Chronology of the Four Gospels
As one can read through the Gospels in a few hours, it goes without saying that these four records cover only the tip of the iceberg concerning all that Yeshua (Jesus) did and said. Thus the fourth Gospel closes with this acknowledgement.
JOHN 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
The question that begs to be answered is this, "Did GOD have a hand in compiling the four Gospel accounts?" Because of the apparent contradictions found in the Gospels, most Scholars believe that the evangelists just did their best to compile a history from the different sources they could find. Hence many believe we have four different and at times conflicting testimonies. But as Christians can we accept this? If we believe that Christ is GOD's Son and that GOD gave Him for the redemption of the world, can we accept the idea that GOD would not somehow preserve a record of HIS Son's accomplishments? Of course not. We must approach the Gospels as if they originally did flow together complimenting and enhancing one another. We must recognize that GOD HIMself as one Author compiled them to show forth HIS mighty work in Christ.
Our attitude is the key to what we see and understand. Many apparent contradictions that Scholars stumble over we will see fit together and demonstrate the beauty and intricacy of the Scriptures. If HE who hung the stars in the vacuum of Space did indeed have a hand in inspiring these Gospels accounts, then oh how much they must show forth HIS magnificence. Small details apparently inserted for no apparent reason in one Gospel unveil great truths in another Gospel. It is only when the four separate accounts are allowed to illuminate each other that we fully see their beauty.
There are only so many ways to heal a leper. Just so many ways to teach a truth. Just so many ways to illustrate a concept. As Yeshua was healing and ministering the word unto "great multitudes" (see LUKE 7:20-22 for illustration), even an "innumerable multitude", perhaps thousands if not tens of thousands, He was bound to have two totally different events seem identical in many regards. And this has been the failing of many of the so called "harmonies" of the Gospels. They take two similar events and mistake them for being identical. This is also the shortcoming of the critics, who disbelieve the inspiration of the Scriptures because they think they see discrepancies between two events they suppose are identical yet must be only similar.
By design or otherwise, Yeshua often repeated His teachings and illustrations. For years He spent everyday, often the entire day teaching His disciples. Obviously He taught the same thing many times over. Just because MATTHEW and LUKE both record a similar teaching, we should not assume that they are referring to the same teaching. Surely Yeshua taught many things over on many different occasions. In fact, all of the teaching from LUKE 9:51 to 19:29 is spoken by the Lord on one single road trip to Jerusalem. Wow! That's over a third of the entire Gospel from one trip. How many other roads trips did He and the disciples take that we have little or no record of? Not only do the four Gospels give us evidences of this, but even each of the Gospel accounts illustrate that He often repeated His teachings. To see some examples, go here.
This reality that Yeshua often repeated Himself in His teaching, also lend us an explanation for how the Evangelists were able to write down so much of what was said. Perhaps it was because He repeated His teaching over and over again so many times that what He said became branded upon the minds of His disciples. We can also expect that during the years after His ascension, His disciples repeated those same teachings themselves, over and over again.
Of course some events in our Lord's life could not have been duplicated. His baptism was a single experience. His choosing His twelve Apostles only happened once. His transfiguration was a singular unique occurrence. These distinctive events (given in Red in the table below) give us a structure to work within so that we can then divide up the rest of His experiences into a sequence that demonstrates the minute accuracy of the scriptures.
An example may be useful to illustrate the importance of reading what is written and not reading into it our preconceived ideas. We know that immediately after His baptism, Yeshua went into the wilderness to be tempted forty days by the Devil (MARK 1:12). Yet in the fourth Gospel, it is written that "the next day after" Yeshua was hanging out with two of John's disciples, Andrew and perhaps John. What is the answer? Well, most of us assume that "the next day after" was the next day after His baptism, but the record doesn't say that. In fact, no where in the fourth Gospel account does it actually record Yeshua's baptism. Read it for yourself, it's only nine verses (JOHN 1:26-34). Yeshua's baptism is referred to, with many of the details of the other Gospels, but the actual baptism isn't recorded there because it had already taken place over forty days earlier.
Obviously, Yeshua must have returned to John after His forty days in the wilderness. That is the only explanation. And why not? John was preparing the minds of his disciples to follow the Messiah so it would be the natural thing for Yeshua to return there and recruit some of them, as He did. Then, "the day following" Yeshua would go forth into Galilee to find other disciples (LUKE 4:14 JOHN 1:43).
Another thing to keep in mind when reading the four Gospel accounts, is that what may be a comma or even just a pause in one Gospel, might well be filled with a whole itinerary in another Gospel. The four accounts were never meant to follow the same story line, otherwise, there would have been need for only one Gospel. Sometimes all four come together at the same event (like when Yeshua fed the five thousand at Tiberius) but then they go their own way, following their own peculiar mission, recording those events necessary for their unique perspective. To read a short Commentary on how and why the four Gospels came to be written as we now have them, go here.
To be inspired of GOD (2 TIMOTHY 3:16) the Scriptures must fit like a hand in a glove. There can be no contradictions. It is only when we don't read what is written that we get confused. Occasionally, our Version is wrong because some translator didn't read what was written and therefore erred in his translation, but usually it is us that read into the record just what is not there.
It should also be noted that there is a Divinely ordered reason for being four Gospel accounts instead of just one. Yeshua's ministry had four unique dimensions, four specific thrusts. The Gospel according to Matthew portrays Yeshua as the Lion. Here we read of Him as King (JEREMIAH 23:5,6) and thus we have His royal lineage as recorded in the opening verses. Mark however, portrays Yeshua as the untiring worker, the Ox. In this Gospel account we read of Yeshua as the Servant (ZECHARIAH 3:8), needing no lineage. Then Luke presents Yeshua as the Perfect Man, as the Son of Man (ZECHARIAH 6:12). Thus in his account we have Yeshua's lineage as a man going all the way back to the first man, Adam. And finally in the fourth Gospel we see Yeshua as the Eagle, the very Son of GOD (ISAIAH 4:2). All four aspects of Yeshua's ministry are brought together for us in Ezekiel's vision of the four faces coming out of a whirlwind of fire.
EZEKIEL 1:10 As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man [Luke's account], and the face of a lion [Matthew's account], on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox [Mark's account] on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle [John's account].
And finally they all four are again brought together in the final Book of the Bible.
REVELATION 4:7 NIV. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.
Ron Byerly
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EVENT The word is towards GOD Of Zacharias & Elisabeth Gabriel to Mary Royal linage of Yeshua Joseph is betrothed to Mary Mary to visit Elisabeth Joseph and Mary Wed Of John the Baptist Decree of Caesar Augustus Joseph & Mary to Bethlehem Yeshua is born The Shepherd's witness Yeshua's circumcision Brought to Jerusalem Simeon blessed GOD Anna the Prophetess gave thanks They returned to Nazareth Some Magi from East arrive Family flees to Egypt Herod slays 2 yr olds Herod's death Family returns to Nazareth Incident @ Jerusalem, 12 yrs old 15th yr of Tiberius Caesar John is sent Yeshua's baptism Yeshua's linage to Adam, GOD Yeshua's temptations John's testimony beyond Jordan Yeshua returns to John Disciples Andrew & other follow Andrew brings Peter to Yeshua Yeshua to Galilee finds Philip Philip brings Nathanael to Yeshua Beginning of Miracles in Cana Yeshua goes to Capernaum Passover at Jerusalem, Spring Nicodemus comes to Yeshua To land of Judea for 8 months (John not yet in prison) Yeshua left Judea to return to Galilee Yeshua testifies at Jacob's Well After John put in prison Yeshua returns to Galilee Yeshua returns to Cana Nobleman's son healed Goes to Nazareth and is thrust out Leaves Nazareth to Capernaum Simon, Andrew, James and John Yeshua goes about all Galilee Leper healed Yeshua returns to Capernaum Centurion's servant healed Heals man with unclean spirit Simon's wife's mother healed Multitude healed Yeshua went to prayer To synagogues of "Judaea" Preached throughout Galilee Another leper healed Returned to Capernaum Taught from ship, Gennesaret Peter, James and John called again Another leper healed Man carried by four healed Yeshua calls Levi, receipt of custom New wine in old bottles Disciples rubbed ears of corn ? Man with withered hand healed Yeshua names the Twelve Apostles Taught the multitude Centurion sent to have servant healed To Nain to raise the dead John sends two disciples to Yeshua Yeshua eats with Simon the Pharisee Goes about every city preaching They said, "Thy mother" Teaches parables from ship Departs because of crowd Yeshua calms the Sea Yeshua casts Legion out at Gergesene To the other side, own city Calls Matthew, receipt of custom Eats with publicans and sinners Came to Him disciples of John Jairus' daughter, woman with issue Two blind men healed Into His own country Taught in all cities & villages Yeshua sends out the Twelve Yeshua to Jerusalem, Feb/Mar John sends some disciples to Yeshua Disciples rubbed the ears of corn ! Man with withered hand healed He withdraws from them Can Satan cast out Satan? Sign of Jonah given One said "Thy mother" Taught parables from the ship Returned to own country At that time Herod heard... Twelve return unto Bethsaida Departed by ship into desert place Five thousand fed Yeshua and Peter walk on water To Land of Gennesaret Scribes, Pharisees from Jerusalem What defiles a man In Synagogue at Capernaum Yeshua travels to Tyre and Sidon Greek woman of Cannan From Tyre to Galilee Sea Dumb and deaf man healed Yeshua feeds the four thousand To Magadan, Dalmanutha They sail to "other side" He came to Bethsaida He heals blind man Caesarea-Philippi, Who am I? The Transfiguration Rebuked unclean spirit Yeshua to be given up He returned to Capernaum Peter finds money in fish Who shall be greatest? Others casting out spirits How to enter into life Parable of the Lost Sheep If thy brother trespass... If two agree touching anything Peter's question on forgiveness To borders of Judea, beyond Jordan feast of Tabernacles, Oct. feast of the dedication, Dec. went away again, beyond Jordan To Bethany to raise Lazarus Jews consult to kill Him To wilderness (of Galilee) Final trip to Jerusalem planned Sent messengers before Him Follow Me! Yeshua appoints the Seventy The Seventy return The Good Samaritan They enter into Martha's house Teach us to pray Can Satan cast out Satan? Sign of Jonah given again Reproves Scribes, Pharisees, etc. Warned of leaven of the Pharisees Ye shall likewise perish Woman with infirmity 18 yrs healed What is the kingdom of GOD like? Through cities, villages for Jerusalem Enter in @ the straight gate Get Thee out for Herod will kill Thee O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... Ate with chief of Pharisees Publicans & sinners draw near Through Samaria and Galilee Eye of the Needle ...then to Ephraim Things written by the prophets James and John and their mother They come to Jericho, and depart Blind Bartimaeus healed They come to 2nd Jericho Two more blind men healed Yeshua abode with Zacchaeus They came unto Bethphage They came to Bethany Supper with Lazarus & others Mary anointed His feet Unto Mt of Olives He sends 2 disciples for colt To Jerusalem, 1st entrance They returned to Bethany He sends 2 disciples again They find ass with colt People spread garments, etc. He cursed a fig tree, next day 2nd entrance into Jerusalem He cast out those in Temple Healed blind & lame Returned to Bethany again Disciples saw fig tree dried up He returned to Jerusalem again He found only leaves on fig tree He taught in Temple, Sunday Chief Priests sought Him Shew Me the tribute money Prior teaching on His coming Yeshua departed from Temple Unto the Mt of Olives 2nd teaching on His coming After 2 days is Passover Scribes etc unto Caiaphas Yeshua in Bethany @ Simon's Woman anoints His head Judas unto Chief Priests 1st of unleavened bread, Monday "Go prepare for Passover" He sat down with Twelve He washed their feet One shall betray Me They ask, "Is it I?" He it is that dips in the dish Good he had not been born Judas asks, "Is it I?" Thou hast said! Eat, this is My body Betrayers hand is on table Peter asks Lazarus who it was Judas went out Which should be greatest? Where I go ye cannot come Ye must love one another Cannot I follow Thee now? Of Peter being sifted by Satan Of Peter's own commitment Before the cock crow this day Of His leaving them Sang, went to the Mt of Olives Of Peter's own commitment, again Yeshua's final exhortations To Gethsemane He went to prayer Of His being taken (Peter cut off Malchus' ear) Yeshua first bound They led Him first to Annas Peter followed Him Peter at door of Palace Art thou one of His disciples? Peter's first denial They kindled a fire, courtyard Peter sat with them by fire Annas interrogates Yeshua Before Caiaphas They found no true witness Servants spit on & beat Him Maid accused Peter, courtyard Peter's second denial Peter went onto Porch, cock crew Another accused Peter Peter's third denial Another maid accused Peter Peter's fourth denial "They" accused Peter Peter's fifth denial "Forthwith" cock crew 1 hr later, kinsman accused Peter Peter's sixth denial "Immediately" the cock crows Lord turned and beheld Peter Peter went out and wept "Who is it that smote Thee?" 3rd session, early Tuesday Delivered Him to Pilate Judas returned money Pilate sent Him to Herod Yeshua returned to Pilate Delivered Him to be crucified Soldiers mocked, smote Him Led Him to be crucified, Wed. Simon of Cyrene Weep not for Me 2 malefactors led with Him Came to Golgotha They crucified Him 2 malefactors crucified They derided, mocked Him The superscription placed 2 thieves crucified also They railed on Him Darkness at 6th hour 9th hour, Eli Eli... He yielded up the ghost Joseph obtains His body Nicodemus anoints His body Yeshua laid in sepulchre High Sabbath, Thursday Next day, Friday Weekly Sabbath, Saturday Late on Saturday Mary M. & Mary came to see Earthquake Angel rolls stone away Keepers become as dead Before Dawn Sunday Mary M. returns to tomb Mary M. to Peter and other Peter and other to sepulchre Peter and other go home Mary M. sees yeshua Mary M. to disciples Sunday at dawn Women bring spices Guards to Chief Priest She tells the 11 disciples Peter again runs to sepulchre He Appears to 2 on Emmaus road Residue didn't believe them 2 run to 11 disciples in Jerusalem The 11 believe He appears to 11 in Jerusalem "Go tell My brethren" Thomas doubts Eleven go to Galilee After 8 days, Thomas sees At Sea of Tiberias He opens their understanding Tarry in Jerusalem for power He led them to Bethany Ascension! They returned to Jerusalem
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MATTHEW
1:1-17 1:18
1:24
1:25
2:1-12 2:13-15 2:16-18 2:19a 2:19b-23
3:1-12 3:13-17
4:1-11
4:12a 4:12b
4:13-17 4:18-22 4:23- 7:29 8:1-4 8:5a 8:5b-13
8:14-15 8:16-17
8:18 8:23-27 8:28-34 9:1 9:9 9:10-13 9:14-17 9:18-26 9:27-31
9:35 10:1-42
11:2-19 12:1-8 12:9-13 12:14-21 12:22-37 12:38-45 12:46-50 13:1-53 13:54-58 14:1-12
14:13 14:15-21 14:22-33 14:34-36 15:1-9 15:10-20
15:21 15:22-28 15:29
15:30-38 15:39- 16:4 16:5-12
16:13-28 17:1-13 17:14-21 17:22-23 17:24 17:25-27 18:1-6
18:7-11 18:12-14 18:15-17 18:18-20 18:22-35 19:1-2
19:16-26
20:17-19 20:20-28 20:29
20:30-34
21:1a
21:1b
21:1c 21:2-7 21:8-9
21:10-11 21:12-13 21:14-16 21:17
21:18 21:19-22 21:23- 23:39 (21:46) (22:15-22)
24:1a 24:3a 24:3b- 25:46 26:2 26:3-5 26:6 26:7-13 26:14-16 26:17 26:18-19 26:20
26:21 26:22 26:23 26:24 26:25a 26:25b 26:26-29
26:30 26:33-35
26:36a 26:36b-45 26:47-56
26:57
26:58
26:59a 26:59b-66 26:67-68 26:69 26:70 26:71a
26:71b 26:72 26:73 26:74a 26:74b
26:75
27:1 27:2 27:3-10
27:11-25 27:26 27:27-31a 27:31b 27:32
27:33 27:34-36
27:37 27:38 27:39-44 27:45 27:46-47 27:50-54 27:57-59
27:60
27:62-66
28:1a 28:1b 28:2a 28:2b-3 28:4
28:5-8 28:11-15
28:9 28:10
28:16-20
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MARK
1:2-8 1:9-11
1:12-13
1:14a 1:14b-15
1:16-20
1:21-22
1:23-27 1:29-31 1:32-34 1:35-37
1:38-39 1:40-45 2:1
2:2-12 2:14-22
2:23-28 3:1-5 3:13-19
3:31-35 4:1-34
4:35-41 5:1-20 5:21
5:22-43
6:1-6a 6:6b 6:7-13
6:14-29 6:30 6:31-32 6:35-44 6:45-52 6:53-55 7:1-13 7:14-23
7:24 7:25-30 7:31 7:32-37 8:1-9 8:10 8:13-21 8:22a 8:22b-26 8:27- 9:1 9:2-13 9:14-29 9:31-32 9:33
9:34-37 9:38-42 9:43-50
10:1
10:17-27
10:32-34 10:35-45 10:46a 10:46b-52
11:1a 11:1b
11:1c 11:1d-7 11:8-11a 11:11b
11:12-14 11:15a 11:15b-18
11:19 11:20-26 11:27a
11:27b- 12:44
13:1a 13:3a 13:3b-37 14:1a 14:1b-2 14:3a 14:3b-9 14:10-11 14:12 14:13-16 14:17
14:18 14:19 14:20 14:21
14:22-25
14:26 14:29-31
14:32 14:33-42 14:43-52
14:54a
14:54b
14:55-64 14:65 14:66-67 14:68a 14:68b
14:69 14:70a 14:70b 14:71 14:72a
14:72b
15:1a 15:1b
15:2-14 15:15 15:16-20a 15:20b 15:21
15:22-23 15:24-25
15:26 15:27 15:29-32 15:33 15:34 15:37 15:42-46a
15:46
16:1a 16:1b-8
16:10-11
16:12 16:13
16:14-20
(16:15)
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LUKE
1:5-25 1:26-38
1:39-56
1:57-80 2:1-3 2:4-5 2:6-7 2:8-20 2:21 2:22-24 2:25-35 2:36-38 2:39-40
2:41-52 3:1 3:2-18 3:21-22 3:23-38 4:1-13
4:14-15
4:16-30
4:31-32
4:33-37 4:38-39 4:40-41 4:42 4:43-44
5:1-3 5:4-11 5:12-14 5:17-26 5:27-32 5:33-39 6:1-5 6:6-10 6:12-16 6:17-49 7:1-10 7:11-17 7:18-35 7:36-50 8:1-18 8:19-21
8:22-25 8:26-39 8:40
8:41-56
9:1-6
9:7-9 9:10a 9:10b 9:11-17
9:12-17
9:18-27 9:28-36 9:37-43 9:44-45
9:46-48 9:49-50
9:51-52 9:53-56 9:57-62 10:1-16 10:17-24 10:30-37 10:38-42 11:1-13 11:14-26 11:29-36 11:37-54 12:1-59 13:1-9 13:10-17 13:18-21 13:22 13:23-30 13:31-32 13:33-35 14:1-35 15:1- 17:10 17:11 18:18-27
18:31-34
18:35-43 19:1
19:2-10 19:29a 19:29b
19:29c 19:29d-35 19:36-44
19:45-46
20:1-18 20:19-20 20:21-26 21:5-36
(21:37)
22:1 22:2
22:3-6 22:7 22:8-13 22:14
22:19-20 22:21-23
22:24-30
22:31-32 22:33 22:34
22:39
22:40 22:41-46 22:47-53 (22:50-51)
22:54b
22:55a 22:55b
22:56 22:57
22:58a 22:58b
22:59 22:60a 22:60b 22:61 22:62 22:63-65 22:66-71 23:1-6
23:7-11a 23:11b-23 23:24-25
23:26 23:28-31 23:32 23:33a 23:33b 23:33c 23:35-37 23:38
23:44a 23:44b 23:46 23:50-53a
23:53b 23:54b 23:56a 23:56b
24:1a 24:1b-9
24:12 24:13-32
24:33 24:34 24:36-44
24:45-48 24:49 24:50 24:51 24:52-53 |
JOHN 1:1-5
1:6-8
1:9-28 1:29-34 1:35-40 1:41-42 1:43-44 1:45-51 2:1-11 2:12 2:13-25 3:1-21 3:22- 4:2 (3:24) 4:3 4:4-42
4:43-45 4:46a 4:46b-54
5:1-47
6:1 6:3-13 6:16-21
6:25-71
7:2-52 8:12- 10:38 10:39-42 11:1-44 11:45-53 11:54a
11:54b
12:1 12:2 12:3-8
12:12-19
13:1
13:2 13:4-20 13:21 13:22
13:23-26 13:27-30
13:33 13:34-35 13:36
13:37 13:38 14:1-31a 14:31b
15:1- 17:26 18:1
18:3-12 (18:10-11) 18:12 18:13 18:15 18:16 18:17a 18:17b 18:18a 18:18b 18:19-23 18:24
18:25a 18:25b
18:26 18:27a 18:27b
18:28-38
19:1-15 19:16
19:17
19:19-22
19:23-24
19:30 19:38 19:39-40 19:41-42 (19:31)
20:1a 20:1b 20:2 20:3-9 20:10 20:11-17 20:18
20:19-23
20:24-25
20:26-29 21:1-23
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