His Life A Complete Story in the Words of the Four Gospels

Sydney Strong

Description

The four Gospels, each telling in its own way the story of the Life of Jesus, are the rich heritage of Christians. No one of the Gospels could be spared. But in reading any one of the four we miss some of the familiar words and incidents we love. Almost from the days of the Apostles there have been attempts to unite the Gospels in a single narrative. The first of these efforts, so far as we know, was undertaken by the devout scholar Tatian, soon after 173 A.D. His book served a useful purpose in his own and later generations, and is now a valuable witness to the antiquity and early acceptance of our four Gospels.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: Pub One Info
• Date de parution: 23 octobre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9782819901327
• Langue: English

Extrait

PREFACE.
The four Gospels, each telling in its own way thestory of the Life of Jesus, are the rich heritage of Christians. Noone of the Gospels could be spared. But in reading any one of thefour we miss some of the familiar words and incidents we love.Almost from the days of the Apostles there have been attempts tounite the Gospels in a single narrative. The first of theseefforts, so far as we know, was undertaken by the devout scholarTatian, soon after 173 A.D. His book served a useful purpose in hisown and later generations, and is now a valuable witness to theantiquity and early acceptance of our four Gospels.
There have been many harmonies of the Gospel fromthe second century to the present; and they are all butindispensable to the scholar. Almost every minister keeps one athis elbow. But these, for the most part, are made for purposes ofscholarly comparison, and not for general reading. Moreover, theyare expensive.
The editors of this little book have undertaken toprepare an interwoven story of the Life of Jesus from the fourGospels for popular reading. A booklet that may be carried in thepocket, and may be sold, in paper binding, for ten cents, has beentheir ambition. They have been led to this undertaking by the largedemand for copies of their booklet, "HIS LAST WEEK," whichcomprises the last third of this volume, whose use at Easter timehas brought them many requests for the complete Gospel story,interwoven in the same manner.
The work of preparation has been done by threeministers of Oak Park, in suburban Chicago, who have shared equallythe labor, but the undertaking has the support and co-operation ofthe entire group of fifteen local pastors, representing sixdifferent denominations. To this larger group of brethren is due agrateful acknowledgment of sympathy and assistance. The book has atleast the value of an illustration in practical interdenominationalco-operation. In the spirit of this fine fellowship it is commendedto Christians of every name.
THE DIVINE ANNOUNCINGS
THE WORD MADE FLESH.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was withGod, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.All things were made through him; and without him was not anythingmade that hath been made. In him was life; and the life was thelight of men. And the light shineth in the darkness; and thedarkness apprehended it not.
There came a man, sent from God, whose name wasJohn. The same came for witness, that he might bear witness of thelight, that all might believe through him. He was not the light,but came that he might bear witness of the light. There was thetrue light, even the light which lighteth every man, coming intothe world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him,and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and they thatwere his own received him not. But as many as received him, to themgave he the right to become children of God, even to them thatbelieve on his name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the willof the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (andwe beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from theFather), full of grace and truth. John beareth witness of him, andcrieth, saying, "This was he of whom I said, He that cometh afterme is become before me: for he was before me."
For of his fulness we all received, and grace forgrace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth camethrough Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the onlybegotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declaredhim.
THE PROMISED BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.
There was in the days of Herod, king of Judæa, acertain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and he hada wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. Andthey were both righteous before God, walking in all thecommandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had nochild, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were nowwell stricken in years.
Now it came to pass, while he executed the priest'soffice before God in the order of his course, according to thecustom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the templeof the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the peoplewere praying without at the hour of incense.
And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lordstanding on the right side of the altar of incense.
And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fearfell upon him. But the angel said unto him, "Fear not, Zacharias:because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shallbear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalthave joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For heshall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no winenor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, evenfrom his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall heturn unto the Lord their God. And he shall go before his face inthe spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathersto the children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of thejust; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him."
And Zacharias said unto the angel, "Whereby shall Iknow this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken inyears."
And the angel answering said unto him, "I amGabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speakunto thee, and to bring thee these good tidings. And behold, thoushalt be silent and not able to speak, until the day that thesethings shall come to pass, because thou believedst not my words,which shall be fulfilled in their season."
And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and theymarvelled while he tarried in the temple. And when he came out, hecould not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen avision in the temple: and he continued making signs unto them, andremained dumb.
And it came to pass, when the days of hisministration were fulfilled, he departed unto his house.
And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived;and she hid herself five months, saying, "Thus hath the Lord doneunto me in the days wherein he looked upon me, to take away myreproach among men."
THE ANGEL'S VISIT TO MARY.
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sentfrom God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virginbetrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David;and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came in unto her, and said,"Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee."
But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and castin her mind what manner of salutation this might be.
And the angel said unto her, "Fear not, Mary: forthou hast found favor with God And behold, thou shalt conceive inthy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. Heshall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: andthe Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of hiskingdom there shall be no end."
And Mary said unto the angel, "How shall this be,seeing I know not a man?"
And the angel answered and said unto her, "The HolySpirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shallovershadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begottenshall be called the Son of God. And behold, Elisabeth thykinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and thisis the sixth month with her that was called barren. For no wordfrom God shall be void of power."
And Mary said, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; beit unto me according to thy word"
And the angel departed from her.
MARY'S VISIT TO HER COUSIN.
And Mary arose in these days and went into the hillcountry with haste, into a city of Judah; and entered into thehouse of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, whenElisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in herwomb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit; and she liftedup her voice with a loud cry, and said, "Blessed art thou amongwomen, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this tome, that the mother of my Lord should come unto me? For behold,when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babeleaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed; forthere shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken toher from the Lord."
MARY'S SONG.
And Mary said, "My soul doth magnify the Lord. Andmy spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath looked uponthe low estate of his handmaid: For behold, from henceforth allgenerations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath doneto me great things; And holy is his name. And his mercy is untogenerations and generations On them that fear him. He hath showedstrength with his arm: He hath scattered the proud in theimagination of their heart. He hath put down princes from theirthrones, And hath exalted them of low degree. The hungry he hathfilled with good things; And the rich he hath sent empty away. Hehath given help to Israel his servant, That he might remember mercy(As he spake unto our fathers) Toward Abraham and his seed forever."
And Mary abode with her about three months, andreturned unto her house.
THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.
Now Elisabeth's time was fulfilled that she shouldbe delivered; and she brought forth a son. And her neighbors andher kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towardsher; and they rejoiced with her.
And it came to pass on the eighth day, that theycame to circumcise the child; and they would have called himZacharias, after the name of his father.
And his mother answered and said, "Not so; but heshall be called John."
And they said unto her, "There is none of thykindred that is called by this name."
And they made signs to his father, what he wouldhave him called.
And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote,saying, "His name is John."
And they marvelled all. And his mouth