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 “
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
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
Was Egypt Devastated, as Ezekiel 29:1-16 Predicted?
Can the Bible be trusted that Egypt was devastated?
Skeptics and critics have asserted that Ezekiel’s prophecy is false. Was Egypt literally devastated, as Ezekiel 29:1-16 predicted? Could the prophecy have only been fulfilled in a figurative sense?
WHAT SKEPTICS CLAIM
Here is an example of the assertions of skeptics and critics of the Bible:
Possibly the most pessimistic of the Old Testament prophets, Ezekiel proclaimed impending doom upon everyone from Judah itself to the enemy nations surrounding it. The failure of his prophecies to materialize as he predicted makes a compelling argument against the Bible inerrancy doctrine. In one of his doom’s-day prophecies, Egypt was to experience forty years of utter desolation:read more
Did Jesus Ride Into Jerusalem On One or Two Animals?
Did Jesus ride into Jerusalem on one animal? This is an alleged Bible contradiction:
Jesus rode into Jerusalem on how many animals? (a) One – a colt (Mark 11:7; cf Luke 19:3,5). “And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments on it; and he sat upon it.” (b) Two – a colt and an ass (Matthew 21:7). “They brought the ass and the colt and put their garments on them and he sat thereon.”
Jesus obviously did not ride into Jerusalem on two animals, only on one.
Zechariah 9:9 – foretold that the future King, the Messiah, would ride into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey. Matthew quotes this fact inZechariah 9:9, as he records the fulfillment of the prophecy: “Now this took place so that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled:
“SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION,‘BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU, HUMBLE, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY,EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A DONKEY.’” The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their cloaks on them; and He sat on the cloaks.”—-Matthew 21:5-7 NASBread more
