Let us quiz the Gospel writers; it’s about the resurrection of Christ.?

Question

Let us quiz the Gospel writers; it’s about the resurrection of Christ.
1. Who moved the Stone?

Mathew: Angel of God (28:2)
Mark: No idea
Luke: No idea
John: No idea

2. What happened before the stone was moved?

Matthew: A greet earthquake (28:2)
Mark: No idea
Luke: No idea
John: No idea

3. The first visitors to the tomb had met… number of angels.

Matthew: One (28:2)
Mark: One (16:4)
Luke: Two (24:4)
John: Two (20:12)

4. The first visitor(s) met the angel(s) ……….

Matthew: Sitting on a stone (28:2)
Mark: Sitting at the right side (16:5)
Luke: Standing by the visitors (24:4)
John: Sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet..(20:12)

5. Where did the visitor(s) meet the angel(s)?

Matthew: Outside the tomb (28:2)
Mark: Inside the tomb (16:5)
Luke: Inside the tomb (24:4)
John: Inside the tomb (20:12)

6. Who was/were the first visitor(s) to the tomb?

Mathew: Mary Magdalene and other Mary (28:1)
Mark: Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Solomon (16:1)
Luke: The women who had followed him from Galilee and certain other women (23:5 & 24:1)
John: Mary Magdalene alone (20:1)

7. When did the first visitor(s) arrive at the tomb?

Matthew: As the day began to dawn (28:1)
Mark: When the sun had risen (16:2)
Luke: Very early in the morning (24:1)
John: While it was still dark (20:1)

8. When did Jesus meet the visitors?

Matthew: As they went to tell his disciples (28:9)
Mark: Can’t say,
Luke; can’t say,
Mark: At the tomb (after telling the disciples) (20:14)

Mark, Luke and John why don’t you report on the person who moved this stone? Don’t you know that will be very important in the days to come? Were you not inspired as Matthew was?
And why didn’t you report on the earthquake that happened prior to the opening of the tomb? You really don’t have an excuse. You most have known of this earthquake even if you were not shaken by it.
Matthew and Mark, you said the visitors met only one angel, who inspired you? Don’t you know about what was inspired to your brethren, Luke and John? They were inspired two-two each. Why were you not concentrating while the inspiration was coming? With this contradiction, how do you think we can accept this account?
The Gospel writers, why don’t you agree on a unique position at where the angel(s) were when the visitor(s) visits the tomb? Some said “sitting” while some said “standing”. Which one do you like us to believe in? Is it not from God?
The angel(s) were outside or inside the tomb? You also don’t have a common answer. Why?
Who was/were the first visitor(s) to the tomb? John said Mary Magdalene and the rest were mentioning others. Why are you so confused?
You were also not consistent on the time when the visitor(s) arrive at the tomb. Mark said when the sun had risen while John said while it was still dark.
How do you think we can agree with this account?
Did the contradiction come from God?

Answer 1

so contaradicting!

Answer 2

Have you ever sat in court and listened to two witnesses describing the same event?
The gospels were written some time after the events - most scholar put then about 40-60 years so the writers were not reporting what they had seen, only what had been handed down to them.
There is some doubt about when the account in the Gospel of Mark was added. Most modern bibles make it clear that the earliest texts end with the empty tomb and the terrified women fleeing.
I think these kind of discrepancies are a reason to doubt the assertion of Billdo Oreilly and others that Christianity was created on the instructions of Emperor Constantine in the fourth century. If one person or group of people had written it then they would be a greater harmony of the story.

Answer 3

No one of the gospel writers ever claims to have been eyewitnesses to the resurrection and therefore all this information is second hand. Matthew and John recieved their accounts from the first visitors which were the women that arrived to see to the body of Jesus. Mark and Luke wrote their accounts much later having association with the disciples and apostles of Christ.

1. No gospel contradicts that the stone was rolled away.

Matthew - How it was rolled away.
Luke - That it was rolled away.
Mark - That it was rolled away.
John - That it was "taken" away.

No contradiction here.

2. There was an earthquake...no gospel states there was not one. Matthew may have recieved this account along with the knowledge that it was an angel who sat upon it.

Matthew - Testifies of an earthquake.
Mark - does not dispute this.
Luke - does not dispute this.
John - does not dispute this.

No contradiction here.

3. Only one angel may have spoken; differing perspectives of different witnesses may be involved; maybe some saw only one; at different times they were standing or sitting. The basic facts are not negated, i.e., the appearance of one or two angelic beings; they were clothed in dazzling white; they appeared as men. This is also a reasonable explanation, and so there wouldn’t be a discrepancy here either.

4. The angels may have been in various places. As two were there...one rolling away the stone and the other with Christ to be joined by his buddy as each witness in turn either went inside the tomb or to the entrance of it. Maybe their attention was drawn to the one speaking...and yet...angelic beings as they were they are discribed accurately and no contradictory dispute of those facts.

5. Again...various accounts from various witnesses as the angels progressed in their mission from the outside of the tomb to the inside.

6. Some not pertinent to particular account; multiple accounts seen from different angles and perspectives; you might mention only one or more in a group (the other women by Luke for example). No account said that someone was there when another said she was not. Apparently, Mary Magdalene was a central character. There is no discrepancy here.

7. Matthew 28
1In the end of the sabbath, AS IT BEGAN TO DAWN TOWARD THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

Mark 16:2
2And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre AT THE RISING OF THE SUN. *~ (You state that the sun has risen...it had not...yet...)~*

Luke 24
1Now upon the first day of the week, VERY early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

John 20:1
1The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was YET dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

8.
Matthew: “Jesus met them and greeted them”

Mark: “He first appeared to Mary Magdalene” then to two and then to the eleven – or, if Mark 16:9-20 is to be discounted, no appearances are mentioned – or, if the alternate verse 9 is taken, He appeared to them.

Luke: “two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus” It doesn't say who these disciples were.

John: To Mary Magdalene after she tells Peter and John of disappearance of Jesus’ body.

None of the examples you gave of contradiction hold up under scrutiny taking all things into consideration and pulling scriptures in their entirity as well as not adding our own trifling exchanges such as "risen" for "rising". There is no conflict, contradiciton or discrepancy. However, from a purely human perspective, if you must have some allowence to your bias, then lets at least agree as Simon Greenleaf aptly put it, “There is enough discrepancy to show that there could have been no previous concert among them; and at the same time such substantial agreement as to show that they all were independent narrators of the same great transaction, as the events actually occurred.” Love in Christ, ~J~

Answer 4

All these accounts are from differeny people and different times. This is much like if you and I who were not there were to right an account of a sporting event you might highlight one thing I might highlight another. All of these things are as important as where did the apostles go to the bathroom! The message your missing by trying to find fault is all the gospel agree there was a man named Jesus he lived a sinnless life he He suffered on the cross for you and I he died he was buried he rose again and is in heaven! Don't miss that detail its important! Also you have to remenber all came from different backgrounds some walked with Jesus and some like Luke the physician were first class historians. Good resource would be A ready Defense(Author Josh Mcdowell) also Hank hahhagraf does alot of apologetic answers. Chech out the response its an eye opener. He is who he said he was! God bless you.

Answer 5

Where's the contradiction? To be a contradiction,one has to affirm what the other denies. If you poll multiple witnesses at the scene of an accident, would you not receive different accounts? Yet as long as they do not give opposite accounts they are not contradictions. Could not the gospel writers arrived at different times? Could they have not had different perspectives, all correct? Try harder next time.

Answer 6

Believing that He died on the cross and that we should put our faith in Him implies that He is still alive, which of course He is. Paul did say IF there was no resurrection, then Jesus was not who He said He was and our faith is in vain. If He had not risen, He would be just a man and we would all still be dead in our sins. The resurrection of Christ is what proves He is God.

Answer 7

So much contradiction! Let me know if the writers ever answer you LOL

Answer 8

This must be a trick from God to test the faith - you know, like fossils, evolution big bang theory etc.

Well researched by the way.

Answer 9

I think you are getting too involved in the bible. If you enjoy that much then, okay. But, I recommend at least trying some World of Warcraft.

Answer 10

God has a bad memory.