There
are those who would like to confuse Christians and those who are
interested in becoming Christians by inconsistencies within the
Bible. Are these inconsistencies significant enough to invalidate
that Jesus Christ died on the cross?
I
will use the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible and internet
resources when applicable to research the different inconsistencies
to see if they are significant enough to disprove that Jesus
Christ died on the cross. I will try to put my analysis and opinions
within brackets for those who would like to study this research
further at https://BiblicalProof.blogspot.com
Otherwise,
I will try to preface these for those who are listening to this
analysis on the Relate2theBible Podcast. Additionally, the Bible
will, at times, use he and him in the same sentence, so I will note
who is speaking or is being spoken to if it is unclear. That portion
will be in brackets on the blog site.
First
of all, I will locate and list all the Bible passages that refer to
the Inscription on Jesus’ cross. That way, I can more easily
compare what inconsistencies exist, if any.
Matthew
27:33-37 says: “And when they had come to a place called Golgotha,
that is to say, Place of a Skull, they gave Him sour wine mingled
with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink.
Then they crucified Him, and the Place of a Skull, which is called in
Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him,
one on either side, and Jesus in the center. Now
Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was:
JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then many of the Jews read
this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the
city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Therefore the
chief priest of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King
of the Jews,’ but that ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.”
’ ” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
Then
the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and
made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the
tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. They said
therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for
it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which
says: “They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing
they cast lots.” [Psalm 22:18]
Mark
15: 22-26 says: And they brought Him to the place Golgotha,
which is translated, Place of a Skull. Then they gave Him wine
mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it. And when they
crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them to
determine what every man should take. Now it was the third hour, and
they crucified Him. and the inscription of His accusation was written
above: THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Luke
23:32-37 says: There were also two others, criminals, led with Him
[Jesus] to be put to death. And when they had come to the place
called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on
the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father,
forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
And
they divided His garments and cast lots. And the people stood looking
on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved
others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.”
The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and
saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.” And
an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin,
and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
John
19:17-24 says: And He [Jesus], bearing His cross, went out to a place
called Golgotha, where they crucified Him [Jesus], one on either
side, and Jesus in the center. Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on
the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE
JEWS. Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where
Jesus was crucified was near the city: and it was written in Hebrew,
Greek, and Latin. Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to
Pilate, “Do not write, 'The King of the Jews.” ' ” Pilate
answered, “What I have written, I have written.” Then the
soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made
four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic
was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. They said
therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for
it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which
says: “They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing
they cast lots.” Therefore the soldiers did these things.
Well,
the first inconsistency that stands out in these three passages is in
John 19, verse 19 where it tells that Pilate wrote the inscription on
Jesus’ cross. Is this significant? [In my opinion, the other three
gospels didn’t mention who wrote the inscription. In that it didn’t
mention who wrote the inscription, doesn’t mean that Pilate didn’t
write it or have it written. Even if the other verses had said other
people had written the inscription, still wouldn’t have proven or
disproven that Jesus was crucified on the cross.]
In
Luke 23:37, it says that the inscription was written in Greek, Latin,
and Hebrew. Is that significant? [In my opinion, in that the other
three Gospels didn’t say that the inscription was written in Greek,
Latin, and Hebrew doesn’t mean it wasn’t. They may have just
written what the inscription said or meant, regardless of how many
languages were included in the inscription. On the other hand, even
if the other Gospels said it was only written in one language versus
Luke saying it was written in three languages, isn’t significant
and doesn’t disprove that Jesus was crucified on the cross.]
Also,
each of the four Gospels described differently how they divided
Jesus’ clothes. [Personally, I feel that’s just examples of
different writing styles. Some describe with more details and others
just put the facts. Even if there had been significant differences in
the Gospels about how they divided Jesus’ clothes wouldn’t have
disproved that Jesus was crucified on the cross!]
Another
inconsistency is that John 19:19 says JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF
THE JEWS, when Matthew 27:37 says: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE
JEWS. Mark 15:26 saysTHE KING OF THE JEWS and Luke 23:38 says: THIS
IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. [Again, although there are minor
inconsistencies in wording, it basically says the same thing. You
will find out if you watch this brief video by J. Warner Wallace, a
L.A. Cold-Case Detective, who tells that witnesses rarely report
things exactly the same way. Were
the Gospels Written by Eye Witnesses?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siOcvLyKuEk
(3
minutes 27 seconds) In my opinion, this video is really worth
watching, because it clarifies so many things about the
inconsistencies in the Gospel recordings.]
Furthermore,
each of the four Gospels say that Jesus was crucified on the cross.
Here’s additional proof from witnesses: Matthew 27:50-54
says: And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His
spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top
to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the
graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen
asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His [Jesus’]
resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. So
when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw
the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly,
saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
Mark
15: 37-39 says: And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed
His last. Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to
bottom. So
when the centurion, who stood opposite Him [Jesus], saw that He cried
out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was
the Son of God!”
Luke
23: 46-48 says: And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He
said, “Father,
‘into your Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ”
Having
said this, He breathed His last. So
when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying,
“Certainly this was a righteous Man!”
John
19: 30-35 says: So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said,
“It
is finished!”
And
bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. Therefore, because it was the
Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on
the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate
that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
Then the soldiers came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead,
they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His
[Jesus’] side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came
out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and
he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe.
[When
you think of all of this, it’s mind boggling to think that there
are many Christians who have lost their faith or never chose faith in
Christ, because of insignificant inconsistencies in the Bible such as
these. When people quote you things in the Bible, always read about a
chapter before and a chapter after, so that Jesus Christ can help you
discern whether any of the points or inconsistencies are worth losing
your salvation over. Remember John 3:16-19 says: “For
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the
world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who
believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is
condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the
only begotten Son of God. “and this is the condemnation, that the
light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than
light, because their deeds were evil. Don’t
let people confuse you about Christ and lead you into the darkness.
Check things out thoroughly, so you will follow the Light that only
Jesus Christ can provide! ]
