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New Testament Contradictions


Contradictions in Jesus' Birth

     There are only two gospels that tell of Jesus' birth – Matthew and Luke. Their stories are different and the story we are taught in Sunday School is a combination of both, leaving out the parts that conflict or don't make sense.
     Matthew is different from Luke in that the author of Matthew (who wasn't Matthew) tried to tie everything in Jesus' life to obscure passages in the Old Testament that originally were not meant to be interpreted as such.

(Matthew 1:18 to 2:23)

Passages that Matthew quotes to try and justify Jesus with Old Testiment prophicies:

(Matt. 1:22) “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (The origional word for “virgin” meant young woman; the child is the child of the prophet who wrote this, not Jesus's; and Jesus was never named “Emmanuel.”)

(Matt. 2:5,6) “And they said unto him, In Bet hlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

“‘And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.’” (Jeusu was not a governor and did not rule over anybody. He was an itinerate preacher.)

(Matt.2:16,17,18) “Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

“Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,

‘In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.’” (This is really squite a reach. Rama is not Bethlehem and the Romans would never have allowed Herod to slew all the children. Only Romans were allowed to execute.)

(Matt.2:23) “And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.” (A Nazarene is similar to a Jewish monk; it is not someone who lives in Nazareth.)


(John 19:17) In this version, Jesus has to carry his cross all the way to Skull Hill (Golgotha) all by his self. The other gospels have someone helping him. The list of women who witnessed JC's execution are also different. John says that there were JC's mother, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.



Contradictions in Jesus' Reseraction

Matthew

• Went to Tomb: Mary Magdalene, Mary (James & Joseph's mother).
• Angel came, rolled the stone off and sat down.
• Earthquake, guads fainted.
• Angel spoke. Told them that Jesus had risen, showed them the shroud inside.
• Said they all should meet Jesus in Galilee.
• Disciples left for Galilee.

Mark

• Went to Tomb: Mary Magdalene, the other Mary and Salome.
• The stone was already open and they went inside.
• Angel told them Jesus was not there and to go to Galilee.
• Later, Mary Magdalene saw Jesus, told the disciples who didn't believe her.
• Jesus appeared to two unknown men but they didn't recognize him at first. They told the disciples who didn't believe him.
• Appeared to the eleven while they were eating. He told them to preach the good news.
• He was taken up to Heaven.

Luke

• Went to Tomb: Mary Magdalene and Joanna.
• Suddenly two angeles appeared and reminded them to go to Galilee.
• They told the others but they didn't believe them.
• Peter went to see for himself.
• Jesus appeared to two men who invited him to dinner that night. When they recognized him, Jesus dissappeared. They went back and told the others.
• Jesus appeared to them and told them to stay in the city and wait for the Holy Spirit.
• They walked with him to a nearby town and Jesus took off for Heven.

John

• Went to Tomb: Mary Magdalene by herself.
• She found the tomb open and went and told Peter and John.
• They went to the tomb, went inside and found the shourd along with the head cloth. (So much for the Shroud of Turin)
• The men left but Mary stayed and saw two angels with Jesus standing behind them. She didn't recognize him at first and he told her to tell the others.
• Jesus appeared to some of them in the evening and gave them the Holy Spirit. Eight days later, he appeared again and proved himself to Doubting Thomas.
• He appeared to the Disciples who were fishing in Lake Galilee. He had their boats filled with fish.
• Tells Peter if he wants the Beloved Disciple to live until he returns, it was none of his business.
• At the end, the book says that it was written by the Beloved Disciple. It would have to be written by the Beloved Disciple as no body lived long enough to have wrtitten the book.


(Mark 14:12) Jesus and his disciples have their Passover meal on Friday, the evening before the Passover. But Jesus was crucified the day before the Passover.

(John 13:1-20) In John, they have a last supper but it is not the Passover meal and there is no mention of the wine and bread being parts of Jesus' body.


Other Contridictions

(John 21:22) “Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.” (This means that somewhere there is a wondering Jew who is over 2,000 years old.)

(Luke 12:48) Then JC tells the crowd, “I did not come to bring peace on Earth but strife and division.” (Now why would people call him the “Prince of Peace” when he himself admits that peace is not his thing?)

(John 5:31) “If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.”

(John 8:14) “Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true.”

(John 14:22) Judas (not Iscariot, but the other disciple with the same name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”(Instead of answering the question, Jesus goes into his sermon about how everyone who loves him will do as he says and his Father will back him up.)


 

Who is the father of Joseph?

(Matt. 1:16) “And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.”

(Luke 3:23) “And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli.”


Who was at the Empty Tomb? Is it:

(Matt. 28:1) “In 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 16:1) “And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.”

(John 20:1) “The 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.”


Is Jesus equal to or lesser than?

(John 10:30) “I and my Father are one.”

(John 14:28) “Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.”


Does Jesus Tell the Truth?

(John 5:31) “If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.”

(John 8:14) “Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true.”


Human vs. ghostly impregnation

(Acts 2:30) “Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;"

(Matt. 1:18) “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.”


The shape of the earth

(Matt. 4:8) “Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;"

Astronomical bodies are spherical, and you cannot see the entire exterior surface from anyplace. The kingdoms of Egypt, China, Greece, Crete, sections of Asia Minor, India, Maya (in Mexico), Carthage (North Africa), Rome (Italy), Korea, and other settlements from these kingdoms of the world were widely distributed.

How did Judas die?

(Matt 27:5) “And he (Judas) cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself .”

(Acts 1:18) “Now this man (Judas) purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.”


Jesus' first sermon plain or mount?

(Matt. 5:1,2)"And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying....”

(Luke 6:17,20) “And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people...came to hear him.. And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples and said...”


Jesus' last words

(Matt. 27:46,50) “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, eli, lama sabachthani?” that is to say, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” ...Jesus, when he cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.”

(Luke 23:46) “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, “Father, unto thy hands I commend my spirit:" and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”

(John 19:30: “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished:" and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”


The genelogy of Jesus?

In two places in the New Testament the genealogy of Jesus son of Mary is mentioned.

(Matt. 1:6-16) and (Luke 3:23-31). Each gives the ancestors of Joseph the CLAIMED husband of Mary and Step father of Jesus. The first one starts from Abraham(verse 2) all the way down to Jesus. The second one from Jesus all the way back to Adam. The only common name to these two lists between David and Jesus is JOSEPH,
How can this be true? and also How can Jesus have a genealogy when all Muslims and most Christians believe that Jesus had/has no father.


What was the color of the robe placed on Jesus during his trial?

(Matt. 27:28) scarlet

(John 19:2) purple


What did they give him to drink?

(Matt. 27:34 vinegar

(Mark 15:23 wine with myrrh


How long was Jesus in the tomb?

(Matt. 12:40) gives Jesus prophesying that he will spend “three days and three nights in the heart of the earth,"

(Mark 10:34) “. . . after three days (meta treis emeras) he will rise again.”

(Friday evening throught early Sundat morning does not make three days and makes only makes two nights.)


What was Jesus' prediction regarding Peter's denial?

(Matt. 26:34) “. . . before the cock crows.”

(Mark 14:30) “. . . before the cock crow twice - “


How many times did the cock crow?

(Mark 14:72) “And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.”

(Matt. 26:74) “Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.”

(Matt. 26:75) “And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.”

(Luke 22:60) “And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.”

(Luke 22:61) “And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.”

(John 13:38) “Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, still thou hast denied me thrice.”

(John 18:27) “Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.”


How many beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount

(Matt. 5:3) “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
(Matt. 5:4) 'Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”
(Matt. 5:5) “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”
(Matt. 5:6) “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
(Matt. 5:7) “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”
(Matt. 5:8)" Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”
(Matt. 5:9) “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
(Matt. 5:10) “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
(Matt. 5:11) “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.”

(Luke 6:20) “And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.”
(Luke 6:21) “Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.”
(Luke 6:22) “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.”
(Luke 6:23) “Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.”


Who bought potter's field

(Acts 1:18) “Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.”

(Acts 1:19) “And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.”

(Matt. 27:6) “And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.”

(Matt. 27:7) “And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.”

(Matt. 27:8 “Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.”


Who prophesied the potter's field?

(Matt. 27:9-10) “No such verse quoted as in Jeremiah.”

(Zechariah 11:12-13) “It is reallty in Zechariah instead.”


Where was Jesus three days after his baptism?

(Mark 1:12) “And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness.”

(John 1:35) “Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;"

(various traipsings)


How many apostles were in office between the resurrection and ascension?

(I Cor. 15:5) Twelve

(Matt. 27:3-5) Eleven.

(Acts 1:9-26) Mathias was not elected until after resurrection.

(Matt. 28:16) Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.


Did those with Saul/Paul at his conversion hear a voice?

(Acts 9:7) “And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.”

(Acts 22:9 “And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.”


Good deeds

Matt 5:16) “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (NIV)

Matt 6:3-4) “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (NIV)


For or against?

(Matt. 12:30) “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.”
(default is against)

(Mark 9:40) “For he that is not against us is on our part.”
(default is for)

(Luke 9:50) “And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.”
(default is for)


Tempts?

(Genesis 22:1) “And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham.”

(James 1:13) “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.”


Ascend to heaven

(John 3:13) “No man hath ascended up to heaven but he that came down from heaven, ... the Son of Man.”

(II Kings 2:11) “And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.”


Whom did they see at the tomb?

(Matt. 28:2) “And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.”

(Matt. 28:3) “His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:"
(Matt. 28:4) “And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.”
(Matt. 28:5) “And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.”

(Mark 16:5) “And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.”

(Luke 24:4) “And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:"

(John 20:12) “And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.”


When second coming?

(Matt. 24:34) “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”

(Mark 13:30) “Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.”

(Luke 21:32) “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.”


Destruction of cities
(it was in Zechariah not Jeremiah)

(Matt. 27:9) “Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;"

(Zac. 11:11-13) There is nothing in Jeremiah remotely like this.


Is the Earth Square?

Hebrew geography made the earth square with four corners. That is where we got the term, “for corners of the earth,” meaning the whole earth. Heaven was up in the sky and Hell was underground. Volcanos probably gave them that idea.


The Heavenly Battle of Good and Evil

If this whole thing is a battle between God and Satin, don't you think that Satan has read the Bible and knows he is going to lose?


3/27/09