This study Jesus' earthly Life (Gospel records in chronological sequence) is a compilation of the records in the gospels in form of a table and in chronologiscal sequence of the recorded events.
Layout:
The information is set forth in form of a table. One
column is for a short description of the respective event, then there are four columns for chapter and verse references
for the four gospels. Sections which are not following a chronological sequence in the gospel record itself are
enclosed in [ ] (compare the example given).
|
Event |
Matthew |
Mark |
Luke |
John |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Genealogy |
1,2-17 |
[3,23-38] |
Background:
This study is the result of many years of interest and
study about the topic "gospel harmony" which I have been interested in since the mid 1970ies when I first began more
intensively studying the Bible as the revealed Word of God. During the course of all these years since I have read and
carefully studied several works on gospel harmony, I have read a number of books, and some unpublished studies have
also contributed very much to deepen my knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures in this area of study. A more
complete bibliography will of course be part of the final and more detailed work once it is finished.
This study is based on a time frame with Jesus' birth in the fall of 3 BC, and the beginning of his public ministry in the spring of the year 27 AD and his death following at passover time in the year 28 AD. These data are arrived at from some historical information and mention of historical persons and facts in the gospels, cp. the study called How long was Jesus' public ministry? (in the categoryContradictions) on this website. The references to the dates in the Jewish Calendar and their recalculation into the Julian Calendar follows the reference in an unpublished study under the title of "The Acceptable Year of the Lord" by W. J. Cummins from 1990.
Purpose and goal:
With this study, I would like to help readers
unlock the records in the four gospels in a way which will enable them to understand and follow the life of our lord
Jesus Christ very vividly, since the records are connected with each other in chronological order. For many people such
an approach helps gain a more vivid overall picture of the life and ministry of Jesus than would be possible for them
by just reading the independent records in each of the four gospels. With this goal in mind, it is not neglected though
to point out the purpose God had in mind by revealing four gospels about the life of Jesus in order to extensively
convey different aspects of Jesus' life.
The life of Jesus is divided up here into smaller and more easy to comprehend sections: First, I give a short overview of the introductory sections of each gosepl, then comes a section on Childhood and Youth of Jesus, which is followed by a section about his baptism by John to the opening of his own public ministry; after that a section on the activities in Galilee during the summer up to the beginning of Jesus' 30th year, his further ministry in Galilee and Jerusalem in the fall of that year, and his stay and ministry in the area of Perea during the winter time; these are followed by a section on the events leading up to the beginning of the passover time and Jesus' sufferings during the last week of his life before the crucifixion, and a section about the time of the resurrection and the period of 40 days afterwards up to his ascension then closes the study.
A great key to being able to follow and understand this study is the knowledge that not all four gospels do record all or even the same events. Some events are recorded in all four gospels, others are recorded in perhaps some or only one gospel. The records about identical events also do not always contain the exact same details, but all points mentioned do build harmoniously to a conclusive and harmonious picture as a whole which does not contain any contradictions. If certain details (such as about time, place or persons, etc.) cannot be harmonized, then the records are not about one identical event but rather about several only similar events. As these key are observed carefully, it is possible to determine quite accurately a chronological sequence for many of the recorded events in the gospels, bceause the points of agreement serve as anchor points and hold together the "red thread" by which the other events then can be placed.
May this study be a great help for all who would like to study the gospels, and may God in His grace and mercy grant insight and understanding to all which should lead to a greater appreciation of our lord and savior Jesus Christ.