Thus our first objection against the trustworthiness of our historian is that all the persons he introduces, however different in character, speak exactly alike, and that this style, when put into the mouth of Jesus, is totally different from that attributed to him by the three synoptics. We conclude, therefore, that the style belongs wholly to the writer, and that he cannot, consequently, be trusted in his reports of speeches. The major part, by far the most important part, of this gospel is thus at once stamped as untrustworthy.
Let us next remark the partiality attributed by this gospel to Him Who has said--according to the Bible--"all souls-are Mine." We find the doctrine of predestination, i.e., of favouritism, constantly put forward. "_All that the Father giveth me_ shall come to me." "No man can come to me except the Father draw him." "That of all _which He hath given me_ I should lose nothing." "Ye believe not, _because_ ye are not of my sheep." "Though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: _that the saying_ of Esaias the prophet _might be fulfilled._" "Therefore, they _could not believe because_ that Esaias said," &c. "I have chosen you out of the world." "Thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to _as many as Thou hast given him?_" "Those that thou gavest me I have kept and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition, _that the Scriptures might be fulfilled._" These are the most striking of the passages which teach that doctrine which has been the most prolific parent of immorality and the bringer of despair to the sinner. Frightfully immoral as it is, this doctrine is taught in all its awful hopelessness and plainness by this gospel: some "_could not_ believe" because an old prophet prophesied that they should not-So, "according to St. John," these unbelieving Jews were pre-ordained to eternal damnation and the abiding wrath of God. They were cast into an endless hell, which "they _could not_" avoid. We reject this gospel, secondly, for the partiality it dares to attribute to Almighty God.
We will now pass to the historical discrepancies between this gospel and the three synoptics, following the order of the former.