Diatessaron (Gospel Harmony) 4–6

English translation by Hope W. Hogg (1896); the original is not shown

Section IV. [1] No man hath seen God at any time; the only Son, God, which is in the bosom of his Father, he hath told of him. [2] And this is the witness of John when the Jews sent to him from Jerusalem priests [3] and Levites to ask him, Who art thou? And he acknowledged, and denied not; [4] and he confessed that he was not the Messiah. And they asked him again, What then? Art thou Elijah? And he said, I am not he. Art thou a prophet? He [5] said, No. They said unto him, Then who art thou? that we may answer them that [6] sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? And he said, I am the voice that crieth in [7] the desert, Repair ye the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet. And they [8] that were sent were from the Pharisees. And they asked him and said unto him, Why baptizest thou now, when thou art not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor a prophet? [9] John answered and said unto them, I baptize with water: among you is standing [10] one whom ye know not: this is he who I said cometh after me and was before [11] me, the latchets of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose. And that was in Bethany beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. [12] Now John’s raiment was camel’s hair, and he was girded with skins, and his food [13] was of locusts and honey of the wilderness. Then went out unto him the people of Jerusalem, and all Judæa, and all the region which is about the [14, 15] Jordan; and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he said unto them, Ye children of vipers, who hath led you to flee from the wrath to come? [16, 17] Do now the fruits which are worthy of repentance; and think and say not within yourselves, We have a father, even Abraham; for I say unto you, that God is able to [18] raise up of these stones children unto Abraham. Behold, the axe hath been laid at the roots of the trees, and so every tree that beareth not good fruit shall be taken and [19] cast into the fire. And the multitudes were asking him and saying, What shall we do? [20] He answered and said unto them, He that hath two tunics shall give to him that [21] hath not; and he that hath food shall do likewise. And the publicans also came [22] to be baptized, and they said unto him, Teacher, what shall we do? He said unto [23] them, Seek not more than what ye are commanded to seek. And the servants of the guard asked him and said, And we also, what shall we do? He said unto them, Do not violence to any man, nor wrong him; and let your allowances satisfy you. [24] And when the people were conjecturing about John, and all of them thinking [25] in their hearts whether he were haply the Messiah, John answered and said unto them, I baptize you with water; there cometh one after me who is stronger than I, the latchets of whose shoes I am not worthy to loosen; he will baptize you with the [26] Holy Spirit and fire: who taketh the fan in his hand to cleanse his threshing-floors, and the wheat he gathereth into his garners, while the straw he shall burn in fire which can not be put out. [27] And other things he taught and preached among the people. [28] Then came Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized of him. [29] And Jesus was about thirty years old, and it was supposed that he was the son of [30] Joseph. And John saw Jesus coming unto him, and said, This is the Lamb of [31] God, that taketh on itself the burden of the sins of the world! This is he concerning whom I said, There cometh after me a man who was before me, because he was [32] before me. And I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to Israel, [33] for this cause came I to baptize with water. And John was hindering him and [34] saying, I have need of being baptized by thee, and comest thou to me? Jesus answered him and said, Suffer this now: thus it is our duty to fulfill all righteousness. [35] Then he suffered him. And when all the people were baptized, Jesus also [36] was baptized. And immediately he went up out of the water, and heaven opened [37] to him, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the similitude of the [38] body of a dove; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved [39] Son, in whom I am well pleased. And John bare witness and said, I beheld the [40] Spirit descend from heaven like a dove; and it abode upon him. But I knew him not; but he that sent me to baptize with water, he said unto me, Upon whomsoever thou shalt behold the Spirit descending and lighting upon him, the same is he that [41] baptizeth with the Holy Spirit. And I have seen and borne witness that this is the Son of God. [42, 43] And Jesus returned from the Jordan, filled with the Holy Spirit. And immediately the Spirit took him out into the wilderness, to be tried of the devil; and he [44] was with the beasts. And he fasted forty days and forty nights. And he ate nothing [45] in those days, and at the end of them he hungered. And the tempter came and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, speak, and these stones shall become [46] bread. He answered and said, It is written, Not by bread alone shall man live, but [47] by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil brought [48] him to the holy city, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: And they shall take thee on their arms, So that thy foot shall not stumble against a stone. [49] Jesus said unto him, And it is written also, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy [50] God. And the devil took him up to a high mountain, and shewed him all the kingdoms [51] of the earth, and their glory, in the least time; and the devil said unto him, To thee will I give all this dominion, and its glory, which is delivered to [52] me that I may give it to whomsoever I will. If then thou wilt worship before me, all of it shall be thine.

English translation by Hope W. Hogg (1896); the original is not shown

[1] Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou [2] shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him alone shalt thou serve. And when the [3] devil had completed all his temptations, he departed from him for a season. And behold, the angels drew near and ministered unto him. [4, 5] And next day John was standing, and two of his disciples; and he saw Jesus as [6] he was walking, and said, Behold, the Lamb of God! And his two disciples heard [7] him saying this, and they followed Jesus. And Jesus turned and saw them coming after him, and said unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Our master, [8] where art thou staying? And he said unto them, Come and see. And they came and saw his place, and abode with him that day: and it was about the tenth hour. [9] One of the two which heard from John, and followed Jesus, was Andrew the [10] brother of Simon. And he saw first Simon his brother, and said unto him, We have [11] found the Messiah. And he brought him unto Jesus. And Jesus looked upon him and said, Thou art Simon, son of Jonah: thou shalt be called Cephas. [12] And on the next day Jesus desired to go forth to Galilee, and he found Philip, [13] and said unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, of the city [14] of Andrew and Simon. And Philip found Nathanael, and said unto him, He of whom Moses did write in the law and in the prophets, we have found that [15] he is Jesus the son of Joseph of Nazareth. Nathanael said unto him, Is it possible that there can be any good thing from Nazareth? Philip said unto him, Come and [16] see. And Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, This is indeed a [17] son of Israel in whom is no guile. And Nathanael said unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus said unto him, Before Philip called thee, while thou wast under the [18] fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and said unto him, My Master, thou art [19] the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. Jesus said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, hast thou believed? thou shalt see what is [20] greater than this. And he said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Henceforth ye shall see the heavens opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. [21] And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee. [22] And on the third day there was a feast in Cana, a city of Galilee; and the [23] mother of Jesus was there: and Jesus also and his disciples were invited to the [24] feast. And they lacked wine: and his mother said unto Jesus, They have no wine. [25] And Jesus said unto her, What have I to do with thee, woman? hath not mine [26] hour come? And his mother said unto the servants, What he saith unto you, do. [27] And there were there six vessels of stone, placed for the Jews’ purification, such as [28] would contain two or three jars. And Jesus said unto them, Fill the vessels [29] with water. And they filled them to the top. He said unto them, Draw [30] out now, and present to the ruler of the feast. And they did so. And when the ruler of the company tasted that water which had become wine, and knew not whence it was (but the servants knew, because they filled up the water), the ruler of the company called [31] the bridegroom, and said unto him, Every man presenteth first the good wine, and on intoxication he bringeth what is poor; but thou hast kept the good wine until [32] now. And this is the first sign which Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested [33] his glory; and his disciples believed on him. And his fame spread in all the country [34] which was around them. And he taught in their synagogues, and was glorified [35] by every man. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and entered, according to his custom, into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood [36] up to read. And he was given the book of Isaiah the prophet. And Jesus opened the book and found the place where it was written, [37] The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, And for this anointed he me, to preach good tidings to the poor; And he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, And to proclaim forgiveness to the evil-doers, and sight to the blind, And to bring the broken into forgiveness, [38] And to proclaim an acceptable year of the Lord. [39] And he rolled up the book and gave it to the servant, and went and sat down: [40] and the eyes of all that were in the synagogue were observing him. And he began to say unto them, To-day hath this scripture been fulfilled which ye have heard with [41] your ears. And they all bare him witness, and wondered at the words of grace which were proceeding from his mouth. [42] And from that time began Jesus to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom [43] of God, and to say, Repent ye, and believe in the gospel. The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of heaven hath come near. [44] And while he was walking on the shore of the sea of Galilee, he saw two brethren, Simon who was called Cephas, and Andrew his brother, casting their nets into [45] the sea; for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Follow me, and I will [46] make you fishers of men. And they immediately left their nets there and followed [47] him. And when he went on from thence, he saw other two brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the ship with Zebedee their father, mending [48] their nets; and Jesus called them. And they immediately forsook the ship and their father Zebedee, and followed him. [49] And when the multitude gathered unto him to hear the word of God, while he [50] was standing on the shore of the sea of Gennesaret, he saw two boats standing beside the sea, while the two fishers which were gone out of them were washing their [51] nets. And one of them belonged to Simon Cephas. And Jesus went up and sat down in it, and commanded that they should move away a little from the land into [52] the water. And he sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. And when he had left off his speaking, he said unto Simon, Put out into the deep, and cast your [53] net for a draught. And Simon answered and said unto him, My Master, we toiled [54] all night and caught nothing; now at thy word I will cast the net. And when they did this, there were enclosed a great many fishes; and their net was on the [55] point of breaking. And they beckoned to their comrades that were in the other boat, to come and help them. And when they came, they filled both boats, so that they were on the point of sinking.

English translation by Hope W. Hogg (1896); the original is not shown

[1] But when Simon Cephas saw this he fell before the feet of Jesus, and said unto him, My Lord, I beseech of thee to depart from me, for I am [2] a sinful man. And amazement took possession of him, and of all who were with him, [3] because of the draught of the fishes which they had taken. And thus also were James and John the sons of Zebedee overtaken, who were Simon’s partners. And Jesus said [4] unto Simon, Fear not; henceforth thou shalt be a fisher of men unto life. And they brought the boats to the land; and they left everything, and followed him. [5] And after that came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judæa; and he went [6] about there with them, and baptized. And John also was baptizing in Ænon, which is beside Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. [7, 8] And John was not yet come into prison. And there was an inquiry between [9] one of John’s disciples and one of the Jews about purifying. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Our master, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom [10] thou hast borne witness, behold, he also baptizeth, and many come to him. John answered and said unto them, A man can receive nothing of himself, except it be [11] given him from heaven. Ye are they that bear witness unto me that I said, I am [12] not the Messiah, but I am one sent before him. And he that hath a bride is a bridegroom: and the friend of the bridegroom is he that standeth and listeneth to him, and rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Lo now, behold, [13, 14] my joy becometh complete. And he must increase and I decrease. For he that is come from above is higher than everything; and he that is of the earth, of the earth he is, and of the earth he speaketh; and he that came down from heaven is [15] higher than all. And he beareth witness of what he hath seen and heard: and no man [16] receiveth his witness. And he that hath received his witness hath asserted that he is [17] truly God. And he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: God gave [18] not the Spirit by measure. The Father loveth the Son, and hath put everything in [19] his hands. Whosoever believeth in the Son hath eternal life; but whosoever obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God cometh upon him. [20] And Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he had received many disciples, [21] and that he was baptizing more than John (not that Jesus was himself baptizing, [22] but his disciples); and so he left Judæa. [23] And Herod the governor, because he used to be rebuked by John because of Herodias the wife of Philip his brother, and for all the sins which he was committing, [24] added to all that also this, that he shut up John in prison. [25] And when Jesus heard that John was delivered up, he went away to Galilee. [26] And he entered again into Cana, where he had made the water wine. And there [27] was at Capernaum a king’s servant, whose son was sick. And this man heard that Jesus was come from Judæa to Galilee; and he went to him, and besought of him that he would come down and heal his son; for he had come near unto death. [28, 29] Jesus said unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye do not believe. The king’s servant said unto him, My Lord, come down, that the child die not. [30] Jesus said unto him, Go; for thy son is alive. And that man believed the [31] word which Jesus spake, and went. And when he went down, his servants met him [32] and told him, and said unto him, Thy son is alive. And he asked them at what time he recovered. They said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left [33] him. And his father knew that that was at that hour in which Jesus said unto him, [34] Thy son is alive. And he believed, he and the whole people of his house. And this [35] is the second sign which Jesus did when he returned from Judæa to Galilee. And he was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee. [36] And he left Nazareth, and came and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea shore, in the [37] borders of Zebulun and Naphtali: that it might be fulfilled which was said in Isaiah the prophet, who said, [38] The land of Zebulun, the land of Naphtali, The way of the sea, the passage of the Jordan, Galilee of the nations: [39] The people sitting in darkness Saw a great light, And those sitting in the region and in the shadow of death, There appeared to them a light. [40] And he taught them on the sabbaths. And they wondered because of his doctrine: [41] for his word was as if it were authoritative. And there was in the synagogue [42] a man with an unclean devil, and he cried out with a loud voice, and said, Let me alone; what have I to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come for our [43] destruction? I know thee who thou art, thou Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, and said, Stop up thy mouth, and come out of him. And the demon threw him [44] in the midst and came out of him, having done him no harm. And great amazement took hold upon every man. And they talked one with another, and said, What is this word that orders the unclean spirits with power and [45] authority, and they come out? And the news of him spread abroad in all the region which was around them. [46] And when Jesus went out of the synagogue, he saw a man sitting among the publicans, named Matthew: and he said unto him, Come after me. And he rose, and followed him. [47, 48] And Jesus came to the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. And Simon’s wife’s mother was oppressed with a great fever, and they besought him for [49] her. And he stood over her and rebuked her fever, and it left her, and immediately [50] she rose and ministered to them. And at even they brought to him many that had [51] demons: and he cast out their devils with the word. And all that had sick, their diseases being divers and malignant, brought them unto him. And he laid his hand [52] on them one by one and healed them: that that might be fulfilled which was said [53] in the prophet Isaiah, who said, He taketh our pains and beareth our diseases. And [54] all the city was gathered together unto the door of Jesus. And he cast out devils also from many, as they were crying out and saying, Thou art the Messiah, the Son of God; and he rebuked them. And he suffered not the demons to speak, because they knew him that he was the Lord the Messiah.