With such differences as show most convincingly that the Evangelists are independent witnesses, there is such unity in the character and life of Christ, as exhibited by them, as shows the same _original_ for the likeness. This essential unity of the Gospel is evidenced by the fact that not a single church or communion exists, that does not accept _all_ the Gospels, if _either_. From internal evidence, it is extremely probable that the Synoptics were written before the destruction of Jerusalem. Luke was certainly written before Acts, and the history in Acts is not carried later than the year 62, eight years before that event. As the four undisputed Epistles were all written before the year 60, the logical order will be to present the testimony of Paul to the Resurrection before that of the Evangelists. [1] President Bartlett believes that notwithstanding its long line of exposure, the outer historical difficulties seem reduced to the solitary question of the taxing under Cyrenius. (The _Princeton Review_ for January, 1880, p. 44.) Aside from any question of inspiration, it is improbable that Luke made a mistake. Justin Martyr, who wrote at a very early period, in his Apology to the Roman Emperor, refers to this taxing as a well known event (Ap., c. 34). He again refers to it in his Dialogue (c. 78) as being the first census taken in Judea under Cyrenius. Celsus, who was not wanting in skill or inclination to attack at all points, found no occasion here. It may well be that a person holding the office which Cyrenius held at the first enrolment was called a “procurator.” Or Luke in speaking of this enrolment may have referred to Cyrenius by the title which he afterwards bore; or Cyrenius may have been in the office twice. President Bartlett also concludes with Warrenton that there is not any instance of a really inapposite quotation from the Old Testament, although the quotations are sometimes inaccurate. He also concludes that the instances of alleged _contradictions_ may be reduced to five, and that there is no insurmountable difficulty in reconciling them. But, for reasons stated in the text, the inquiry is not material to our argument. [2] Many suppose that the “we” are the Elders at Ephesus. But if so, why did they not sign? The “we” preceded by the unmistakable reference to John and followed by the first person singular, in the closing verse, is as likely to have been John. [3] “Synoptics”—a word often used by writers at the present day to designate the first three Gospels.