Skeptics and critics have asserted that the gospels contradict about whether one or two thieves who were executed with Jesus that afternoon mocked him. “Did one or two thieves mock Jesus?” Often, on the surface, what seems to be a contradiction, but upon close examination of the accounts in their context, things turn out to be different. So, let’s see:
Here is the alleged contradiction:
The gospels say that two thieves were crucified along with Jesus. Did both thieves mock Jesus?read more
Does God change his mind? Skeptics and critics have claimed the Bible contradicts itself on this matter.
Alleged contradiction:
Does God change his mind? (a) Yes. “The word of the Lord came to Samuel: “I repent that I have made Saul King…” (I Samuel 15:11) (b) No. God “will not lie or repent; for he is not a man, that he should repent” (I Samuel 15:29) (c) Yes. “And the Lord repented that he had made Saul King over Israel” (I Samuel 15:35). Notice that the above three quotes are all from the same chapter of the same book! In addition, the Bible shows that God repented on several other occasions: i. “The Lord was sorry that he made man” (Genesis 6:6) “I am sorry that I have made them” (Genesis 6:7) ii. “And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do to his people” (Exodus 32:14). iii. (Lots of other such references).read more
Skeptics and critics of the Bible often claim that the gospel of John contradicts the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, in reporting Jesus died before, rather than after, the Passover. Did Jesus die before, or after, Passover?
Alleged contradiction:
Was Jesus crucified on the daytime before the Passover meal or the daytime after? (a) After (Mark 14:12-17) (b) Before. Before the feast of the Passover (John 13:1) Judas went out at night (John 13:30). The other disciples thought he was going out to buy supplies to prepare for the Passover meal (John 13:29). When Jesus was arrested, the Jews did not enter Pilate’s judgment hall because they wanted to stay clean to eat the Passover (John 18:28). When the judgment was pronounced against Jesus, it was about the sixth hour on the day of Preparation for the Passover (John 19:14)read more
Was Quirinius Governor of Syria When Jesus Was Born?
Critics and skeptics of the Bible claim that Luke 2:2 contradicts history by saying that Quirinius was “governor of Syria” at the time of Jesus’ birth, because reliable historical records indicate that Quirinius held the position from 6 to 9 CE.
“In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. all went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem . . . He went to registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child”—Luke 2:1-6 NRSVread more
Do The Gospels Contradict About Who Carried Jesus’ Cross?
These divergent details, rather than being contradictions, actually are complimentary, and give powerful evidence the gospel writers are telling the truth, rather than copying from a single fictional account, or writing new fiction, in which the details are harmonized, or smoothed out.read more
Do The Gospels Contradict About What Time Jesus Was Crucified?
Skeptics and critics have claimed the gospels contradict about what time Jesus was crucified.
Alleged “contradiction”:
Where was Jesus at the sixth hour on the day of the crucifixion? (a) On the cross (Mark 15:23) (b) In Pilate’s court (John 19:14)
The issue here is:
What was the time of day when Jesus handed over to be crucified and put on cross:
· Mark 15:25 – “It was the third hour when they crucified him” (ESV). “That is, 9 A. M.” – ESV footnote on Mark 15:25
· John 19:14-16 –“Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, ‘Behold your king!’ They cried out, ‘Away with him, away with him, crucify him!’ Pilate said to them, ‘Shall I crucify your king?’ The chief priests answered, ‘We have no king but Caesar.’ So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus” (ESV). “That is, about noon” – ESV footnote on John 19:14read more
Contradiction About When Jesus’ Disciples Returned To Galilee?
When did Jesus return to Galilee?
Skeptics and critics have sometimes claimed that the gospels have a contradiction about when Jesus’ disciples returned to Galilee.
Alleged contradiction:
When did the disciples return to Galilee?
(a) Immediately, because when they saw Jesus in Galilee “some doubted” (Matthew 28:17). This period
of uncertainty should not persist
(b) After at least 40 days. That evening the disciples were still in Jerusalem (Luke 24:33). Jesus
appeared to them there and told them, stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high”
(Luke 24:49). He was appearing to them “during forty days” (Acts 1:3), and “charged them not to depart
from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise … “(Acts 1:4)
When we actually analyze the gospels and Acts, we find that the alleged “contradiction” clears up.
“The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them.” (Matthew 28:16 CSB). The report does not say the eleven faithful apostles went all the way to Galilee that same day.
In fact, “that same day”, Jesus’ apostles were still in Jerusalem (Luke 24:13,33 NIV). There was no rush to get to Galilee, which was about 60 miles away, and would take about 2 to 3 days travel time.
Jesus “appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3NIV). There are eleven recorded appearances in gospels of Jesus appearing to his disciples during this time “period of forty days”. Likely there were also other appearances that Jesus made to his disciples during this time period “
“When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about Jesus, he said to his advisers, “This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead! That is why he can do such miracles.”—Matthew 14:1,2 NLTread more
What Was The Exact Wording On The Sign Above Jesus’ Head?
What was the exact wording on the sign above Jesus’ head while he was being publicly executed? Do the four gospels contradict?
Alleged contradiction:
What was the exact wording on the cross? (a) “This is Jesus the King of the Jews” (Matthew 27:37) (b) “The King of the Jews” (Mark 15:26) (c) “This is the King of the Jews” (Luke 23:38) (d) “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” (John 19:19)
This accusation assumes that each gospel writer was required to be exactly precise in his reporting.
A second key point to keep in mind, however, is that all four gospel writers report in agreement that the sign had the words, “The king of the Jews”, at a minimum.read more
Where Did Egypt’s Priests Get Water To Turn Into Blood?
The very first of the ten plagues on ancient Egypt was the turning of the Nile river water into blood. But Egypt’s pagan priests did similarly with their magic arts. But this poses a seeming problem, where did the priests get water to turn into blood?
Alleged Contradiction:
The Bible says that for each miracle Moses and Aaron demonstrated the magicians did the same by their secret arts. Then comes the following feat: (a) Moses and Aaron converted all the available water into blood (Exodus 7:20-21) (b) The magicians did the same (Exodus 7:22). This is impossible, since there would have been no water left to convert into blood.read more
