The Gospel "Lite": Four Witnesses - One Life

By Edwin Alan Salhany

Taking a unique approach to harmonizing the Biblical accounts, Edwin Alan Salhany expertly weaves the four Gospel stories together into one continuous chronological narrative, removing duplication, and yet preserving all the details and nuances of the different writers.  Using the venerable King James text, this is not a paraphrase, but a r

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stratton Press
• Release date: Mar 18, 2019
• ISBN: 9781643454375

Edwin Alan Salhany

The son of missionary parents Alan is a lifelong disciple of Christ and student of the Scriptures. A master mechanic and successful business owner Alan graduated college cum laude with degrees in theology and applied religion. He has served as industrial arts, Bible and history teacher, school administrator, youth leader, church elder, and lay-preacher. His favorite areas of study include Bible history and chronology, eschatology, and the prophetic significance of the Jewish Tabernacle/Temple services and festivals. Alan and his wife Sue reside with their family in Ethridge, Tennessee, where they serve their community through their natural foods business, and their church as local leaders.

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Contents

Prologue

Infancy to Manhood

(Spring, 6 BC–Autumn, AD 27)

Early Ministry

(Autumn, AD 27–Spring, AD 28)

Ministry in Judea

(First Passover, AD 28–Second Passover, AD 29)

Ministry in Galilee

(Second Passover, AD 29–Third Passover, AD 30)

Ministry in Phoenicia, Gadara, and Caesarea Philippi

(Third Passover, AD 30–Autumn, AD 30)

Later Judean Ministry

(Autumn, AD 30)

Ministry in Samaria and Peraea

(Autumn, AD 30–Passover, AD 31)

Passion Week

(Fourth Passover, AD 31)

Resurrection to Pentecost

(Spring, AD 31)

Appendix and Charts

The Gospel

Lite

A Harmony of the Testimonies of Christ’s Disciples: Matthew the Tax Collector; His Cousin John; and the Recollections of Peter the Fisherman, as Recorded by John Mark; along with the Research of the Apostle Paul’s Physician, Dr. Luke.

All the Detail, None of the Duplication

Adapted from the Authorized King James Version

Edited by Edwin Alan Salhany

Unless otherwise indicated, Bible quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Holy Bible from the Ancient Eastern Text, Copyright © 1957 by A. J. Holman Co.

(Peshitta)

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

(NKJV)

Introduction

The relationships between the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke have been the subject of much critical study. These Synoptic Gospels contain a lot of similar and, in some cases, identical material. Harmonizing these Gospels, with each other and with the Gospel of John, has been undertaken by many scholars far more competent than myself.

The majority, if not all, of these Harmonies presents the related passages of Scripture in parallel columns or consecutive sections. Some authors have combined the related passages in modern paraphrases, presenting the Gospel story in a chronological, easy-to-read format. Other competent scholars have worked from the Greek and Hebrew manuscripts and produced their own translations. I applaud their work.

This little volume is somewhat different. Was it possible, I wondered, to arrange the text of the King James Version into a continuous, chronological narrative, avoiding needless duplication, and yet preserving the nuances of the various writers? Was it possible to weave the snippets of conversation or the details of the various parables, recorded by the Gospel authors, together in a manner that made sense? If it could be done, would it enhance my understanding of the Gospel story and deepen my relationship with the story’s Hero? Failing to find such a work in publication, I decided to compile one for myself.

What was envisioned as a short study project turned into a three-year adventure of research, delightful discovery, and dynamic spiritual growth. Urged by family and friends to share the project’s results, it is my prayer that you will find this manuscript a blessing.

To His glory,

Alan Salhany

Editor

559 South Brace Road, Ethridge, TN 38456

931-829-2895

[e-mail]

Acknowledgments and special thanks to:

My wife:

For her loving support and the many hours she gave me to work on this manuscript.

My children:

For their encouragement and suggestions. May this Gospel bring you a deeper relationship with your Elder Brother.

Paul McIntire, Carpenter and Son Publishing, Delaware, Ohio:

For his skills as proofreader and copy editor.

My many friends:

For encouraging me to share the results of this project with you.

My church family:

For enduring my enthusiastic sermonizing on new discoveries!

Preface

There is a wide range of options among Bible scholars and commentators as to the specific order of events, and even the specific years, of Christ’s life and ministry. The order of events, as presented in this work, is based primarily on this editor’s interpretation of the time relationships within the Gospels and is open to debate. Specific date references are also just the editor’s researched opinion. It is not the purpose of this harmony to produce a definitive chronology of Christ’s life, but rather one combined text, thereby enriching the story. The author has also incorporated the first couple chapters of the book of Acts, as their story falls within the chronology of the gospel of Mark, and they were written by the author of Luke.

The basic text for this project is The Holy Bible, King James Version, electronic edition; published by QuickVerse 7.01, copyright © 2000, Findex, Inc. Due to the nature of this project, the syntax, capitalization, and punctuation used does not follow that of the published text. Any variations, such as the addition and placement of quotation marks, are the product of the editor.

Furthermore, the editor has made no attempt to develop unique Section text divisions, Titles, or Labels. In general, these follow the divisions and descriptions used by the writers and editors of the various references and harmonies listed in the back, particularly those of the SDA Bible Commentary, copyright © 1957, Review and Herald, Washington, DC. The M and P designations in the title lines (e.g., M-23) refer to the number of the Miracle or Parable in their respective Indexes.

Although the text of this work is based on the traditional King James Version, the editor has taken certain liberties with the language and spelling used in the Authorized Version, while ensuring that the meaning of the original text is not altered. The spelling of Biblical names is standardized to the most commonly recognized forms, for consistency, and ease of understanding (e.g., Esaias is rendered as Isaiah), and occasionally, the language is updated (e.g., begat is changed to was the father of). Where there might reasonably be some doubt as to the editor’s choice of words, appropriate notations are given in brackets, as are the editor’s notes and any words added to the text for clarity or readability.

Parentheses are used to indicate variations in the text between the various Gospel writers and the sources for referenced or quoted passages from the Old Testament. If the variation is intended to be read as a part of the passage, the source is noted after the variance. If the variation is an alternative reading, the source is given before the variance. Added words in the standard King James text are in their usual italics and the words of Christ are presented within quotation marks in bold type.

The editor has elected to use Christ’s proper Hebrew name "Yehoshua," pronounced Ye (as in yet)-hoe-shu-a, meaning Yehovah saves (Keith Johnson, His Hallowed Name Revealed Again, p. 202–205) in section titles and comments. Because existing copies of Matthew’s Gospel in Hebrew use the short form, Yeshua, this was probably how His associates addressed Him (Ibid., see also Nehemia Gordon, The Hebrew Yeshua vs. the Greek Jesus). This short form, similar to the use of Mike for Michael, was in common use in the first century AD and has been substituted into the text in place of the Greek derived Jesus. [YehoshuaàYeshua (Joshua—modern English)àIesous (Greek) àIesous (Latin) àIesus (Old English) àJesus (modern English). An interesting etymological explanation of how the Hebrew Yeshua became the Greek Iesous is provided by Nehemia Gordon and Keith Johnson in A Prayer to Our Father, footnote 5, p. 46.

In like manner, the personal Divine name, the tetragrammaton, YHWH or YHVH, rendered as LORD in the King James, is rendered as "Yehovah" (Ye-Hoe-WaH’, Ye-Hoe-VaH’) (see Keith Johnson, His Hallowed Name Revealed Again.)

As an aid to the reader, Divine appellatives and pronouns are capitalized, unless the context indicates a speaker’s unbelief, and Christ’s titles are rendered according to their meaning. The most obvious example of this is the use of Anointed One for the Hebrew Messiah or the Greek Christ. Readers should feel free to substitute Jesus or Christ as best suits their tastes. Whatever name the reader chooses to read, remember to say it with due reverence (Exodus 20:7).

Any typographical, grammatical, translation, or interpretation errors are the editor’s sole responsibility.

Dedication

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men:

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

(Titus 2:11–14)

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

(Revelation 5:12)

Chapter 1

Prologue

Prologue

(John 1:1–18; Luke 1:1–4)

John 1:1In the beginning was The Word, and The Word was with God, and The Word was God. ²The Same was in the beginning with God. ³All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. ⁵And The Light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷The same came for a witness, to bear witness of The Light, that all men through Him might believe. ⁸He was not That Light, but was sent to bear witness of That Light. ⁹That was The True Light, which lightens every man that cometh into the world. ¹⁰He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. ¹¹He came to His own, and His own received Him not. ¹²But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: ¹³which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ¹⁴And The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

¹⁵John bare witness of Him, and cried, saying, "This was He of whom I spoke, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for He was before me. ¹⁶And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. ¹⁷For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Yeshua the Anointed One. ¹⁸No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him."

Luke 1:1Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, ²even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of The Word; ³it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, ⁴that thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

The Human Ancestry of Y

e

hoshua

(Matthew 1:1–17; Luke 3:23b–38)

Matthew 1:1The genealogy of the ancestry of Yeshua the Anointed One, a descendant of David a descendant of Abraham: ²Abraham was the father of Isaac; Isaac was the father of Jacob; and Jacob was the father of Judah and his brethren. ³Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by [his Canaanite daughter-in-law] Tamar. Perez was the father of Hezron; and Hezron was the father of Ram. ⁴Now Ram was the father of Amminadab; and Amminadab was the father of Nahshon; and Nahshon was the father of Salmon; ⁵and Salmon was the father of Boaz of Rahab; and Boaz was the father of Obed of Ruth; and Obed was the father of Jesse; ⁶and Jesse was the father of David the king; and David the king was the father of Solomon of her that had been the wife of Uriah; ⁷and Solomon was the father of Rehoboam; and Rehoboam was the father of Abijah; and Abijah was the father of Asa; ⁸and Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat; and Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehoram; and Jehoram was the [ancestor] of Uzziah; ⁹and Uzziah was the father of Jotham; and Jotham was the father of Ahaz; and Ahaz was the father of Hezekiah; ¹⁰and Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh; and Manasseh was the father of Amon; and Amon was the father of Josiah; ¹¹and Josiah was the [grand]father of Jehoiachin (1 Chronicles 3:15–17; 2 Kings 24:6) and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: ¹²and after they were brought to Babylon, Jehoiachin was the [grand?]father of Salathiel; and Salathiel was the father of Zerubbabel; ¹³and Zerubbabel was the [ancestor] of Abiud; and Abiud was the [ancestor] of Eliakim; and Eliakim was the [ancestor] of Azor; ¹⁴and Azor was the [ancestor] of Sadoc; and Sadoc was the [ancestor] of Achim; and Achim was the [ancestor] of Eliud; ¹⁵and Eliud was the [ancestor] of Eleazar; and Eleazar was the [ancestor] of Matthan; and Matthan was the father of Jacob; ¹⁶and Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Yeshua, who is called the Anointed One. ¹⁷So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen [important] generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto the Anointed One are fourteen [noteworthy] generations.

Luke 3:23b[Yeshua was born of Mary], being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son[-in-law (cf. 1 Samuel 24:16), or possibly adopted son (Deut. 25:5–9; Matthew 22:24)] of Heli [Mary’s father], ²⁴which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph, ²⁵which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge, ²⁶which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Judah, ²⁷which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zerubbabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri [by a daughter of Jehoiachin? (Matthew 1:12)], ²⁸which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, which was the son of Er, ²⁹which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, ³⁰which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Judah, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim, ³¹which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David [another son by Bathsheba (1 Chronicles 3:5)], ³²which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Boaz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Nahshon, ³³which was the son of Amminadab, which was the son of Ram, which was the son of Hezron, which was the son of Perez , which was the son of Judah ³⁴which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Tarah, which was the son of Nahor, ³⁵which was the son of Sarug, which was the son of Rau, which was the son of Peleg, which was the son of Eber, which was the son of Salah, ³⁶which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Shem, which was the son of Noah, which was the son of Lamech, ³⁷which was the son of Methuselah, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Mahalaleel, which was the son of Cainan, ³⁸which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

Chapter 2

Infancy to Manhood

Spring, 6 BC–Autumn, AD 27

Feast of Pentecost (Late Spring, 6 BC)

The Announcement to Zacharias (Luke 1:5–25)

⁵There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. ⁶And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. ⁷And they had no child, because Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. ⁸And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, ⁹according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. ¹⁰And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. ¹¹And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. ¹²And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

¹³But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. ¹⁴And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. ¹⁵For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. ¹⁶And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. ¹⁷And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

¹⁸And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this, for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years?

¹⁹And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these glad tidings. ²⁰And, behold, thou shalt be mute, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

²¹And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. ²²And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. ²³And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

²⁴And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, ²⁵"Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men."

Around Feast of Dedication (Winter, 6 BC)

The Annunciation (Luke 1:26–38)

²⁶And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, ²⁷To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

²⁸And the angel came in unto her, and said, "Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." ²⁹And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

³⁰And the angel said unto her, "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. ³¹And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His name YESHUA. ³²He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: ³³And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end."

³⁴Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

³⁵And the angel answered and said unto her, "The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. ³⁶And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. ³⁷For with God nothing shall be impossible.

³⁸And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Mary’s Visit to Elisabeth (Luke 1:39–56)

³⁹And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judea; ⁴⁰and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. ⁴¹And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit:

⁴²And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. ⁴³And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. ⁴⁵And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord."

⁴⁶And Mary said, "My soul doth magnify the Lord, ⁴⁷and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. ⁴⁸For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. ⁴⁹For He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is His name. ⁵⁰And His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation. ⁵¹He hath showed strength with His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. ⁵²He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. ⁵³He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away. ⁵⁴He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy; ⁵⁵As He spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever."

⁵⁶And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

First Day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Spring, 5 BC)

Birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:57–80)

[See Appendix A for notes on John and Yeshua’s birth dates.]

⁵⁷Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered, and she brought forth a son. ⁵⁸And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. ⁵⁹And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. ⁶⁰And his mother answered and said, "Not so; but he shall be called John."

⁶¹And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. ⁶²And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

⁶³And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. ⁶⁴And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

⁶⁵And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea. ⁶⁶And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

⁶⁷And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, ⁶⁸"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people, ⁶⁹and hath raised up an Horn of Salvation for us in the house of His servant David, ⁷⁰as He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began: ⁷¹That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; ⁷²to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant; ⁷³the oath which He sware to our father Abraham, ⁷⁴that He would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, ⁷⁵in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life.

⁷⁶And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways; ⁷⁷To give knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins, ⁷⁸Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby The Dayspring from on high hath visited us, ⁷⁹To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

⁸⁰And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel.

The Announcement to Joseph: His Marriage (Matthew 1:18–25a)

¹⁸Now the birth of Yeshua the Anointed One was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. ²⁰But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. ²¹And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name YESHUA