SITE MAP      Back to G/S/R

"Every word of God proves true." says the Bible, Proverbs 30:5. KJ version). Is the Bible, then, entirely the word of God? Does every word prove true? Also, is the traditional King James (KJ) bible an inspired translation, literal, infallable, down to every jot and tittle, as some denominations have claimed?

Consider the following. and decide....

CONTRADICTIONS

(This first item is apparent in the KJ version. but much clearer in other translations, such as the New American Bible.)

At least two Creation stories appear in the Bible, and they disagree. The first is in Genesis 1:1 to 2:3, the second in the remainder of Chapter 2.

In the first version, God (Elohim in the manuscripts) created men & women on the same day (1:27). subsequent to the creation of all animals (1:25). In the second version, God (Jehovah) created Adam first (2:7). then animals & birds (2:19). then Eve (2:22). In the first version. trees appeared before man (1:11): in the second. the world was barren of vegetation at the time of man's creation (2:5). and plantlife was created later (2:8-9).

Compare these with Genesis 5:1-2, a third creation story, which strongly suggests the simultaneous creation of man & woman. It states that at the time of the creation of men and women. God blessed them and called them "man" (in the Hebrew text, adam).

Most translators and Bible scholars candidly admit the differences in the Creation stories. and call the first two the Priestly and the Yahwehist versions. (In particular, see the New American Bible and its fine commentary.) The versions differ strongly in texture and language as #ell as content. ln some translations, however, verb tenses are subtly altered to conceal the problems.

(This item is clearest in the New International Bible and the Revised KJ Bible.)

Genesis 6:4 The Nephilim (9iants) lived on earth prior to the Flood.
Genesis 7:23 Only Noah and his family, and the animals on the Ark, survived the Flood.
Numbers 13:33 Long after the Flood, the Nephilim (Giants) still lived.

Genesis 9:3-4 God makes a covenant with Noah: Mankind will be permitted to eat the flesh of any living creature, as long as the blood is drained.

Deuteronomy 14:7-20 God goes back on his word.

Genesis 11:1,6-9 In the days of Babel, generations after the Flood, the world had one common language. God "confused the tongues" to create many.

Genesis 10:5 Prior to this. the Bible speaks of many "nations", each with its own language.

Some apologists suggest the Babel story was a "flashback"; the events in Genesis 11:1-9 actually occured prior to those in Genesis 10:5. It's possible, but nothing in the source manuscripts support it. The narrative link at the beginning of Chapter 11 is the same which elsewhere is translated as "and", and invaribly implies a normal sucession of events.

Exodus 4:11 God admitted He is the cause of blindness. deafness. dumbness. Isaiah 53:2 It is sometimes God's will to crush people or to cause them to suffer.

Lamentations 3:33 Yet, God does not willingly cause grief or affliction.

(In the KJ version:)

Genesis 15:13.16 God fortold the enslavement of the descendants of Abram (Abraham). but said they would return in the "fourth generation".

The return actually occured in the fifth generation--or the sixth. if you wish to count Abraham. The generations were: 1. Abraham: 2. Isaac (Gen 21:3): 3. Levi (Ex 1:3); 4. Kohath (Ex 6:16); 5. Aram (Ex 6:18): 6. Moses (Ex 6:20).

Genesis 11:26.32 Terah lived 135 years after begetting Abraham. Acts 7:4
Abraham departed Haran when his father (Terah) was dead. Genesis 12:4
Abraham was 75 years old when he departed Haran. Thus, after living 135 years. Abraham was only 75 years old!

(In the KJ version:)
Genesis 23:1 God tempted Abraham.
James 1:13 God tempts no one.

Who brought Joseph to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, the courtier of Pharaoh?
Genesis 37:38,36 The Midianites.
Genesis 39:1 The Ishmaelites.

Exodus 3:10. 4:19-23 God sent Moses to Egypt to speak to Pharaoh.
Exodus 4:24-26 God immediately and arbitrarily attempted to kill Moses before Moses could carry out the mission. No explanation provided.

Exodus 9:3-6 God killed all the cattle (field animals) of the Egyptians with a grevious murrain. including the horses. asses, camels, oxen and sheep. None survived the plague.
Exodus 9:19-21,25 Later. at least some of the Egyptian field animals were mysteriously alive again, to suffer a plague of hail.

Exodus 6:2-3 God informed Moses that previousiy His name (Jehovah) had been unknown even to the patriarchs. such as Abraham. Isaac and Jacob.
Genesis 4:26 long before this. men began to call on the name of the Lord, "Jehovah".

Genesis 22:14 Abraham named a place Jehovah-jireh. "The Lord will provide."
Note: In each passage in the Pentateuch manuscripts. the name given is Yod-He-Vau-He, YHVH. generally interpreted as "Yahweh", "Yehovah" or "Jehovah".

Exodus 20:4 Image-making forbidden.
Exodus 25:18 Commanded.

Exodus 20:13 Murder forbidden.
Exodus 23:27 Commanded.

Exodus 20:15 Stealing forbidden.
Exodus 3:21-22 Commanded.

Exodus 20:16 Lying forbidden.
I Kings 22:20 Commanded.

Leviticus 11:6 The Bible maintains that hares chew cud, like cows.
Leviticus 11:21-23 Also, that locusts. beetles and grasshoppers have four legs.

Leviticus 3:17, 11:1-47 God gave many rules about what may be eaten or handled.
Colossians 2:21-22 Such rules come from man, not God.

Leviticus 19:15 You must judge your neighbor.
Matthew 7:1 Judge not.

(In the KJ version:)
Numbers 23:19; I Samuel 15:29 God does not repent.
Genesis 6:6; Exodus 32:14: I Samuel 15:11.35: Psalms 42:10: Jonah 3:10 God does repent.

Numbers 23:19: Titus 1:2 God cannot lie.
I Kings 22:20-30: II Chronicles 18:19-22 God deliberately sent a "lying spirit" into the mouth of Ahab's prophets.

II Thessalonians 2:11-12 God sends delusions on people to make them believe false things and be damned.
Ezekiel 13:9. 14:9 The Lord deceives prophets (puts false words into their mouths) in order to get rid of them.

Numbers 31:7.9,15-18 The Israelites slew all the Midianites. except some of the female children.
Judges 6:1.5 Later. the Midianites invaded the Israelites.

Numbers 33:37-42 Aaron died on Mount Hor, on the border of Edom. Immediately thereafter. the Israelites went to Zalmonah and Punon.
Deuteronomy 10:6-7 Aaron died in Moserah. Right after that, the Israelites traveled to Gudgodah and Jotbathah. (See also Deut 32:50.)

Deuteronomy 6:5: Matthew 22:37 We must love God.
Deuteronomy 6:13: I Peter 2:17 We must fear God.
I John 4:18 Perfect love cannot be mingled with fear.

Who inscribed the Ten Commandments on the second set of stone tablets?
Deuteronomy 10:1-2.4 God inscribed them.
Exodus 34:27-28 God dictated while Moses inscribed them.

Joshua 8:28 Joshua burnt the city of Ai, making it an ash heap forever.
Nehemiah 7:32 Ai still exists as a city.

Joshua 10:38-39 Joshua utterly destroyed the inhabitants of Debir; he did not leave a living soul.
Joshua 15:15,17; Judges 1:1,11,13 Othniel the son of Kenaz conquored Debar. It's evident that this was after Joshua's death.

Judges 4:21 Jael killed Sisera by driving a tent stake through his head while he slept, fastening his head to the ground.
Judges 5:26-27 When Jael killed Sisera. he sank to the ground at her feet. and died.

I Samuel 15:7-8,20 Saul completely destroyed the Amalekites.
I Samuel 27:8-9 Then David completely destroyed the Amalekites.
I Samuel 30:1-2,17 Later, David destroyed a raiding party of Amalekites. Only 400 men escaped.
I Chronicles 4:42-43 Finally the Simeonites killed all the Amalekites.

I Samuel 16:10.11 Jesse had seven sons besides his youngest, David.
I Chronicles 2:13-15 David was the seventh son.

How did King Saul become acquainted with David? Two contradictory accounts:
I Samuel 16:18-23 Saul met David when David entered Saul's servce as a royal harper. David was a warrior. A servant informed Saul of the identity of David's father. Thereafter David remained in Saul's service as both harper and armor bearer.
I Samuel 17:14-15,26,31-32,55-56, 18:1-2 David was a shepherd, and unlike his brothers did not follow Saul to war. Saul sent for him. having heard that David was asking about the reward for killing Goliath. Saul did not know the identity of David's father, and had to ask. Thereafter David remained in Saul's service and did not return home.

I Samuel 28:6 Saul attempted to consult the Lord.
I Chronicles 10:13-14 Saul did no such thing.

How did King Saul die?
I Samuel 31:4-6: I Chronicles 10:4-5 He committed suicide. II Samuel 1:8-10 An Amalekite slew him.
II Samuel 21:12 The Philistines slew him.

How many horsemen did David take from Hadadezer?
II Samuel 8:4 Seven hundred.
I Chronicles 18:4 Seven thousand.

II Samuel 10:18 David slew 700 Aramean charioteers and 40,000 horsemen.
I Chronicles 19:18 He slew 7000 Aramean charioteers and 40,000 footmen.

II Samuel 24:9 & I Chronicles 21:5 Contrary census totals for Israel.

I Kings 6:2: II Chronicles 3:3 The size of Solomon's temple was about ninety feet by thirty feet by fourty-five feet high.
I Chronicles 23:4 And yet, managing it required 23.000 servants.

How many chiefs or officers did Solomon have to oversee the people?
I Kings 9:23 Five hundred fifty.
II Chronicles 8:10 Two hundred fifty.

I Kings 16:6,8 Baasha, King of Israel. died in the 26th year of Asa's reign over Judah.
II Chronicles 16:1 In the 36th year of Asa's reign, Baasha built a city.

I Chronicles 21:1 Satan "rose up" against Israel and incited King David to take a census.
II Samuel 24:1 It was God who directly incited the census (apparently seeking an excuse to vent anger on Israel).
In both versions, God responded by killing thousands of Israelites (I Chron 21:7 onward & II Samuel 24:15 onward). In both versions, David criticised God for slaughtering so many innocents (I Chron 21:17, II Samuel 24:17).

II Samuel 24:24 King David paid 50 shekels of silver for the threshing floor, oxen, wheat, etc.. which he appropriated for ceremonial purposes.
I Chronicles 21:1 He paid 600 shekels of gold.

(Most explicit in the New American Bible and the International Bible:)
I Samuel 17:23.50-51 David slew the Philistine, Goliath of Gath.
II Samuel 21:19 Elhanan son of Jair slew Goliath of Gath. Note: In the standard KJ translation, the story is altered in the second instance, so that Elhanan slays the cousin of Goliath; the prevarication is disclosed by the italics in most editions. The contradiction stands in the source texts. See any good Bible commentary.

(Clearest in the Revised KJ version:)
II Samuel 6:23 Michal. the daughter of Saul, was childless.
II Samuel 21:8 She bore five sons.
Note: The Authorized (standard) KJ version says Michal "brought up" the five sons. but the more honest Revised KJ version makes it clear that these were her sons by birth. Some other translations substitute "Merab" or "Merob" for Michal in the same passage, but translators and commentators admit that in the majority of Septuagint sources, the name is Michal.

(In the New International Bible:)
II Kings 1:17 Joram became King of Israel in the second year that Jehoram son of Jehosaphat reigned over Judah.
11 Kings 8:16 Jehoram son of Jehosaphat became King of Judah in the fifth year of Joram's reign over Israel. Note: Joram (son of Ahab). the King of Israel. was also sometimes called Jehoram. Do not confuse him with the other Jehoram (son of Jehosaphat). the King of Judah. Again. see any good commentary.

II Kings 9:6-9, 10:11,30 The Lord commanded Jehu to destroy the house of Ahab. Jehu obeyed. destroying everyone in the city of #ezreei who was of the house of Ahab, including friends and priests. God commended him for these actions.
Hosea 1:4 God promises to punish the House of Jehu for the massacre.

(In the KJ and Revised KJ versions only:)
How old was King Ahaziah when he began to reign?
II Kings 8:26 22 years old.
II Chronicles 22:2 42 years old.

II Kings 16:5 King Ahaz of Judah (Jerusalem) was not conquered by the kings of Israel and Syria. (See also Isaiah 7:1-7. in which God prophesied that Israel and Syria will fail to conquor Jerusalem.)
II Chronicles 28:5-6 The kings of Israel and Syria did conquer him.

II Kings 23:29-30 King Josiah was slain at Magiddo. Servants brought his dead body to Jerusalem.
II Chronicles 35:22-24 He was wounded at Magiddo. Servants brought him alive to Jerusalem, where he died.

II Kings 25:19-20 Nebuzaradan, commander of the invading Babylonian army, took five royal advisors as prisoners.
Jeremiah 52:25-26 He took seven advisors as prisoners.

Compare Ezra 2:1-67 with Nehemiah 7:6-68 to find a number of contradictions. Each passage purports to be a comprehensive list, by family unit, of the inhabitants of Jerusalem who returned from Babylonian captivity. Compare numbers for each family: fourteen of them disagree. Moreover the addition is wrong. Both Ezra and Nehemiah put the total at 42,360 plus 2,337 servants. but simple addition shows it to be 29,818 in Ezra, and 31.089 in Nehemiah.

Psalms 104:5 (KJ version); Ecclesiastes 1:4 The Earth will last forever.
II Peter 3:10; Hebrews 1:10-11 The Earth will perish.

Proverbs 26:4 & 26:5 Contradictory advice, in adjacent verses!

Leviticus, chapters 1-7 After delivering the Jews from Egypt, God went into minute detail regarding sacrifices and burnt offerings.
Jeremiah 7:22 God denied that he ever said anything about sacrifices or burnt offerings.

Job 7:9: Ecclesiastes 9:5 The dead will never rise again. They will have no further reward.
John 5:28-29: I Corinthians 15:16,52 The dead will rise again to be rewarded or punished.

Deuteronomy 24:16: II Kings 14:16; II Chronicles 25:4 The son should not be punished for the father's sin. Every man bears guilt only for his own transgressions.
Ezekiel 18:20 Again. the son does not bear guilt for the sins of the father.
Exodus 20:5 Ang yet. God blames children for the iniquities of the father. even for four generations.
Deuteronomy 5:9 His curse or punishment may extend far beyond the third or fourth generation.
Romans 5:12,14.19, 6:23 Also, all men are considered sinners because of Adam's sin. Death, the punishment for sin, is inflicted even on those who did not sin, because Adam sinned.

Who was the father of Joseph--Jacob (Matthew 1:16) or Heli (Luke 3:23)? The Bible provides two geneoiogies for Joseph. Jesus's earthly Father, one in Chapter 1 of Matthew and the other in Chapter 3 of Luke. Both are by line of male descent. They contradict. See Luke 3:23-31 and Matthew 1:6-15 for the conflicting Portions. The two versions occasionally come together so other questions occur. For example, who was father to Sheatiel and grandfather to Zerubbabel? Was it Neri (Luke 3:27) or Jeconiah (Matt 1:12)?
More problems arise when we compare the New Testament geneologies with the version in the first chapters of I Chronicles. For example, in Matthew, the son of Zerubbabel (Zorobabbel) is Abiud (Matthew 1:13). In Luke, his son is Rhesa (Luke 3:27). But I Chronicles lists seven sons for Zerubbabel (I Chron 3:19-20), and neither Abiud nor Rhesa are among them.

Another problem with the geneology:
Matthew 1:8-9 Joram was the father of Uzziah (Ozias). who was the father of Jotham (Joatham).
I Chronicles 3:11-12 Joram was the father of Ahaziah, father of Joash, father of Amaziah. father of Azariah--who. finally. was the father of Jotham.

Yet another problem:
Matthew 1:11 Josiah was the father of Jechoniah.
I Chronicles 3:15-16 Josiah was the grandfather of Jechoniah.

And another:
Matthew 1:12: Luke 3:27 Zerubbabel was the son of Shealtiel (Salathiel).
I Chronicles 3:17-19 Zerubbabel was the son of Pedaiah: Shealtiel was his uncle.

And another:
Matthew 1:17 Matthew says there were fourteen generations from the Babylonian captivity to the birth of the Messiah.
Matthew 1:12-16 Count carefully. There were only thirteen.

And another:
Luke 3:35-36 Shelah was the son of Cainan, and great- grandson of Shem.
Genesis 11:11-12 Shelah was the son of Arpachsnad. and grandson of Shem.

John 1:18, 6:46: I John 4:12 No one has ever seen God.
Exodus 33:11 God says no man will ever see His face and live. But ... the Lord appeared to Abraham
(Gen 18:1#. Jacob saw God face-to-face (Gen 32:30). Moses and the Elders gazed upon God (Exodus 24:9-11). God spoke to Moses face-to-face (Exodus 33:11: Deut 34:10). God allowed Moses to see his "back parts" (Exodus 33:22-23). Isaiah saw God in a vision (Isaiah 6:1,5). Ezekiel also saw God in a vision and described Him in some detail (Ezekiel 1:27-28). Amos saw God (Amos 7:7).

Matthew 1:20: Luke 1:26-35 Before Jesus's birth, angels appeared and clearly informed both Joseph and Mary that their child was the Son of God.
Luke 2:49-50 In spite of this, Joseph and Mary did not understand Jesus when he refered to God as his "father".

Matthew 2:1,14-15,22-23 Joseph and his family fled Judea (Bethlehem) in order to avoid Herod. stayed in Egypt a while, feared to return to Judea after Herod's death, and so settled in Galilee (Nazareth).
Luke 1:26-27, 2:1,4-5,39-40 Joseph was an original resident of Galilee (Nazareth) at the time of his marriage. only briefly visited Judea (Bethlehem) to register for the census, and returned peacefully to Galilee after fulfilling ritual prescriptions concerning childbirth.

Mark 1:7-13 Immediately after Jesus's baptism and encounter with Paul, Jesus went into the wilderness for fourty days, and dwelled alone.
John 1:27-40 After the encounter, Jesus continued to live near Galilee, and went about gathering disciples.

Mark 1:14,16-18 Jesus gathered Simon. Andrew and other disciples after John the Baptist was imprisoned.
John 1:40-42. 3:22-24 Jesus already had his disciples-- including Simon and Andrew--before John was imprisioned.

Mark 1:29-30,40-42 Jesus healed the leper after visiting Simon Peter's house.
Matthew 8:1-3.14 Jesus heaied the leper before visiting the house.

(Most explicit in the New American Bible and the New International bible:)
Matthew 4:5-8 The Devil took Jesus first to the parapet of the temple, then to a high place to view all the kingdoms of the world.
Luke 4:5-9 The Devil took Jesus first to a high place to view the kingdoms, then to the parapet of the temple.

Matthew 11:2-3: Luke 7:18-22 While imprisioned. John the Baptist sent followers to Jesus to inquire if Jesus was the Messiah.
John 1:29-34,36 John already knew Jesus was the Messiah.

John 3:13 Jesus said that no man but himself has ever ascended to heaven.
II Kings 2:11 Elijah ascended to heaven in a whirlwind.
Genesis 5:24: Hebrews 11:5 Enoch was taken bodily into Heaven.

Mark 2:26 David ate consecrated bread from the House of God. and gave some to his companions, in the days of Abiathar the high priest.
I Samuel 21:1-6 This event actually occured in the days of Ahimelech the high priest.
I Chronicles 24:6: I Samuel 23:6 Abiathar was the son of Ahimelech (they were high priest at different times).

Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus will give rest and peace to his followers: his yoke is easy, his burden light.
Hebrews 12:6 God will disciplin and punish, or scourge, everyone who comes to him.
II Timothy 3:12 The followers of Christ will suffer great persecution.

John 2:14-16 The purging of the temple occured near the beginning of Jesus's ministry. two or three years before the crucifixion.
Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19:45-46 The purging occured
Note: Some apologists have suggested that Jesus purged the temple twice. If so, and if we assume the gospels are independent accounts as apologists insist. it is remarkab|y unlikely that one of them shouid mention oniy the first purging. and three should mention only the second.

John 3:36 Only those who beiieve in the Son of God will be saved.
Luke 10:25-28 No! To be saved. it suffices to love God and your fellow man.
Matthew 19:16-21 Jesus told one man that to gain "eternal life", it was necessary only to obey the Ten Commandments. Only if the man wanted to be "perfect" did he need to sell his possessions and follow Jesus.
Acts 10:34-5 God will accept anyone who fears Him and "works righteousness".

John 6:17,19.21 Jesus walked all the way across the lake: he did not climb into the boat.
Matthew 14:25,32: Mark 6:48,51 Jesus walked only part way. and finished the journey in the boat.

Matthew 5:1, 6:9-13, 7:28 Jesus delivered the Lord's Prayer during the Sermon on the Mount before the multitudes.
Luke 11:1-4 He delivered it before the disciples alone, and not as part of the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 5:3-11 The sermon contained nine Beatitudes.
Luke 6:20-22 The sermon contained only four Beatitudes.

Matthew 6:5-6 Jesus condemned public prayer.
I Timothy 2:8 Paul encouraged public prayer.

Matthew 6:25-28, 30-34 We should take no thought for ourselves, or for tomorrow: we should not toil: tomorrow will take care of itself.
II Thessalonians 3:10 If a man does not provide for himself or his own, he has denied his faith. and he is worse than an infidel.
I Corinthians 3:8 If anyone does not work, he should not be allowed to eat.

Matthew 8:26, 9:9 Jesus acquired Matthew as a disciple after stilling the tempest.
Mark 2:14. 4:39 Jesus acquired Matthew (Levi) before stilling the tempest. Note: The context identifies Levi as another name for Matthew. Compare Matt 9:9-17 with Mark 2:14-22 & Luke 5:27-39. or see any good commentary.

Matthew 8:5-7 The Centurion approached Jesus, beseeching help for a sick servant.
Luke 7:3.6-7 The Centurion did not approach Jesus. He sent friends and elders of the Jews.

Compare the names of the Twelve Apostles, meticulously listed in four places in the Bible.
Matthew 10:2-4: Mark 3:16-19 Lebbaeus Thaddaeus was one of the Twelve.
Luke 6:14-16: Acts 1:13 Judas the brother of James (not Iscariot) has replaced him.

Acts 13:39 All sins can be forgiven.
Mark 3:29 Cursing or blaspheming the Holy Spirit is unforgivable.

Luke 8:41-42 Jairus approached Jesus for help, because his daughter was dying.
Matthew 9:18 He asked for help, saying his daughter was already dead.

Mark 6:8 Jesus instructed his disciples to wear sandals and take a staff on their journey.
Matthew 10:9 Jesus instructed them not to take a staff, not to wear sandals.

Matthew 11:12,14. 17:12-13 Jesus said that John the Baptist was Elijah.
John 1:21 John the Baptist maintained that he was not Elijah. See also Malachi 4:5. which predicts that Elijah must return before the final days of the world. And see Mark 9:13, where Jesus insists that Elijah has, indeed. returned.

John 5:22 God the Father entrusted all judgment to Jesus. John 5:27,30, 8:26: Matthew 25:31-32: II Corinthians 5:10; Acts 10:42 Other verses which imply that Jesus passes judgment.
John 8:15, 12:47 Jesus. however, said that he judges no one. Luke 12:14; John 8:50 Verses which agree that Jesus does not judge. I Corinthians 6:2 It will be the "saints" who judge the whole world.

Mark 8:12-13; Matthew 12:38-40 Jesus announced that no signs would be given to that generation. except possibly the Resurrection itself.
John 20:30: Acts 2:22 Yet Jesus provided many wonders and signs. See also: Mark 16:20: Acts 5:12, 8:13

Matthew 12:40 Jesus predicted that he would spend "three days and three nights" in the earth.
Matthew 27:57-60,62, 28:1-6: Mark 15:42-43,46, 16:1-6; Luke 23:53-54, 24:1-3 In fact. Jesus was paced in the tomb on the evening of Preparation Day, the day before the Jewish Sabbath, and arose by the morning after the Sabbath. Time elapsed in the earth: two nights. one day.

Matthew 13:55-56: Mark 6:3; Galatians 1:19 These passages imply that James the Less, Joseph (Joses), Simon and Judas were Jesus's brothers. Jesus also seemed to have several sisters.
Matthew 27:56: Mark 15:40,47 These imply that James and Joseph (Joses) were sons of some other Mary, not Jesus's mother.
Matthew 10:3: Mark 3:18 These state that Alpheus was father to James.
Matthew 27:56 & John 19:25 Taken together, these imply that Clophas, not Alpheus. was husband to the Mary the mother of James.
Note: The Greek word generally translated as "brother" in the Gospel manuscripts can also sometimes mean "cousin": this may be a partial resolution to these problems.
On the other hand. Luke 2:7 imples that Jesus was the first of several offspring. and John 1[11? - typist]:26-27 suggests that he had at least one sibling.

Matthew 17:1-2 Six days after Jesus made his prophecy of his second coming. the Transfiguration occured.
Luke 9:28-29 It occured after about eight days.

Who requested that James and John, Zebedee's children, should sit beside Jesus in his Kingdom?
Matthew 20:20-21 Their mother requested it.
Mark 10:35-37 James and John made the request.

Matthew 20:29-30 Following this last incident, on the way out of Jericho, Jesus encountered two blind men.
Mark 10:46-47 He encountered only one blind man.

Matthew 21:2-7 Next, two of the disciples brought Jesus an ass and a colt from the village of Bethphage.
Mark 11:2-7 The brought him only a colt.

Matthew 21:17-19 Jesus cursed the fig tree after purging the temple.
Mark 11:14-15.20 He cursed it before the purging.

Mark 11:12-14,20 The morning after Jesus cursed the fig tree. the disciples noticed it had withered. and expressed astonishment.
Matthew 21:9 The fig tree withered immediately. and the disciples registered surprise then and there.

Matthew 23:35 Jesus said that Zechariah was the son of Berechiah.
II Chronicles 24:20-22 Zechariah was the son of Jehoiada.

John 13:34-35 Jesus commanded us to love one another: in this way. all men will recognize his disciples.
Luke 14:26 You cannot be a disciple of Jesus unless you hate your father and mother, your siblings, your children. your wife.

Mark 14:16-18: Luke 22:13-14 The Last Supper was the Passover meal.
John 13:1. 18:28,39. 19:14-18 The Last Supper occured the day just before Passover. The trial and crucifixion occured on Passover Day.

John 18:12 Jesus was arrested by a detachment of Roman soldiers and some Jewish officials.
Matthew 26:47: Mark 14:43: Luke 22:47 Jesus was arrested by "multitudes" sent by the priests.

John 18:19, 24 After his arrest, Jesus' preliminary interrogation was before Annas; after that, he was brought to Caiaphas.
Matthew 26:57 He was led directly to Caiaphas.

Matthew 27:28 Immediately after Pilate had Jesus flogged. the soldiers dressed Jesus in a scarlet robe.
Mark 15:17: John 19:2 It was a purple robe.

Mark 14:30, 57-72 As Peter denied Jesus three times, the cock crowed twice.
Luke 22:34, 60-61: Matthew 26:34, 69-74 The cock crowed only once. Note that each version of the story conveniently adjusts Jesus's prophecy to fit the events.

To whom did Peter make his three denials?
First denial: to a maid and others (Matt 26:69-70): to the maid only (Mark 14:66-68).
Second denial: to another maid (Matt 26:71-72); to a man (Luke 22:58): to several people (John 18:55).
Third denial: to several bystanders (Matt 26:73-74): to a single man (Luke 22:59-60); to one of the servants (John 18:26- 27).

Matthew 27:3-8 Judas returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests, then hanged himself. The priests used the silver to establish a graveyard.
Acts 1:16-18 Judas purchased a field, fell headlong and burst open.

Matthew 27:37 The inscription was, "This is Jesus the King of the Jews."
Mark 16:26 The inscription was simply, "The King of the Jews".
Luke 23:38 It was. ''This is the King of the Jews,'' in three languages.
John 19:19 It was. "Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews."

Mark 15:32: Matthew 27:44 Both of the criminals crucified with Jesus taunted him.
Luke 23:39 Only one of the criminals taunted him.

Matthew 27:46-50: Mark 15:34-37 Jesus's last words were: "My God. my God. why hast thou forsaken me?" (KJ version). (According to Matthew, he cried out once more in a loud voice.) Then Jesus died.
Luke 23:46 Jesus's last words were. "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Then Jesus died.
John 19:30 The last words were, "It is finished." Then Jesus died.

Matthew 27:55-56: Mark 15:40; Luke 23:49 The women, including Mary Magdalene and Jesus's mother, watched the crucifixion from a "distance" or from ''afar".
John 19:25 They stood near the cross or next to the cross.

(KJ Version only:)
Luke 23:44 At the moment of Jesus's death, darkness covered the whole earth for three hours.
But extensive documents are available from this period in history. No historian. no scientist. no astronomer--in Rome. Greece. Egypt. Palestine. Arabia. India. China or any other land--reported such an unusuai phenomenon.

(In the New American Bible and the New International Bible:)
Luke 23:54-56, 24:1 On the day before the Sabath, the women prepared spices and ointments for Jesus's body.
Mark 16:1 They did not purchase the spices until the day after the Sabbath.

How many women visited Jesus's tomb on the morning of the Resurrection, and when? What did they discover?
John 20:1 Mary Magdalene. alone, first visited the tomb. It was "still dark." She found the stone rolled away.
Matthew 28:1-2 It was Mary Magdaline and another Mary who visited the tomb. It was dawn. They found the tomb still covered: thereupon an angel rolled back the stone.
Mark 16:1-4 The visitors were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Johanna, and an undetermined number of other women. They found the stone rolled back.

John 20:8-9 The disciples did not know or understand that Jesus was to rise from the dead.
Luke 14:6-8: Matthew 20:17-19. 27:63-64: Mark 8:31, 10:34 Jesus had carefully explained to them. in simple terms. that this was to happen. Even Jesus's enemies understood the prophecy of the Resurrection.

Matthew 28:2.5: Mark 11 [???]:5-6 Immediately upon visiting Jesus's tomb. the women met one young man or angel. who addressed them.
Luke 24:4-5 The women encountered two young men or angels.
John 20:8-12 Mary Magdalene met two angels, but only later, after the disciples had examined the tomb and found it empty.

Mark 16:1,8 Mary Magdalene, Mary and Salome. discovering that Jesus had risen from death. fled in fear and said nothing to anyone.
Luke 24:8-9 Mary Magdalene, Mary. Johanna and other women. discovering this, returned and reported to the eleven apostles.

Matthew 28:9 The women saw Jesus on their way back to report to the disciples.
Luke 24:9,22-23 The women apparently did not see Jesus.

Matthew 28:1,9 Mary Magdaline obviously recognized Jesus when she first saw him after the Resurrection.
John 20:14 She did not recognize him.

Matthew 28:16-17 After the Resurrection. Jesus first appeared to the disciples in Galilee.
Luke 24:33.36 He first appeared to them in Jerusalem.

Luke 24:15,18,32-34.36,50-51 Jesus appeared first to Celopas and Simon Peter, then to all eleven disciples; then he immediately ascended to heaven.
John 20:14.19,26. 21:1 Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene, then to most of the disciples, a week later to a larger group of disciples, and later still to the disciples while they were fishing.
I Corinthians 15:4-8 Jesus appeared, in order. to Cephas (Peter). then to "the Twelve" (although Judas was dead at this time. and the others had not yet appointed Matthias to replace-- see Acts 1:23.26). then to a crowd of five hundred. then to James, then to all the apostles, and lastly to Peter.

John 2:13. 5:1 (?). 6:4, 11:55 Jesus's ministry spanned at least three, perhaps four passovers.
Matthew 26:1: Mark 14:1: Luke 22:1 The other Gospels mention only one passover. and strongly imply that Jesus's ministry lasted only about one year.

Acts 5:21 [???] We ought to obey God rather than man.
I Peter 2:13-14 Submit yourselves to man's 1aw.

Acts 7:15-16 Jacob was buried in Sychem. in a sepulchre which Abraham had purchased from Emmor.
Genesis 50:13 Jacob was buried in Canaan. in a cave which Abraham had purchased from Ephron the Hittite.

Acts 9:7 The men travelling with Saul heard Jesus's voice.
Acts 22:9 They did not hear the voice.

Acts 9:19-20,26-30 After his conversion, Paul (Saul) stayed with the disciples in Damascus, preached in the synagogues. fled to Jerusalem and preached there also, then went to Tarsus by way of Caesarea.
Galatians 1:16-21 After his conversion, Paul "conferred not with flesh and blood" (KJ version). but instead went off to Arabia, then returned to Damasucs. Three years later he went to Jerusalem; the only apostle he met was James. This account. Paul swears before God, the the true one. Thereafter, Paul says, he went to Syria and Cilicia.

Acts 13:18-22 (KJ version) The Israelites wandered 40 years in the wilderness after the release from Egypt. After that they had judges for 450 years. Then, Saul was king for 40 years. Total: 530 years.
Acts 13:18-22 (New International Bible) The time in the wilderness and the subsequent conquest of seven nations in Cannan took 450 years. After that, the Jews had judges for an unspecified period. Then Saul ruied for 40 years. Total: more than 490 years.
I Kings 6:1 (both versions) Much, much later, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign, only 480 years had passed since the release from Egypt. (Some versions of the Septuagint make this only 440. making the contradiction even more drastic.)

I Corinthians 11:14 Paul preaches that it is a shame for any man to have long hair.
Judges 13:5; Numbers 6:2,5: I Samuel 1:11 All verses which imply that long hair on a man is. or can be, a sign of holiness.

Galatians 2:7-8 Peter was apostle to the Jews.
Acts 15:7 Peter was apostle to the Gentiles.

Galatians 4:22: Genesis 16:15-16, 21:2-3 Abraham had two sons: first Ishmael, then Isaac.
Hebrews 11:17 Isaac was his only son.

I John 4:1-2 If a spirit confesses that Christ has come, it is a spirit of God.
Matthew 8:29; Mark 1:23-24. 3:11, 5:7: Luke 4:41 Cases where demons or unclean spirits confessed that Christ has come.

John 12:3#-40 # Isaiah 6:10 God causes people not to believe the truth in order to prevent them from being "healed".
II Thessalonians 2:11-12 God sends strong delusions on certain people in order to make them believe false things and be damned.
Romans 9:18 (& subsequent verses) More of the same. Salvation is a matter of God's whim: people have no choice or control or responsibility in the matter.
I Timothy 2:4 Contrary to all this, God "desires all men to be saved" and to have the truth!

Galatians 6:2 We should bear one another's burdens.
Galatians 6:5 Every man should bear his own burdens.

Romans 2:13 Those who keep the law will be declared just.
Romans 3:19 Keeping the law does not make anyone just.

Romans 3:23 All men have sinned in God's eye.
Genesis 6:9 Noah was perfect.
Job 1:1 Job was perfect.

Revelations 8:7 Fire will consume all the grass in the world.
Revelations 9:4 Later, an army of locusts will be instructed not to harm any of the grass.

SITE MAP      Back to G/S/R