having happened between that phenomenon and the Passover of that year.
3. The fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius cannot begin before the month Tisri,1 of the twenty-seventh year of the Dionysian Era.
4. Our Lord, when He was about thirty years old, was bap tized, and, after forty days, tempted of the Devil, some time before the Passover of the twenty -eighth year of the Dionysian Era.
5. In that same year, and no other, could the Temple have been said to have been forty-six years in building. — See John ii. 20.
6. Our Lord was crucified in the thirtieth year of the Diony sian Era ; for this particular year, and not one of the years 29, 31, or 32, had the Passover at the end of the week : but the year 33 is too late, and is refuted by all the opinions of the Ancient Church.
7. Therefore the whole course of events recorded, from the Passover mentioned in John ii., to that mentioned in John xviii., is included in the 28th, 29th, and 30th years of the Dionysian Era.
This makes three, and only three Passovers.
These statements, if taken singly, may possibly appear to leave the matter in doubt : but, when taken together, they are clear and unquestionable; and necessarily prove, that there were only three Passovers.
My Harmony has found a most courteous opponent in Hauber,2 of whose present opinions on the subject, I am entirely ignorant : but certainly, in his great work, which is entitled Deutsche Original Uibel (German Original Bible), he has adopted the main features of my Harmony, adding his own view of the details. And very lately Walchius,3 in his observations
1 The month Tisri comprehended part of September and October, though corresponding nearly with the latter (I. B.)
2 See f.n. 1, p. 39.— (I. B.)
8 John Ernest Immanuel Walchius was born at Jena in 1725, and attain ed to a high station in the University there. In 1749 he published at Jena his u Eitilcitung in die harmonic der Evanqdisten." He died in 1778. — (I. B.)