Harmonizing the Resurrection Accounts found in the Gospels
G.D.O'Bradovich III
April 27, 2014
There are several excellent webpages that harmonize the Resurrection accounts. Unfortunately, none of them are to my liking; either the matrices are over generalized or there are too many details and references so that the imformation is overwhelming. Therefore, the following columns represent the Gospel stories in order with minimal commentary.
Matthew |
Mark |
Luke |
John |
[1] The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre,
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Since it is still dark, the account from John comes first.
[1] And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
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[1] In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
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[2] And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
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[1] Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they [Luke 23:55, the women which came with Jesus from Galilee] came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
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The Synoptic Gospels agree that it was the morning and the first day of the week. Matthew and Mark refer to the Sabbath.
[3] And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
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The women are familiar with the tomb from the previous day and wonder how they are going to enter the cave.
[2] And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
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They see an angel roll the stone from the mouth of the cave.
[3] His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
[4] And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. [5] And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. [6] He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. |
[4] And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
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[2] And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
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and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
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In Mark, Luke and John the women find the stone removed, therefore, these instances must occur after Matthew.
5] And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
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[3] And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
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The women enter the cave in Mark and Luke.
[7] And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. |
[6] And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
[7] But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you |
In Matthew, the women know being is angel because they saw him descend. The women in Mark do not see him descend and assume he is a young man. Both accounts agree that the women must tell the disciples and Peter that Jesus will meet them in Galilee.
[4] And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
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[12] And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
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Luke and John agree that there are two angels in the cave. John focuses on Mary Magdalene and excludes the other women throughout his Gospel. In Luke, the "perplexed" women remember the "shining garments", but assumed the two angels were men.
[5] And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
[6] He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, [7] Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. |
[13] And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
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[8] And they remembered his words,
[9] And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. |
[8] And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
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[10] It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
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Matthew and Luke have the woman leave the cave. One group of women went to the disciples and the other group of women went to the Apostles. Like any good episode of Scooby-Doo, they split up. From Luke, we learn that "Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women" were "with the women from Galilee". Therefore, there are two groups: one group of women from Galilee ("them") and a group of women not from Galilee ("Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women").
[11] And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
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Luke relates that the women told "the eleven", "all the rest" and the "apostles", but "they" did not believe the women.
[8] And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
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[2] Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
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Mark has the women leave, but they tell neither the disciples or Apostles. "They" the women (Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome), did not tell any man. However, an individual, Mary Magdalene, told the disciples.
John relates that Mary Magdalene told Simon Peter and the other disciple and, unless Mary Magdalene is using the "Royal We", she is referring to the other women and herself.
John relates that Mary Magdalene told Simon Peter and the other disciple and, unless Mary Magdalene is using the "Royal We", she is referring to the other women and herself.
[12] Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre;
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[3] Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
[4] So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. |
Luke and John are in agreement that Peter ran to the cave. John gives details.
[5] And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
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John has the other disciple looking into the cave first.
and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, |
[6] Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
[7] And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. |
In Luke, Peter looks at the linen clothes. In John, Simon Peter sees the linen clothes.
and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. |
[8] Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. [9] For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. [10] Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. |
Luke and John are in agreement. Once again, John provides details. Peter and Simon Peter leave the cave.
[9] Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
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[11] But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
[14] And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
[15] Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. [16] Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. |
Mark and John agree that Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene. Once again, John has details concerning this encounter.
[17] Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
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Jesus forbids Mary Magdalene from touching Him because he has not ascended.
[9] And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
[10] Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. |
Jesus allows the women to hold His feet. Therefore, we must Jesus has ascended and returned. The woman are to relate to the disciples that Jesus will meet the disciples in Galilee.
[10] And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
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[18] Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
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Mark and John agree Mary Magdalene told "them that had been with him" and the "disciples".
[11] And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
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[11] And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
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Mark and Luke agree that "them that had been with him" (Mark), "the disciples" (Luke), "the eleven" (Luke), "all the rest" (Luke) and the "Apostles" (Luke) did not believe. John does not indicate what the Apostles believed.
This concludes our harmonizing of the Resurrection accounts. The road to Erasmus and the further appearances in the gospel of John are post-Resurrection accounts and do not concern our attempt at harmonizing the Resurrection accounts.
The following accounts of Jesus' appearances are from 1 Corinthians chapter 15:
This concludes our harmonizing of the Resurrection accounts. The road to Erasmus and the further appearances in the gospel of John are post-Resurrection accounts and do not concern our attempt at harmonizing the Resurrection accounts.
The following accounts of Jesus' appearances are from 1 Corinthians chapter 15:
[3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
[4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [5] And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: [6] After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. [7] After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. [8] And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. |
Saint Paul has been told ("I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received") by unknown persons the order of Jesus' appearances. Jesus first appeared to "Cephas" and then to the "twelve". At this time, Saint Paul did not know that Judas died and there were only eleven.
After the twelve, Jesus appears to over "five hundred" people then He appears to James (who must not be one of the twelve). Then Jesus appears to "all the apostles". From the text we can not determine if James was one of the apostles or not.
After the twelve, Jesus appears to over "five hundred" people then He appears to James (who must not be one of the twelve). Then Jesus appears to "all the apostles". From the text we can not determine if James was one of the apostles or not.