Are differences in gospels necessarily mistakes?

Question

At http://www.gospelsinparallel.com/ they show the four gospels alongside each other with text in bold that seems contradictory (such as when one gospel says one thing and another gospel says another). Are these contradictions mistakes that prove humans were involved, or are they clearly not mistakes to those who read the bible regularly?

Answer 1

Mistakes... Contradictions. Kind of hard to say it's 100% Gods Word, God being a Perfect Being and there be ANY doubt whatsoever. And God surely wouldn't need "Apologetics" to explain it for him.

Answer 2

I'll have to read that site but I think I remember reading that 1.) none of the gospels could be attributed to any certain person, 2.)the Book of Matthew states that King Herod orders the murder of all males of a certain age but there's no other evidence for such a claim, 3.)the book of Matthew also lists post-crucifixion stories no historian or any of the other four gospel writers include (i.e.-the dead rising up & going into the nearest holy city, time standing still for three hours, some cloth being torn in two...Even with different perspectives of different people, events like these wouldn't be overlooked. 4.) Out of the four books, there are only 2 that record what supposedly happens afterwards. I don't remember which two but they have differing versions of going to the tomb. One says Mary Magdalene alone goes and is scared by his spirit; the other says Mary (the mother), Mary (?-the aunt) and Mary Magdalene go up together, go all the way in the tomb and then are told 'He is risen'.
I would say those are definite mistakes. Important ones.

Answer 3

Each gospel represents a different point of view, like four men describing the same auto accident at the same time. All four men see some things the same, but each man sees things that the others do not. Put it all together and you have a complete picture. Last year I did a study of the four gospels with reference to the Passion fo Christ and came up with the complete account. There are no mistakes in the gospels. They must be read in harmony with one another to get the complete picture. In almost every Bible there is a section in the index entitled Harmony of the Gospels. this is an excellent reading and study guide. Jesus loves you.

Answer 4

I scratch my head when people argue if religious texts are literal or figurative. What about the SPIRIT of the story? Consider:

According to the Bible, Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. We can argue all day if the fruit was (literally) an apple, pear, papaya, banana, etc,, etc. Does that have anything to do with the message? How relevant is that to the point the story is trying to convey.

I believe in a different tradition, yet I also have many Christian beliefs. I even believe (in a simplistic way) in JC. I'm able to do this because I don't put huge importance on opinion and interpretation. Details is NOT what it's all about.]

I believe that someone ("up there") suffers when we make our mistakes. And that he can forgive this. That's the same SPIRITUAL CONNECTION that Christians have. It means very little if the cross was wooden or if it was T-shaped (verses the traditional cross-shape) or even that the Crucifixion took place in certain specific year A.D.

What's more important? Debates about semantics and words - or trust in a sacred mystery?

Answer 5

No. The bible does not contradict itself. You have to realize that only a couple of the apostles were actually witness to all that took place once Jesus was taken from the garden. Even so, they were watching things happen from different angles and if you have ever been to an event with a friend where you had to sit apart from each other, it is highly likely one of you will see something the other one missed.Or you may see clearer from your angle and be able to describe it more completely. They are stories told as narratives from each of the apostles points of view. Not differing stories, just different views of how everything actually unfolded.

Answer 6

Gospel According to Mathew was directed to the Jewish people
Gospel According to Mark was directed to the Romans
Gospel According to Luke was directed to the Greeks
and the Gospel According to John was directed to the gentiles (everybody else not of Jewish decent)

The inspirational writings of each author directed by God to a certain group, brought out different views of things that occurred to heighten aspects that each group needed to understand. If you notice Mathew and Luke both have generation description because family lineage was very important to the Jewish and Greeks. There are many more explanations for each difference to describe here.

Answer 7

They aren't mistakes. There are several alternatives.

1. Different events are being described.
2. The translations are poor, for instance, akouo, the Greek verb "I hear" has different meanings depending on the "case" of its object, what was heard. It can mean "hear and understand" or "hear and NOT understand."
3. Different descriptions of an event may lie in the differing points of view.

...Nothing in scripture was intended to be shuffled like a deck of cards to find the "complete truth." Each book or letter should be considered by itself. It should be considered in its own context, not forced into a different one.

Answer 8

No there is no mistakes sorry!

The unknowing, sees a difference and Ah ha an error the bible is false!

Light a candle and have 50 people write what they can see about it!, to list it!

If the first line in not (it give off light!) give them an F?
Even the most Liberal of Prof.s generally won't do that! (some will)

Answer 9

To me the bible is a beautiful book of awesome stories, great lessons and even some history. There are many things in the bible we should take to heart and live by. However.. I definitelly believe the bible was manmade, and has even been rewritten several times to be more convenient to different kings and religions.

Answer 10

Personally I don't think God had allot to do with writing the bible. I think it was the work of men. Not that I don't think that the bible was inspired but I have read some really inspirational songs. The only real wittiness to Jesus life was Mathew. John was written by some one other John the disciple.