One common criticism raised by sceptics is that the Bible contains “contradictions.” Yet many of these differences are not contradictions at all — they arise from the diverse perspectives of the writers, their backgrounds, and the purposes behind their accounts.
Far from weakening the credibility of Scripture, these variations often strengthen it. They show that the Bible is not the product of one controlled narrative but a collection of independent testimonies written across centuries.
Below are several examples that illustrate how apparent discrepancies become clearer when we understand the context.
1. THE TWO GENEALOGIES OF JESUS (Matthew vs. Luke)
Matthew (chapter 1) and Luke (chapter 3) give different genealogies of Jesus. At first glance this seems puzzling, but the explanation is well recognised:
- Matthew records the legal royal line through Joseph, emphasising Jesus’ right to the throne of David.
- Luke records the biological line through Mary, emphasising Jesus’ true human ancestry.
Two audiences, two purposes, two genealogies — but no contradiction.
Together they show that Jesus is both:
- legally heir to King David’s throne, and
- physically descended from David’s line.
This dual lineage strengthens, rather than weakens, the historical portrait.
2. JESUS ASKING PHILIP A QUESTION (John 6:5)
In the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus turns to Philip and asks where they can buy bread.
Some treat this as unnecessary or unusual — until they notice that Philip was from Bethsaida, the local region (John 1:44). Jesus simply asked the local man.
This sort of detail is exactly what historians expect in authentic eyewitness accounts:
- small, natural mentions,
- connections to local knowledge,
- incidental details that no storyteller would invent.
Far from being a discrepancy, it strengthens the realism of the Gospel.
3. JUDAS’ DEATH (Matthew vs. Acts)
This is often raised by sceptics as a contradiction, but the two accounts actually describe the same event from different angles.
Matthew 27:5
Judas throws the silver into the temple and hangs himself.
Acts 1:18
Judas falls headlong, his body ruptures, and he dies in a gruesome manner.
These are not two different deaths but two stages of the same tragic event:
- Judas hanged himself (Matthew).
- After death — perhaps due to decay, the breaking of the branch, or the rope — his body fell and was found in the condition described in Acts.
Nothing here is contradictory.
One account records the method of suicide.
The other records the result when Judas’ body was later discovered.
Together, the accounts form a complete picture.
4. JESUS BLINDFOLDED DURING HIS BEATING
One Gospel mentions Jesus being blindfolded during His abuse; another simply omits the detail.
- Luke 22:64 explicitly says Jesus was blindfolded.
- Matthew and Mark describe the beating but do not mention the blindfold.
This is a classic example of variation, not contradiction.
One writer includes an extra detail; another summarises the event more generally. The core event — Jesus being struck, mocked, and interrogated — is consistent in all accounts.
If every Gospel reported exactly the same details, word for word, sceptics would claim collusion.
But independent testimony naturally includes different emphases.
5. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GOSPEL ACCOUNTS IN GENERAL
The four Gospels often describe the same events from different angles because they were:
- written for different audiences,
- by different writers,
- highlighting different aspects of Jesus’ life.
A courtroom expects the same:
If four honest witnesses describe an event, they will each include different details — yet they will all agree on the central truth.
The Gospels work the same way.
The core story is consistent; the details vary naturally.
We need to be cautious too, about the interpretations of words and the timings of events; also, whether certain events are simply overlooked in one version over another, for example, which locations Jesus visited and the order in which He visited them.
The Sistine Chapel painter, Michelangelo, said that he couldn’t appreciate the true perspective of his work while lying on his back. Many interpret this as him saying he was lying on his back when painting. In fact, he was standing because lying on his back distorted things.
6. OLD TESTAMENT VARIATIONS (Kings vs. Chronicles)
Parallel accounts in 1–2 Kings and 1–2 Chronicles sometimes give different emphases. But these books were written with different purposes:
- Kings emphasises political history and decline.
- Chronicles emphasises spiritual lessons and hope.
They are different windows on the same events — not contradictions, but complementary perspectives.
CONCLUSION – INDEPENDENT WITNESSES STRENGTHEN THE STORY
The Bible was written by many authors across many centuries:
- fishermen and kings,
- prophets and apostles,
- scholars and shepherds.
Their differing perspectives are signs of authenticity, not error.
When we examine the context of each account, many supposed contradictions become:
- understandable,
- complementary,
- or even supportive of the truthfulness of Scripture.
The Bible does not read like a polished myth or a single controlled narrative.
It reads like what it truly is:
It is a collection of honest testimonies from real people who encountered God in profound ways.
Mike.
Mike@acaseforgod.com
Post 13 of a 33-part series exploring the evidence for the existence of God.
My next two Blogs address the words and actions of Saints Peter and Paul and look at the life of Jesus from their personal perspectives.
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