Lent is a period of fasting for six weeks prior to Easter which was instituted at the Council of Nicea in 325. There is no earlier record of such a practice, and no formal practice of fasting is instituted for any occasion, or even required on a voluntary individual basis, for Christians in the New Testament. […]
“God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man.” (James 1:14) but “God tempted Abraham” (Genesis 22:1)
Many have noted the apparently contradictory statements are made by James who says that God tempts no man, and yet in Genesis God is said to have tempted Abraham James 1:13 ” . . . God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man.” Genesis 22:1 ” . . . God did tempt […]
A contradiction in the cleansing(s) of the Temple?
Some have been confused by John placing the cleansing of the temple at the beginning of Christ’s ministry, and Matthew, and the other Gospels, place it at the end of his ministry. John 2:13-16 ” . . . Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.” Matthew 21:12,13 ” . . . […]
The women who found the tomb empty “said nothing to any man” (Mark 16:7-8), but “told all these things to the Eleven” (Luke 24:8-9)
The Mark record says the women said nothing “to any man”, and yet the Luke narrative says the women “told all these things unto the eleven and to all the rest”. It is argued, therefore, by some that the two accounts are contradictory. Mark 16:7,8 “{Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome} . […]
The disciples meeting the resurrected Christ in Galilee Matthew 28:7 and in Jerusalem Luke 24:33
Some have read an apparent contradiction, for how could the disciples be in both Galilee and Jerusalem at the same time? Matthew 28:7 ” . . . he {Christ} goes before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him . . . ” Luke 24:33 “And they rose up the same hour, and returned to […]
Inscriptions on the cross
There have been various attempts to reconstruct the inscriptions on the cross in the original three languages. Matthew 27:37 “And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” Mark 15:26 “And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” Luke 23:38 “And […]
Who said that, Jeremiah or Zechariah? (The Matthew 27:9 quote of Zechariah 11:12-13)
A famous problem regarding the death of Judas is where Matthew 27: 9 says: “Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was priced, whom they priced away from the children of Israel; and gave them for the […]
Purchase of the potter’s field to bury Judas.
Why does Matthew state that the chief priests bought the field, whereas in the Acts account, Judas is said to have purchased the field? Matthew 27:6,7 “And the chief priests took the silver pieces, . . . and they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field to bury strangers in.” Acts 1:18 “Now […]
Is there a contradiction between the gospels in the healing of the Jericho blind man?
Some have seen a contradiction in the healing of the blind man: Matthew 20:29-34 “And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. And, behold, two blind men . . . cried out . . . so Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and […]
“Good master” – differences in reported speech in the gospels.
It is no longer so frequently heard, but in years past it was sometimes argued that the Bible cannot be verbally inspired since the gospel writers do not quote the same words in some dialogues. Take for example here the dialogue between Jesus and the young man: Matthew 19:16 ” . . . Good Master, […]