Introduction
The
Torah (“Old Testament” to Christians), in Numbers, chapter 23, verses 18 through
19 teaches that “G-d is not a man nor the son of man that He should be capable of
lying.” This is restated
in I Samuel 15:29: “And
also the Glory of
Conflicting
Accounts
(1)
According to Mark, chapter 8, verse 12, Jesus says: “In truth, no sign shall be
given (by me) to this generation (which refers to the generation of Jews who
rejected his claims).” John chapter 12 verse 37 (cf. Acts chapter 2 verse 22) says, in evident contradiction, that Jesus gave
“many signs” to this same disbelieving generation of Jews.
(2)
Mark, chapter 6, verse 5 says that Jesus “could do no miracle” on at least one
occasion. The word is could (not would) which means it was not possible for
Jesus to perform a miracle at that time. But Mark, chapter 10, verse 27 says
just the opposite, that “with God all things are possible.” Hence, Jesus is
eliminated as a god.
(3)
In John, chapter 5, verse 31, Jesus supposedly says: “If I bear witness of
myself, my witness is not true.” But a little later he reportedly exclaims:
“Even if I bear witness of myself, yet my witness is true (John 8:14).”
Furthermore, to make matters even more confused and conflicted, this passage
was added to the Christian Bible in the sixth century. It is first found in a
paper called “Liber Appologeticus”
in the fourth century. It is noted that the words are sixth century additions
to the original text. The footnote in the Jerusalem Bible, a Catholic
translation, says these words are “not in any of the early Greek manuscripts or
in the earliest manuscripts of the Vulgate itself.” It is interesting that the
Catholic church, who originally added this verse would admit now that it a
spurious addition to the Greek Testament!
(4) It
is supposedly the Last Supper. John, chapter 13, verse 36 has Peter ask Jesus:
“Where are you going?” Then John, chapter 14, verse 5 has Thomas say to him:
“We know not where you are going.” But John, chapter 16, verse 5, has Jesus
reply: “None of you are asking me where I'm going!” Because Peter asked Jesus
where he was going, it is very clear that Jesus has deliberately lied.
(5)
In John, chapter 7, verse 38, Jesus reportedly says: “Scripture said: 'From his
innermost being shall flow rivers of living water'.” There is no such passage
in the Hebrew Tanach or anything resembling it.
(6)
Matthew 2:23 says that: “He came and dwelt in a city called
(7)
John 17:12 mentions a “son of perdition” and says the “scriptures are being
fulfilled.” There is no reference, however, to a “son of perdition” in the Tanach.
(8)
Jesus says that it was Zechariah, son of Berechiah,
who was killed in the
(9)
Regarding Jesus' stepfather, was he Joseph son of Jacob son of Mattan son of Eliezer (Matthew
1:15-16) or Joseph son of Eli son of Mattat son of
Levi (Luke 3:23-24)? And how can both sets of genealogical tables validly
include Shealtiel and Zerubabbel
(Matthew 1:12; Luke 3:27), given that both of these men are descendants of Jeconiah (1 Chronicles 3:16-19), of whom G-d has said: “No
man of his seed shall prosper, sitting on the throne of David or ruling any
more in
(10)
Was John the Baptist Elijah, as Jesus claimed (Matthew 11:14)? If so, why did
John himself deny it (John 1:21)? Would “Elijah” have been so
unsure of Jesus' messianic identity (Luke 7:19-20)? And where in our
Scriptures is it written that Elijah would be mistreated, as Jesus claimed
(Mark 9:13)? Don't our Scriptures indicate, to the contrary, that Elijah will
be successful in his mission of restoring harmony among the people (Malachai 4:5-6)? Moreover, Mark 9:11-13 and Mark 6:16 declares that: “Elijah has come” and “It is John who I
beheaded.” There is no indication from the Tanach
that Elijah would be beheaded. I refer you, once again, to Malachai
4:5-6.
(11)
Who's to judge the sinner? According to Jesus in John,
chapter 5, verse 22: “For the Father judges no man but has committed all
judgment to the Son” (meaning Jesus himself). But, then Jesus contradicts
himself; “I judge no man” (John 8:15) and “I did not come to judge the world
(John 12:47).” So who did? Listen to Jesus this time: “You (disciples) shall
judge the twelve tribes of
(12)
Paul says. “It is shameful for a man to wear his hair long” (I Corinthians
11:14). Glaringly, this is the only way Jesus is ever pictured.
(13)
“Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew
5:8). Yet, Jesus asserted the contrary; that he “did not come to bring peace on
earth, but a sword” in Matthew, chapter 10, verse 34.
(14)
John, chapter 14, verse 9 says: “he who has seen me (in reference to Jesus) has
seen the Father.” This would include his mother, disciples, and others.
However, the Torah teacher that “He who has seen the face of G-d shall die
(Exodus 33:20).” This Torah verse amounts to eternal damnation in
fundamentalist Christian theology. (Note: Even in our times, thousands of
Christians claim to have seen Jesus.)
(15)
According to Acts 7:53 and Galations 3:19, the Holy
Torah was given to the Jewish people by “angels.” But, according to Exodus
20:1, it was given to Moses by G-d: “And G-d spoke all these words.”
(16)
Acts 7:14 says that 75 souls went down to
(17)
Jesus tells Peter to buy a sword (Luke 22:36). Peter reportedly uses his sword
to cut off the ear of a
(18)
Continuing with Matthew 26, we find in verses 17 through 20 that the Last
Supper was a Passover Seder. On the contrary, we find in John 19:14 that it was
the preparation day for the Passover.
(19)
Hebrews, chapter 9, verse 22 says: “Without the shedding of blood, there is no
remission of sin.” But, the Bible, in Isaiah, chapter 43, verses 23 through 25
teaches just the opposite; “You (Israelites) have not honored me (G-d) with
your (blood) sacrifices. (Nevertheless) I will forgive your sins.” And Hosea, chapter
14, verse 2 says G-d accepts “words” of thanks (prayer in place of sacrifices).
(20)
Romans, chapter 10, verse 13: “For whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved.” But Matthew, chapter 7, verse 21 says “Not everybody who says
to me (Jesus), Lord, Lord, shall enter the Kingdom.” Thus, we learn that Jesus
is not G-d or an emissary of G-d.
(21)
It is claimed in Ecclesians 1:4 that the earth does abideth forever. In II
Peter 3:10, the opposite is stated.
(22)
Further, why does John 8:14 say that: “If Jesus bears witness of himself his
witness is true if John 5:31 says “If Jesus bears witness of himself his
witness is not true?”
(23)
According to Matthew 17:11 and Mark 9:2, Jesus led Peter, James, and John up a
high mountain after six days. Or was it eight days in accordance to Luke 9:28?
(24)
The claim is made that Jesus “justified” the sinner (Romans 4:5; Romans 15:9).
But, the Bible in Proverbs 17, verse 15 teaches that “He who justifies the
sinner is an abomination to G-d.”
Conclusion
If
there is any area in which the Christian Bible's imperfections and errancy is
most apparent, it is that of inconsistencies and contradictions. The book is a
veritable miasma of contradictory assertions and obvious disagreements, which is to be expected in any writing formulated over
approximately 1,500 years by 40 or 50 different writers, few of whom seemed to
be precisely concerned with what the others had penned. Do not
forget, none of the writers were there ― they witnessed nothing!
I have
not outlined anywhere near all the contradictions found in the New Testament.
However, it should now be apparent that the conflicting accounts are so very
numerous and Christianity’s claim that Jesus never lied is not supported at
all. In fact, quite the contrary!
Copyright © 2001,
J. Douglas Enots.
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