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You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf.
John 5:3
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Bible Contradictions?
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Certainly the doctrine of inerrancy is a logically consistent idea. But is it true? The simplest and most convincing way to answer this question is to look at the Bible itself. Are there certain places in the Bible where errors and contradictions exist? I think an unbiased reader of the text will ultimately have to say yes. Here are but a few examples:
Paul on the Road to Damascus
The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one.
(Acts 9:7)
Now those who were with me saw the light, but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.
(Acts 22:9)
Notice that each account states the exact opposite of the other. In the first, the men hear, but do not see; in the second, they see, but do not hear. The NIV's translation of 22:9 as "they did not understand the voice" offers a possible solution to the problem, but most scholars and Bible translations (NRSV, RSV, KJV, NAB, etc.) agree that the passage should be translated as it is above. Consider also the fact that Acts 9:7 asserts that the men with Paul "stood speechless," while a third account of this event, recorded in Acts 26:14, states that the men "had all fallen to the ground." Obviously, several different (conflicting) versions of Paul's conversion experience have been preserved in the book of Acts.
The Death of Judas
When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. He said, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." But they said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself." Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money." After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter's field as a place to bury foreigners.
(Matt. 27:3-7)
Now this man aquired a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.
(Acts 1:18)
Not only do the accounts disagree as to the manner in which Judas died (purple), but they also disagree as to what he did with the reward money (red). Like many Bible contradictions, you can invent a scenario where the elements of both accounts have a place: Judas hung himself, fell from the tree, rolled down a hill, and burst open in the middle; the priests then took the money and purchased the field "in his name." But ultimately this type of a "solution" seems disingenuous. I find it much more likely that two different traditions concerning Judas' death emerged in the early Church, and that Matthew and Luke each recorded one of these traditions in their respective books. In fact, most of the "contradictions" of the Bible can be explained in this way. Once you become familiar with higher biblical criticism and source theory, this becomes even more evident.
The Calling of the Disciples
As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea -- for they were fishermen. And Jesus said, "Follow me. . . ." And immediately they left their nets and followed him.
(Mark 1:16-18; parl. Matt. 4:18-19)
John's account is quite different. Here Jesus meets Peter and Andrew on the banks of the Jordan River in Judea, not on the Sea of Galilee (red). And it is John the Baptist, rather than Jesus, who takes the initiative in the calling of the disciple (green). As well, Andrew brings Peter to meet Jesus after meeting him first, rather than both meeting Jesus at the same time, as in Mark's account (purple).
This took place in Bethany across from the Jordan.... John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!" The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. . . brought Simon to Jesus. . . .
(John 1:28-42)
Was John the Baptist Elijah?
For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came; and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.
(Matt. 11:13-14)
[John] confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not."
(John 1:20-21)
Did Jesus Carry His Own Cross?
They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross. . . .
(Mark 15:21)
So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull. . . .
(John 19:16b-17)
More New Testament
Did John know Jesus was the expected one (John 1:29-30, 34), or not (Matt. 11:2-3)? Was the Last Supper held before the feast of the Passover (John 13:1) and Jesus crucified on the eve of Passover (John 18:28; 19:31), or was the Last Supper the Passover meal itself (Mark 14:12; Matt. 26:17; Luke 22:7-8), and Jesus crucified the day after? So too, the accounts of Jesus' resurrection in the various Gospels conflict as to the number of angels present at the tomb (cf. John 20:1-10; Mark 16:5), what they were doing (cf. Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2-4) the order of events (cf. John 20:1 13; Luke 24:1-12), the time and location of certain appearances (cf. Matt. 28:10,16,17; Luke 24:33, 50-53; cf. Mark 16:9-14; John 20:1-10), and so on.
More Old Testament
Were the Levitical priests given allotments of land in Palestine (Josh. 21) or not (Josh. 13:14; 18:7)? Did the people of Judah conquer the city of Jerusalem in the time of Joshua, killing its inhabitants and setting the city on fire (Joshua 12:10; Jud. 1:8 ), or did the people of Judah (or the Benjaminites?) allow Jerusalem to remain an independent foreign city (Josh. 15:63; Jud. 1:21; 19:10-12) until David conquered it at a later date (II Sam. 5:6-7)? Did Abiathar join David in Nob or Keliah (1 Sam. 22:19-23; 23:1-6)? Was David first introduced to Saul directly before he killed Goliath (1 Sam. 17:31), directly after he killed Goliath (17:55), or even at a time entirely separate from that incident (1 Sam. 16:17-19, 21)?
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