Distinction Between Harmony/Synoptic Gospel Resources In My Library

Dave Smith

Can someone explain the distinction between the synoptic gospel/ harmony resources I have in my library?

A harmony of the gopels
Synopsis of Mathew, Mark and Luke
Records of the Life of Jesus
A harmony of the synoptic Gospels for historical and critical study
Eusebian Canons
Synopsis of the four gospels

Thanks in advance

Find more posts tagged with

Comments

William

Can someone explain the distinction between the synoptic gospel/ harmony resources I have in my library?

A harmony of the gopels, Synopsis of Mathew, Mark and Luke, Records of the Life of Jesus, A harmony of the synoptic Gospels for historical and critical study, Eusebian Canons, Synopsis of the four gospels

I will give this a try, others might want to back me up or correct my line of thinking. Synopsis is just a condensing of information in the books. A harmony on the other hand is taking this passage in Luke and seeing how it compares to the "same passage" in Matthew. I have not heard of the Eusebian Canons. I will need some help there.

Alan Macgregor

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/117920#Comment_117920

Harmonies usually display a single text with the parts from different gospels intercut so that they blend together. A synopsis is usually a display of the three (Matt/Mark/Luke) or four (Matt/Mark/Luke/John) displaying in parallel columns organised in sections which follow roughly the order of Jesus' ministry. Harmonies are less popular now than they used to be. At one time they were the popular way to do things, so Calvin produced a commentary called Harmony of the Gospels (Matt/Mark/Luke) and a separate commentary on John.

For Greek scholars the standard is Synopsis Quattuor Evangeliorum by Kurt Aland. There a several English synopses. I like Gospel Parallels by Burton Throckmorton on the first three gospels, but there are several others. As far as harmonies go, I personally find them pretty unreadable, but The Fourfold Gospel by J.W. McGarvey is probably about the best.

The Eusebian Canons are tables which were devised for finding your way about in the gospels and cross-referencing before the verse system was invented. There are ten canons from 1 which cross-refers among the four gospels to the last four which organise the individual gospels. I have never used them but they can be useful in studying the early Church Fathers use of the New Testament.