The Gospels in Four Part Harmony

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Foreword

This book is based on an ancient manuscript known as MS Pepys 2498 of which one copy is known to exist and is kept at Cambridge University Library in England. The original source of MS Pepys 2498 (referred to as the Pepys Gospel or the Pepys Gospel Harmony) is unknown but some scholars have theorized that it may be as old as Christianity itself.

One of the more interesting conclusions concerning Jesus based on the Pepys Gospel Harmony (PGH) sequence is that Jesus was a North Palestinian Essene associated with the Damascus Covenant found at Qumran in Palestine and Genizah in Egypt. Furthermore, it has been proposed that Jesus held the office of Messiah defined in the Damascus Covenant and His goal as well as that of the other Damascus Covenant Essenes was to convert the Pharisaical Jews of Judea which they viewed as the lost sheep of Israel to the Essene sect of Judaism. The sequence of events in the gospels as depicted in the PGH shows John the Baptist and Jesus converting Judean Jews through baptism in the wilderness of Judea. Jesus has an altercation at the temple in Jerusalem and John is arrested. After John’s arrest, Jesus heads north all the way to Capernaum where he gathers followers numbering in the thousands. After John’s death, Jesus makes a final journey to Jerusalem and once more he and his followers from Northern Palestine convert Judean Jews. The Pharisaical leaders of the Judean Jews plot to kill Jesus and put an end to His teaching.

Thus, the PGH sequence of the canonical gospels depicts what some scholars believe to have been a sectarian struggle between the Essenes who adhered to the Damascus Covenant in Northern Palestine and the Pharisaical Jews in Judea for religious leadership of all Israelites. The Pharisaical Jews in Judea were looking for a Messiah to vanquish their enemies, Rome and the Herodians, and therefore rejected Jesus as their Messiah. Whereas, the Essenes were looking for a Messiah to vanquish their enemies, death, poverty, disease and infirmity, and therefore hailed Jesus as their Messiah.

Below are some important academic notes concerning the PGH sequence of the gospels:

The PGH mentions the city of Gerasa which was an ancient city in Palestine which was destroyed by the 10th Roman legion Firensis in AD 70. Only the very oldest existing manuscripts of the canonical gospels mention the city of Gerasa while later manuscripts refer to the area as the land of the Gerasenes. Thus the author of the original source of the PGH may have lived prior to AD 70.

The sequence of the PGH also parallels many aspects of the theoretical "Q" text. The Greek texts of Matthew and Luke in some areas are letter for letter matches which have led some scholars to theorize that at one time a single text “Q” was formed from an early form of Matthew and of Luke and then later portions of our modern forms of Matthew and Luke were copied from this single gospel text. Additionally, in the modern text of Luke the "Parable of the Lamp" occurs in both Chapter 8 and Chapter 11. It has been theorized that an early text that contained Luke had only one "Parable of the Lamp" and that the parable was either cut in half or duplicated in our modern texts. The PGH sequence combines portions of Luke Ch. 8 and 11 and only has a single account of the "Parable of the Lamp" just as some scholars have theorized would've existed in the single gospel forerunner of the modern text of Luke.

Scholars have also theorized that the "Q" text would've been constructed into categories and composed of lists such as a list of parables. This idea was formulated in part based on the gospel of Thomas found at Nag Hammadi. The PGH does form the gospel account into categories or groupings and there are two major groupings of parables in its sequence just as theorized for the “Q” text.

The event sequence of the PGH also enhances the account of the four gospels. The sequence produces cause and effect relationships between events and the interactions of various individuals with each other and with Jesus. For instance, The PGH sequence contains both Mary Magdalene's conversion and subsequent discipleship (this is in the modern gospel texts but is somewhat obscured due to their non-chronological sequence). Thus Mary Magdalene plays a major role in the account of Jesus which is implied by many ancient sources such as the gospel of Thomas but not highlighted by the canonical gospels in their present sequence. The same is true for the significance of John the Baptist in Jesus' ministry. In the PGH sequence, John the Baptist is portrayed as an important ally of Jesus' ministry and his arrest and later death are both pivotal moments in Jesus ministry as portrayed by the PGH sequence. The importance of John the Baptist in the ministry of Jesus is implied by many ancient sources and that importance is vividly depicted in Jesus’ ministry using the PGH sequence of the canonical gospels.

Moreover, the PGH is the only manuscript in existence which depicts an error free chronological sequence for the events in the life of Jesus as portrayed in the four canonical gospels. The four canonical gospels make no claim to being written in chronological sequence. There are historical/traditional accounts that indicate that the four canonical gospels were not written in chronological order. For instance, Papias (AD 135) indicated that Mark was not in any particular order. An engineered reconstruction of the chronological order of the gospels indicates that while several sequences are possible -- the sequence of the modern gospels is not in chronological order. For instance, the passage in Mark 3:13-19 not only precedes the passage in Mark 3:20-31 by over a dozen events but in fact several passages in Mark actually occur between Mark 3:13-19 and Mark 3:20-31.

Also, while there have been many modern attempts to reconstruct the sequence of the events of Jesus life as narrated in the four canonical gospels none of these reconstructions has as many parallels to the theoretical “Q” text as the PGH. Furthermore the theory for the “Q” text was first proposed in the 1800’s and the PGH manuscript predates the “Q” text theory by 400 years. Thus the best candidate to date for the “Q” text sequence is the PGH manuscript.

More importantly, the best manuscript for a chronological depiction of the actual sequence of events in the life of Jesus is The Pepys Gospel Harmony MS 2498.

Acknowledgements

The biblical text for this book is from The Common Edition of the New Testament by T. E. Clontz and I would like to thank my brother for allowing me to use his book.

Many of the section headings for this book come from The Pepysian Gospel Harmony, 1922 Oxford edition; Margery Goates, Editor. I am also deeply indebted to Margery Goates for her invaluable analytical summary of the Pepys Gospel Harmony. Her analytical summary of the entire work showing the parallel passages from the canonical gospels made this book possible.

I would also like to thank Yuri Kuchinsky -- author of The Magdalene Gospel and the moderator for loisy@yahoogroups.com, an email group devoted in part to discussing the Pepys Gospel Harmony. Yuri’s herculean efforts in maintaining a web site for the Pepys Gospel Harmony first brought my attention to the existence of this priceless manuscript and the marvels of its contents.

And finally, I would like to thank the unknown author of the Pepysian Gospel Harmony MS 2498 for bringing me joy.

About the Author

J. Clontz is an award winning writer and speaker who has been published in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Clontz is listed in Marquis Who’s Who in America and A Directory of American Poets and Fiction Writers.

Previous publications include:

C. S. Lewis's Grief After the Death of Joy , 1998

Women and the Cross , 1997

Karl Barth's Moment , 1997

New Psalms, 1996

Karl Barth's Pontius Pilate , 1996

Table of Contents

Part 1 - IN THE BEGINNING

1.10 The Gospel

LK 1:1-4

1.20 God Became Man in Jesus Christ

JN 1:1-18

2.10 Gabriel appears to Zechariah

LK 1:5-25

2.20 Gabriel visits the Virgin Mary

LK 1:26-38

2.30 Mary Visits Elizabeth

LK 1:39-56

2.50 Joseph is Reassured in a Dream

MT1:18-25A

2.60 The Birth of John the Baptist

LK 1:57-80

3.10 Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem, Jesus is born, Angels Appear to the Shepherds

LK 2:1-21

3.20 The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

MT 1:1-17

3.30 The Visit of the Magi

MT 2:1-12

4.10 Simeon and Anna’s blessings

LK 2:22-39

5.10 The Flight into Egypt

MT 2:13b-23

5.20 Jesus Grows in Stature

LK 2:40

6.10 Jesus among the Teachers

LK 2:41-52

Part 2 - BAPTISM

7.10 John the Baptist Preaches Repentance

MT 3:1-17

MK 1:1-11

LK 3:1-18, 21-22

JN 1:19-28

8.10 The Fasting and Temptation of Jesus

MT 4:1-11

MK 1:12-13

LK 4:1-13

8.20 The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

LK 3:23-38

9.10 John the Baptist’s Witness - Behold the Lamb of God!

JN 1:29b-51

10.10 The Marriage Feast in Cana of Galilee

JN 2:1-12

11.10 The Purging of the Temple

JN 2:13-25

11.20 Spiritual Rebirth - Nicodemus, a Ruler of the Jews

JN 3:1-21

12.10 John’s Further Witness to Jesus - He must Increase...I must Decrease

JN 3:22-36

13.10 The Imprisonment of John the Baptist

LK 3:19-20

13.20 Jesus Leaves Judea for Galilee after John’s Arrest

MT 4:12

JN 4:1-3

13.30 Passing through Samaria, Jesus Converts the Woman at the Well and many Other Samaritans

JN 4:4-42

13.50 Beginning of the Ministry of Jesus in Galilee

MK 1:14

LK 4:14-15

JN 4:43-45

14.10 Healing of the Official’s Son in Galilee

JN 4:46-54

15.10 Miraculous Draught of Fishes - the Call of Peter, James and John

LK 5:1-11

16.10 Jesus Returns to Nazareth

LK 4:16-30

16.20 Jesus Leaves Nazareth

MT 4:13-17

MK 1:15

LK 4:31a

17.10 The Second Call of Andrew, Peter, James and John

MT 4:18-22

MK 1:16-20

18.10 Jesus Casts out a Demon

MK 1:21-28

LK 4:31b-37

18.20 Cure of Simon’s Wife’s Mother and Other Sick People

MT 8:14-17

MK 1:29-38

LK 4:38-43

18.40 Preaching throughout all of Galilee

MT 4:23-25

MK 1:39

LK 4:44

19.20 Jesus Crosses the Lake with his Disciples and Calms a Storm

MT 8:18-27

MK 4:35-41

LK 8:22-25

18.40 Jesus Cures the Demoniacs

MT 8:28-34

MK 5:1-20

LK 8:26-40

20.10 Jesus Heals a Paralytic let Down Through the Roof

MT 9:1-8

MK 2:1-12

LK 5:17-26

20.20 The Call of Matthew

MT 9:9-13

MK 2:13-17

LK 5:27-32

20.30 Jesus answers Objections as to his not Fasting

MT 9:14-17

MK 2:18-22

LK 5:33-39

21.10 Jesus Raises Jairus’ daughter and heals a Woman with an issue of Blood

MT 9:18-26

MK 5:21-43

LK 8:40-56

22.10 Jesus heals two blind men and Casts out a Demon

MT 9:27-34

23.10 Jesus Preaches to, and is Rejected by, his own Countrymen

MK 6:1-6a

24.10 Preaching and Healing in Galilee

MK 6:6b

24.20 The Calling of the Twelve Apostles

MK 3:13-19a

Part 3 - SERMON ON THE MOUNT

24.30 The Sermon on the Mount

MT 5:1-16

25.10 A Level Place

LK 6:17-26

25.20 The Law and the Prophets

MT 5:17-20

25.30 You Shall not Kill

MT 5:21-26

25.31 You Shall not Commit Adultery

MT 5:27-32

25.32 You Shall not Swear Falsely

MT 5:33-37

25.33 Do Not Resist One Who is Evil

MT 5:38-42

25.34 Love Your Enemies

MT 5:43-48

LK 6:27-36

25.35 When You Give Alms

MT 6:1-4

25.36 When you Pray

MT 6:5-15

25.37 When you Fast

MT 6:16-18

25.38 Do not Lay up for Yourselves Treasures on Earth

MT 6:19-24

25.39 Do not be Anxious About Your Life

MT 6:25-34

25.40 Judge Not

MT 7:1-5

LK 6:37-42

25.41 Do not Give Dogs What is Holy

MT 7:6

25.42 Ask and it Will be Given to You

MT 7:7-12

25.43 Enter by the Narrow Gate

MT 7:13-14

25.44 You Shall Know Them by Their Fruits

MT 7:15-27

LK 6:43-49

25.44 Conclusion of the Sermons

MT 7:28-29

26.10 A Leper is Healed Near Capernaum

MT 8:1-4

MK 1:40-45

LK 5:12-16

Part 4 - AFTER THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

27.10 The Healing of the Centurion’s Servant

MT 8:5-13

LK 7:1-10

28.10 Jesus Charges the Twelve Apostles and Sends Them Forth

MT 9:35-11:1

MK 6:7-13

LK 9:1-6

29.10 The Widow’s Son Raised From the Dead at Nain

LK 7:11-17

30.10 John the Baptist (in prison) Sends Doubting Disciples to Jesus

MT 11:2-19

LK 7:18-35

31.10 The Anointing of Jesus Feet in the House of Simon the Pharisee

LK 7:36-8:3

32.10 Jesus Charges the Seventy Disciples and Sends Them Forth

MT 11:20-24

LK 10:1-16

33.10 The Return of the Disciples from Their Mission

MT 11:25-30

LK 10:17-24

Part 5 - AFTER THE RETURN OF THE SEVENTY DISCIPLES

34.10 The Parable of the Good Samaritan

LK 10:25-37

35.10 Mary and Martha

LK 10:38-42

36.10 Jesus Teaches the Disciples How to Pray

(The Parable of the Importunate Friend)

LK 11:1-13

37.10 The Disciples Pluck Ears of Corn on the Sabbath

MT 12:1-8

MK 2:23-28

LK 6:1-5

38.10 The Healing of a Paralyzed Hand on the Sabbath

MT 12:9-14

MK 3:1-5

LK 6:6-10

39.10 A Hostile Council of Pharisees - Jesus Withdraws

MT 12:14-21

MK 3:6-12

LK 6:11

40.10 Jesus Heals and the Pharisees Seek a Sign

MT 12:22-45

MK 3:20-31

LK 11:14-32

40.20 The Brethren of Christ

MT 12:46-50

MK 3:31-35

LK 8:19-21

41.10 Woe to the Pharisees

LK 11:37-54

42.10 The Parable of the Rich Man

LK 12:1-59

43.10 The Parable of the Fig Tree

LK 13:1-9

44.10 Jesus Heals a Woman on the Sabbath

LK 13:10-17

Part 6 - PARABLE OF THE SOWER AND OTHER PARABLES

45.10 The Parable of the Sower

MT 13:1-9

MK 4:1-9

LK 8:4-8

45.11 The Secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven

MT 13:10-17

MK 4:10-12

LK 8:9-10

45.12 The Parable of the Sower Explained

MT 13:18-23

MK 4:13-20

LK 4:11-15

45.13 The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds

MT 13:24-30

45.14 The Parable of the Lamp

MK 4:21-25

LK 8:16-18

LK 11:33-36

45.141 The Parable of the Scattered Seed

MK 4:26-29

45.15 The Parable of the Mustard Seed

MT 13:31-32

MK 4:30-32

LK 13:18-19

45.16 The Parable of the Leaven

MT 13:33

LK 13:20-21

45.17 He Did Not Speak Without a Parable

MT 13:34-35

MK 4:33-34

45.18 The Explanation of the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds

MT 13:36-43

45.19 Parable of the Treasure Hidden in a Field

MT 13:44

45.191 Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

MT 13:45-46

45.192 Parable of the Fishing Net

MT 13:47-50