Is Jesus “the only begotten God” (John 1:18). Most translations render the phrase as, “the only begotten Son”. However, the very important Greek manuscript P66 from about 175-200 CE, shown above, has “the only begotten God” at John 1:18. But, why the difference? Which rendering from the Greek text of John 1:18 is more accurate? How can Jesus be “God” (John 1:1), and also be “the begotten from the Father” (John 1:14)?
John 1:18 – “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him” (NASB).read more
Was Jesus Incarnated as a God-man with a Dual Nature?
“Thy calf . . . the invention of Israel: a workman made it, and it is no god”—Hosea 8:5,6 Douay-Rheims
The Trinity doctrine of ‘the Father, the Son and the holy Spirit each being God, yet there is only one God,’ was finally formulated in 381 CE at the Council of Constantinople, almost 300 years after the Bible was complete. But this doctrine created some problems with things the Bible said. Almighty God is “eternal”, “who alone has immortality” (1 Timothy 1:17 NIV; 6:16 NAB). Since Jesus Christ is said to be God, how could someone who is eternal and immortal die? Seventy years later, in 451 CE, over 350 years after the Bible was complete, at the Council of Chalcedon, the Trinitarian church leaders came up with a way to solve the problem of Jesus being God, yet he died. They came up with a seemingly ingenious, yet mysterious, idea that Jesus became a “God-man” who had an “Incarnation” with a “Dual Nature”, something they called a “Hypostatic Union”, thus claiming that the man Jesus died, but the God Jesus continued to live on. These ideas became a central component of the Trinity doctrine, as we can see from the following quotes:read more
Even though the Bible is clear that there are, “in fact there are many gods and many lords” (1 Corinthians 8:6 NRSV). a question arises, Does Jesus being called “Lord” mean he’s God?
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST HAS A GOD OVER HIM
Ephesians 1:3 – “…to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This verse clearly indicates that Jesus has a God over him. This God of Jesus is his Father. Someone who has God over him cannot be God. The fact that Jesus is called “Lord” obviously doesn’t make him God.
Ephesians 4:5,6 – “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.” (ESV) Jesus is the “one Lord” here, and Yahweh, his Father, is the “one God.” This unity is expressed in very simple terms. A key takeaway from this verse is that the “one God” does not include the “one Lord”, Jesus Christ. Without Jesus being God, the Trinity doctrine collapses.
1 Corinthians 8:6 – “there is for us only one God, the Father, who is the Creator of all things and for whom we live; and there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created and through whom we live.” (GNB) – An obvious distinction is here made here between God, who is “the Creator of all things”, and ‘Jesus Christ, through whom God created everything’. Even though Jesus is called “Lord”, that doesn’t make him either “God”, or “the Creator”. Those titles belong to the “the Father”, as we can see from this verse.read more
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
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
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
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
