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 the official historical records only indicate that Quirinius held the position of governor of Syria from 6 to 9 CE.
BIBLICAL ACCOUNT OF “THE FIRST CENSUS” WHILE QUIRINIUS WAS GOVERNOR
“Now it happened that in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus for a census to be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was going to be registered for the census, each to his own city. And Joseph also went from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem . . . in order to register with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was with child. Now it happened that while they were there, the days were fulfilled for her give birth”—Luke 2:1-6 LSBread more
Contradiction About Centurion’s Words At Jesus’ Death?
Critics and skeptics of the Bible have alleged many contradictions. One of their less common claims is that the gospels have a contradiction about the centurion’s words at Jesus’ death.
Alleged contradiction:
What did the centurion say when Jesus dies? (a) “Certainly this man was innocent” (Luke 23:47) (b) “Truly this man was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39)
BIBLICAL ANALYSIS
The centurion made both statements. Gospel writers Matthew and Mark each record the statement that Jesus “was the Son of God”, and gospel writer Luke records the centurion’s confession that Jesus “was innocent”. This is why we have four gospels. The alleged contradiction narrow-mindedly assumes the centurion could not have made both statements. read more
Do Gospels Contradict? Who Carried Jesus’ Cross/Stake?
Who carried the crossbeam or pole? Let’s look at the four gospels, and see who each gospel names as the one who carried Jesus’ execution stake to Golgotha:
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
Only the Bible can make sense of the standards by which we evaluate whether or not something is true. One such set of standards are the laws of logic. We all know that a true claim cannot contradict another true claim. That would violate a law of logic: the law of non-contradiction. The statements “The light is red” and “The light is not red” cannot both be true at the same time and in the same sense. Laws of logic thus represent a standard by which we can judge certain truth claims. Moreover, all people seem to “know” laws like the law of non-contradiction. We all assume that such laws are the same everywhere and apply at all times without exception. But why is this? How do we know such things?
If we consider the biblical worldview, we find that we can make sense of the laws of logic. The Bible tells us that God’s mind is the standard for all knowledge because, “God . . . has perfect knowledge” (Job 37:15-16 NIV). “God has hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge in Christ” (Colossians 2:3).read more
“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
