As I hinted to you yesterday this passage is best investigated using all the resources at your disposal. So as I have done for you today, it is best to compare all the gospel accounts of this incident. This information is available to you in E-Sword ( www.e-sword.net/ ) but you will have to download the available versions and it all takes time but it is free. Included in E-Sword is a Harmony function which I recommended to Rick Meyers a number of years ago and he has built it into E-Sword. It’s a wonderfully powerful tool. You find it on the top tool bar under <Bible> and <Harmony>. That is all I have used to give you the above columns to compare. It took me all of a few seconds. [PS I have a number of new Gems followers so I am repeating myself for their benefit.]
Now I suggest you colour the differences and similarities to help you see what each writer is doing. In particular Luke, because he is our focus that the moment. Use the same colour scheme we have used before. [See Gem 912]
I find it staggering even that since 09/09/09 I have written 1900 Gems on John (Gems 1-130), Romans (Gems 131 – 301), 1 Corinthians (Gems 302 – 499), 2 Corinthians (500-591), Ephesians 592-724), Luke (725-1327) and Acts (1328-1898). All of which is so easy to search. The Indonesian language version of the Gems and Nuggets will be added in due course. Don’t forget to use the Search this Website function for anything you want to know. I plan to post online the material from God’s Awesome Book with video clip segments on each topic or element presented along with the notes and the Radio stories I told on Radio Rhema for two and a half years.
Enough for today. I am not intending to do any more for you on the text of “the demoniac boy” other than what I have done so far. Now is still the time for you to work on it. Next Gem I will start with the comparison and introductory comments for the next pericope. Remember to look at this passage in the context of the surrounding passages or pericope as well. It will help your understanding. Now that you know what to do, go do it.
Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.
Thomas Edison
There are no menial jobs, only menial attitudes!
Rick Godwin
Belief is the ignition switch that says, “I Can!”–and lifts you off the launching pad!
Rick Godwin
If you can’t deal with the pain of discipline now, you’ll suffer the pain of regret later.
Kezia Debora