It will be sufficient for the purposes of the argument to give examples (except as to the Fourth Gospel) only from Justin, and to omit his quotations from Matthew and Mark, since they are so numerous and not a few of them of considerable length. Of his references, Rev. Mr. Wright says[1]: “Upon examination it is found that of the one hundred and twenty or more allusions which Justin makes to the Gospel history, nearly all coincide as to substance with the statements of either Matthew or Luke. Of the sixty or seventy apparently direct quotations, ten are exact, twenty-five are only slightly variant, while there are thirty-two in which the variation is considerable. But in respect to variations from the original in quotation, it should be remembered that familiarity often leads to carelessness with regard to minute points. Justin, himself, out of one hundred and sixty-two quotations from the Old Testament, has only sixty-four exact, while forty-four are slightly variant, and fifty-four decidedly so.”
If the reader, with the New Testament in hand, will make a comparison in the examples which will be given, he can form his own judgment, which it is conceived, will be no doubtful one. The substantial agreement is very striking even when the language is not identical.
JUSTIN FROM ACTS.
“He was taken up into heaven while they beheld.” (Res., c. 9.) Acts i. 9.
FROM MARK.
“But is it not absurd to say that these members will exist after the resurrection from the dead, since the Saviour said, ‘They neither marry nor are given in marriage, but shall be as the angels in heaven.’” (Res., c. 2.) Mark xi. 25.
“And that we ought to worship God alone, he thus persuadeth us: ‘The greatest commandment is, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve with all thy heart, and with all thy strength the Lord God that made thee.”’” (Ap. c. 16.) Mark xii. 30.
“He says, ‘I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’” (Res., c. 8.) Mark ii. 17.
FROM LUKE.