“Is it a contradiction, or is it a lesson in getting the meaning of the phrases rather than the meaning of the words. If the latter, one is just plain wrong.”
Actually, such minor discrepancies in testimony - even eyewitness testimony - are common and, when taken together, establish the truth of critical events. Moreover, those who allege that the gospels are the result of a “collective conspiracy” to “get the story straight” are dashed upon the rocks by testimonies which differ in such small detail.
If there were a conspiracy to “get the story right”, why do these discrepancies in the testimony of the witnesses remain?
Critics can’t have it both ways: they cannot allege a conspiracy years after the events took place to purge such discrepancies and then condemn the Bible for having them!
But no one will ever accuse a Biblical critic of logical consistency.
The fact of the matter is, did a cock crow when Peter denied Jesus? Every one of the synoptic gospels says it did. That is the “big picture” people miss when they focus on the minutiae.
We’re on the same page.
Actually, such minor discrepancies in testimony - even eyewitness testimony - are common and, when taken together, establish the truth of critical events.
And if a human being was just making up the gospels, they would have matche up much better.
It is fascinating how God uses human flaws to prove His authenticity.