Single Stories

Introduction

We are going to analyse the occurrences of some stories in the Bible. This analysis is not concerned with the stories in the Bible being true or not.

The Bible is filled with many stories. Some stories are given once. Sometimes a story is told two, three or four times. When a story appears to be told more than once, a concern is whether these are different stories that look alike, the same story simply repeated, or different stories that sound the samey. If there are differences in the stories, can the differences be reconciled?

A Story with Single Occurrence

Some books in the Bible tell a single story; that is, the whole book tells a story that is not (re)told in other books. Examples of such books are Ruth, Job, Acts, Philemon, and Revelation.

Many stories in the Bible appear once; that is, a story appears in only one book. Examples of unique stories are Eve talking to a serpent (Genesis 3:1-5), the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), the circumcision of Jesus (Luke 2:21), the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), Nicodemus meets Jesus (John 3:1-21), Jesus turning water into wine (John 2:2-12), etc.

A Twice Repeated Story

Reconcilable Differences

The Bible contains stories that seem to be given twice. Sometimes both accounts are the same with almost the same words, as if one author copied from another author.

Examples in the Old Testament are the death of Saul and his sons (1 Samuel 31 and 1 Chronicles 10), David made king (2 Samuel 5:1-5 and 2 Chronicles 11:1-3), David's Administration (2 Samuel 8:15-18 and 1 Chronicles 18:14-17), the Defeat of the Ammonites and Syrians (2 Samuel 10 and 1 Chronicles 19).

Examples in the New Testament are the feeding of 5000 (Mark 6:30-44 and Matthew 14:13-22) and Jesus feeding 4000 (Mark 8:1-10 and Matthew 15:32-39).

Sometimes, two versions of a story in the Bible present insignificant differences, or there are just slight differences.

In the Old Testament, examples are the Ark Brought to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6 and 1 Chronicles 15), the Census of Israel and Judah (2 Samuel 24:1-9 and 1 Chronicles 21), and Solomon's Request for Wisdom (1 Kings 3:1-15 and 2 Chronicles 1:1-12).

In the New Testament, examples are John the Baptist preparing Jesus arrival (Matthew 3:1-12 and Luke 3:1-6), John the Baptist baptizing Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17 and Luke 3:21-22), Satan tempting Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:-13), the beheading of John the Baptist (Mark 6:14-29 and Matthew 14:1-12), and the parable of the wicked vine dresser (Matthew 21:33-46 and Luke 20:9-19).

A Story with Significant Differences

Sometimes a single story clearly appears to be told more than once, but the versions are quite different. Examples are Jesus's triumphal entry (Matthew 21:1-11 and Luke 19:28-40), the Lord's supper (Matthew 26:26-30 and Luke 22:14-23), and Jesus prayer in the garden (Matthew 26:36-46 and Luke 22:39-46).

Sometimes, a story seems to appear twice in the Bible but the differences are quite significant. You wonder whether it is the same story told twice, two different stories, or two opinions of a fictional story.

The Bible contains two creation stories: Genesis 1:3-2:3 and Genesis 2:4-25. Since the world cannot have been created twice (we are not concerned with whether that is possible), those two stories should be similar, but they are not. The sequences of creation are very different. The creations of humans are completely different.

In one section of the scriptures, the God of the Bible asks David to take a census (2 Samuel 24:1). In another part of the Bible, Satan asks David to take a (the same) census (1 Chronicles 21:1). Because the essence of the Ibrahimic religions is to distinguish their god and Satan, and the census in this case is unique, both God and Satan cannot have ordered that census, which means both versions cannot be true. Either one story or version is true and the other is false, or both stories or versions are false.

As another example of a repeated story with inconsistent versions, did a young Amalekite kill King Saul (2 Samuel 1:8-10) or did Saul kill himself by falling on his own sword (1 Samuel 31:4-5, 1 Chronicles 10:4-6).

The New Testament has two significantly different genealogies of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38).

The New Testament has two sets of Beatitudes that are somehow different (Matthew 5:3-10 and Luke 6:20-23).

Consider the Parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) and the Parable of the 10 Minas (Luke 19:11-27). The stories have different introductions but both versions have a rich master or employer who is going on a journey.

The book of Matthew says that this person calls his servants (Matthew doesn't indicate the number of employees who were called) but Luke says that the nobleman called 10 of his servants. In Matthew, the employer gives 5 talents to one servant, 2 talents to another servant, and 1 talent to a third servant. In Luke, the nobleman gives 10 minas to the 10 servants.

In Luke version, since 10 servants were called and 10 minas were given away, we can deduce that every servant received 1 mina.

When the employer comes back, in Matthew, the employee who received 5 talents had produced 5 more talents = 10 talents. In Luke, a servant who had received 1 mina from the master multiplied it by 10.

In Matthew, the employee who had received 2 talents multiplied them and got two more talents. In Luke, another employee who had received 1 talent multiplied it by 5.

The parable of the talents and minas in the books of Matthew and Luke are significantly different. On the surface, they appear to have the same goal but some of their details cannot be reconciled:

Jesus's recruitment of his first three or four disciples is accounted in Luke as starting with Simon (Peter, Cephas), James, and John (Luke 5:1-10). In the book of John, the first disciples are Andrew (Simon Peter's brother), Philip (from Bethsaida), and Nathanael (John 1:).

The book of Luke clearly describes a fishing scene. It mentions James and John. There are no Philip and Nathanael. The book of John says that Jesus was on the way to Galilee (it doesn't describe the means of traveling there). James and John are not on the scene.

The recruiting of the first disciples in Matthew, Mark, and Luke on one side and John on the other side are significantly different and cannot be reconciled.

A Three-Occurence Story

A Story with Slight Differences

In some cases, three accounts seem to tell a story. Sometimes, the versions have some slight differences. Examples are Jesus's temptation by Satan (Mark 1:12-13, Matthew , Luke 4:1-13), the story of a girl restored to life and a woman healed (Mark 5:21-43, Matthew 9:18-26, and Luke 8:40-56), and Jesus transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13, Mark 9:2-13, and Luke 9:28-36).)

Three gospels give almost the same account of the calling of the first disciples (Mark 1:16-20, Matthew 4:18-22, and Luke 5:1-11).

For the list of Jesus disciples, the book named Matthew (10:2-4) has: 1. Simon (also called Peter), 2. Andrew, 3. James, 4. John (two sons of Zebedee), 5. Philip, 6. Bartholomew, 7. Thomas, 8. Matthew, 9. James (son of Alphaeus), 10. Lebbaeus (Thaddaeus), 11. Simon the Cananite, and 12. Judas Iscariot.

Mark has: 1. Simon (Peter), 2. James, 3. John (sons of Zebedee, Boanerges = “Sons of Thunder”), 4. Andrew, 5. Philip, 6. Bartholomew, 7. Matthew, 8. Thomas, 9. James (son of Alphaeus), 10. Thaddaeus, 11. Simon the Cananite, an 12. Judas Iscariot.

Luke (6:12-16) has 1. Simon (also called Peter), 2. Andrew, 3. James, 4. John, 5. Philip, 6. Bartholomew, 7. Matthew, 8. Thomas, 9. James (son of Alphaeus), 10. Simon the Zealot, 11. Judas (son of James), and 12. Judas Iscariot.

Because all three books indicate that Jesus had (precisely) 12 disciples, if you want, you can strive to reconcile the differences in names and get 12 men. Although the book named Matthew says Jesus "called" the disciples, it doesn't necessarily affirm that this is the exact time all 12 disciples were recruited.

Stories with Significant Differences

Sometimes, the versions appear to be different, or very different. An example is Jesus driving out people from the temple (Matthew 21:12-17, Luke 19:45-48, and John 2:13-22).

Let's consider the story of Jesus and Jairus daughter (Mark 5:35-43, Matthew 9:18-26, Luke 8:41-56).

In the gospel named Mark, some people come to announce that the daughter of the synagogue's ruler "was dead". Later, Mark indicates that the girl was 12 years old. The people who announce the death indicate that there is no reason to invite Jesus to the house of the ruler.

The gospel named Luke also identifies the synagogue's ruler and names him Jairus. Jairus states that his only daughter, 12 years old, "was dying" (not already dead). Jesus and a crowd of people leave for Jairus 's house. This is where Luke makes a correction to catch Mark, stating that someone (Singular) came from Jairus's house to announce that the daughter "was dead".

The gospel named Matthew states that "a ruler" (without indicating a ruler of what, and we think that there were various types of leaders) announces to Jesus that the ruler's daughter is dead. That ruler requests Jesus help.

In Matthew and Luke, Jesus goes (only his name is given, no disciple is mentioned) in the room where the girl is laid. In Mark, Jesus goes in the room with Peter, James, John, the father, and the mother of the daughter.

Contradictory Accounts

A Four-Occurence Story

The New Testament contains four gospels. Each gospel contains its own version of the resurrection of Jesus. It has been historically impossible to reconcile those four versions.

Mark 16:1-13

Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome gather some spices and go to the tomb. When those three women get to the tomb, they find that the stone has already been rolled away.

When the women go into the tomb, they find or see an unidentified young man wearing a white robe and sitting on the right side in the tomb.

Matthew 28:1-15

Mary Magdalene and "the other Mary" go to the tomb (the text is clearly mentioning only these two women). The cemetery guards are present (Matthew 28:4).

There is an earthquake (there is no way the other gospels could miss or forget such a significant event). An angel comes down from Heaven (again, it should be impossible for the other gospels to miss or forget such a big event from the sky). That angel rolls the stone away from the door of the tomb and sits on that stone.

Luke 24:1-27

Some unnamed disciples and unidentified women (plural) go to the tomb. They find the stone rolled away and an empty tomb. Then, suddenly, two men stand by them.

John 20:1-18

Mary Magdalena (only she is mentioned) goes to the tomb. Mary Magdalene (by herself) finds out that the stone has been removed. She goes to tell Simon and the beloved discipline. Peter and the beloved disciple go to the tomb. The beloved disciple goes before Simon. Still, one after another, they go in the tomb and find only a linen cloth.

To resume, for the people going to the tomb:

When the people get to the tomb:

Conclusion

Why should we care whether there are inconsistencies in the Bible? Because the Bible is supposed to be, or to contain, the words of the almighty God. The Bible is supposed to be perfect, with no contradictions. The accounts on every story in the Bible must be clear, consistent, and understandable to everyone in every language in every part of the world. A single inconsistency or contradiction puts the entire Bible in doubt.

The Bible is filled with contradictions, inconsistencies, and misrepresentations. Thank God Almighty, the Bible is a desperate compilation of unanimously written books with fictional characters.

THINK!!!
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