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The New Testament History Books of the Gospels and the Acts
...when thou comest, bring with thee...the books, but especially the parchments. (2 Tim. 4:13) Psalms 107:2 S S Romans 12:1-2
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as representing the fourfold gospel (Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces. Ezek 1:15). They (the four Gospels) are the chariot of God bearing Him into all lands (The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved. Psa. 99:1; 19:4), guided by the Spirit, intertwined with wheels in wheels of coincidences and variations, full of eyes, discerning the thoughts. The four faces in their spiritual ideal reveal the Saviour under a fourfold aspect. 1- The Lion denotes Christs kingship, as ...the lion of the tribe of Juda... (Rev. 5:5). Matthew traces His line of succession to the throne from David the king. The wise men (Matt. 2), according to Balaams prophecy of the ...a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel... (Num. 24:17). The climax of the three temptations of Christ in the wilderness (Matt. 4) is Satans offer of the kingdom. The Sermon on the Mount has the epigrammatic tone of an authoritative king. Seven parables illustrate the true nature of the kingdom, for the Jews, for whom Matthew writes, looked for Messiahs kingdom. His claim of exemption from tribute, recorded in Matthew alone (Matt. 17:24), marks Him Son and Heir of the kingdom. Matthew closes with His universal dominion (Matt. 28:18-20). 2- The Ox or calf typifies Christs patient toil (1 Cor. 9:9-10). Marks representation of Christ corresponds; homely, earnest, minutely graphic, full of action rather than discourse, suited to the Roman practical character, it. abruptly carries us at once into Christs ministry of unceasing toil (Mark 1). The word variously translated straightway, immediately, forthwith, anon, as soon as, by and by (eutheoos occurs 27 times, though in Matthew but eight times, in Luke twice; an illustration of its energetic tone. Minute details are peculiar to his vivid style: Jesus was with the wild beasts (Mark 1:13); Zebedee with the hired servants (Mark 1:20); Boanerges (Mark 3:17); Jesus gestures (Mr 3:5); His successive acts in curing the deaf (Mark 7:33-34); the lingering glory on His countenance, and the peoples amazement (Mark 9:15). It presents the best picture of Jesus daily outward life. 3- A Mans Face refers to human sympathy. Lukes Gospel presents the lowly humanity of the Son of mans conception, birth, and childhood; it traces Him up to Adam, the common father of all men. The parables and miracles unique to Luke exhibit Christs human tenderness; the prodigal son, the good Samaritan, the grateful Samaritan leper, the publicans prayer, Zaccheus, the raising of the Nain widows son. 4- The eagle signifies high soaring heavenliness. Johns Gospel, say the fathers, is the Gospel after the Spirit, as the others are after the flesh. John supplies details of Andrew, Philip, Nathanael, Thomas, and Judas, unmentioned by the others; also details of time, place, and numbers; also supplemental matter (John 2:19), destroy this temple, accounting for the charge of the false witnesses unexplained in Matt. 26:61. In the prologue and elsewhere Christs characteristic aspect is His Divine glory breaking forth the brighter amidst the darkness of the Jews opposition. Each of the four, while recognizing the Lords other aspects, has one view prominent; and the four combine in one harmonious whole, joined by a spiritual not a mechanical unity. Wordsworth said: Mutual inter-texture is characteristic of Scripture. The second and third evangelists warranted the genuineness of each former Gospel with all the authority of the latter, by quoting its words. Thus they became joint vouchers for the genuine Gospels and joint opposers of the spurious. John authenticates the foregoing ones not by adopting but by omitting what they had related, and supplying what they omitted. (Christopher Wordsworth, 1807-1885, English bishop and man of letters).
recorded the miracle performed at the wedding in Cana, while all four writers recorded the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand.
Conclusion
The New Testaments History is a matter that continues until this day. God is still moving through the message of the New Testament. These five books give a clear testimony of Christs message of the Gospel and contain the information for a proper foundation for any study of New Testament History. The History of the Early Church continues until this day with chapters added daily.
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