Author's Note

Author's Note pp. vii-viii

One of the main purposes of this book is to demonstrate that really, there are no major contradictions throughout the texts of the Gospels. If it has appeared so to many before, then it is because, either, there is a lack of basic knowledge about the events themselves, or because, the more learned reader has overlooked certain factors. It has neither been the purpose of this book to take away any credit, or credence from the four individual authors of the Gospels, or any benefit in reading the Gospels separately: naturally, one can still do that. But, in the course of researching and writing this book, one Gospel has emerged. Thus, allowing the reader, if so choosing, to ignore the author’s words, and to experience a Gospel that has all the accounts in consecutive order [as was one of Luke’s (1:1-3) reasons for writing his], which, also, combines all the details of the parallel texts together, and dovetails the rest of the narratives in their correct sequential positions.

The Scriptural text for this book is based on the King James Version [KJV], or the Authorized Version [AV], as it is also known. However, we have chosen to use the abbreviation, ‘AV’, when referring to that particular version. Although any preferential translation can be used rather than the AV, when considering our specific findings.

When correlating the four texts together, great care has been taken so as not to leave out any English word as translated from the original Greek [Gr.] texts, other than, when the Greek is translated into English in referring to the connecting word ‘and’, where it is excessively repeated in combing the parallel accounts.

The Old English, ‘thou’, ‘thee’ and ‘ye’, have been changed to ‘you’, ‘thine’ to ‘yours’, and ‘thy’ to ‘you’. We have also used ‘author’s license’, in sometimes preferring the use of certain words, in place of some of the other archaic or Old English words used many times throughout the AV. Though, many translations have used the same words as we have, when having translated into more Modern English. However, sometimes the author has used his own discretion, when preferring the use of some words, which other translations do not have. This should stretch the readers imagination into checking the meaning of the individual words that they may not be that familiar with, by looking them up in a relevant Dictionary, or, in considering the variety of words contained in a Thesaurus, where certain words have similar meanings the options are sometimes manifold. Where different words have been used, other than those in the AV, it has been done to give the novice better understanding, as many are not familiar with archaic or Old English words.

The first letters of personal pronouns have been capitalized when referring to Jesus, and where ‘heaven’, or ‘kingdom’, is referring to a divine characteristic. Additionally, other words, such as when relating to ‘Holy Days’, and a persons ‘office’ or a particular Institution, have had their first letter capitalized.

In the AV, every letter that begins a verse is always in capitals. We have changed these capitals to the modem usage of the lower case when following a comma, semicolon, or colon. We have also used quotation marks, where direct speech is indicated, and when the Old Testament [OT] is directly quoted, supplied the Scriptural reference too.

Because of the complexity of dealing with the four individual texts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, naturally we have used the same order for the verses of their narratives, where the texts parallel, as they are traditionally positioned in the New Testament [NT]. Sometimes, however, because grammatically, one particular Gospel may follow before that of another, the traditional order of these verses is not always adhered to, as the next Gospel reference with the following overriding sense is then positioned before the other.

In the reading of the author’s text, unless there is a specific change of a Scriptural reference indicated, it follows, that the last particular reference given, i.e., Matthew = Mat.1:1, or as with brackets (1:1) is still referring to the last particular Gospel previously indicated, or actually mentioned. Also, when the abbreviations, v. [verse] 2, or, vv. [verses] 3 - 4 are given, they also relate to the previous chapter, or verses indicated throughout the author’s text. The same applies to chapter abbreviations i.e., ch. [chapter] 2, or any other chapter. In all cases the references apply to the Gospel previously mentioned, or lastly indicated, as in the previous Scriptural references above applying to Matthew, through the abbreviations or the actual wording in the author’s text. In other words all references follow on successively in referring to the previous context, unless otherwise indicated.