Dear Joseph:

If one compares the passages side-by-side it will show that the is little difference between the Gospel writers in what they reported was inscribed on the plank placed on the cross above Jesus' head.

 The relevant passages are (in bold is the phrase common to all four reports):

(Matthew 27:37)  And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus the King of the Jews."

(Mark 15:26) And the inscription of the charge against him read, "The King of the Jews."

(Luke 23:38) There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."

(John 19:19-20)  Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross; it read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."  Many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek.



The custom was to use a rough board with the crime of the condemned written on it. We know from St. John that Pilate is the one to inscribe the "rough board" and that the message was written in Latin, Greek, and Aramaic (Hebrew).

Latin was the official language of the Roman empire, Greek was the international language of culture, and Aramaic (Hebrew) was the religious language of the Jews.

St. John was likely quoting the Latin inscription: IESUS NAZARENVS REX IVDAEORVM. St. Luke, a doctor and thus a highly educated man (Colossians 4:14), was writing to the Greek Theophilus, (see Luke 1:3, Acts 1:1), most likely quoted the Greek inscription (used by educated people): OUTOS ESTIN O BASILEUS TWN IOUDAIWN. Matthew's Gospel was written to the Jews and thus most likely quoted the Aramaic (Hebrew) inscription.

St. Mark wrote his Gospel, which is shorter than the other three, with a focus on what Jesus did than on what He said. Thus, Mark's Gospel is an abbreviated account of the life of Jesus. "For example, he omits the birth of Jesus, as well as the whole of the sermon on the mount and several other discourses. True to his style, Mark abbreviates the inscription to the words common to the three languages used, namely 'THE KING OF THE JEWS.'"

(Source: Narrative paraphrased or quoted, and graphic from Grigg, Russell M. 1997. "Why do all four Gospels contain different versions of the inscription on the Cross?" Christian Answers Network. Accessed October 18, 2013. http://christiananswers.net/q-aig/aig-t001.html.)

Given the probability that the Gospel writers were reporting the inscription in one or the other languages, could account for the slightly differing rendering of the inscription. Since the Gospels were written between two-five decades after the crucifixion it can also be possible that the Gospel writers reported what they remembered.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary