"But it is full of contradictions," say many who do not trust the Bible. The best way to respond to this statement is to ask, "Can you please give an example?" The examples given (if they can think of any examples at all), are not actually contradictions, but more like Bible difficulties. In many cases, the differences we find in biblical accounts actually strengthen the reliability of the Bible. Here are a few examples.
1. Matthew tells us that Jesus encountered two demon-possessed men when he arrived at the region of the Gadarenes (Matthew 8:28). In the exact same event, Luke tells us that Jesus was "met by a demon-possessed man from the town." So, did Jesus meet one or two demon-possessed men, and is this a contradiction?
This is not a contradiction. A contradiction would be if Luke told us that Jesus met one, and only one, demon-possessed man. Assuming Matthew is correct that there were two, Luke says nothing to contradict Matthew. Luke is correct that Jesus did meet a demon-possessed man, he simply doesn't tell us about the other man that Jesus met.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and sometimes other New Testament books, describe many of the same events in Jesus' life. The fact that they include and exclude different details, or write about the same events in different ways, does not mean that they contradict each other, instead it adds validity to their writings.
Experts consider eyewitness testimony more compelling when multiple accounts describe the same event in different ways without actual contradictions. For example, consider the scene of an automobile accident. Police may talk to multiple people who saw the same event from different angles. Their age, race, and socioeconomic status may influence who they consider to be at fault. Regardless, each person will probably state what they saw differently. They will start and finish the story at different points, and include and exclude different details. If two "random" people have the exact same story, they arouse suspicions that they worked together to create the story they want the police to believe. When multiple people tell different versions of the same story, the testimony is more reliable. That is what we have in the New Testament, different versions of the same stories that support each other and give us multiple perspectives of the same event. Here are other examples:
2. Luke tells us that one of the criminals crucified next to Jesus "hurled insults at him." But the other criminal "rebuked him," saying "We are punished justly...But this man has done nothing wrong" (Luke 23:39). Matthew, however, says that both criminals "heaped insults" at Jesus, saying nothing to differentiate between the two criminals (Matthew 27:44). Most likely both criminals heaped insults at Jesus for a time, just as Matthew says. Later, however, one of the criminals changed his mind about Jesus. Perhaps watching Jesus act lovingly towards his enemies greatly impacted him. Luke focuses on this incident in order to demonstrate that anyone, at anytime, can find salvation through faith in Jesus. Matthew only describes the earlier event to stress Jesus' humiliation - even death row criminals were mocking the righteous King Jesus. It's also possible Matthew witnessed the earlier part of Jesus' crucifixion, but was not present later on when one of the criminals repented.
3. Matthew tells us that Judas died when he "went away and hanged himself" (Matthew 27:5). Luke does not say Judas hanged himself, but tells us that "he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out" (Acts 1:18). Which is correct? Although the Bible does not explain how both are correct, there is no reason to assume that only one version is true. Judas did hang himself. Then his dead body hung over the side of a steep, rocky hill (archaeologists may have identified this spot). Eventually, he either fell or was cut down. Then, his body fell headlong, landing on the rocks far below, and "his body burst open." Matthew gives us the bare facts. Luke gives a graphic depiction so that readers consider more seriously how tragic the end was for Judas, because he refused to repent.
4. There are a number of differences in the resurrection accounts. For instance, Matthew records Jesus first appearing to a group of women after his resurrection (Matthew 28:1-10). Paul, on the other hand, records that Jesus "was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve" (1 Corinthians 15:4-5). However, Paul does not deny that Jesus appeared to the women before appearing to Peter. He simply doesn't write about that earlier appearance. Paul was writing to give supporting evidence for the resurrection of Jesus to a Gentile audience in Corinth. They did not accept testimony from women in a legal setting, so it is understandable why he would leave it out. Paul would only contradict Matthew if he wrote that Jesus appeared to Peter before appearing to anyone else. All the different resurrection accounts can work together into a single list of events.
There are many other types of supposed "contradictions." However, Jesus taught that the Bible is God's Word, and God does not make mistakes (See, "How Do We Know the Bible is God's Word"). Perhaps you have come across a statement in the Bible that presents a difficulty. Feel free to share those and I will be happy to respond.
Trust the Bible's purpose is to grow your confidence that the Bible is true and the ultimate resource for life." You can join the Facebook group by clicking here. Trust the Bible is a weekday radio program that begins at about 8:10 each morning on WDOG 93.5 in Allendale, SC. Listen to previous programs online: www.fairfaxfbc.org/trust-the-bible.html
No comments:
Post a Comment