HCSB Harmony of the Gospels

Steven L. Cox, Kendell H. Easley

• Publisher: Holman Bible Publishers
• Year: 2007
• ISBN:
  9781433669842
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Reference

HCSB Harmony of the Gospels is a standard, four-column synchronized reading of the Gospels based on the work of John A. Broadus and A.T. Robertson. In addition to the harmony itself, articles are included to address issues that arise when one compares the four Gospels and seeks to give a harmonized account of the life and teachings of Jesus. Designed for pastors, lay Bible teachers, professors, and students, this edition also features eight four-color maps that illuminate Christ's life and ministry plus the full text of the four Gospels from the Holman Christian Standard Bible® translation.

A HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS

PART I

THE SOURCES OF THE GOSPELS

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Sec. 1 Luke Explains His Purpose and His Method of Research and Writing

Luke 1:1-4

¹Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled^a among us, ² just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us. ³ It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, ⁴ so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.^b

^a1:1 Or events that have been accomplished, or events most surely believed ^b1:4 Or informed

Lk 1:1 that have been fulfilled: This phrase tells about what God has done through Jesus to fulfill His plan (see Lk 24:43–47).

Lk 1:2 original eyewitnesses: This verse refers to the preaching of the original oral tradition that circulated about Him before there were Gospels. These traditions were rooted in the preaching ministry of those who had been with Him.

Lk 1:3 orderly sequence: Since we know that Luke rearranged some events in his Gospel to be topical as opposed to chronological (see Lk 4:16–30 and parallels in Mark and Matthew), this orderly sequence has more to do with a general arrangement and order as opposed to meaning in temporal sequence.

Lk 1:4 may know: This is more than an intellectual knowledge, but the word has the idea of giving assurance in this context.

PART II

THE INCARNATION OF THE SON OF GOD

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Sec. 2 Prologue to John's Gospel

John 1:1-18

¹ In the beginning was the Word,^a

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

² He was with God in the beginning.

³ All things were created through Him,

and apart from Him not one thing

was created that has been created.

⁴ Life was in Him,^b

and that life was the light of men.

⁵ That light shines in the darkness,

yet the darkness did not overcome^c it.

⁶ There was a man named John

who was sent from God.

⁷ He came as a witness

to testify about the light,

so that all might believe through him.^d

⁸ He was not the light,

but he came to testify about the light.

⁹ The true light, who gives light to everyone,

was coming into the world.^e

¹⁰ He was in the world,

and the world was created through Him, yet the •world did not recognize Him.

¹¹ He came to His own,^f

and His own people^f did not receive Him.

¹² But to all who did receive Him,

He gave them the right to be^g children of God,

to those who believe in His name,

^a1:1 The Word (Gk Logos) is a title for Jesus as the communication and the revealer of God the Father; Jn 1:14,18; Rv 19:13.

^b1:3–4 Other punctuation is possible: … not one thing was created. What was created in Him was life ^c1:5 Or grasp, or comprehend, or overtake; Jn 12:35 ^d1:7 Or through it (the light) ^e1:9 Or The true light who comes into the world gives light to everyone, or The true light enlightens everyone coming into the world. ^f1:11 The same Gk adjective is used twice in this verse: the first refers to all that Jesus owned as Creator (to His own); the second refers to the Jews (His own people). ^g1:12 Or become

Jn 1:1–18 In the prologue John presents Jesus as the eternal, preexistent Word-become-flesh (1:1,14) and as the one-of-a-kind Son of the Father who is Himself God (1:1,18). God's revelation and redemption in Jesus is shown to culminate God's salvation history which previously included His giving the Law through Moses (1:17), His dwelling among His people in the Tabernacle (1:14), and the sending of John the Baptist (1:6–8,15). The prologue also introduces many of the major themes developed later in the Gospel, including Jesus as life, light, and truth; believers as God's children; and the world's rejection of Jesus.

Jn 1:1 In the beginning: The opening of the Gospel reminds the reader of Genesis 1:1, and indicates that in the incarnation of the Word or Logos (1:14) there is a recreation taking place. the Word was God: In this context, the notion of God is concrete and definite.

Jn 1:3 All things were created through Him: The Word was God's agent in the creation process.

Jn 1:5 darkness did not overcome it: An alternative translation is that the darkness did not understand it.

Jn 1:6 John: This section introduces John as sent by God but as witness to the one still to come, depicted as light.

Jn 1:10 the world did not recognize Him: As in the opening of Genesis, when the first humans did not recognize and follow God's commands, the Word though involved in creation was not recognized by this creation.

Jn 1:12 children of God: Those who accept and receive the Word are given the right to be called God's children, and recognized as adopted by God into His family. to those who believe i...

Table of contents

• Half Title
• Full Title
• Copyright
• Preface
• Contributors
• Introduction to the Holman CSB
• Major Divisions of the Harmony
• Analytical Outline of the Harmony
• Table for Finding any Passage in the Harmony
• Is Harmonization Honest?
• A History of Harmonies: Major Steps
• Why There Are Four Gospels
• A Pastoral Use of Harmonies
• The Academic Use of Gospel Harmonies
• PART I
• PART II
• PART III
• PART IV
• PART V
• PART VI
• PART VII
• PART VIII
• PART IX
• PART X
• PART XI
• PART XII
• PART XIII
• PART XIV
• Textual Issues in the Gospels
• The Geographical Setting of the Gospels
• The Religious Milieu in the Gospels
• Jewish Sects of the New Testament Era
• The Gospels in the Light of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls
• The Synoptic Problem/Question
• Critical Methodologies: Source Criticism, Form Criticism, Redaction Criticism
• A Brief History of Hermeneutical Methods Used in the Quest of the Historical Jesus
• Harmonization in the Patristic Period
• Christology in the Gospels
• A Chronology of the Life of Christ
• The Two Genealogies of Jesus Christ in Matthew and Luke
• The Time of Jesus' Birth
• The Language Jesus Spoke
• The Apostles: Four Lists
• Sermon on the Mount
• Women in the Gospels
• The Kingdom of God
• Hell and Heaven
• Demons in the Gospels
• The Arrest and Trials of Jesus
• The Day, Hour, and Year of Jesus' Crucifixion
• The Amount of Time Between the Crucifixion and the Resurrection of Christ
• The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
• The Resurrection Appearances of Jesus
• Messianic Prophecies Fulfilled in the Gospels
• Missiological Concepts in the Gospels
• A List of the Parables of Jesus in the Gospels
• A List of the Miracles of Jesus in the Gospels
• Old Testament Quotations in New Testament
• SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Maps I
• Maps II
• Maps III
• Maps IV
• Maps V
• Maps VI
• Maps VII
• Maps VIII