The four gospel versions of the same story are NOT in conflict with each other. Haven't you atheists ever heard of a contradiction? What is a contradiction?
A contradiction is and "opposing statement that opposes or disagrees with somebody or something."
First, let me illustrate what a contradiction is NOT:
i.e.
1. The flying spaghetti monster has a red eye.
2. The flying spaghetti monster has two eyes.
3. The flying spaghetti monster has green eyes.
Are these three statements in contradiction or are they inconsistent with each other?
No, they are not. Why? Because the flying spaghetti monster has at least two eyes, they are red and green. As a matter of fact, just because I said that he has two eyes does not limit the amount of eyes; he may have 1000 eyes. The monsters eyeballs (where our whites are) are red and green is where the pupil is. It is true that the monster has a red eye, but was it a contradiction NOT to mention the other red eyeball? No, it’s not a contradiction at all, even if there where 100 eyes.
"Where's the earthquake? Where's the angel rolling back the stone? Did they just miss it? Was he an angel or a boy?"
Just b/c Mark doesn’t mention the earthquake doesn’t mean that it didn’t happen. Mark just decided not to mention it or place any importance on it. Just b/c Mark doesn’t mention the angel rolling back the stone, doesn’t mean that it hadn't happened already? That angel was just sitting upon the stone. But, the angel worth mentioning to Mark, was inside the tomb. Just b/c Mark failed to mention the first angel inside the tomb doesn’t mean that the second angel wasn't present.
Just b/c Mark mentions one angel doesn’t mean that there wasn't another angel present. Luke mentions two angels. Just b/c Luke mentions 2 angels doesn't mean that Mark is committed to mention them both, does it? No, each writer told the story from their own sources and their own perspectives; it doesn't mean they are all wrong or different. And, so on and so forth. I believe you get the point.
This is an illustration of a true contradiction:
i.e.
1. An angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it
2. A white dove ascended from a dark cloud and came and blew up the wall, and sat upon a tree.
Nothing matches at all and everything is in opposition to each other. Where it was a “Angel of the Lord” in the first sentence, the second says it was a “white dove.” You see? It’s a complete contradiction. It is an "opposing statement that opposes or disagrees with somebody or something!"
If you combine all the elements of all four versions together, you will get most detailed story that we may know of. I can guarantee you; you will NOT find any clear contradictions in any of the versions.
The story are a combination of Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-11 and John 20:1-18
~ Resurrection Story Combined with all Four Gospels ~
"Now after the Sabbath, toward early dawn of the first day of the week, when the Sabbath was past and while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary the mother of James, and Salome, brought spices which they had prepared, went to see the sepulcher so that they might go and anoint him. And they were saying to one another "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. When the sun had risen, and looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; for it was very large.
And entering the tomb, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed and amazed by this, behold, two men stood by them, one on the left and one on the right of the women, wearing white dazzling robes. And, the women were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground. One of the angels, who appeared as a young man was on the right side, and the angel said to the women, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise? He is not here; for he has risen. Come; see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. Lo, I have told you."
i.e.
1. The flying spaghetti monster has a red eye.
2. The flying spaghetti monster has two eyes.
3. The flying spaghetti monster has green eyes.
Are these three statements in contradiction or are they inconsistent with each other?
No, they are not. Why? Because the flying spaghetti monster has at least two eyes, they are red and green. As a matter of fact, just because I said that he has two eyes does not limit the amount of eyes; he may have 1000 eyes. The monsters eyeballs (where our whites are) are red and green is where the pupil is. It is true that the monster has a red eye, but was it a contradiction NOT to mention the other red eyeball? No, it’s not a contradiction at all, even if there where 100 eyes.
"Where's the earthquake? Where's the angel rolling back the stone? Did they just miss it? Was he an angel or a boy?"
Just b/c Mark doesn’t mention the earthquake doesn’t mean that it didn’t happen. Mark just decided not to mention it or place any importance on it. Just b/c Mark doesn’t mention the angel rolling back the stone, doesn’t mean that it hadn't happened already? That angel was just sitting upon the stone. But, the angel worth mentioning to Mark, was inside the tomb. Just b/c Mark failed to mention the first angel inside the tomb doesn’t mean that the second angel wasn't present.
Just b/c Mark mentions one angel doesn’t mean that there wasn't another angel present. Luke mentions two angels. Just b/c Luke mentions 2 angels doesn't mean that Mark is committed to mention them both, does it? No, each writer told the story from their own sources and their own perspectives; it doesn't mean they are all wrong or different. And, so on and so forth. I believe you get the point.
This is an illustration of a true contradiction:
i.e.
1. An angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it
2. A white dove ascended from a dark cloud and came and blew up the wall, and sat upon a tree.
Nothing matches at all and everything is in opposition to each other. Where it was a “Angel of the Lord” in the first sentence, the second says it was a “white dove.” You see? It’s a complete contradiction. It is an "opposing statement that opposes or disagrees with somebody or something!"
If you combine all the elements of all four versions together, you will get most detailed story that we may know of. I can guarantee you; you will NOT find any clear contradictions in any of the versions.
The story are a combination of Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-11 and John 20:1-18
~ Resurrection Story Combined with all Four Gospels ~
"Now after the Sabbath, toward early dawn of the first day of the week, when the Sabbath was past and while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary the mother of James, and Salome, brought spices which they had prepared, went to see the sepulcher so that they might go and anoint him. And they were saying to one another "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. When the sun had risen, and looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; for it was very large.
And entering the tomb, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed and amazed by this, behold, two men stood by them, one on the left and one on the right of the women, wearing white dazzling robes. And, the women were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground. One of the angels, who appeared as a young man was on the right side, and the angel said to the women, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise? He is not here; for he has risen. Come; see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. Lo, I have told you."
So they departed quickly from the tomb with trembling fear and great and astonishing joy, and ran to tell the disciples; for they were afraid. And they remembered the words of the angel, and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest.
Now, it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James, Salome and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. Mary Magdalene went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." But, these words seemed to them as idle tale, and they did not believe them." Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter cane, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must raise from the dead.
But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.
Now, it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James, Salome and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. Mary Magdalene went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." But, these words seemed to them as idle tale, and they did not believe them." Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter cane, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must raise from the dead.
But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Hail Mary; do not be afraid!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (Which is to say, Teacher) And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God. Go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me." Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her."
Marks summarizes the whole event from the beginning to the part where the disciples are told about what happened in just three verses. “Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.” ~ Mark 16:9-11
Just because Mark summarizes the event does not mean that the details aren’t included, does it? No, to summarize the event does not mean that the details of the event did not occur, does it? No.
I suggest atheists actually find a contradiction next time.
Marks summarizes the whole event from the beginning to the part where the disciples are told about what happened in just three verses. “Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.” ~ Mark 16:9-11
Just because Mark summarizes the event does not mean that the details aren’t included, does it? No, to summarize the event does not mean that the details of the event did not occur, does it? No.
I suggest atheists actually find a contradiction next time.
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(This blog is in response to: http://scienceavenger.blogspot.com/2008/03/biblical-easter-story-versions-i.html)
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