Just noticed an interesting contradiction...

[GreekAsianPanda]

Thanks guys =)

Sorry that I sounded a little hypercritical about this. It's just that I've been feeling lately like I need to be a more "critical thinker," I suppose.

As for my stance about the New Testament's inspiration, as subarctic_guy asked about, Yeshua says in John 14:26 that he'll remind the disciples of everything he had said to them. I don't take that to mean that he had to get every little detail of the events correct. However, I haven't actually found a mistake in Matthew's Gospel, so maybe he can get every little detail right! I think that all the books of the New Testament written by one of the Twelve are inspired. What I've been trying to figure out is how we can know that Paul, Luke, Mark, James, and Jude were inspired if Yeshua wasn't addressing them in John 14:26. Ah, yes, I'm somewhat of a heretic right now. O_o

Again, thanks for all the responses!

[moonglow]

Thanks guys =)

Sorry that I sounded a little hypercritical about this. It's just that I've been feeling lately like I need to be a more "critical thinker," I suppose.

As for my stance about the New Testament's inspiration, as subarctic_guy asked about, Yeshua says in John 14:26 that he'll remind the disciples of everything he had said to them. I don't take that to mean that he had to get every little detail of the events correct. However, I haven't actually found a mistake in Matthew's Gospel, so maybe he can get every little detail right! I think that all the books of the New Testament written by one of the Twelve are inspired. What I've been trying to figure out is how we can know that Paul, Luke, Mark, James, and Jude were inspired if Yeshua wasn't addressing them in John 14:26. Ah, yes, I'm somewhat of a heretic right now. O_o

Again, thanks for all the responses!

If you are going to ask that, then you need to ask how did Moses know what happened when everything was created in Genesis one..since he wrote it and wasn't around when it happened? lol

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

So actually the Holy Spirit wrote all of the bible through human beings.

Nothing wrong with being a critical thinker, but remember some people are offended when things are phrased in too harsh of a way and feel you might be attacking the bible, rather then just asking questions. And no you aren't a heretic.

To answer your questions:
http://www.carm.org/apologetics/evid...itten-and-whom
Mark

Mark was not an eyewitness to the events of Jesus' life. He was a disciple of Peter and undoubtedly it was Peter who informed Mark of the life of Christ and guided him in writing the Gospel known by his name. "Papias claimed that Mark, the Evangelist, who had never heard Christ, was the interpreter of Peter, and that he carefully gave an account of everything he remembered from the preaching of Peter."7 Generally, Mark is said to be the earliest gospel with an authorship of between A.D. 55 to A.D. 70.



Luke

Luke was not an eyewitness of the life of Christ. He was a companion of Paul who also was not an eyewitness of Christ's life. But, both had ample opportunity to meet the disciples who knew Christ and learn the facts not only from them, but from others in the area. Some might consider this damaging to the validity of the gospel, but quite the contrary. Luke was a gentile convert to Christianity who was interested in the facts. He obviously had interviewed the eyewitnesses and written the Gospel account as well as Acts.

* "The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when He was taken up, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. 3 To these He also presented Himself alive, after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God," (Acts 1:1-3).

Notice how Luke speaks of "them," of those who had personal encounters with Christ. Luke is simply recounting the events from the disciples. Since Luke agrees with Matthew, Mark, and John and since there is no contradictory information coming from any of the disciples stating that Luke was inaccurate, and since Luke has proven to be a very accurate historian, we can conclude that Luke's account is very accurate.

As far as dating the gospel goes, Luke was written before the book of Acts and Acts does not mention "Nero's persecution of the Christians in A.D. 64 or the deaths of James (A.D. 62), Paul (A.D. 64), and Peter (A.D. 65)."8 Therefore, we can conclude that Luke was written before A.D. 62. "Luke's Gospel comes (Acts 1:1) before the Acts. The date of Acts is still in dispute, but the early date (about A.D. 63) is gaining support constantly."9

John

The writer of the gospel of John was obviously an eyewitness of the events of Christ's life since he speaks from a perspective of having been there during many of the events of Jesus' ministry and displays a good knowledge of Israeli geography and customs.

The John Rylands papyrus fragment 52 of John's gospel dated in the year 125-135 contains portions of John 18, verses 31-33,37-38. This fragment was found in Egypt. It is the last of the gospels and appears to have been written in the 80's to 90's. Most scholars say it was written in the early 90's. This means that the time span between the original writing of John and its earliest copy (fragment) is approximately 35-45 years.

Of important note is the lack of mention of the destruction of the Jewish temple in 70 A.D. But this is understandable since John was not focusing on historical events and was most probably written 20 or so years after the destruction of the Temple. John focused on the theological aspect of the person of Christ and listed His miracles and words that affirmed Christ's deity.

Though there is still some debate on the dates of when the gospels were written, they were most assuredly completed before the close of the first century and written by eyewitnesses or under the direction of eyewitnesses. (read the rest at the link)

CARM is a great website to find answers to some of these type of questions too btw. http://www.carm.org/

He addresses bible difficulties and also addresses other religions and cults.

God bless

[The Mighty Sword]

Thanks guys =)

Yeshua says in John 14:26 that he'll remind the disciples of everything he had said to them.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Come on dude I'm begging you, please switch bibles so that you can get the correct interpretations of the Holy Scriptures

[EarlyCall]

I was looking at the Gospel of Matthew and noticed something:

Matthew 27:65-66 "'Take a guard,' Pilate answered. 'Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.' So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard."

Singular.

Matthew 28:4 "The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men."

Plural.

It seems like a blatant contradiction to me. What do you guys think? Scribal error? I'm not exactly bothered by this; Matthew could have just made a mistake. Just seems kind of odd.

There is no contradiction. Guard in this case is easily used in the plural. If I say you go I mean you singular, unless I am talking to you and your friends, in which case when I say you go, I mean the lot of you as a group.

[EarlyCall]

Thanks guys =)

Sorry that I sounded a little hypercritical about this. It's just that I've been feeling lately like I need to be a more "critical thinker," I suppose.

As for my stance about the New Testament's inspiration, as subarctic_guy asked about, Yeshua says in John 14:26 that he'll remind the disciples of everything he had said to them. I don't take that to mean that he had to get every little detail of the events correct. However, I haven't actually found a mistake in Matthew's Gospel, so maybe he can get every little detail right! I think that all the books of the New Testament written by one of the Twelve are inspired. What I've been trying to figure out is how we can know that Paul, Luke, Mark, James, and Jude were inspired if Yeshua wasn't addressing them in John 14:26. Ah, yes, I'm somewhat of a heretic right now. O_o

Again, thanks for all the responses!

Nothing wrong with asking questions when seeking to better understand. But don't stop thinking with the first thought that comes to mind.

[subarctic_guy]

I hope i did not come off as discouraging. I am a young man myself and have actually been learning to think more critically too, so I was just wondering where GAP was in his theology.

GAP: Regarding Paul, check out this verse