St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, . . . . . . . . 53
St. Matthew, St. Luke, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
St. Matthew, St. Mark, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
St. Mark, St. Luke,  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6 "

    [Westcott, after Stroud and Norton.]

Of absolutely new matter in Mark a striking example is the beautiful parable, chap. 4:26-29.  The two miracles peculiar to him (chap. 7:31-37; 8:22-26) are both of a very striking character, and related with circumstantial minuteness of detail.  Where his narratives coincide with those of the other evangelists, they are characterized by the addition of details, which, as already remarked, add much to the vivedness and graphic power of his descriptions.

31.  The integrity of the third gospel has been recently assailed in Germany in the way of attempting to show that the gospel of Luke, as we now have it, is corrupted by interpolations, and that Marcion had it in its true form.  See Chap. 2, No. 12.  But the result of a voluminous discussion is that Marcion’s gospel is now acknowledged to have been a mutilated form of the canonical gospel, in accordance with the testimony of the ancient fathers.

On the relation to each other of the two genealogies of our Lord given by Matthew and Luke respectively, and the different modes of bringing them into harmony with each other, many volumes have been written.  Two different principles of interpretation are proposed.  According to the first, the genealogies of both Matthew and Luke are those of Joseph, the legal father of Jesus, and the only one that could be known in this relation in the public registers.  The second view is that Matthew gives the genealogy of Joseph, and Luke that of Mary, Joseph being called the son of Heli, in the sense of son-in-law; and being perhaps also legal heir to Heli through Mary in the absence of brothers.  The reader will find statements of these two views, the former in Smith’s Bible Diet., the latter in Alexander’s Kitto, Art.  Genealogy of Jesus Christ; also in the commentaries generally.  We only add that though we may not be able to determine with certainty what is the true solution of the difficulty, no one can show that such a solution is impossible.  The reverent believer will quietly wait for more light, if it shall please God to give it; otherwise he will be content to remain without it.

V. JOHN.