This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1918. Excerpt: ... JESUS: THE KINGDOM OF GOD INTRODUCTION FOR the purpose of this work we must limit ourselves to a consideration of the teachings of Jesus in their more general, transcendental and cosmic relations and implications. We shall want to study his life somewhat to see what light it sheds on his system of thought; and we shall also be interested in the interpretation of his teachings which his closest friend has provided for us. Our only sources of information are the Synoptic and Johanine Gospels. To arrive at an impression of their relative value as sources, it first will be necessary to outline briefly our conviction as to their origin. To the writer the following appeals as the most reasonable and probable. At a very early date after the death of Jesus, Matthew wrote out a collection of the Sayings of Jesus, for the purpose, evidently, of convincing the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah, foretold by the old prophets. A copy of these Sayings of Jesus by Matthew found its way to Alexandria, and our best record of it is found embodied in the Synoptic Gospel according to Matthew, and, possibly rearranged somewhat by Luke to be more chronological, and then woven into his Gospel. About the same time Mark, a relative of Peter and his companion, while staying with Peter at Caesarea, wrote down, for the benefit of the disciples there, the teachings and reminiscences of Jesus as related to them by Peter. As early as 41 A. D. Mark went to Alexandria and evidently while there wrote out another copy of Peter's teachings and reminiscences that varied slightly from the one left at Caesarea. Later on, whether at Jerusalem or at Rome is uncertain, Mark wrote out still another copy of Peter's teachings and reminiscences, but this time as it was to go to Gentile Christians it dif...