Differences among Gospels

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Differences among Gospels

1. Genealogy of Jesus Christ

Matthew 1:1-16

Luke 3:23-38  Both descriptions are different

Traditional Explanation:

 Mt recorded the genealogy of Joseph’s family while Lk recorded the genealogy of

 Mary’s father’s family.

Some more issues :

1)     Mt : from Joseph to David – 26 generation

Lk : from Joseph to David – 42 generation

Even though it is not impossible that two families can have different number of generations during a thousand years, the difference may be too many.

Mt omitted 3 generations such as Ahaziah, Joash, Amaziah

Ahaziah ruled less than a year and was very wicked.

Joash was under custody of Jehoida, the Priest at that time

Amaziah : worshipped gods of Edomites, and was slain.

These kinds of omissions in the genealogy for those killed in the rebel might have been acceptable by the rabbinic teachings

2)     Aramaic Interpretation

Mt 1:16 Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary is interpreted in Aramaic as:

Jacob begat Joseph the father of Mary, because

The word Gabra in Aramaic can mean “man”, “husband”, “father”

In Aramaic Bible, Gabra is interpreted as father in Matthew 7:9, 21:28, 22:2 where Greek 

bibles states all as “ man” or “king”

So, it is not unusual for the word “Gabra” to be interpreted as father.

In such case the number of generations from David to Jesus will be 28 because Mary is considered one generation and the genealogy in Mt is that of Mary and the genealogy of Lk is that of Joseph. So, the Mary’s father was Joseph and her husband has the name of Joseph as it was quite common name at that time.

However, as there are many witnesses and testimony that Gospel Matthew was written in Hebrew, we need to look at this from the view of Hebrew writer. At the moment we do not see much chance of such interpretation because Husband in Hebrew is Baal and Father is Av in Hebrew.

3)     Conclusion

A.    There exists a difference between genealogies in Gospel Matthew and Gospel Luke.

B.    However, it doesn’t say that both describe the same families, but we can understand that one describes the genealogy of Joseph’s and the other that of Mary’s

C.    Such difference doesn’t mean any error but compliment each other because

they indicate 2 families.

D.    Number of generations cannot be a problem because even today some family

change 5 generation during 100 years while the other change only 3 generation during the same period.

E.    So, the issue is not so significant in general. Some day, if we discover any

copy of Gospel Matthew in Hebrew, as Dead Sea Scroll was discovered,

it may help understand the exact reason for the difference.

2. Why is the birth place of Jesus different among the gospels?

Mt, Lk mentions Jesus was born in Bethlehem while John 7:41 says “Shall Christ come out of Galilee ?” but nobody argued against it.

Gospel John doesn’t say that Jesus was born in Galilee, but Jews misunderstood that Jesus was born in Galilee because Jesus was grown up in Nazareth, Galilee

Jesus was born in Bethlehem as Micah prophesied (Micah 5:2)

3. Was Jesus born after marriage or before marriage after engagement?

This relates to Jewish Law Torah and Jewish custom. Exodus 21:7, Exodus 22:16, Deut 22:28-29 mention about the rules on the betrothal. None of the Jewish sages doubt that Ex 21:7 talks about the betrothal, not the selling of his own daughter because of poverty.

Betrothal may be followed by the official wedding as we notice in Jn 2:1 where Jesus attended wedding ceremony in Kana. But in some cases especially if the couples are poor, the betrothal meant the official marriage. So, we can understand Mary and Joseph lived together after betrothal.

4. Was Jesus born in an Inn or in a House

Lk says there was no room at the Inn.(2:7)

Mt says when they come into the house (Mt2:11)

The word for the Inn at Luke 2:7 is Kata-Luma in Greek which is mentioned in Lk22:11 as Guest-chamber. Inn or Motel is mentioned as Pan-Dokeyon at Lk 10:34 (The Samaritan brought him to an inn). So, the word Kata-Luma is misinterpreted in Lk 2:7

According to the layout of ancient Israelites house, there was a guest room which sometimes used as a storage after harvest. The guestroom might have been occupied by the crops from the harvest. In this case there is a mistake in the translation.

5. Return to Nazareth

Mt says Jesus went to Egypt while Luke doesn’t mention but describe that he went to Nazareth directly.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem and stayed there several weeks, we presume, and the order of the events would be as follows:

-          Birth of Jesus (5 BC)

-          Angels sang

-          Shepherds visited

-          Circumcision

-          Wise men from the East visited and worshipped Jesus (they were late in visiting)

-          Escape to Egypt

-          Infants murder by King Herod

-          Death of Herod the Great (4 BC)

-          Return to Nazareth

The Omission of the statement on Escape to Egypt in Gospel Luke is not unusual in the bible writing as we notice such omission of a certain event in telling the stories.

6. Should we have no staff or one staff?

Mk 6:8 – they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only

Mt 10:10 – neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves (plural)

Mt tells us that no surplus coats, shoes, staff should be taken, while Mk mentions the minimum provisions. In other words, no excessive assets should be pursued.

Therefore there is no contradiction between 2 gospels.

7. Is he Levy or Matthew?

Mk 2:14 As he passed by he saw Levy, the son of Alphaeus at the receipt of customs

Mt 9:9 Jesus saw a man named Matthew sitting at the receipt of customs

Levy is not the first name but the name of a tribe and therefore I would interpret this as

As he passed by, he saw a man named Matthew( Matityahu), son of Alphaeus,  belonging to Levy tribe. It just mentioned Matthew as a Levite.

8. Lord-taught Prayer

Why is the prayer taught by Lord different between Mt and Lk?

1. King James Version has much less difference between 2 gospels while NIV and many other modern translations have bigger difference.
2. Mt 6:9-13 was taught on the mountain, to the crowd.
3. Lk 11:2-4 was taught to disciples in a certain place after coming down from the mountain. This is disciples’ prayer
4. Lord prayer is found in Gospel John 17 where Jesus’ prayer to the Father is recorded thru the entire chapter.

9. Was she a Greek or Canaanite?

Mt 15:22 A woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying

                “Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David..”

Mk 7:26 The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by nation…

Greek word for Canaan in Mt 15:22 is Xananaia ( Xananaious)

It can mean 1) Canaanite, 2) Zealote, 3) Commercial man or woman (xananaios originated from Aramaic)

If Syro-Phoenician can include the Canaanite as a sub-nation or a small tribe, it can mean a

Canaanite woman, who is one of the remnant descendants who survived since Joshua era.

But in general we understand that Canaanites were eradicated at the time of Joshua after Moses. Therefore we believe the woman was a Greek citizen, and Syro-Phoenician by nation.

Another word to be thought about in connection with this is Kananites as shown in Mt 10:2

One of 12 disciples was Simon, Kananites, which is interpreted in most translations as Canaanite, but this is different word and actually means “ a man from Kana where Jesus performed the first miracle”

Both NIV and KJV made wrong choices of the meanings of the same word, in this case.

10. Was it Ahimelech or Abiathar when David entered the temple?

    This is not the difference between the gospels but between NT and OT, however, I write here for understanding.

Mk 2:26 How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, …

     “In the days of “ is a translator’s addition for the readers so that the readers can understand the context better. However, in this case many of bible translations including NIV and KJV made the wrong addition. It should have been written as “ in the section of Abiathar the high priest…”

Ahimelech was the high priest at that time and was killed suddenly by Doeg, the Edomite, ordered by King Saul. Therefore he had no chance to write about the event where David ate the shew bread. His son Abiathar wrote the whole story afterwards and his writing was included in the Chronicle and it was called the section titled “Arbiathar, the high priest”

11. Was the Vinegar offered before the Crucifixion or after Crucifixion?

Vinegar was offered Jesus twice as shown in Mt 27: 34 and Mt 27:48, recorded by the   

 same writer.

It was offered once before Crucifixion and another time after Crucifixion, just before the

death on the cross.

12.  Was Jesus crucified before Passover or after Passover?

Mt 26:17 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread …

Mk 14:12 and the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover..

Lk 22:7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed.

Jn 19:14 it was the preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour.

So, 3 gospels (Mt. Mk. Lk) mention that the Passover has already started while Jn mention

It was preparation day for the Passover.

We should note that

A. even Mt 27:62 mentions the next day, followed by the day of Preparation,

B. Mk 15:42 and now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is,

    the day before the Sabbath,

C. also, Lk 23:54 and that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath was drew on.

So, the explanation for this is that Disciples celebrated the Passover-Eve, Erev Pesach with Last Supper on the Wednesday night and then Jesus died on the Pro-Pesach, Pro-Sabbath, Thursday afternoon when the Passover lamb was killed,  and was buried at the time approaching Passover evening. Thereafter Jews started to eat Passover lambs in the evening of Thursday(Seder). According to Jewish calendar it was the beginning time of Friday, one day before the regular Sabbath. However, as it was Passover, it was also the High Sabbath.

Passover lamb was killed in the afternoon of Preparation Day and Jesus was killed right at that time as a Lamb of God!

The reason why Disciples celebrated the Erev Pesach was because some of the disciples might be Essene, as Apostle John was, and the Essene people celebrated one day before the Passover, especially Erev Pesach.

So, there is no contradiction among the gospels in this matter.

13. What was the last words by Jesus on the cross?

        Because,

        Lk 23:46 says “Father into thy hands I commend my spirit” and having said this, he gave

                                 up the spirit.

        Jn 19:30  “It is finished.” And he bowed his head, and gave up the spirit.

         It was not necessary for the writers to mention all the speech by Jesus and the

        followings are thought to be the order of the words on the cross:

1)     Father forgive them; for they know not what they do. (Lk23:34)

2)     Woman behold thy son! (Jn19:26)

3)     Behold, thy mother!(Jn19:27)

4)  Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Lk23:43)

4)     Eli, Eli, Lama Sabach-thani? (Mt 27:46)

5)     I thirst (19:28)

6)     It is finished!(Jn19:30)

7)     Father into thy hands I commend my spirit (Lk23:46)

          So, the gospel Luke recorded the last words.

14. Was Jesus in the grave for 2 nights or for 3 nights?

        Question:

          Mt 12:40 as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the

Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

But many people wonder how Jesus stayed in the tomb for 3 nights because

they think He died on Friday and Saturday was approaching, and He was resurrected

in the morning of Sunday, which means His staying at a tomb Friday night and

Saturday night. In that case Jesus stayed in the tomb only for 2 nights.

Answer:

Jesus was killed on 14^th Nisan, Thursday afternoon.

He was buried just before sunset of Nisan 14, Thursday

He slept in the tomb during:

-Thursday night, High Sabbath night, which was 15^th Nisan according

      to Jewish calendar.

       - Friday night, which was 16^th Nisan, regular Sabbath night.

        - Saturday night, which was the 17^th Nisan and the first day of the week night.

     So, Jesus was in the tomb for 3 nights.

      He was resurrected early in the morning of Sunday, which was the first day

      after Sabbath, Nisan 17.

Mt 28:1 support this : In the end of the Sabbaths (plural)….

Most translations overlooked the plural Sabbath in that verse.

15. Order of events after the resurrection of Jesus

Q: The explanations among the gospels do not coincide each other.

Mk says 3 women went to the tomb, Mt 2 women, Jn 1 woman, and so on.

The place of appearance of Jesus after resurrection differs among the gospels.

A:

Place of Resurrection was Jerusalem

Mt 28:9 Jesus showed up when 2 Mary’s (Mary Magdalene and the other Mary) ran

             to Disciples.

Mk 16:9 Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene in Jerusalem

The sequences are as follows:

1)The women went to the tomb of Jesus to anoint the body of Jesus Christ, even though

they didn’t know how to get into the tomb.

There were three women, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome,

followed by other women who accompanied from Galilee.

2) Three women found the stone had been removed by an angel.

3) Mary Magdalene hurried to tell Peter and John, who ran toward the tomb (Jn 20:2-4)

4) In the meantime, Mary the mother of James, Salome, and the other women arrived at

   the tomb, entered it and saw angels who assured them Jesus had risen . They ran

  from the tomb in fear and joy to inform His disciples (Mt 28:8).

5) Peter and John arrived at the tomb. John arrived first, looked in and saw the linen

  clothes, but didn’t enter. Peter entered into the tomb and saw the linen clothes and

  napkin wrapped together in a place by itself. They returned home.

6) Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb again and stood outside the sepulcher weeping

   and stooped into the sepulcher, and saw the two angels inside the tomb (Jn 20:12)

7) Jesus showed up to Mary Magdalene while she was talking to the angels. (Jn20:14-)

8) On the way of the women returning from the tomb to tell the disciples after they heard

   from the angels, Jesus met the women (Mt 28:9)

9) Jesus appeared to Peter (LK24:34)

10) Jesus appeared to two disciples who were going to Emmaus, walked and talked and

     ate along with them (Lk 24:13-31)

11) Two disciples returned to Jerusalem right away and found the eleven gathered

     together (Lk24:33)

12) Jesus showed up to the disciples and ate with them. Thomas was absent at that time

13) those appearance of Jesus (7-12) happened on Sunday the first day of the week on

      which Jesus was resurrected.

14) Jesus showed up afterwards, on the 8^th day (another Sunday) he showed up to

       Thomas and other disciples (Jn 20:26)

15) Jesus appeared again at sea of Galilee later (Jn 21:1)

16) Jesus was taken up from the place near Bethany (Lk 24:50-51 Act 1:12)

So, no contradiction can be found in the reports by the disciples.

16. Did Judas Iscariot buy a field? or High Priest bought the field for him?

Mt27:5 Judas departed, and went and hanged himself

Mt 27:6 and the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, it is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of the blood.

27:7 they took the counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field to bury strangers in.

Act 1: 18 this man purchased a field with the reward of inequity and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

Q:1) Did Judas killed himself or died of accident or disease?

    2) Was the field bought by Judas? Or by priests?

First, Judas killed himself. Mt tells simply that he hanged himself but doesn’t tell the result.

He might have hanged himself but later on the body fell down by a certain reason and the body was broken and the intestine gushed out. This man was very exceptional person in the human history and there can be many ways for such thing to happen.

Second, two interpretations are possible.

1)     they talk about the same field, bought by the Priests after Judas suicide.

Even though the purchase action was done by the priests, the money was belonging to Judas, the price of blood. Therefore, Act mentions the field was bought by Judas because it was bought by Judas money and eventually the source of such purchase

was from Judas.

2)     they may talk about the different fields.

Judas was in the habit of stealing money from the disciples treasury (Jn12:6) He saved the money and bought a field. As a whole such money was condemned as the money of blood. So, this man purchased a field with the money of inequity.

In any case, we find no contradiction in the statements but they compliment each other.

Conclusion:

There is nothing wrong with the bible itself, but the questions or the misunderstandings or arguments arise because of the followings:

1)     There can be some mistakes in translation. If anyone says there is a perfect translation and there is no mistake in the translation, it is a superstition.

This can happen even in the choice of manuscripts and texts in compiling the bible.

2)     Bible records certain events in a complicated series which looks like a puzzle, especially to the unbelievers,

“Lest any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” Mt 13:15

3)     Some questions about the genealogy may be better interpreted if we can find any

gospel Matthew in Hebrew some day,  as we discovered Dead Sea Scroll in 1947 and

some other bible texts from Masada afterwards.

Hereunder is the articles that gospel Matthew was written in Hebrew language.

Therefore, I conclude that the Bible was written with the inspiration of Holy Spirit and there is nothing wrong with itself. No gospel contradicts another but they just compliment each other and help consist of the entire truth.  There can be some mistakes only in translations as the degree of the inspiration of Holy Spirit differs between the writers and translators. Even such mistakes in translation can be minimized by the diligent and vigilant study and preparation.

[느디님]

눅24:33의 11명의 제자가 모였을 때와 요20:24의 '디두모라 하는 도마는 예수 오셨을 때(에 함께 있지 하니한지라)'와는 어떻게 설명하나요? '여드레를 지나서'(요20:26)라는 단서로 보아 또 다르게 나타나셨을 때는 아닌 것 같은데요...

[하토브]

저는 도마가 없었던 날과 같은 날로 보고 있습니다.
예수님이 부활하시어 40일간 보이셨으므로, 50일의 기산점은 초실절로부터 이고 초실절을 대안식일 다음날로 본다면 예수님 승천후 9일째가 오순절이 되고 그때 성령 강림하신 것으로 보입니다. 반대로 기존에 제가 믿었던 바는 초실절이 대안식일이 아니라 정규안식일 다음날로 보는 것인데 그 이후 40일간(행 1:3) 보이셨다면 예수님 승천 이후 10일째되는 날 오순절날 성령강림이 있었습니다. 그 8-10일 기간동안에 한번 혹은 두번의 안식일이 있었고, 안식일날 가기에 알맞은 거리 문제가 있었던 것으로 보입니다. 오메르 계산에서 초실절을 정규 안식일 이후로 잡는 것은

[하토브]

유월절이 일요일이 되고 유월절 안식일이 월요일이 되는 경우, 정규 안식일인 토요일 다음 날 일요일에 대제사장이 초실절 이삭 묶음을 흔들어야 하였다는 문제가 나옵니다. 이것이 오메르 계산에서 문제로 제기된 바 있습니다.
이것은 다음날까지 음식이 남겨지지 않게 소각하는 문제 등 여러가지를 감안하여 다시 검토되어야 할 사안으로 보입니다.

[느디님]

저도 '해 받으신 후에'(행1:3)라는 단서 때문에, 무덤 속의 사흘을 빼면 10일이 아니라 7일이 아닌가 하는 생각을 하고 있습니다만...

[하토브]

한가지 분명한 것은 예수님 승천 이후 얼마되지 않아서 (2주가 못되어) 성령 강림이 이루어졌다는 것입니다.

[느디님]

'오순절'의 기산점은 '곡물의 첫 이삭 한 단'을 흔드는 '안식일 이튿날'인 바(레23:10~11, 15) '무교절'의 제1일과 제7일의 두 '명절 안식일' 말고, 일주일 마다 돌아오는 '(제4) 계명의 안식일'이 그 기산점으로 저는 믿고 있습니다. 그래서 (저는 여전히) 14일 운명하시고 그 날 저녁에 무덤에 드신 후 첫째 날 (명절) 안식일 15일 후에 향품을 준비한 것은 16일 금요일이였고(막16:1, 눅23:56상), 다시 '계명을 좇아 토요일 17일에 쉰 다음(눅23:56하) 18일 일요일 아침 새벽에 무덤에 갔다고 믿습니다.(눅24:1, 막16:2) 물론 빈 무덤을 발견했지만...

[하토브]

위에서 예수님의 족보상의 댓수 계산 등은 제가 세데로 올람 랍바에 대해서 알지 못하던 시기에 이 글을 작성했었으므로 약간 차이를 보일 수 있습니다.