NIV Harmony of the Gospels

Camping Out in the Gospels

/ Ragamuffingospelfan / Leave a comment

After several years of reading through the Bible in different translations, I decided to swerve off the well-trodden path and do something a little different. I’m reading through the Gospels in 2018.

I’m using the NIV Harmony of the Gospels, which instead of presenting each Gospel separately, puts parallel passages side by side and puts the story in narrative order. For example, the birth narrative starts with Luke’s introduction, John’s description of Jesus as the eternal Word of God, the genealogies of Jesus, the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth and the conception of John the Baptist, and so forth.

I’m looking forward to rediscovering Jesus, free of all the political baggage that has been placed on Him from both the right and the left, conservatives and liberals alike. I have a feeling that Jesus said something at some point that both sides would deem offensive.

I want to fully embrace Jesus as both 100% man and 100% God (and not 50-50). I want to know Emmanuel, God with us. My plan is to read through the Gospels as many times as I can this year and let Scripture speak for itself.

If you’re interested in the book I’m using, you can pick up a copy here:

https://www.amazon.com/NIV-Harmony-Gospels-Robert-Thomas/dp/0060635231/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1516593638&sr=8-1&keywords=the+niv+harmony+of+the+gospels

 

 

Making My Nerdy Little Heart Happy

/ Ragamuffingospelfan / Leave a comment


During my most recent thrift-a-thon, I picked up a copy of the NIV Harmony of the Gospels. I had it back in my seminary days, but I somehow managed to lose it when I moved to Nashville.

I love the fact that you can read, for instance, the account of the transfiguration, and get Matthew’s, Mark’s, and Luke’s versions all on one page. You can see what each included or left out.
Mark’s Gospel was really the Gospel of Peter as recorded by Mark. It’s interesting how in his account of the transfiguration that Peter opens his big fat mouth (as he’s known to do from time to time) to suggest making three tents for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. This account goes on to say that he didn’t know what he was saying and how all of the disciples present were scared in such a way that none of them had to use the restroom anymore (to put it in Baptist terms).

I can relate to Peter. I’ve been known to start talking and get halfway through before my brain catches up and I realize that I have no earthly idea of what I’m saying. I take after Peter that way.

I still am blown away that this Peter with the eternal foot-in-mouth disease becomes one of the primary spokespeople for the early Church. He’s the one who is as bold as they come when it comes to proclaiming the Gospel.

Why? He’d seen not only the crucifixion but the resurrection. And that changed everything.

I also got an older version of the Harmony of the Gospels by A. T. Robertson in some translation called the English Revised Version. I mean, why only have the one when you can have two?

Hopefully, this book will help me see a more fully formed portrait of Jesus as revealed in all four gospels, and in doing so, I will become just a little more like Him.