Peters denials and the cocks crows
Waldemar Janzen 29.03.2008
While reflecting on my chronological Gospel synchronization book “A Vida
de Jesus nunca antes contada assim” and listening to a critique that I did not contemplate
in it that Jesus talked at two different occasions about Peter denying him, I
developed the following solution about this controversial issue:
The key phrases in the four Gospels:
Matthew 26:31-35;
…they went out into the Mount
of Olives.
34. …this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny
me thrice.
Mark 14:27-31;
…they went out into the Mount
of Olives
30. … this night, before the
cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Luke 22:31-34
17. ...with me on the
table. 20. ... after supper
... the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou
shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
John 13:36-38
28. ... at the table...
The
cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.
THE FOLLOWING TABLE ILUSTRATES WHEN
THE PHRASES MUST HAVE BEEN SAID
|
...At the table |
(when) they went
out into the mount of Olives |
||
|
Matt. |
before the cock crow |
thou shalt
deny me thrice |
|
|
|
Mark |
|
thou shalt deny me thrice |
before the cock crow twice |
|
|
Luke |
the cock shall not crow this day, before
that |
|
|
thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me |
|
John |
The cock shall not crow, till |
thou hast denied me thrice. |
|
|
None of the writers gives the complete version.
None renders that it was spoken twice nor in two
different places.
None renders that it were two different formulations:
“deny me” and “deny that
thou knowest me”.
We
have other such cases in the Gospels, for example: Mark writes “Then Jesus
beholding him loved him” after he had said: “all these have I observed from my
youth.” Matthew, however, informs us that the rich young man added: “what lack
I yet?”
It
is clear that this, too, was said by the young man, but not written down by
Mark nor Luke, and must have been the reason that Jesus loved him.
Likewise, other passages,
and now this one in particular. Matthew and John registered the complete
wording at the Lords supper. Mark and Luke wrote down part of what was said at
the Lords supper and part what was said on the way to the Mount of Olives, one
in reversed order of the other one.
When Peter said that he was not his disciple, as he
did two times, he was denying the Lord but not denying that he knew not the
Lord. On the other hand, when he was denying that he knew not the Lord he also
was denying him.
Having it straight this way and the Gospels
synchronized, as I have it in my book, we could follow it up this way:
Peter denied that he was his disciple – 1st
denial of Jesus
Peter denied that he knew Jesus – 2nd
denial of Jesus and 1st denial that he knew Jesus
Peter denied that he was his disciple – 3rd
t denial of Jesus
The cock crows for the first time
Peter denies two more times he knew Jesus – 2nd
and 3rd denials that he knew
Jesus
The cock crows the second time.
Peter lies more than that: he says he is not a Galilee
and he knows not about what they are talking, but they don’t apply to the
specific prophecy of Jesus.
In this way the complete controversy is removed and
there is no contradiction in these passages.