Studies in the life of Jesus Christ

Preface

f ■ ^HIS book is designed to introduce the student to the inductive study of the life of Jesus Christ. It therefore takes up one by M one the four accounts of the life of Jesus that have come down to us from apostolic days. It has seemed best for the purpose in hand to take these four Gospels up separately, rather than in the form of a Harmony, because it is only through the study of them as separate wholes that the individuality of each can be adequately appreciated. A further reason for such treatment is the fact that there is already published an exceedingly useful course based upon a Harmony.

The Gospel of Mark, now generally recognized as the oldest, and certainly the simplest of the four Gospels, will be made the basis of the study in Part I. This Gospel will be studied in detail, with only occasional references to the other three Gospels for supplementary matter. Briefer surveys of Matthew and Luke will be taken with the purpose of discovering their individual characteristics. Last of all, in Part II John's Gospel will be studied at some length. The Gospel of Mark will by this arrangement serve as a standard for purposes of comparison in the study of the other Gospels. This emphasis of Mark is also desirable for another reason, namely, that Mark's Gospel consists of narrative, rather than teaching, and since the teaching of Jesus receives special attention in the last course in the College Cycle, "Studies in the Teaching of Jesus and His Apostles," it is desirable in the present course to pay attention chiefly to the narrative.

Studies in the Life of Jesus Christ as Presented in the Synoptic Gospels

i. Detailed Study of the Life of Jesus Christ up to the Last Week, Chiefly According to Mark. Studies I— XI.

2. General Survey of the Life of Jesus Christ up to the Last

Week, According to Matthew. Studies XII-XIII.

3. General Survey of the Life of Jesus Christ up to the Last

Week, According to Luke. Studies XIV-XVII.

4. Detailed Study of the Last Week of the Life of Jesus

Christ, According to the Synoptic Gospels. Studies XVIII-XXIII.