Page 19 - The Gospel Chronicle - Redaction SE

Redaction: Introduction

In Matthew, Jesus goes up into a mountain and his disciples (not necessarily his
Apostles) follow him and are taught of him up in the mountain. This event is called by most

theologians the Sermon on the Mount. But this can be problematic as the Synoptic Gospel theory
tends to link this event recorded in Matthew to another recorded in Luke. But there are glaring
differences. In Luke, Jesus also teaches the Beatitudes, but Luke tells us that Jesus is standing in
a plain (not a mountain), and looking around upon his disciples, Jesus teaches the surrounding

multitudes. Clearly this event in Luke cannot also be called the Sermon on the Mount, because
there isn’t a mountain involved.
Yet strangely from a synoptic perspective, these events are considered the same, which
opens the gospels up to the claim that they are contradicting each other. But this does not have
to be how these events are viewed. From a chronological perspective, these events are seen as

separate and sequential. First Jesus’ disciples (whether there be two or one hundred.) follow
Jesus up into a mountain and are taught of Jesus. Then after three chapters of dialog Jesus ends
his teaching and he and his disciples depart, coming down from the mountain. It is at this point
that we can insert the account in Luke, where Jesus and his disciples (his followers that went

after him into the mountain,) now coming down, enter into a plain area where the rest of the
multitude that chose not to follow Jesus into the mountain are gathered and Jesus looks
knowingly upon his disciples, repeats only a brief part of the message that he taught his
disciples up in the mountain. These are related but separate events.
This example illustrates how with the synoptic perspective we can be given the

perception that the gospels contradict one another, when it is simply an error of our own
making. Alternatively, the chronological perspective subordinates shared or synoptic content
as a secondary filter rather than the primary filter. Taking the same passages and
chronologically aligning them into sequence, offers a glimpse into bigger story with multiple

stages, purposes and participants. The chronological perspective sweeps away contradiction,
allowing a deeper look into Jesus’ ministry.
After nearly 20 years, the Gospel Chronicle is complete. It is my hope that everyone that
receives it will benefit from its contents as much as I have in compiling and collating it. It is by no

The Gospel Chronicle • iii