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New Testament Contradictions |
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New Testament Contradictions |
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The Christian New Testament contradicts itself, not just on trivia, but even about the supposed resurrection of Christ. How can the Bible be historical fact if even its most crucial element is chock full of contradictions? But do not take my word for it. Kindly refer to you own copy (verse numbers vary in certain editions) and research a number of (pun intended) grave inconsistencies.
On this most important recounting contradictions are packed so tightly as to overlap one another. Often I’ll have to repeat a verse merely to highlight a different segment. But for brevity’s sake I plan to only touch on the high spots with the assurance that you may easily consult the source for any details I shall leave out.
Know that all four gospels were written by men entirely absent from the events they attempt to record. Greeks, they were...students of the Apostle Paul. Nor was Paul a witness either. Paul claims to have been converted by an angelic aparition well after the death of Christ.
So not one of these for books was written by actual witnesses. Nor was Paul who told them of it himself a witness. It is hearsay, twice removed. Christian scholars know this well attributing all four works to divine inspiration. But if that be the case had they not ought to agree...at least in the more important details? Yet they differ, markedly so, as we shall read.
Secondly note that Peter and James, who were indeed actual witnesses, and who’s own books are found in the bible fail to corroborate these supposed histories. Why should that be? Read on, and we shall learn!
Matthew 28:1
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
Mark 16:1
And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had brought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
John 20:1
The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
Summary: John says one, Matthew two, Mark three. Luke is too vague to bother quoting.
Matthew 28:1
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
Mark 16:1 & 2
And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had brought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
John 20:1
The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
Summary: Except for John, that seems no big difference. Unless you are Jewish (I’m not), in which case it’s a pretty big deal. If you can see the actual sun then the Sabbath is passed, otherwise not. I’m inclined to let this one slide, listing it here mostly just for the chronology.
Matthew 28:1
And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
Mark 16:4
And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
Luke 24:2
And found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
John 20:1
The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
Summary: Matthew says two Marys saw an angel roll away the stone after an earthquake. Mark says both Marys and also Salome found it already rolled away. John says that just a single Mary found it already rolled away. Neither Mark, nor Luke nor John say a world about an angel moving the stone nor even an earthquake.
Matthew 28:1
And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
Mark 16:5
And entering into the sepulchre, they [the two Mary's and Salome] saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in long white garment; and they were affrighted.
Luke 24:4
And it came to pass, as they [unnamed women] were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments;
John 20:12
And [Mary} seeth two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
Summary: Matthew and Mark report a solitary angel. Luke and John claim a matched pair. Luke says his two angels were standing. Matthew, Mark and John all have theirs sitting some place or other, each in a uniques locale.
Matthew 28:9 & 10
And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them [the two Marys], saying All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then Jesus said unto them, Be not afraid: go and tell my bretheren that they go into Galillee, and there shall they see me.
Mark 16:9
Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to mary Magdalene, out of whom he cast seven devils.
John 20:14, 16 & 17
And then she [Mary] had thus said, she turned herself back and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. [...] Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say , Master.
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and to your God.
Summary: Matthew claims Jesus greeted two Marys, saying, “Hail.” and some futher dialog in the next verse. John has Jesus saying entirely different things to his lone Mary. Luke utterly fails to report Jesus having met any Marys, or even a Solome, at all. Jesus spoke nothing to Mark’s own solitary Mary, but cast out devils instead.
Luke 24:12
Then arose Peter, and ran into the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which has come to pass.
John 20:3,4 & 6
Peter therefor went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together; and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
[...]
Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
Summary: Luke says one disciple. John says three disciples. But who’s count? Parts of this read like a Homer Simpson narrative. Can’t you just hear the uncertain pauses: “Peter went forth, and ...er...um... that other disciple ...whats-his-name... came to the sepulchre...”
Matthew 28:16 & 17
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
Mark 16:14
Afterward he appeared unto the eleven [in Galilee, according to verse 7] as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
Luke 24:13, 15, 33 & 36
And behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And it came to pass, that, while they communed togethere and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. [...] And they rose up on the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, [...] And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
John 20:10, 19 & 24
Then the disciples went away again unto their own home [in Gaililee]. [...] Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were sut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, and came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. [...] But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
Summary: Matthew, Mark and John say Jesus met eleven in Galilee. But Luke says he met ten just outside Jerusalem. Galilee and Jerusalem are quite far apart, especially for men afoot. A furlong being one eighth of a mile, that makes Emmaus 7.5 miles outside Jerusalem while the nearest mountains in Galilee are at Nazareth, sixty plus miles further yet. Judas, already dead by his own hand, was not invited. So the absense of Thomas Didymus makes ten disciples, not eleven.
Mark 17:15 through 20
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is babtized shall be saved; but he that believeth shall not be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. And then after the lord had spoken unto them he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Luke 24:44 through 51
And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, and all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be enbued with power from on high. And heled them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he wasw parted from them and c arried up into heaven.
Observation: How very dissimilar... There was no point in highlighting since I would have to highlight all of from both of them. Only Mark and Luke report of Jesus ascending into heaven while Matthew and John say nothing whatever about that.
Matthew 28:16 through 20
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted; And Jesus came and spake unto th em, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefor, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
John 21:1
After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
Observation: John then goes on with a quite lengthy story about the disciples next being in a ship, miracleously catching 153 fishes with a single cast of the net which is so heavy they cannot lift it but must drag it ashore where they discover a fire of coals to lay it upon. And here, upon said shore, is where Jesus (according to John) bids farewell to his troops at some length. Finally, John concludes thus:
John 21:25
And there were also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suuppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
Summary: Well... The very crux of the New Testament is shot full of glaring contradictions. Yet I suppose that we may conlcude from John’s final remark almost anyting at all. A throroughgoingly comprehensive CYA clause, that last. Worthy of a Harvard laywer. Or, looked at another way, more Homer Simpson style story retelling: It’s like...I forgot the rest, see...so...a whole ton of this other stuff, you know?...yeah, like that happened too. Which was it then? A bad connection on the divine inspiration network?
I really don’t enjoy trashing other people’s beliefs like this. Hardly would I have wasted time in this dull and tiresome research on quite uninteresting a topic were not the U.S. government to endorse this so-called history. We now have slogans on our coins. The Pledge of Allegience, once entirely secular, has been redacted in favor of a particular god. Christian ultra-conservatives have their way in reviewing text books for the public schools. And America’s own King George II wants to spend my taxes in favor of mostly Christian churches. That is too much.
It does little good to defend these issues one at a time. Bringing Christian dogma into government opens it up for public rebuttal. Any fair public accounting must, of necessity, examine this issue at its foundation. And there, at the foundation, is where it is most clearly flawed...
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