Gospel harmony

A Gospel harmony is an attempt to merge or harmonize the canonical gospels of the Four Evangelists into a single gospel account, the earliest ancient example being the Diatesseron by Tatian in the second century. A gospel harmony may also establish a chronology for the events of the life of Jesus depicted in the four canonical gospels and how they relate to each other, see also Chronology of Jesus. Under modern scholarship, the effort has waned to portray any one harmony of events as totally correct. The process can also be hindered by discrepancies between various Gospels accounts of certain events.
The unique material of each gospel complicates the discernment of one, harmonized chronology. However, others consider the unique material crucial to narrowing down the possible chronological order. Some scholars have questioned the historicity of events in the canonical gospels.
==Approaches to harmony==
The terms harmony and synopsis have been used to refer to approaches that aim to achieve Gospel harmony, although they are different approaches. Technically, a "harmony" weaves together sections of scripture into a narrative, merging the four Gospels. There are four main types of harmony: radical, synthetic, sequential and parallel. A "synopsis", much like a parallel harmony focuses on key events and brings together similar texts or accounts in parallel format, usually in columns.Steven L. Cox, 2007 Harmony of the Gospels B&H Publishing ISBN 0805494448 page 3
Tatian's Diatesseron harmony which dates to about 160AD was perhaps the very first harmony. In the third century the Christian Ammonius of Alexandria (Christian) developed the forrunner of modern synopsis as the Ammonian Sections in which he started with the text of Matthew and copied along parallel events. No other major Gospel harmonies appeared thereafter until the 15th century.
The 16th century witnessed a major increase in the introduction of Gospel harmonies. In this period the parallel column structure was introduced, partly in response to the rise in Biblical criticism. This new format was used to emphasize the trustworthiness of the Gospels. It is not clear who produced the very first parallel harmony, but Charles Dumoulin in 1565 and Gerhard Mercator in 1569 had used similar approaches. In terms of content and quality, Johann Jacob Griesbach's 1776 synopsis was a notable example.
In the 19th century, other "extract and merge" attempts were made, which were not technical harmonies, e.g. the 1819 Jefferson Bible which placed selected verses in chronological order, but removed large sections of text that Thomas Jefferson considered too supernatural.
W. G. Rushbrooke's 1880 Synopticon is at times considered a turning point in the history of the synopsis, for it was based on Markan priority, i.e. giving priority to the Gospel of Mark. Thirteen years later, John Broadus used historical accounts to assign priorities in his harmony, while previous approaches had used feasts as the major milestones for dividing the life of Christ.
In the 20th century, two separate books both titled Synopsis of the Four Gospels, one by Kurt Aland and the other by John Bernard Orchard became the standard texts in the field of Gospel harmony.Kurt Aland, 1982 Synopsis of the Four Gospels United Bible Societies ISBN 0826705006John Bernard Orchard, 1983 Synopsis of the Four Gospels T&T Clark Publishers ISBN 056709331X
==A parallel harmony presentation==
The following table, mainly events for which there is also a Wikipedia article, is an example of a parallel harmony. The order of events, especially during the ministry period, has been the subject of speculation and scholarly debate. While this harmony compares the work of several scholars, other harmonies may differ substantially on the placement of some events.
 				
Number 	Type 	Event 	Matthew	Mark	Luke	John	Other
0.5 	Nativity 	Genealogy of Jesus 	 	 	 	 	
1 	Nativity 	Gabriel announces John'sbirth to Zechariah 	 	 	 	 	
2 	Nativity 	Gabriel announces Mary'smotherhood to Jesus 	 	 	 	 	
3 	Nativity 	Mary visits Elizabeth 	 	 	 	 	
4 	Nativity 	Birth of Jesus: The Nativity 	 	 	 	 	
5 	Nativity 	Adoration of the Shepherds 	 	 	 	 	
6 	Nativity 	Infant Jesus at the Temple 	 	 	 	 	
7 	Nativity 	Star of Bethlehem 	 	 	 	 	
8 	Nativity 	Adoration of the Wise Men 	 	 	 	 	
9 	Nativity 	Flight into Egypt 	 	 	 	 	
10 	Nativity 	Massacre of the Innocents 	 	 	 	 	
11 	 	Herod the Great's death 	 	 	 	 	
12 	Youth 	Return to Nazareth 	 	 	 	 	
13 	Youth 	Boy Jesus at Jerusalem 	 	 	 	 	
14 	 	Pilate appointed Iudaea governor 	 	 	 	 	Antiquities of the Jewsby Flavius Josephus
15 	 	Baptism of Jesus 	 	 	 	 	
16 This placement of follows Edward Robinson: A Harmony of the Gospels in Greek, Revised Ed., pub. by Crocker & Brewster and Orville Daniel: "A Harmony of the Four Gospels", 2nd Ed., pub. by Baker Books 	 	Temptation of Jesus 	 	 	 	 	
17 	Miracles 	Wedding at Cana 	 	 	 	 	
18 	Ministry 	Jesus & Nicodemus 	 	 	 	 	
19 	Ministry 	Jesus returns to Galilee 	 	 	 	 	
20 	Ministry 	First Temple Cleansing 	 	 	 	 	
21 	Ministry 	Samaritan Woman at the Well 	 	 	 	 	
22 	Ministry 	Rejection of Jesus, Physician, heal thyself 	 	 	 	 	
23 	Ministry 	Calling of Matthew 	 	 	 	 	
24 This placement of follows Orville Daniel: A Harmony of the Four Gospels, 2nd Ed., Baker Books Pub. and R. Thomas & S. Gundry: The NIV Harmony of the Gospels, HarperCollins Pub. but is placed later by Edward Robinson: A Harmony of the Gospels in Greek, Revised Ed., pub. by Crocker & Brewster 	Parables 	New Wine into Old Wineskins 	 	 	 	 	
25 	Ministry 	Commissioning the Twelve 	 	 	 	 	
26 	Sermon on the Mount or on the Plain	Beatitudes 	 	 	 	 	
27 	Sermon on the Mount or on the Plain	Expounding of the Law 	 	 	 	 	
28 	Sermon on the Mount 	Discourse on Ostentation 	 	 	 	 	
29 	Sermon on the Mount 	The Lord's Prayer 	 	 	 	 	
30 	Sermon on the Mount 	The Birds of Heaven 	 	 	 	 	
31 	Sermon on the Mount or on the Plain	Discourse on Judging 	 	 	 	 	
32 	Sermon on the Mount 	Discourse on the Two Ways 	 	 	 	 	
33 	Sermon on the Mount 	The Test of a Good Person 	 	 	 	 	
34 	Sermon on the Mount or on the Plain	Parable of the Wise and the Foolish Builders 	 	 	 	 	
35 	Miracles 	Widow’s Son at Nain Raised 	 	 	 	 	
36 	Parables 	Parable of the Two Debtors at a Pharisees' House	 	 	 	 	
37 This placement of follows Orville Daniel: A Harmony of the Four Gospels, 2nd Ed., Baker Books Pub. and R. Thomas & S. Gundry: The NIV Harmony of the Gospels, HarperCollins Pub. but Luke 11:17-28 is placed with it by Edward Robinson: A Harmony of the Gospels in Greek, Revised Ed., pub. by Crocker & Brewster	Parables 	Parable of the Strong Man 	 	 	 	 	
38 	Ministry 	Jesus' True Relatives 	 	 	 	 	
39 	Parables 	Parable of the Sower 	 	 	 	 	
40 	Parables 	Parable of the Tares 	 	 	 	 	
41 	Parables 	Parable of the Growing Seed 	 	 	 	 	
42 	Parables 	Parable of the Hidden Treasure 	 	 	 	 	
43 	Parables 	Parable of the Pearl 	 	 	 	 	
44 	Parables 	Parable of Drawing in the Net 	 	 	 	 	
45 	Miracles 	Legion (demon) 	 	 	 	 	
46 	Miracles 	Daughter of Jairus 	 	 	 	 	
47 	Ministry 	Rejection of Jesus 	 	 	 	 	
48 	Ministry 	Beheading of St. John the Baptist 	 	 	 	 	
49 	Ministry 	But to bring a sword 	 	 	 	 	
50 	Miracles 	Feeding the multitude 	 	 	 	 	
51 	Miracles 	Walking on water 	 	 	 	 	
52 	Miracles 	The Blind Man of Bethsaida 	 	 	 	 	
53 	Ministry 	Confession of Peter 	 	 	 	 	
54 	Miracles 	Transfiguration of Jesus 	 	 	 	 	
56 	Ministry 	The Little Children 	 	 	 	 	
57 This placement of follows Orville Daniel: A Harmony of the Four Gospels, 2nd Ed., Baker Books Pub. and R. Thomas & S. Gundry: The NIV Harmony of the Gospels, HarperCollins Pub. but is placed later by Edward Robinson: A Harmony of the Gospels in Greek, Revised Ed., pub. by Crocker & Brewster 	Ministry 	Jesus and the woman taken in adultery 	 	 	 	 	
58 This placement of follows Orville Daniel: A Harmony of the Four Gospels, 2nd Ed., Baker Books Pub. and R. Thomas & S. Gundry: The NIV Harmony of the Gospels, HarperCollins Pub. but is placed later by Edward Robinson: A Harmony of the Gospels in Greek, Revised Ed., pub. by Crocker & Brewster 	Ministry 	The Good Shepherd (Christianity) 	 	 	 	 	
59 	Ministry 	Seventy Disciples 	 	 	 	 	
60 	Parables 	Parable of the Good Samaritan 	 	 	 	 	
61 	Ministry 	Visits Martha and Mary 	 	 	 	 	
62 	Ministry 	The Lord's Prayer 	 	 	 	 	
63 This placement of follows Orville Daniel: A Harmony of the Four Gospels, 2nd Ed., Baker Books Pub. and R. Thomas & S. Gundry: The NIV Harmony of the Gospels, HarperCollins Pub. but it is placed with Mark 3:23-35 by Edward Robinson: A Harmony of the Gospels in Greek, Revised Ed., pub. by Crocker & Brewster 	Parables 	Parable of the Strong Man 	 	 	 	 	
64 	Ministry 	Jesus' True Relatives 	 	 	 	 	
65 	Ministry 	The Rich Fool 	 	 	 	 	
66 	Ministry 	The Birds of Heaven 	 	 	 	 	
67 	Parables 	Parable of the Faithful Servant 	 	 	 	 	
68 	Parables 	Parable of the Friend at Night 	 	 	 	 	
69 	Parables 	Parable of the Mustard Seed 	 	 	 	 	
70 	Parables 	Parable of the Leaven 	 	 	 	 	
71 	Parables 	Parable of the Lost Sheep 	 	 	 	 	
72 	Parables 	Parable of the Lost Coin 	 	 	 	 	
73 	Parables 	Parable of the Prodigal Son 	 	 	 	 	
74 	Parables 	Parable of the Unjust Steward 	 	 	 	 	
75 	Parables 	Lazarus and Dives 	 	 	 	 	
75.5 	Parables 	Parable of the Unmerciful Servant 	 	 	 	 	
76 	Ministry 	The Master and Servant 	 	 	 	 	
77 This placement of follows Orville Daniel: A Harmony of the Four Gospels, 2nd Ed., Baker Books Pub. and R. Thomas & S. Gundry: The NIV Harmony of the Gospels, HarperCollins Pub. but is placed earlier by Edward Robinson: A Harmony of the Gospels in Greek, Revised Ed., pub. by Crocker & Brewster 	Miracles 	Raises Lazarus from the dead; Jesus wept 	 	 	 	 	
78 	Parables 	Parable of the Unjust Judge 	 	 	 	 	
79 	Parables 	Pharisee and the Publican 	 	 	 	 	
80 	Ministry 	The Little Children 	 	 	 	 	
81 	Ministry 	Evangelical counsels 	 	 	 	 	
82 	Parables 	Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard 	 	 	 	 	
83 	Miracles 	Bartimaeus (Biblical) 	 	 	 	 	
84 	Ministry 	Talks to Zacchaeus 	 	 	 	 	
85 	Ministry 	The Triumphal Entry 	 	 	 	 	
86 	Miracles 	Fig tree is cursed 	 	 	 	 	
86.5 	Ministry 	Second Temple Cleansing 	 	 	 	 	
87 	Ministry 	The Grain of Wheat 	 	 	 	 	
87.5 	Ministry 	Authority of Jesus Questioned 	 	 	 	 	
88 	Parables 	Parable of the Two Sons 	 	 	 	 	
89 	Parables 	Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen 	 	 	 	 	
90 	Parables 	Parable of the Wedding Feast 	 	 	 	 	
91 	Ministry 	Render unto Caesar... 	 	 	 	 	
92 	Ministry 	Woes of the Pharisees 	 	 	 	 	
94 	Olivet Discourse 	Second Coming Prophecy 	 	 	 	 	
95 	Olivet Discourse:Parables 	Parable of the Ten Virgins 	 	 	 	 	
96 	Olivet Discourse:Parables 	Parable of the Talents 	 	 	 	 	
97 	Olivet Discourse:Parables 	The Sheep and the Goats 	 	 	 	 	
98 	Ministry 	Anointing 	 	 	 	 	
99 	Ministry 	Last Supper 	 	 	 	 	
100 	Ministry 	Promising a ParacleteGethsemane 	 	 	 	 	
101 	The Passion 	The kiss of Judas 	 	 	 	 	
102 	The Passion 	Arrest of Jesus 	 	 	 	 	
103 	The Passion 	Sanhedrin Trial of Jesus 	 	 	 	 	
104 	The Passion 	Blood curse 	 	 	 	 	
105 	The Passion 	Crucifixion of Jesus 	 	 	 	 	
106 	The Passion 	Crucifixion eclipse 	 	 	 	 	
107 	The Passion 	Descent from the Cross 	 	 	 	 	
108 	ResurrectionAppearances 	Resurrection of Jesus 	 	 	 	 	
109 	ResurrectionAppearances 	Jesus: Empty tomb 	 	 	 	 	
110 	ResurrectionAppearances 	Mary Magdalene, Myrrhbearers 	 	 	 	 	
111 	ResurrectionAppearances 	Noli me tangere 	 	 	 	 	
112 	ResurrectionAppearances 	Doubting Thomas 	 	 	 	 	
113 	ResurrectionAppearances 	Catch of 153 fish 	 	 	 	 	
114 	ResurrectionAppearances 	Great Commission 	 	 	 	 	
115 	ResurrectionAppearances 	Ascension of Jesus 	 	 	 	 	
117 	 	Matthias replaced Judas 	 	 	 	 	
118 	 	The Day of Pentecost 	 	 	 	 	
119 	 	Ananias and Sapphira 	 	 	 	 	
120 	 	Seven Greeks appointed 	 	 	 	 	
121 	 	The Stoning of Stephen 	 	 	 	 	
122 	 	Persecution of Christians in the New Testament 	 	 	 	 	
123 	 	Preaching of Philip the Evangelist 	 	 	 	 	
124 	 	Simon the Sorcerer 	 	 	 	 	
125 	 	Paul's Conversion 	 	 	 	 	
126 	 	Conversion of Cornelius 	 	 	 	 	
127 	 	James, son of Zebedee executed 	 	 	 	 	
128 	 	Death of Herod Agrippa I (in 44) 	 	 	 	 	
129 	 	Mission of Barnabas and Paul 	 	 	 	 	
130 	 	The Council at Jerusalem 	 	 	 	 	
131 	 	2nd and 3rd missions of Paul 	 	 	 	 	
132 	 	Paul before Felix 	 	 	 	 	
133 	 	Paul before Festus 	 	 	 	 	
134 	 	Paul before Agrippa II 	 	 	 	 	
135 	 	Trip to Jerusalem 	 	 	 	 	
136 	 	Chronology of Revelation 	 	 	 	 	
==See also==
*Ministry of Jesus
*Chronology of Jesus
*Outline of the Bible
*List of New Testament stories
*Gospel harmony based on Matthew
*Gospel harmony based on Luke
==References==
*Orville Daniel: A Harmony of the Four Gospels, 2nd Ed., Baker Books Pub.
* R. Thomas & S. Gundry: The NIV Harmony of the Gospels, HarperCollins Pub. 
* Edward Robinson: A Harmony of the Gospels in Greek, Revised Ed., pub. by Crocker & Brewster 
* Henry Rutter, Evangelical harmony Keating and Brown, London 1803.
* Steven L. Cox, Kendell H Easley, 2007 Harmony of the Gospels ISBN 0805494448
==Notes==
:This article incorporates work from A Harmony of the Gospels in Greek by Edward Robinson, a publication now in the public domain.
==External links==
*Parallel Gospels in Harmony Online version of Parallel Gospels in Harmony: with Study Guide, by David A. Reed, a public domain book
*Complete Gospel texts, shown in four parallel columns, but not a harmony
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