E. W. Bullinger

Philologos Religious Online Books
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August, 1897 | Vol. IV July 1897 - June 1898 | Main Index

Things to Come

We have had several Questions addressed to us on this important subject.

These have always been a source of perplexity to many a Bible student.

It is well known that four different forms are forced on our attention, being for some reason usually printed in large capital letters, as follows:—

Matthew: This is Jesus the King of the Jews (27:37).
Mark: The King of the Jews (15:26).
Luke: This is the King of the Jews (23:38).
John: Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews (19:19).

Others assume that as it was written in three languages, there might have been some variation in each of the three, and that each evangelist gives one of the three versions. This, we believe, is the more popular or general explanation of the difficulty.

But is there a difficulty? If so, is it in the Text, or do we put it there by starting with the assumption that there was only one Inscription? If there was only one, then of course there cannot be several different forms of it and each be correct. One must be right and the others wrong. This is where the difficulty lies, and our belief is that it is created by the readers and not by the writers.

We answer the question therefore by asking another:—Was there only one Inscription; or were there more? Let us look and see.

First, with regard to Mark, we may put him aside for the moment, because he does not profess to give a version which he or anyone else had seen. He merely mentions "the accusation" or bill of indictment, which may or may not have been the same as "the title" of which the others speak.

If it were, then it is sufficiently like Luke's to be identical with one of the Greek, Latin, or Hebrew inscriptions which he gives.

Secondly, as to time:—In John 19:19 we read that "Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross." Whether written by Pilate's own hand or by some person acting for him, it was undoubtedly written in Pilate's presence and put then and there upon the cross before it left Pilate. For the act is recorded in connection with his delivering Jesus to the Jews and His being "led away" to be crucified. This was written, not like Luke's in "Greek and Latin and Hebrew" characters, but in "Hebrew and Greek and Latin." Pilate would certainly have written in the official language—Latin—and therefore the last was evidently regarded by him as the place of authority. This would distinguish it from Luke's in which the Hebrew was put last. In any case it was put on the cross itself, and that before it left Pilate's presence and before it arrived at Golgotha.

We know that the Jews objected to this particular title, and tried to induce Pilate to alter it. Pilate merely replied, "What I have written, I have written" (John 19:22). He implies that he is not disposed to alter it: but there is nothing to make a subsequent alteration impossible. We cannot tell how earnestly or pertinaciously the objections were urged, or with what success they met: we are told, however, of the commencement of the altercation.

We only know that some time after Jesus was put upon the cross, and after the garments were divided, and after they had cast lots upon His vesture, that they then sat down and watched Him there (Matt 27:36), while they were watching "they" then and there "set up over His head" another inscription. By what means it was obtained we are not told, or by what authority. It may have been without authority, for it appears as if it were in only one language (probably Greek).

This Inscription may have taken the place of Pilate's, or have been added to it, being placed "over His head." But it was put there, not by the "soldiers" who nailed Him and parted His garments, but by "they" who had crucified Him.

The official mockings followed the setting up of this title (Matthew's: compare Matt 27:37-43 with Luke 23:35-37); and then, after the mockings of the "rulers," Luke tells us that another three-language title was put up or written over Him.

So that it would appear (1) that Pilate's was the first official title, put on the cross in his presence; (2) that while the arguments were being pressed, the title recorded in Matthew was put up in addition to it or in substitution for it, and was intermediate until (3) the one mentioned by Luke was brought in official form, modified according to the request of the Jews in John 19:21. This was seen about the sixth hour (Luke 23:44).

There is nothing unreasonable in our explanation. We know that there were altercations, but we are not told how the tide of victory fluctuated or what was the result; we submit that these three different titles are the evidences of that conflict and mark its various stages and its final issue.

In any case, those who may hesitate to accept our explanation, have got to account not only for the variation in the words, but for the differences of the times and occasions.

August, 1897 | Vol. IV July 1897 - June 1898 | Main Index  

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