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 J. W. McGarvey
Class Notes on Sacred History, Volume III (1893)

COMPARISON OF THE GOSPELS.

I. AS TO AMOUNT OF SPACE BY PAGES.

      1. John is one a third of Mark; 80 per cent. of Matthew; 73 per cent. of Luke.
      2. Order as to length: Luke, Matthew, John, Mark.

II. AS TO MIRACLES, NOT COUNTING THE RESURRECTION
OF JESUS.

1. Luke has 30, covering 22 per cent. of space
2. Matthew " 21, " 14 " "
3. Mark " 14, " 28 " "
4. John " 6, " 6 " "

III. AS TO PARABLES.

1. Luke has 21, covering 16 per cent. of space
2. Matthew " 15, " 14 " "
3. Mark " 7, " 7 " "
4. John " 3, " 3 " "

IV. AS TO FORMAL SPEECHES, INCLUDING PARABLES.

1. Matthew has 19, covering 50 per cent. of space
2. Luke " 25, " 44 " "
3. Mark " 15, " 28 " "
4. John " 9, " 33 " "

V. AS TO DIRECT NARRATION, INCLUDING ACCOUNTS OF
MIRACLES AND CONVERSATIONS.

1. Mark -   -   -   - has 65, per cent. of space
2. John -   -   -   - " 63, " "
3. Luke -   -   -   - " 56, " "
4. Matthew -   -   -   - " 36, " "

VI. AS TO LOCALITY.

1. Mark   is in Galilee 58 per ct. of space, in Jerusalem 37 per ct.
2. Matthew " " 53 " " " 33 "
3. Luke " " 28 " " " 43 "
4. John " " 14 " " " 63 "

VII. AS TO CHRONOLOGICAL ARRANGEMENT.

      John is chronological throughout; Luke and Matthew chronological to the temptation of Jesus, they and Mark not chronological as to ministry in Galilee; Matthew and Mark, chronological from leaving Galilee till the end; Luke, not chronological between Galilee and Jerusalem, but chronological from the public entry till the end.

VIII. RESULT.

      1. As to Miracles: Luke has the greatest number; but Mark, the greatest per cent. of space.
      2. As to Parables: Luke, the greatest number, and greatest per cent. of space; John, the least of each. [137]
      3. As to Speeches: Luke, the greatest number, and Matthew, the greatest per cent. of space.
      4. As to Direct Narrative: Mark, the greatest per cent.; and Matthew, the least.
      5. As to Locality: Mark, the greatest per cent. in Galilee; John, the least. John, the greatest per cent. in Jerusalem; Matthew, the least.
      6. As to Order of Arrangement: John, the most chronological; Luke, the least.
      7. As to Similarity of Matter: John, the most peculiar; Luke, the next; but Luke, Matthew and Mark, much alike; hence, called Synoptics. [138]

[CNSH3 137-138]

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 J. W. McGarvey
Class Notes on Sacred History, Volume III (1893)
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