GOSPELS
for
the
differences;
and
much
Ingenuity
has
been
expended
on
showing
how
an
Aramaic
word
might,
by
different
pointing
(for
points
take
the
place
of
vowels
in
Aramaic),
or
by
a
slight
error,
produce
the
differences
in
Greek
which
we
find.
But
it
is
enough
to
say
that
this
theory
could
not
possibly
account
for
the
close
verbal
resemblances
or
even
for
most
of
the
differences.
A
Greek
document
must
be
the
common
source.
(c)
The
non-Markan
sources
of
Mt.
and
Lk.
—
We
have
now
to
consider
those
parts
of
Mt.
and
Lk.
which
are
common
to
both,
but
are
not
found
in
Mk.,
and
also
those
parts
which
are
found
only
in
Mt.
or
only
in
Lk.
In
the
former
the
same
phenomena
of
verbal
resem-blances
and
differences
occur;
but,
on
the
other
hand,
the
common
matter
is,
to
a
great
extent,
treated
in
quite
a
different
order
by
Mt.
and
Lk.
This
peculiarity
Is
thought
by
some
to
be
due
to
the
source
used
being
oral,
even
though
the
'Petrine
tradition,'
the
common
source
of
the
three,
was
a
document.
But
the
same
objections
as
before
apply
here
(e.g.
cf.
Mt
6"-
2'=Lk
16"
12M,
or
Mt
23"-»«=Lk
13"'-,
which
are
almost
word
for
word
the
same).
We
must
postulate
a
written
Greek
common
source;
and
the
differences
of
order
are
most
easily
accounted
for
by
observing
the
characteristics
of
the
Evangelists.
St.
Matthew
aimed
rather
at
narra^
tive
according
to
subject,
grouping
incidents
and
teach-ings
together
for
this
reason,
while
St.
Luke
rather
pre-served
chronological
order
(ct.
the
treatment
of
the
Baptist's
imprisonment,
as
above).
Thus
in
Mt.
we
have
groups
of
sayings
(.e.g.
the
Sermon
on
the
Mount)
and
groups
of
parables,
not
necessarily
spoken
at
one
time,
but
closely
connected
by
subject.
We
may
infer
that
St.
Luke
treated
the
document
common
to
him
and
St.
Matthew
In
a
stricter
chronological
order,
because
he
treats
Mk.
in
that
way.
He
introduces
a
large
part
of
Mk.
in
one
place,
keeping
almost
always
to
its
order;
then
he
interpolates
a
long
section
from
some
other
authority
(Lk
9s'-18"),
and
then
goes
back
and
picks
up
Mk.
nearly
where
he
had
left
it.
Probably,
therefore,
Lk.
Is
nearer
in
order
to
the
non-Markan
document
than
Mt.
Of
what
nature
was
this
document?
Some,
following
a
clue
of
Papias
(see
art.
Matthew
[Gospel
acc.
to]),
call
it
the
'
Logia,'
and
treat
it
as
a
collection
of
teachings
rather
than
as
a
connected
history;
it
has
been
sug-gested
that
each
teaching
was
introduced
by
'Jesus
said,'
and
that
the
occasion
of
each
was
not
specified.
This
would
account
for
differences
of
order.
But
it
would
involve
a
very
unnecessary
multiplication
of
documents,
for
considerations
of
verbal
resemblances
show
that
in
the
narrative,
as
well
as
in
the
discourses,
a
common
non-Markan
document
must
underlie
Mt.
and
Lk.;
and,
whatever
meaning
be
ascribed
to
the
word
logia,
it
is
quite
improbable
that
Papias
refers
to
a
record
of
sayings
only.
While,
then,
it
is
probable
that
dis-courses
formed
the
greater
part
of
the
non-Markan
docu-ment,
we
may
by
comparing
Mt.
and
Lk.
conclude
that
it
described
at
least
some
historical
scenes.
—
^The
document
must
have
included
the
preaching
of
the
Baptist,
the
Temptation,
the
Sermon
on
the
Mount,
the
healing
of
the
centurion's
servant,
the
coming
of
John's
messengers
to
Jesus,
the
instructions
to
the
disciples,
the
Lord's
Prayer,
the
controversy
about
Beelzebub,
the
denuncia-tion
of
the
Pharisees,
and
precepts
about
over-anxiety.
It
is
very
likely
that
it
contained
also
an
account
of
the
Crucifixion
and
Resurrection,
and
many
other
things
which
are
in
Mk.;
for
in
some
of
the
passages
common
to
all
three
Synoptists,
Mt.
and
Lk.
agree
together
against
Mk.
This
would
be
accounted
for
by
their
having,
in
these
instances,
followed
the
non-Markan
document
in
preference
to
the
'
Petrine
tradition.'
In
addition
there
must
have
been
other
sources,
oral
or
documentary,
of
Mt.
and
Lk.
separately,
for
in
some
passages
they
show
complete
independence.
3.
Relation
of
the
Fourth
Gospel
to
the
Synoptics.
—
The
differences
which
strike
us
at
once
when
we
compare
Jn.
with
the
Synoptics
were
obvious
also
to
the
Fathers.
GOSPELS
Clement
of
Alexandria
accounts
for
the
fact
of
the
differences
by
a
solution
which
he
says
he
derived
from
'the
ancient
elders,'
namely,
that
John,
seeing
that
the
external
(Ut.
'
bodily')
facts
had
already
been
sufliciently
set
forth
in
the
other
Gospels,
composed,
at
the
request
of
his
disciples
and
with
the
inspiration
of
the
Spirit,
a
'spiritual'
Gospel
(quoted
by
Eusebius,
HE
vi.
14).
By
this
phrase
Clement
clearly
means
a
Gospel
which
emphasizes
the
Godhead
of
our
Lord.
The
human
side
of
the
Gospel
story
had
already
been
adequately
treated.
Elsewhere
Eusebius
(HE
iii.
24)
gives
an
old
tradition
that
John
had
the
Synoptics
before
him,
and
that
he
supplemented
them.
In
all
essential
particulars
this
solution
may
be
treated
as
correct.
The
main
differ-ences
between
John
and
the
Synoptics
are
as
follows:
(a)
Geographical
and
Chronological.
—
The
Synoptists
lay
the
scene
of
the
ministry
almost
entirely
in
GaUlee
and
Persea;
St.
John
dwells
on
the
ministry
in
Judsea.
The
Synoptists
hardly
note
the
flight
of
time
at
all;
from
a
cursory
reading
of
their
accounts
the
ministry
might
have
been
thought
to
have
lasted
only
one
year,
as
some
early
Fathers
believed,
thus
interpreting
'the
acceptable
year
of
the
Lord'
(Is
61=,
Lk
4");
though,
it
we
carefully
study
the
Synoptics,
especially
Lk.,
we
do
faintly
trace
three
stages
—
in
the
wilderness
of
Galilee
(a
brief
record),
in
Galilee
(full
description),
and
in
Central
Palestine
as
far
as
Jerusalem
and
on
the
other
side
of
Jordan.
During
this
last
stage
Jesus
'set
his
face'
to
go
to
Jerusalem
(Lk
9";
cf.
2
K
12",
Ezk
21').
But
in
Jn.
time
is
marked
by
the
mention
of
several
Jewish
feasts,
notably
the
Passover,
and
we
gather
from
Jn.
that
the
ministry
lasted
either
2J
or
SJ
years,
according
as
we
read
in
5'
'
a
feast
'
(which
could
hardly
be
a
Passover)
or
'the
feast'
(which
perhaps
was
the
Passover)
.
These
differences
are
what
we
should
expect
when
we
consider
that
the
Synoptic
story
is
chiefly
a
Galilaean
one,
and
is
not
concerned
with
visits
to
Jerusa-lem
and
Judaea
until
the
last
one
just
before
the
Cruci-fixion.
Yet
from
incidental
notices
in
the
Synoptics
themselves
we
should
have
guessed
that
Jesus
did
pay
visits
to
Jerusalem.
Every
religious
Jew
would
do
so,
if
possible,
at
least
tor
the
Passover.
If
Jesus
had
not
con-formed
to
this
custom,
but
had
paid
the
first
visit
of
His
ministry
just
before
the
Crucifixion,
we
could
not
account
for
the
sudden
enmity
of
the
Jerusalem
Jews
to
Him
at
that
time,
or
for
the
existence
of
disciples
in
Judsa,
e.g.,
Judas
Iscariot
and
his
father
Simon
Iscariot
(Jn
6"
RV),
probably
natives
of
Kerioth
in
Judaea;
Joseph
of
Arimathaea,
'a
city
of
the
Jews'
(Lk
23");
the
house-hold
at
Bethany;
and
Simon
the
leper
(Mk
14').
The
owner
of
the
ass
and
colt
at
Bethphage,
and
the
owner
of
the
room
where
the
Last
Supper
was
eaten,
evidently
knew
Jesus
when
the
disciples
came
with
the
messages.
And
if
the
Apostles
had
just
arrived
in
Jerusalem
for
the
first
time
only
a
few
weeks
before,
it
would
be
unlikely
that
they
would
make
their
headquarters
there
im-mediately
after
the
Ascension.
Thus
the
account
in
Jn.
of
a
Judeean
ministry
is
indirectly
confirmed
by
the
Synoptics
(cf.
also
Mt
23"
'how
often').
(b)
Proclamation
of
Jesus'
Messiahship.
—
In
the
Synoptics,
especially
in
Mk.,
this
is
a
very
gradual
proc-ess.
The
evil
spirits
who
announce
it
inopportunely
are
silenced
(Mk
l^'-).
Even
after
Peter's
confession
at
Caesarea
Philippi
at
the
end
of
the
Galilaean
ministry,
the
disciples
are
charged
to
tell
no
man
(Mk
S'")
.
But
in
Jn.,
the
Baptist
begins
by
calling
Jesus
'the
Lamb
of
God'
and
'the
Son
of
God'
(l^-
");
Andrew,
Philip,
and
Nathanael
at
once
recogiiize
him
as
Messiah
(1"-
"•
").
Can
both
accounts
be
true?
Now,
as
we
have
seen,
a
Judaean
ministry
must
have
been
carried
on
simultane-ously
with
a
Galilaean
one;
these
would
be
kept
abso-lutely
separate
by
the
hostile
district
of
Samaria
which
lay
between
them
(
Jn
i')
.
Probably
two
methods
were
used
for
two
quite
different
peoples.
The
rural
popula-tion
of
Galilee
had
to
be
taught
by
very
slow
degrees;
but
Jerusalem
was
the
home
of
religious
controversy,
and