Is Harmonization Honest?
The most popular biography ever written is the account of Jesus’ life contained in the four Gospels. For twenty centuries this story has inspired, challenged, and convicted mankind. The story never grows old, and it is today as inspiring as when it was first recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. What is more, the accounts of the life of Jesus in the Gospels have not only survived, but they have thrived in spite of being subjected to unprecedented criticisms.
So it is not surprising that Gospel harmonies have long been a popular way of studying the life of Jesus. In fact, the practice of paralleling the similar texts of the four Gospels goes back to the second century when Tatian composed a harmony in the Syriac language. That effort was soon followed by Ammonius of Alexandria, who was first to arrange the text of the four Gospels in four parallel columns. Many refinements were made through the centuries, and Gospel harmonies remain an accepted tool for studying the words and works of our Lord. Two of the more popular harmonies used in recent years are Robertson’s A Harmony of the Gospels and Robert Thomas & Stanley Gundry An NIV Harmony of the Gospels.
Ellenburg, Dale. “Is Harmonization Honest?” Holman Christian Standard Bible: Harmony of the Gospels. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2007. 1. Print.
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