Gospel Contradictions - Gospels are Full of Contradictions & Errors
The four canonical gospels are supposed to record the events in the life of Jesus Christ. If that's the case, why do they contain so many errors and contradictions? Believers tend not to notice the problems because they blend the stories together as a single text. If you focus on the details, though, it's clear that they aren't compatible. This is to be expected, given how long they were written after the events and because they were based on oral traditions.
Passion Week in Jerusalem: The Gospel Accounts are Inconsistent & Unreliable
During Holy Week Christians are expected to devote time to the study of the passion of Jesus Christ - his suffering, his death, and his eventual resurrection which is commemorated on Easter. For something so important, it's curious how contradictory the gospel accounts are. Did Jesus ride one or two animals into Jerusalem? Was the Last Supper a Passover meal or not? How and where was Jesus anointed? The gospels don't agree on any of these events.
During Holy Week Christians are expected to devote time to the study of the passion of Jesus Christ - his suffering, his death, and his eventual resurrection which is commemorated on Easter. For something so important, it's curious how contradictory the gospel accounts are. Did Jesus ride one or two animals into Jerusalem? Was the Last Supper a Passover meal or not? How and where was Jesus anointed? The gospels don't agree on any of these events.
The Last Supper: The Gospel Accounts are Inconsistent & Unreliable
There are good reasons why Jesus' 'last supper' with his disciples has been made the subject of so many artistic projects over the centuries: here, at one of the last gatherings attended by all, Jesus delivers instructions not on how to enjoy the meal, but how to remember him once he is gone. Much is communicated in just four verses. Unfortunately, it is difficult to say with any precision what really happened at this supper because the gospel accounts all differ so much.
There are good reasons why Jesus' 'last supper' with his disciples has been made the subject of so many artistic projects over the centuries: here, at one of the last gatherings attended by all, Jesus delivers instructions not on how to enjoy the meal, but how to remember him once he is gone. Much is communicated in just four verses. Unfortunately, it is difficult to say with any precision what really happened at this supper because the gospel accounts all differ so much.
Judas Iscariot: The Gospel Accounts of Judas' Betrayal are Inconsistent & Unreliable
There was no option for Jesus not to be executed because without his crucifixion, he could not rise again in three days and thus save humanity. To be executed, though, he had to be betrayed to the Jewish authorities - if Judas hadn't done it, someone else would have. In Mark, the motive of greed is ascribed to Judas. Matthew agrees with Mark but Luke claims that Judas was led astray by Satan. John, on the other hand, attributes the motivation to both Satan and a penchant for theft.
There was no option for Jesus not to be executed because without his crucifixion, he could not rise again in three days and thus save humanity. To be executed, though, he had to be betrayed to the Jewish authorities - if Judas hadn't done it, someone else would have. In Mark, the motive of greed is ascribed to Judas. Matthew agrees with Mark but Luke claims that Judas was led astray by Satan. John, on the other hand, attributes the motivation to both Satan and a penchant for theft.
Arrest of Jesus & Denial of Peter: The Gospel Accounts are Inconsistent & Unreliable
It was crucial for Jesus to be arrested and taken before the authorities, otherwise he would never have been executed, and that's that whole point of the Passion narrative. For the purposes of the story, it was also important that Peter deny Jesus in order to show Christians that even as important a figure as Peter could be weak and do the wrong thing. Unfortunately, the gospel accounts are not at all consistent in how they portray these events.
It was crucial for Jesus to be arrested and taken before the authorities, otherwise he would never have been executed, and that's that whole point of the Passion narrative. For the purposes of the story, it was also important that Peter deny Jesus in order to show Christians that even as important a figure as Peter could be weak and do the wrong thing. Unfortunately, the gospel accounts are not at all consistent in how they portray these events.
Trial of Jesus: The Gospel Accounts are Inconsistent & Unreliable
The trial of Jesus provides readers with a stark contrast between the figure of Jesus and the corrupt authorities, be they Jewish or Roman. This allows the gospel authors to more easily portray Jesus as a heroic figure, someone worth following. For some reason, though, the gospel authors have conflicting information about what occurred during Jesus' trial. It isn't even clear how they would have known any of the details in the first place.
The trial of Jesus provides readers with a stark contrast between the figure of Jesus and the corrupt authorities, be they Jewish or Roman. This allows the gospel authors to more easily portray Jesus as a heroic figure, someone worth following. For some reason, though, the gospel authors have conflicting information about what occurred during Jesus' trial. It isn't even clear how they would have known any of the details in the first place.
Crucifixion of Jesus: The Gospel Accounts are Inconsistent & Unreliable
Crucifixion may be one of the most horrible methods of execution ever invented. A person is nailed to a cross or stake and hangs there until their own weight suffocates them. The horrors of crucifixion are glossed over by the gospel authors, however, in favor of the deeper theological meanings behind these events. Perhaps that is why the gospel authors are inconsistent in describing what happened.
Crucifixion may be one of the most horrible methods of execution ever invented. A person is nailed to a cross or stake and hangs there until their own weight suffocates them. The horrors of crucifixion are glossed over by the gospel authors, however, in favor of the deeper theological meanings behind these events. Perhaps that is why the gospel authors are inconsistent in describing what happened.
Jesus' Burial & the Empty Tomb: The Gospel Accounts are Inconsistent & Unreliable
Jesus' burial is important because without it, there can be no tomb from which Jesus can arise in three days. It's also historically implausible: crucifixion was intended as a shameful, horrible execution which included allowing the bodies to remain nailed up until they rotted off. It's inconceivable that Pilate would have agreed to turn the body over to anyone for any reason. This may have something to do with why the gospel authors all have different stories about it.
Jesus' burial is important because without it, there can be no tomb from which Jesus can arise in three days. It's also historically implausible: crucifixion was intended as a shameful, horrible execution which included allowing the bodies to remain nailed up until they rotted off. It's inconceivable that Pilate would have agreed to turn the body over to anyone for any reason. This may have something to do with why the gospel authors all have different stories about it.
Jesus' Resurrection & Ascension: The Gospel Accounts are Inconsistent & Unreliable
Christians point to Jesus' resurrection as one of the things which distinguishes Christianity from all other religions. After all, the founders of other religions (like Muhammad and Buddha) are all dead; Jesus conquered death. Or did he? For something so important and central to the message, theology, and very nature of Christianity, it's curious that the gospel authors would all have such radically different stories about what happened.
Christians point to Jesus' resurrection as one of the things which distinguishes Christianity from all other religions. After all, the founders of other religions (like Muhammad and Buddha) are all dead; Jesus conquered death. Or did he? For something so important and central to the message, theology, and very nature of Christianity, it's curious that the gospel authors would all have such radically different stories about what happened.