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)
The centurion made both statements. Gospel writers Matthew and Mark record one statement, and gospel writer Luke records another confession by the centurion. This is why we have four gospels. The alleged contradiction narrow-mindedly assumes the centurion could not have made both statements.
The centurion may have been present at Jesus’ trial before Roman Governor Pontius Pilate, and heard the charge against Jesus: “The Jewish leaders insisted, ‘We have a law and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God” (John 19:7 NIV).
Matthew reports more information about what the centurion would have heard during his time overseeing Jesus’ execution: “Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads, and saying . . . ‘Come down off the cross, if you are the Son of God'” (Matthew 27:39,40 NIV).
Matthew also supplies additional details of what was said immediately after Jesus’ death.“When the centurion and those with him who were guarding the Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God'” (Matthew 27:54 NIV). Not only the centurion, but also the soldiers guarding the execution of Jesus, exclaimed, based on all that they had seen and heard that day, that Jesus was the Son of God.
Bible critics are often so over-eager to point out alleged flaws and contradictions in the Bible that they do not think through the entire situation, the context, and the background information very thoroughly.
How foolish it is to criticize God’s word! “You, O YHWH, laugh at them” (Psalm 59:8 LSV).
There is no contradiction about the centurion’s words at Jesus’ death.
One thought on “Contradiction About Centurion’s Words At Jesus’ Death?”
BA: 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.
BA: 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)
GW: This may be an inconsistency without being a contradiction. It is possible that the centurion said both. However, I believe that the centurion said neither. Jesus didn’t do any miracles or anything else on the cross to lead the centurion to reach either of those conclusions. And he would have known that saying so within the earshot of bystanders would subject him to discipline.
BA: The centurion made both statements. Gospel writers Matthew and Mark record one statement, and gospel writer Luke records another confession by the centurion. This is why we have four gospels. The alleged contradiction narrow-mindedly assumes the centurion could not have made both statements.
GW: I believe he made neither. I think they are fabrications to make some theological point of the authors or others.
BA: The centurion may have been present at Jesus’ trial before Roman Governor Pontius Pilate, and heard the charge against Jesus: “The Jewish leaders insisted, ‘We have a law and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God” (John 19:7 NIV).
GW: He probably was not present at the trial.
BA: Matthew reports more information about what the centurion would have heard during his time overseeing Jesus’ execution: “Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads, and saying . . . ‘Come down off the cross, if you are the Son of God'” (Matthew 27:39,40 NIV).
GW: I think this probably happened.
BA: Matthew also supplies additional details of what was said immediately after Jesus’ death.”When the centurion and those with him who were guarding the Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God'” (Matthew 27:54 NIV).
GW: This alleged earthquake and alleged statement of the centurion are reported only in Matthew and not corroborated by the other Gospels. I don’t believe that either occurred. I believe the verses are fabrications. Surely, an earthquake would be mentioned in all the Gospels, and even Roman and Jewish journalists and historians would probably have reported it.
BA: Not only the centurion, but also the soldiers guarding the execution of Jesus, exclaimed, based all that they had seen that day, that Jesus was the Son of God.
GW: Very unlikely.
BA: Bible critics are often so over-eager to point out alleged flaws and contradictions in the Bible that they do not think through the entire situation, the context, and the background information very thoroughly.
GW: I disagree. They usually think through all those things. I do.
BA: How foolish it is to criticize God’s word! “You, O YHWH, laugh at them” (Psalm 59:8 LSV).
GW: If God did exist and he said anything, it would be foolish to criticize. But we know that the Bible is inaccurate and not the Word of God. And we know that God does not exist. This has been proven.
BA: There is no contradiction about the centurion’s words at Jesus’ death.
GW: There appears to be no contradiction, but what is reported is probably false.