Resurrection Contradictions: A Response

When it comes to allegations of Biblical contradictions, we must keep this in mind: a contradiction must only be declared as such when no other explanations or attempts at reconciliation are possible. When it comes to the Gospel accounts, each writer set out with a different objective and unique emphases when it came to their recordings. Much of what Abdul Haleem alleges as contradiction, boils down to a difference in perspective between the authors and not a contradiction between facts.

The bellow italicized words are the allegations of Muslim apologist Abdul Haleem found via the link below. The standard font is my response to his challenges, and (in most cases) a straightforward demonstrations of how these allegations are truly no contradiction at all.

Original Article by Abdul Haleem: Contradictions In the Resurrection Story

1. Matthew 28:1 states two women (Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary) came to the tomb; Mark 16:1 states it was three women (Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome); Luke 24:10 agrees it was three women but gives a different list of three than Mark (Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James); John 20:1 states it was only Mary Magdalene.

The initial response to the question of “Who were the first to arrive at the tomb?” is a matter of perspective and emphasis, not contradiction. Now if one Gospel account states that “three women arrived at the tomb and Mary Magdalene was among them,” but then another states “Mary Magdalene was not present,” or even “the other Mary came to the tomb alone,” then we would undoubtedly have a contradiction on our hands. Likewise, if I talk to ten different people throughout the work day and when I get home I tell my wife that, “I had a conversation with a friendly young man today,” I’m not falsely describing what occurred that day. I’m just making a unique emphasis to support a point. There is no contradiction to be concerned with.

2. Mark 16:2 states "the sun had risen" at the time of this visit, while John 20:1 states "it was still dark."

There are few different possible ways to reconcile this allegation. First, we should agree that the statements made in both passages are making reference to the early morning sunrise hours. Generally speaking this is no contradiction in regards to the time of day this event occurred. Second, it’s well within reason to say that possibly Mary Magdalene left for the tomb while it was still dark, and the first light from the sun could have easily peaked by the time she had arrived. Either way, there is no real contradictory discrepancy in these accounts.

3. Matthew 28:2 says "an angel came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it"; Mark 16:5 says the women encountered "a young man sitting at the right" of the tomb (rather than upon the stone); Luke 24:4 says they saw "two men" who "suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing"; in John 20:1, Mary Magdalene saw nothing other than a moved stone.

As with point number one, this again is a matter of perspective and emphasis. First, concerning Matthew 28:5 and Mark 16:5 - it is a common occurrence for angels to appear in the form of men. We even have a precedent for this as we look back at Genesis 18, when angels sit and share a meal with Abraham, as well as Joshua 5. So no problems here.

In regards to the location of the angel, we certainly wouldn’t expect the stone to be directly in front of the tomb, and the fact that the young man (angel) “sitting at the right” is not a contradictory statement against Matthew describing the angel as sitting on the stone.

As for the number of angels (remembering our initial definition of a contradiction) it is not a contradiction for Matthew and Mark to describe a single man, while Luke mentions two.

4. There is also a discrepancy as to whatever dialogue occurred between this angel(s) or man (men) and the women: Matthew 28:5-7 and Mark 16:6-7 generally agree the women were told that Jesus (peace be upon him) had risen, and instructed to advise the disciples that "He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him" (Matthew 28:7), and ; Luke 24:6-7 contains no instruction to advise the disciples about an appearance by Issa in Galilee.

This one is rather simple. Just because Luke did not include the angel’s instructions to advise the disciples, in no way means that it was not said. The allegation of a contradiction here is a major leap without evidence. Remember - the Gospels are written by four unique authors, with different points of emphasis.

5. To whom did Jesus (peace be upon him) appear first: Mary Magdalene and the other Mary as Matthew 28:9 claims? Mary Magdalene only as Mark 16:9 claims? Cephas (Peter) and then the other disciples, as 1 Corinthians 15:5 claims? Matthew 28:9 claims that Issa (peace be upon him) appeared before the women even had reported to the disciples what the found (or didn't) at the tomb. Also in Mark 16:9 the appearance to Mary Magdalene was before Mary made any report to the disciples. However, John and Luke report no appearance before the women reported an empty tomb to the disciples.

Once again, we must consider that the mention of one individual does not indicate an exclusion of another. This is the case when we compare Christ’s appearance as recorded in Matthew 28:9 and Mark 16:9. While Matthew reads “they” and clearly mentions Mary Magdalene and the other Mary in verses prior, Mark’s sole mention of Mary Magdalene necessitates no direct contradiction in any way.

Additionally, when Paul mentions Christ’s appearance in 1 Corinthians 15:5, the language here is incredibly important to consider. “...and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.” This has the apostles in view and clearly Paul is indicating that Peter was the first apostle to which Christ appeared and serves as no contradiction to the accounts of Christ’s first appearance to the women.

6. Which disciples went to the tomb: Peter alone (Luke 24:12)? Peter and John (John 20:2-8)? Did the disciples believe the reports of the women (or woman) and proceed to Galilee, as Matthew 28:16 claims? Or did they disbelieve these reports as Mark 16:11 and Luke 24:11 claim?

The situation here is similar to the allegations made in point number one. Luke 24 describes Peter running to the tomb, but this is by no means an exclusionary statement in regards to the presence of John, as described in John 20.

For the disciples' disbelief described in Mark 16 and Luke 24, there is plenty of room for disciples' disbelief to also apply in Matthew 28. It seems that many of the disciples maintained some level of skepticism, even as they went to Galilee as Jesus had instructed. This is clearly demonstrated that some of them doubted even after Jesus had appeared to them.

7. In appearing to the disciples, to whom did Jesus (peace be upon him) first appear: All eleven together (Matthew 28:17-18)? Two of them on the road, then to all eleven together (Mark 16:12-14 and Luke 24:13-31)? To ten of the eleven (minus Thomas) together (John 20:19-24)? To Peter, then the others (1 Corinthians 15:5)? The story recounted in John 20:25-29 is all premised on an appearance of Jesus (peace be upon him) before the disciples at which Thomas was not present! Matthew 28:17-18, Mark 16:12-14 and Luke 24:13-31 all disagree with John about any such meeting taking place in the absence of Thomas!

The first important aspect to note is that Matthew’s account here is very generalized. He records very little detail and instead presents an overarching statement of “...the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.” This leaves much flexibility when it comes to who saw Jesus when. It simply points out that 1) the disciples went to Galilee and 2) when they saw Christ they worshiped him and some still doubted. This really doesn’t declare much in regards to who saw him first, did he appear to all at once, etc.

The issue raised here in regards to Peter’s appearance has already been addressed under point number six, and in regards to Thomas, we know that Christ did in fact appear to Thomas and this fits comfortably within Matthews generalized presentation at the end of chapter 28.

8. In Acts and the Gospel of Luke, the disciples were commanded to stay in Jerusalem and, in fact, met Jesus (peace be upon him) there (see Acts 1:4 and Luke 24:33, 47, 49). In Matthew 28:10 and Mark 16:6-7, the disciples are commanded to go to Galilee, and in Matthew 28:16-18, we are told they see Jesus (peace be upon him) there, not in or near Jerusalem!

To answer this in the simplest fashion: Jesus made more than one appearance to his disciples. In fact, he appeared at least three times as John records in 21:14. Haleem does not mention this key detail in his allegation here. It seems that Haleem is assuming a single appearance of Jesus, and makes no consideration for what is clearly described as an event that occurs multiple times until the ascension near Bethany.

9. Mark says that after appearing before the eleven disciples together in Galilee, Jesus (peace be upon him) ascended to Heaven (Mark 16: 14, 19). Luke says Jesus (peace be upon him) ascended to Heaven at Bethany after walking with the disciples some time (Luke 24:50-51). John says Jesus (peace be upon him) appeared to the disciples at three times and that some of these appearances were near the Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberias) (John 21:1, 14). According to Acts the disciples were at Mt. Olivet, a days journey from Jerusalem, when the ascension occurred (Acts 1:9-12).

The issue here, like many above, is that of chronology. Haleem points out that Mark records that after Christ appeared to the disciples in Galilee, the ascension took place. There is no contradiction between Luke’s account in 24:50-51. The Great Commission did not happen in Galilee, but rather occurred in Bethany. Mark, as consistent with the rest of his Gospel, has created a succinct presentation of Jesus ministry and appears to condense what can be read as a single event, from what is actually several. This is not a contradiction once we recognize Mark’s goal and writing style.

Haleem’s point here about the Sea of Galilee is cleared when we understand that Jesus did appear to the 11 disciples near the Sea of Galilee and at Bethany where he ascended. Additionally, Mt. Olivet is on the road between Bethany (where the ascension occurred) and Jerusalem. The disciples would have undoubtedly spent some time, if only passing through, at Mt Olivet. Acts does not claim this is directly where the ascension occurred.

10. In 1 Corinthians 15:5-8, it is claimed that Jesus (peace be upon him) appeared to more than five hundred witnesses before his ascent to heaven - a claim directly contradicted at least by Mark, who says the ascension occurred immediately after an appearance before the eleven disciples (Mark 16: 14, 19).

Once again we must remember that Mark is a succinct and condensed account of Christ’s ministry. Mark does not declare in any explicit fashion that the ascension occurred immediately after the declaration of the Great Commission. Mark records the Great Commission and then the ascension as a matter of simple occurrences. We know that Christ also appeared again at Bethany which was when the ascension took place. It is between these two appearances to the disciples that the appearance to the 500 likely occurred.