[cuban leaf]

...the New Testament Gospels contradict themselves.

---

He’s right, in a way. But the apparent “contradictions” are what make them authentic. Ask any trial lawyer what it means when multiple witnesses tell the exact same story. It means they are lying and they are in collusion. When the stories are true, they are all slightly different and bring up different details. I like to use this analogy:

Imagine four men describing the same event thusly:

Man number one: A saw a lady driving this bright red convertible.
Man number two: I saw this hot blonde in a completely restored vette.
Man numer three: I saw a sports car doing a beautiful two wheel drift through the corner in a 64 vette.
Man number four: This woman was wearing a dress that matched the color of her car.

Complete story:

This smokin’ hot blond in a red dress was drifting around a corner in a “like new” bright red 1964 corvette convertible.

Thats actually how the bible works, from cover to cover. That is why the interpretation of some scripture can be filled in and amplified by scritures from years or even centuries before. It is the most amazing collection of books ever written, for the obvious reason. ;-)

[rawcatslyentist]

If the spirit doesn't speak the word to them, it's as good as gibberish.

Save your time, pearls before swine.

[melsec]

Spot on and well put. The writers also have differing reasons as to why they are writing i.e. Mark writes to Evangelize, Luke writes for accuracy (as a record), John is taken by the Spiritual meaning etc. Also to who they write is important as it will dictate what they emphasize.

Mel

[plain talk]

Very well said!!! And saved me from having to attempt posting something like that. People that state there are contradictions in the gospels demonstrate that they have not given the subject much thought.

[Drawsing]

Good example. Here is one I use:

True story. I was out doing a painting in a field when I was attacked by the land owner’s great dane. I was able to fend him off using my folded camp chair until the owner finally called him off. My camp chair still has the teeth marks...this is how I usually tell the story. Other times, I might include the fact that there was a second smaller border collie attacking me at the same time using a flanking maneuver.

Now read the gospels about blind Bartimaeus. One gospel says that there were two blind men and the other only records one. It seems like a contradiction until you realize...that is how people tell stories. One emphasizes what he thinks is important, and the other does the same.

[Dutchboy88]

You have described a very useful component of a good hermeneutic. Thank you.

To expand on this concept, the Bible also utilizes something similar to the following:

Boy sees girl at school
Boy thinks girl is wonderful
Boy meets girl in store
Girl laughs at boy’s attempts to chat
Boy angrily leaves store
Boy hates girl

Now, does the boy like the girl? Well, the answer is…it depends. It depends upon where in the story you are. In the second line? Then “yes”. In the last line? Then “no”. If the Bible is like this tiny historic novel, it too requires that one be cognizant of where one is along the story line. For example, did Paul kill Christians? Yes, up to Acts 9, then “no” after that.

Many people read the Bible as if it were a spiritual encyclopedia (flat & topical). It is not. It is structured more like a historical novel: It is true in all respects, but hung on a “story line”.

This most radically affects the meaning when it comes to the four Gospels. At what point are we in the story? Are Gentiles included in the remarks Jesus is making? Has the New Covenant been instituted yet? Is He teaching “Christianity” or “Judaism” (Grace or Law)?

If a reader can keep the flow of the story in mind, these questions are easily answered.

Forgive me if you object to being pinged in here to contribute to the discussion. Let me know and I’ll remove your name from my homemade list of FRiends.