Gospel Untruths - Contradictions

The quoted passages are from the New International Version. You can access other versions by selecting from the dropdown menu at BibleGateway.com.

Needless to say, if Matthew and Luke had not been directly based on Mark, the contradictions would expand exponentially.

After the contradictory accounts of the crucifixion (which, revealingly, are not mentioned independently by any other writers at the time of the purported events):

Who visited the tomb?

Matthew 28:1 : 1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

Mark 16:1 : 1When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body.

Luke 24:1 : 1On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. (Which women?: 23:55 : 55The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it.)

John 20:1 : 1Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.

So, which was it? Mary? Mary Magdalene and the other Mary? Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome?

Where was the stone?

Matthew 28:2 : 2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. (the angel rolled the stone while the women (2 Mary M, Mary, Salome) were there)

Mark 16:4 : 4But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. (already rolled away, as in verse 1)

Whom did the visitors see at the tomb?

Matthew 28:5 : 5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

Mark 16:5 : 5As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

Luke 24:4 : 4While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.

What was said to the visitors?

Mark 16:7 : 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' "

Luke 24:7 : 7'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'

What of this information was passed along by the visitors?

Matthew 28:8 : 8So the women [M,M,S] hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

Mark 16:8 : 8Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

((The most reliable early manuscripts and other ancient witnesses do not have Mark 16:9-20.))

To whom did whoever pass the information?

Matthew 28:8 : 8So the women [M,M,S] hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

Luke 24:8 : 9When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.

John 20:2 : 2So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"

How do the disciples respond?

Matthew 20:19 : [en route to Jerusalem, Jesus had previously told the disciples] 19 Then they will hand him over to the Romans[c] to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”

Luke 24:11 : 11But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.

[Obviously, they had not read Matthew 20:19]

John 20:3 : 3So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.

[Obviously John's disciples also had not read Matthew 20:19! Of interest, John 20:9 9(They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)]

Even if all four Gospels agreed word-for-word on the account of the resurrection, this still does not constitute "historical" proof of the purported resurrection event. Missing bodies constitute proof only of the disappearance of a body, and not of the unknown location of the body, particularly not a heavenly relocation. Even more preposterous are unfounded claims of knowledge of the relocation of that artefact of consciousness that we call "soul".

Retrospectively written accounts, particularly fictitious accounts so clearly modified to fit the author's theological purpose, do not constitute "historical" proof that Scriptures have been fulfilled.