Posted by kc [circe] on November 12, 1999 at 07:29:14 {CkRQXOxAaIW53SZukFgE1f0.a//UGw}:
A major difficulty associated with the Resurrection of Jesus lies in the contradictory accounts found in the four Gospels. The following represent some of the major disagreements surrounding the events connected with the Resurrection:
At what time in the morning did the women visit the tomb? At the rising of the sun (Mark 16:2) vs. when it was yet dark (John 20:1).
Who came? Mary Magdalene alone (John 20:1) vs. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (Matt. 28:1) vs. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome (Mark 16:1) vs. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, the mother of James, and other women (Luke 24:10)
Was the tomb opened or closed when they arrived? Open (Luke 24:2) vs. closed (Matt 8:1-2)
Whom did they see at the tomb? The angel (Matt. 28:2) vs. a young man (Mark 16:5) vs. two men (Luke 24:4) vs. two angels (John 20:11-12)
Were these men or angels inside or outside the tomb? Outside (Matt. 28.2) vs. inside (Mark 16:5, Luke 24:3-4, John 20:11-12).
Were they standing or sitting? Standing (Luke 24:4) vs. sitting (Matt. 28:2, Mark 16:5, John 20:12).
Did Mary Magdalene know Jesus when he first appeared to her? Yes, she did (Matt. 28:9) vs. no she did not (John 20:14).
Apologists often submit the witness-at-an-auto-accident argument, which is quite irrelevant, since two completely opposite versions of the same event cannot BOTH be accurate. One or the other is false. Moreover, witnesses at an accident, unlike gospel writers, are not claiming inerrancy.
Thomas Paine summarized the relationship between the gospels quite well.
"...it is, I believe, impossible to find in any story upon record so many and such glaring absurdities, contradictions, and falsehoods, as are in the books (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John). They are more numerous and striking than I had any expectation of finding, when I began this examination,..." (Age of Reason by Thomas Paine, page 167)
KC