Chapter XXI.—Of the Order in Which the Narrative Concerning Peter’s Mother-In-
Law is Introduced.
51. Matthew proceeds in the following terms: “And when Jesus was come into Peter’s
house, He saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever. And He touched her hand, and the
fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.”877 Matthew has not indicated the
date of this incident; that is to say, he has specified neither before what event nor after what
occurrence it took place. For we are certainly under no necessity of supposing that, because
it is recorded after a certain event, it must also have happened in actual matter of fact after
that event. And unquestionably, in this case, we are to understand that he has introduced
for record here something which he had omitted to notice previously. For Mark brings in
this narrative before his account of that cleansing of the leper which he would appear to
have placed after the delivery of the sermon on the mount;878 which discourse, however,
he has left unrelated. And thus, too, Luke879 inserts this story of Peter’s mother-in-law after
an occurrence880 which it follows likewise in Mark’s version, but also before that lengthened
discourse, which has been reproduced by him, and which may appear to be one with the
sermon which Matthew states to have been delivered on the mount. For of what consequence
is it in what place any of them may give his account; or what difference does it make
whether he inserts the matter in its proper order, or brings in at a particular point what was
previously omitted, or mentions at an earlier stage what really happened at a later, provided
only that he contradicts neither himself nor a second writer in the narrative of the same
facts or of others? For as it is not in one’s own power, however admirable and trustworthy
may be the knowledge he has once obtained of the facts, to determine the order in which
he will recall them to memory (for the way in which one thing comes into a person’s mind
before or after another is something which proceeds not as we will, but simply as it is given
to us), it is reasonable enough to suppose that each of the evangelists believed it to have
been his duty to relate what he had to relate in that order in which it had pleased God to
suggest to his recollection the matters he was engaged in recording. At least this might hold
good in the case of those incidents with regard to which the question of order, whether it
were this or that, detracted nothing from evangelical authority and truth.
52. But as to the reason why the Holy Spirit, who divideth to every man severally as He
will,881 and who therefore undoubtedly, with a view to the establishing of their books on
877 Matt. viii. 14, 15.
878 Cf. what is said above (chap. xix. 43) as to the note of time implied in the statement (Mark i. 39), that
He preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils. [The order of Mark is probably
correct.—R.]
879 Luke iv. 38, 39.
880 Referring, apparently, to the casting out of the unclean spirit (Mark i. 23, etc.; Luke iv. 33, etc.).
881 1 Cor. xii. 11.
Of the Order in Which the Narrative Concerning Peter’s Mother-In-Law is Introduced.
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Of the Order in Which the Narrative Concerning Peter’s Mother-In-Law is…