INTRODUCTION TO THE HARMONY.
CHAPTER I.
Harmonistic Principles.
"THE Gospels, and especially the first three, can in no sense be regarded as methodical
"annals. It is therefore difficult, and perhaps impossible, so to harmonize them, in respect
"of time, as in all cases to arrive at results which shall be entirely certain and satisfactory.
"There is often no definite note of time; and then we can proceed only upon conjecture found-
"ed on a careful comparison of all the circumstances. In such cases the decision must depend
"very much upon the judgement and taste of the Harmonist, and what to one person may
"appear probable and appropriate, may seem less so to another."1)
To what an extent this "proceeding upon conjecture," even in the face of the most definite
notes of time, has been carried on in harmonistic attempts, may be best judged from the glaring
disharmony of Harmonists. So many independent compilers, so many Gospel Harmonies, widely
differing from each other. Nor can any better result be reasonably expected before we learn to
approach the Gospels with an utterly unbiassed mind, that will render his due to each of the
Evangelists. To start with a notion, as though this one or that one of the sacred writers were
more reliable than the others, as regards the preservation of the original connection and conse-
cutiveness of events, would be sufficient to prejudice us against the rest to such a degree,
as to cause us utterly to disregard them even where they furnish us with the most distinct and
valuable dates. To verify this dictum, a glance at some of the best Harmonies extant will
suffice. Dr. Robinson, the eminent scholar, himself chooses Mark as his guide, whom he follows
almost invariably, though the corresponding dates, given by Matth. or Luke, be ever so con-
tradictory. Dr. Greswell2) on his part, has so thoroughly given the preference to Luke, that
his whole Harmony, with the exception of a few passages, is constructed on the sole authority
of this Evangelist, while the others, especially Matthew, are systematically ignored and set aside
as though their akoluthistic3) statements were simply unreliable, because apparently irreconcile-
able with those of Luke. The same arbitrary "proceeding upon conjecture," the same partiality
and accordingly the same inconsistencies and failures are constantly met with in German Gospel
Harmonies, and it would seem a well-nigh hopeless task, to bring order into this chaos, were
it not that the inspired writers themselves show us the way, if we will but allow them to make
themselves heard.
1) Prof. Robinson, D.D. in the Preface of his "Harmony of the four Gospels in Greek." New York.
2) Greswell's Harmonia Evangelica, fifth Edition, London, 1856.
3) "Akoluthistic"=referring to the consecution or succession of events (from the Greek ákolouthéo to follow).
We beg to apologize for the introduction of this scientific term, adopted by Prof. Ebrard; it is the only con-
cise expression, we know of, that fully answers the purpose. "Chronological" would suit well enough, if the
idea of a reference to Universal History were not connected with it, according to the general use of the word
(see Chapter V.).
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