We hear a lot about Bible “contradictions” from people these days. Many say that because of these discrepancies the reliability of the Bible cannot be trusted. Especially brought up are the four gospels, since they have many parallel accounts that have surface disagreements with one another. But these supposed contradictions in the Bible need not destroy your faith. Quite to the contrary, if approached properly, supposed contradictions in Scripture can actually help strengthen our faith.

Let me give you six different ways you can explain these supposedly fatal contradictions.

1. Biblical Authors Sometimes “Paraphrase”

In first century culture, it was permissible to vary the exact wording when you quoted someone, as long as the meaning of the quote remained intact. They could vary the amount of detail given for a specific account also.

For example, “Two cars collided in the intersection” might be said also as “The first car crashed into the second car as they both were moving through the intersection of First and Second Street.” Each describes the same event. One gives more detail, but the basic meaning is not changed. If the second quote said: “There was only one car in the accident, and it hit a pole,” then that would be a contradiction. But we find nothing like this in the gospels.

2. Biblical Authors Use Different Witnesses to the Same Event

The fact that there are differences in the biblical text is actually evidence of its historical accuracy. The seeming disagreements in Scripture show the absence of collusion.

Some of the Bible’s verses, when carefully studied in the proper context, exhibit superficial discrepancies and conflicts which resolve themselves on closer examination. This kind of evidence is exactly what is looked for in a court of law to establish credibility and independence of witnesses. If things agree too well they look artificial and contrived.

3. Biblical Authors Didn’t Always Put Things in Order by Time

Some of the Bible writers record historical events out of chronological order to fit whatever theme they are trying to emphasize, but this does not detract from the historicity of the events themselves.
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