-13; Blind Sheep, Blind Shepherds, and the Door of Life
John 7:14-52; Of Light and Water... and Tenting Among Us
John 7:53(f); Actions and Consequences
John 8:1-11; Actions and Consequences
John 8:12-59(f); Of Light and Water... and Tenting Among Us
John 9:1-41(f); Blind Sheep, Blind Shepherds, and the Door of Life
John 10:1-21; Blind Sheep, Blind Shepherds, and the Door of Life
John 10:22-42(f); The Death of the Year
John 11:1-54; The Death of the Year
John 11:55-57(f); Lawyers and Second Comings (8 and 7 days until the end...)
John 12:1-11; Dinners and Proposals (7 and 6 days until the end...)
John 12:12-19; The King's Triumphant Entry (5 days until the end...)
John 12:20-50(f); The Hiding of the Bread (the day before the end...)
John 13:1-30; The Hiding of the Bread (the day before the end...)
John 13:31-37; The Body and the Blood (the night before the end...)
John 13:37b-48(f); Through the Shadows of Death (the night before the end...)
John 14:1-31(f); The Body and the Blood (the night before the end...)
John 15:1-25(f); Through the Shadows of Death (the night before the end...)
John 16:1-33(f); Through the Shadows of Death (the night before the end...)
John 17:1-26(f); Through the Shadows of Death (the night before the end...)
John 18:1; Through the Shadows of Death (the night before the end...)
John 18:2-12; The End Begins
John 18:15-27; Into The Trials
John 18:28-40(f); The King of Trials
John 19:1-16; The King of Trials
John 19:17-18; The Passing
John 19:19-22; The King of Trials
John 19:23-37; The Passing
John 19:38-42(f); And On That Day He Rested
John 20:1-18; Anastasis
John 20:19-31(f); Returns
John 21:1-25(f); Returns
The Acts of the Apostles
------------------------
Acts 1:1-14; Returns
Acts 2:1-15; Returns
Acts 2:22-36; Returns
Comments
JRP
As I recall (from Hengel? Metzger? I seem to recall both of them mentioning it...), there's a theory that Tatian lined through verses in order to make sure he got them all. That seemed like a good idea; and one of my reference aids was Green's interlinear Textus Receptus, which, though not the best text, has the advantage of two different literal translations along with a column of KJV for comparison. So I carefully lined through the KJV side of the page whenever I incorporated verses, so I would have a clear visual reference somewhere. {g}
(Not that that was my analytical apparatus. I have six Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheets in my composition folder, for classifying, tracking and compositing the Synoptic material; GosJohn material was straightforward enough that I could interleave time/place/thematic notes throughout the Synoptic analyses.)
Later this year, or perhaps next year, I'll start posting up commentary sheets on each entry, tracking the thematics and better explaining my time/place rationales; and generally just giving me a place to comment on material for, like, ever. {g} The commentary I already have would equal the translation size pretty easily, I think. (But I'd take the opportunity to move some of the current entry-commentary out of the translation entries.)
JRP
But the reason why I, for one, have never bothered, is that there does not seem to be anything we could learn, religiously or theologically.
I should be interested to know why you decided to do this, and what the exercise shows.
Many thanks.
Well, as implied at the very beginning of my introductory comments up there, the main reason I did it was because I was burned out editing/rewriting on another project and needed a break. I'm the kind of person who thinks "taking a break from a difficult writing project" involves picking up and running with an equally difficult but distinctively different kind of writing project. {g}
Also, I had no 'a priori' reasons for believing that I couldn't (or wouldn't) learn anything new religiously/theologically, or historically, from the exercise. And even if I didn't learn anything of one kind (say, religiously) I might learn something of the other kind (say, historically). More positively, on the other hand: I'm an author who puts a lot of value on "context"; so if the material (per hypothesis) is derived from some type of more primitive and coherent source, then sussing out the contexts might help give a clearer idea of what is going on. (Which, I suspect, is the main reason why anyone would care about a harmonization at all.)
As to what the exercise showed: broadly speaking, that's why I wrote the introductory notes; and narrowly speaking, that's why I wrote some of my comments in and after the chapters.
One of the more interesting large-scale things I turned up, is some strong narrative/thematic evidence pointing (Papias' later surviving testimony fragments notwithstanding) toward the author of GosMark also being the author of GosJohn (at perhaps some distance of composition time) and claiming in each case to have been an early eyewitness to some key deeds of Jesus, especially involving the empty tomb (although GosMark is constrained by a necessity to follow the lead of a previously established authoritative format), and also claiming in each case his own capability (and with GosJohn his own authority) to correct what he considers to be popular misunderstandings that developed afterward concerning his role in the story. (Not that this is his primary concern; he just takes the opportunity to try this in passing. In the case of GosMark, this theory may also help explain the oddly pinched-off form of the narrative as a relatively minor executive censor--also, in passing, helping account for the earlier reports afterward of Simon Peter's lukewarm acceptance and promotion of GosMark.)
I reiterate, of course, that this is only a speculative theory--I wouldn't bother hanging anything from it--but the narrative and thematic evidence has some considerable strength, and I wouldn't have ever seen it had I not done the exercise.
For an example of a more particular result: my analysis indicates that the supposed "doublet" of GosMatt's healing of a demented deaf mute is no such thing--the event actually happens twice in the 'original' source (whatever the 'original' is, be that historical fact or whatever), and is what leads the local Pharisee opposition the next day to charge Jesus with exorcising by the power of Satan/Beelzeboul. Also, therefore, leading to Jesus' famous punning wordplay rebuttal, and His explanation about how if someone doesn't change his life after being freed from a devil, he only ends up worse when the devil returns with friends (i.e., this is His explanation for why he had to heal the same guy twice in close succession.)
Anyway. I could blather on like this for hours and days. {s} But we appear to have instituted a new comment-length limit of 4096 characters, since I was last paying attention.
It's probably better just to read the introduction for a broad idea of what (with plenty of qualification) the exercise shows, and perhaps to read through the actual material beginning narratively where GosMark does (since before then, there isn't much overlap between Gospels except in the birth narrative, and those overlaps, such as they are, are already pretty familiar to students of the material, whether accepted or rejected as being viable solutions.)
Thanks for the question, though!
JRP