The Inscriptions on the Cross.
This Is Appendix 163 From The Companion Bible.
Each of the four Gospels gives a different
wording of these inscriptions :-
Matthew 27:37: "This is
Jesus, the King of the Jews."
Mark 15:26: "The
King of the Jews."
Luke 23:38: "This is
the King of the Jews."
John 19:19: "Jesus
of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."
Here again the difficulty is created by assuming
that these similar but differing records are
identical, without noticing the exact words which are
written. It is universally assumed that there was only one,
and then follow the efforts to explain the alleged
"discrepancies" between the different versions of it.
If we note carefully what is actually said all will
be clear.
Mark 15:26 can be
dismissed; for he does not say anything about a "title"
(Greek titlos, John 19:19) being put on
the cross or anywhere else, which any one had seen. It is a question of
the Lord's "accusation" or "indictment", or
the ground or cause of His condemnation as claiming to be "the
King of the Jews".
- John 19:19 speaks of a
"title" written by Pilate, before it left Pilate's
presence; for no one suggests that Pilate went to the scene of
the execution and wrote anything there.
In Pilate's writing the three languages were
in this order: (1) Hebrew, (2) Greek, and (3) Latin (campare IV. below).
And it was read after the cross had been set up.
This was the one which gave rise to the argument
between the Chief Priests and Pilate (John 19: 21, 22); and this
argument took place before the parting of the garments (verses
23,
24).
- The
inscription in Matthew 27:37 was the result
of that discussion; for another "title" was brought and
"set up over his head", after they had "parted His
garments," and having sat down, they watched Him there
(Verses 35,
36).
As there could hardly have been two titles at
the same time, the former must have been then taken down and the other
substituted.
We are not told how long the argument lasted or
when it ceased, or what was the final result of it.
- A
further result is seen in Luke 23:38; for another was
brought much later, close upon "the sixth hour" (verse
44), when the
darkness fell. It was written with the languages in a different order"
(1) Greek, (2) Latin, and (3) Hebrew (verse 38).1 It was put
up "over Him" (Greek ep' auto, verse
38), "after
the revilings of the People" (compare verses 35 - 37, with verse
38); whereas
Matthew's (No. III) was set up before the revilings
(compare Matthew 27:37 with verse
39).
The result is that :-
Mark's was only His indictment.
John's was the first, written by Pilate himself
(or by his order, in (1) Hebrew, (2) Greek, and (3) Latin, and was put
on the cross before it left Pilate's presence.
Matthew's was the second, substituted for the
first, in consequence of the arguments which took place, and was set up
"over His head" after the garments had been
divided, and before the revilings.
Luke's was the third. (and last), put up
"over Him", after the revilings (Luke
23:35), and was seen
just before the darkness of the "sixth hour" (verse
44). This was
written in three languages, but in a different order: 1 (1) Greek, (2)
Latin, and (3) Hebrew (verse 38). Not in Hebrew,
and Greek, and Latin, as No. II in John 19:19.
Thus, such differences as these are marks of
Divine accuracy; and, instead of being sources of difficulties, become,
when rightly divided, the means of their removal.
NOTE
1 But see the texts.
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