Do Gospels Differences Prove That The Bible Is Not Inspired ?
WHAT WERE THE EXACT WORDS WRITTEN ON THE STAKE
Worldly secular critics of the Bible look for any reason to support their belief that the Bible is uninspired. Secularists, which include almost all of academia and the elites of this world, do not believe in an actual God, who can intervene in the affairs of men and who has left us His written word. They must find some fault with the Bible to sustain their beliefs. The Dead Sea Scrolls put a tremendous exclamation point on the accuracy of the transmission of the Old Testament. But, some look to the slight differences in the four gospels in the NT as the greatest vulnerability of the Bible. Let us look at two examples of the kinds of things some critics can use.
Exactly what was written on the stake at Jesus death? The four gospels have minor differences. Critics shout that this proves that the Bible was not inspired. Is this an appropriate expectation of ancient cultures? People in ancient days before recording and writing devices were readily available, learned to utilize their memories much more than we do today. Why are the accounts different? Each gospel writer gives certain things emphasis. This is common of witnesses to any event.
Luke 23:38 NKJV 38 And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Luke emphases that Jesus is the King of the Jews. The vast majority of the people loved Jesus but jealous religious leaders did not want him so listed, at his execution.
John 19:20-21 NKJV 20 Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. 21 Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'He said, "I am the King of the Jews."'"
This is an important issue. The Messiah was a heroic king that was foretold to come. Jesus is a king and will soon return to reign on earth. The deceived religious leaders of Judah were trying to obscure this truth.
Matthew 27:37 NKJV 37 And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Matthew has a slightly different emphasis than Luke but they agreed on the basics. The word JESUS is added but it does not take away from anything Luke wrote. Luke and Mathew are in basic agreement.
Mark 15:26 NKJV 26 And the inscription of His accusation was written above: THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Mark in his writings again shows his main emphasis is similar to that of Luke and Matthew. Critics who do not want to believe in a supernatural God try and make a lot out of these differences. They do not understand how witnesses work. Possibly they willfully do not want to understand.
John 19:19 NKJV 19 Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
John adds in the location or home of Jesus's ministry. Each account by these independent witnesses represents a portion of a bigger picture. They all add evidence or details that give us the true and thorough picture of what happened. When we place all the presented evidence by all four witnesses together we have the full picture. It is the following:
THIS IS JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Now we will look at a second example that some scholars have gotten all fired up about to prove that the Bible could not be inspired.
WHERE WAS THE RALLYING POINT AFTER CHRIST'S RESURRECTION?
Many worldly scholars get very exercised over what they think is a difference in the meeting place for Jesus seeing his disciples after his resurrection. Should they meet Christ in Galilee or remain in the Jerusalem? Let us look at the details. Many believe it is a real contradiction. Really!
Matthew 26:31-32 NKJV 31 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' 32 "But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee."
Mathew witnesses that Jesus told them in advance what to expect regarding his death and where to meet him afterwards.
Matthew 28:5-7 NKJV 5 But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 "And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you."
The angels sent the same message to believers who visited his empty tomb.
Matthew 28:16 NKJV 16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.
Actually, two witnesses clearly focused on the northern rallying place, Galilee and now Mathew adds a specific mountain.
Mark 14:27-28 NKJV 27 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered.' 28 "But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee."
Mark's testimony agrees with Mathew's and the prediction Jesus gave them.
Mark 16:6-7 NKJV 6 But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 "But go, tell His disciples--and Peter--that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you."
These witnesses present the proof for the rallying point in the northern portions of the nation. What is the contradiction they claim to see? The problem as they define it is in the preparatory Pentecost instructions given to all the believers.
Acts1: 1-5 MSG Dear Theophilus, in the first volume of this book I wrote on everything that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day he said good-bye to the apostles, the ones he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. After his death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God. As they met and ate meals together, he told them that they were on no account to leave Jerusalem but “must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me. John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon.”
Luke tells them to remain in Jerusalem. Critics say what is it, 'remain in Jerusalem' or meet me 'in Galilee'? The answer is simple, it is BOTH meeting places. After the Days of Unleavened Bread, Jesus' disciples left Jerusalem and returned to Galilee as they normally would, they met Christ in Galilee as foretold and instructed. Later they journeyed to the Holy Day of Pentecost again in Jerusalem. Christ met them in the city and told them to wait in the Holy City for the gift of power. It appears that they did not know for certain when the gifts of power were coming. Would they come before, on, or after Pentecost? They knew to remain worshiping together in Jerusalem as instructed until the power arrived.
THE VALUE OF INDEPENDENT WITNESSES
The legal system of Israel requires more than one witness for proof. Normally in a good legal system, you want a number of witnesses who corroborate the essential facts. This makes for a strong case for guilt or innocence. The four gospels give us four independent witnesses. They agree on the basics beyond any doubt. Some scholar criticize them surprisingly for agreeing too much, yet some of those same scholars then complain about these minor differences. The legal system does not want all witnesses to agree on every single minute detail. Why? When all four witnesses agree on everything you know you have got a case of WITNESS TAMPERING. You don't have four witnesses you have only one. Someone or their attorney, has coached, or forced them all to say exactly the same things.
This is not normal. If four people come and witness independently a jewelry store robbery in the Mall, they would all agree on some basics, but each would have focused on and seen different things , behind a column etc. Assuming you have no false witnesses among them all will be accurate. The jury must combine all the testimonies to gain a better, more complete, crime scene picture. Many experts on the Bible for centuries now, have been trying to prove the book wrong and never succeeded. Remember what God said. Their differences prove their independence and veracity.
Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
John 10:35 NKJV 35 "If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken)
