Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals
Tuesday, September 22
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Luke 1:1-4-Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.
I often hear it said that the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) contain numerous contradictions between themselves, which show that they are not reliable historical accounts of the life, ministry, teaching, miracles, death, burial, resurrection on the third day, and ascension of Jesus Christ.
One well-known lawyer, Edmund Bennett, decided to test this claim. After scrutinizing example after example of alleged contradictions between the Gospels, he concluded that the allegations against them are false.
Do not, therefore, I pray you, give up your Bible, your religion, or your God because of such flippant talk about the contradictions of the Gospels, come from whom it may! Thus, by undesigned coincidences, by indirect confirmations, by unexpected corroborations, by natural and for the most part easily reconcilable differences, scattered throughout these four histories, may we be abundantly satisfied of the truth and harmony of the Gospels. The variations in these stories do not detract from their reliability, but rather the opposite. What would be our opinion of a man who denied the real existence of another merely because four photographs of him, one a front and one a back view, and two others of opposite sides of his face, did not present the same features? Is it not from the four views combined that you get the fullest and truest idea of the person portrayed? So from the combined pictures of the acts and doings of our Lord, in the four Gospels, or rather this fourfold Gospel, do we best comprehend the fullness of his life and power. (Edmund Bennett, The Four Gospels from a Lawyer’s Standpoint, 31-32 (Kindle Edition): Owensboro, Kentucky: 315 Press)
The Bible passes every test, friends.
Are we willing to submit to the Lord Jesus Christ Who is revealed through God’s inspired Book?
Lord, open our eyes to follow where You lead through Your Word. Amen.