HISTORICAL NOTES. Papias* (u hearer of St. John and companion of Polycarp, as Irenæus† attests, and of that age as all agree) in a passage quoted by Eusebius, from a work now lost, expressly ascribes their respective Gospels to Matthew and Mark. C. X., S. 6, P. 107, Paley's Evidences, 1818 "Irenæus saith, that Matthew among the Jews writ a Gospel in their own language, while Peter and Paul were preaching the Gospel at Rome and founding a church there. After their exit, Mark the disciple and interpreter of Peter, delivered to us in writing the things that had been preached by Peter: and Luke, the companion of St. Paul, put down in a book the Gospel preached by him. Afterwards, John, the disciple of the Lord, published a Gospel while he dwelt at Ephesus. Also, that only four Gospels were at that time publicly read and acknowledged. He mentions how Matthew begins his Gospel; how Mark begins and ends kis; enumerates the several passages in Luke which are not found in the other Evangelists; states the design with which John composed his Gospel; and accounts for the doctrinal declaration which precedes his narrative." Paley's Evidences, C. X., S. 10. P. 123, 124. Papias, Irenaeus, Origen, Jerome, assert that Matthew composed a Hebrew Gospel. The Greek translation only is extant. Gibbon's Decl. and Fall, C. XLVII., Note E. "All the books of the New Testament were written in Greek, except the Gospel of St. Matthew, who, according to St. Jerome (A.D. 392), first wrote in Judea in the Hebrew language." Lond. Encylop. "Bible." 1829. * Papias martyred A.D. 167. + Irenæus martyred A.D 202 Eusebius born A.D. 338. THE GOSPEL OF ST. JOHN. CHAP. I. 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. The same was in the beginning with God. 3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5. And the light shineth in darkness; and the dark2938 comprehended it not. 6. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14. And 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. 15. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ 1. FORASMUCH as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2. Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word; 3. It 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, 4. That thou mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been in. structed. 5. There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daugh. ters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. both 6. And they were righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. 8. And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, 9. According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. 11. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord stand. ing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. Continued P. 15. |
