Diatessaron. The life of Our Lord

Preface

The following work is an attempt to combine in one continuous narrative the distinct histories of the life of our Blessed Lord as given by the four Evangelists. In bringing them together, and weaving into continuous and connected sentences all their various clauses, supplying each its separate information, slight modifications of the language are sometimes unavoidable. Care has been taken to limit these as much as possible, and in no case to alter the sense.

Since the date of the English authorized version, the discovery of early Greek manuscripts and the abundant labor of critical scholars have established some changes in the Greek text then commonly in use. Such changes have been adopted here as the only means of reproducing, as exactly as possible, the original inspired narrative. For the same reason also, a very few changes in the

iii iv

PREFACE.

translation — the propriety of which has been established by common consent — have been introduced into the text. In both cases the exact language of the authorized version is always given at the foot of the page ; and, with these exceptions, the language of that version has been conscientiously preserved throughout in the text.

The chronological arrangement is that of the Author's Greek Harmony of the Gospels, — reproduced also in his English Harmony, — and the grounds upon which it rests having been given in the introduction and notes of that work, are not repeated here.

The portions of the several Gospels combined in each part of the narrative are indicated in the margin. A few parallel references, illustrating the narrative, are given at the foot of the page ; and also such quotations from the Old Testament as contain any variation from the language used in the Gospels. When there is no such variation, merely the chapter and verse of the passage quoted are indicated.

As far as possible the punctuation and paragraphs of Dr. Coit's excellent " Paragraph Bible"

PREFACE.

are retained. The words printed in italics in the authorized version (in order to show that they are not in the original), are here in uniform type with the rest, but have been occasionally omitted altogether when it could be done without injury to the sense.

The life of our Lord has been of late years presented in such a multitude of forms, colored with the views and theories of such a multitude of minds, that it is hoped the present effort to present that life in the exact form of the inspired record, without addition or abatement, may' tend to the increase of the real knowledge of the life of the Saviour of mankind.

FREDERIC GARDINER.

Middletown, Conn., January, 1871.

Chapter I. Introductory

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was

with God, and the Word was God. The same was in

the beginning with God. All things were made by him ; and without him was not

anything made that was made. In him was 1 life ; and

the life was the light of men. And the light shineth

in darkness ; and the darkness comprehended it not.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was

John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of

the Light, that all through him might believe. He was

not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that

Light.

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name : which were born, not of blood,

Ma

THE EVANGELISTS' LIFE OF OUR LORD.

nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory , a the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. Because 1 of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time ; the only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth

in order a declaration of those things which Lk. i. 1-4. ii* i

are most surely believed among us, even as

they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and ministers of the word ; it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, that thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

i And of

a Compare Matt. xvii. 1-8; Mar. ix. 2-8; Lk. ix. 28-38.

Chapter II. Events Prior To The Birth Of Our Lord

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea,

a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia : and his wife was of the

daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well stricken in years.

And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense a when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias : for thy prayer is heard ; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his^ name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness ; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink ;

a Ex. xxx. 8-8.

and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just ; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. a And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this ? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God ; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. And, behold ! thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak unto them : and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple ; for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. And after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a

THE ANNUNCIATION.

virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David ; and the virgin's name was Mary.

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail ! highly favored, the Lord is with thee. 1 And 2 she was troubled at the 3 saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary : for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold ! thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, a and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest : and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David : and he shall reism over the house of Jacob forever ; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. b Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man ? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee : therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold ! thy cousin Elizabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age ; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord ; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda ; and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elizabeth. And

1 blessed art thou among women. a Isa. vii. 14.

2 And when she saw him, b Dan, ii. 44; Jno. xii. 34.

Shis it came to pass, that, when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb ; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost : and she spake out with a loud cry, 1 and said, Blessed art thou among women ! and blessed the fruit of thy womb ! And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me ? For, lo ! as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed : for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. And Mary said, a

My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden : For, behold ! from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

For He that is mighty hath done to me great things ; And Holy is his name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him From generation to generation.

He hath showed strength with his arm ; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seats ?

And exalted them of low degree.

He hath filled the hungry with good things ;

And the rich He hath sent empty away.

He hath holpen his servant Israel,

In remembrance of mercy,

1 voice a Compare 1 Sam. ii. 1, etc.

BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.

As He spake to our fathers,

To Abraham, and to his seed for ever. a

And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

Now Elizabeth's full time came that she should be delivered"; and she brought forth a son. And her neighbors and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great mercy upon her ; and they rejoiced with her.

And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child ; b and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered and said, not so ; but he shall be called John. And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have it 1 called. And he asked for a writing-table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. And fear came on all that dwelt round about them : and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea. And all they that heard, laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And truly 2 the hand of the Lord was with him.

And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and propesied, saying,

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel !

l him a Gen. xxii. 16, etc.

2 omit truly b Gen. xvii. 12; Lev. xii. 3.

THE EVANGELISTS' LIFE OF OUR LORD.

For he hath visited and redeemed his people,

And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us

In the house of his servant David,

(As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets,

Which have been since the world began,)

That we should be saved from our enemies,

And from the hand of all that hate us ;

To perform mercy with 1 our fathers,

And to remember his holy covenant ;

The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, 8

That he would grant unto us,

That we being delivered out of the hand of 2 enemies

Might serve him without fear,

In holiness and righteousness before him,

All our 3 days.

And thou, child,

Shalt be called the prophet of the Highest : For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways ; b

To give knowledge of salvation unto his people By the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God ; Whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness, and the shadow of death,

To guide our feet into the way of peace. - And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and l the mercy promised to our 2 our enemies

3 All the days of our life, a Gen. xxii. 16, etc. b Isa.. xl. 3; Mai. iii. 1.

THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD.

was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise : When

as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they

came together, she was found with child . lt> of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being just 1 and not willing to make her an example, 2 was minded to put her away privily But while he thought on these things behold ! the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife : for that which is begotten 3 in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS ; for he shall save his people from their sins. (Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold ! a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel^ which being interpreted is, God with us.) Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife : and knew her not till she had brought forth a son. 4

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cassar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled. 5 (This enrolment 6 was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went, to be enrolled, 5 every one into his own

l a just man. 2 a public example. 3 conceived.

a Isa. vii. 14. Behold ! a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son. and shall call his name Immanuel.

city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem ; (because he was of the house and lineage of David :) to be enrolled 1 with Mary his espoused, 2 being great with child.

l taxed 2 espoused wife.

Chapter III

our lord's genealogy.

1. The official genealogy of Christ, being the genealogy of Joseph, as given by St. Matthew.

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Abraham begat Isaac ; and Isaac begat Jacob ; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren ; and Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar ; and Phares begat Esrom ; and Esrom begat Aram ; and Aram begat Aminadad ; and Aminadad begat Naasson ; and Naasson be^at Salmon ; and Salmon be^at Booz of

Rachab ; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth ; and Obecl begat Jesse ; and Jesse bea*at David the king- ;

7 o O 7

And David 1 begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias ; and Solomon begat Roboam ; and Roboam begat Abia ; and Abia begat Asa ; and Asa begat Josaphat ; and Josaphat begat Joram ; and Joram begat Qzias ; and Ozias begat Joatham ; and Joatham begat Achaz ; and Achaz begat Ezekias ; and Ezekias begat Manasses ; and Manasses begat Amon ; and Amon begat Josias; and Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon :

And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel ; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel ; and

1 David the king *

Zorobabel begat Abiud ; and Abiud begat Eliakim ; and Eliakim begat Azor ; and Azor begat Sadoc ; and Sadoc begat Achim ; and Achim begat Eliud ; and Eliud begat Eleazar ; and Eleazar begat Matthan ; and Matthan begat Jacob ; and Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations ; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations ; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

2. The genealogy through the Virgin Mary, as given by St. Luke.

And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed of Joseph), 1 of Heli, 2 of Matthat, of Levi; of Melchi, of

Janna, ol Joseph, of Mattathias, of Amos, of Naum, of Esli, of Nagge, of Maath, of Mattathias, of Semei, of Joseph, of Juda, of Joanna, of Rhesa, of Zorobabel, of Salathiel, of Neri, of Melchi, of Addi, of Cosam, of Elmodam, of Er, of Jose, of Eliezer, of Jorim, of Matthat, of Levi, of Simeon, of Juda, of Joseph, of Jonan, of Eliakim, of Melea, of Menan, of Mattatha, of Nathan, of David, of Jesse, of Obed, of Booz, of Salmon, of Naasson, of Aminadad, (of Arnei,

[Note. — Between Abraham and David the names in the two genealogies are the same]. 1 being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph.

2 In the authorized version the words "which was the son of " are prefixed to each name, but are not required by the Greek.

our lord's genealogy.

of Admein), 1 of Esrom, of Phares, of Juda, of Jacob, of Isaac, of Abraham, of Thara, of Nachor, of Saruch, of Ragau, of Phalec, of Heber, of Sala, of Caiuan, of Arphaxad, of Sem, of Noe, of Lamech, of Mathusala, of Enoch, of Jared, of Maleleel, of Cainan, of Enos, of Seth, of Adam, of God.

1 of Aram, of Esrom

CHAPTER IY.

THE BIRTH AND INFANCY OF OUR LORD.

And so it was, that, while they were at Bethlehem, the clays were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, Mat" an( ^ wra PP ec ^ nmi m swaddling clothes, and

laid him in a manger ; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And 1 the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them : and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not : for, behold ! I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you ; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 2 in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men of good will ! 3 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath

1 And, lo ! 2 lying in 3 peace, good will toward men.

TIIE BIRTH AND INFANCY OF OUR LORD. 15 made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of him, 1 his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

And when the days of their 2 purification according to the law of Moses a were accomplished, they brought mm to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord ; (As it is written in the law of the Lord, b Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord ;) and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, c A pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons. And, behold ! there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon ;

l the child 2 of her purification a Lev. xii. 4-6. She shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days and when the days of her purify iug are fulfilled See Gal. iv. 4.

b Ex. xiii. 2. Sanctify unto me all the first-born, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine. See ver. 12, etc., xxxiv. 19; Num. iii. 12, 13; viii. 16, 17, etc.

c Lev. xii. 8. If she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons.

and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple : and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

Lord ! now lettest thou thy servant depart In peace, according to thy word : For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people ; A light to lighten the Gentiles, a And the glory of thy people Israel.

And his father 1 and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold! this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel ; and for a sign which shall be spoken against, (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser : she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity. And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served with fastings and prayers night and day.

l And Joseph and his mother a See Isa. xlix. 6; Acts xiii. 47.

THE BIRTH AND INFANCY OF OUR LORD. 17

And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto God 1 and spake of him to all them that looked for the redemption of 2 Jerusalem.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judsea in the days of Herod the king, behold ! there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews ? for

we have seen his star a in the east, and are come to

worship him. When Herod the king 3 heard these

things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and

scribes of the people together, he demanded of them

wdiere Christ should be born. And they said unto him,

In Bethlehem of Juclsea : for thus it is written by the

prophet, b and thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art

not the least among the princes of Juda : for out of

thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people

Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the

wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the

star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and

said, Go and search diligently for the young child ; and

when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I

may come and worship him also. When they had heard

the king, they departed ; and, lo ! the star, which they

saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood

l the Lord 2 for redemption in Jerusalem 3 had heard these things.

a Num. xxiv. 17. There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel.

bMicah v. 2. Thou, Bethlehem Ephratah! (though thou be little among the thousands of Judah) yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me, that is to be Ruler in Israel 2 over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him : and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts ; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

And when they were departed, behold ! the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the youns; child and his mother, and nee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word : for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod : that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my Son. a

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, 1 weeping, and great mourning: Rachel l lamentation and weeping, a Hos. xi. 1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out cf Egypt.

THE BIRTH AND INFANCY OF OUR LORD. 19 weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. a

out when Herod was dead, behold ! an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in

Egypt, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel ; for they are dead which sought the young child's life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: and 1 being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee : And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth : that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. b