The Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John) — Differences and Alleged Discrepancies

What this book is

Why are there differences among Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? Believers and non-believers alike ask. This study takes the question into the courtroom: hear what each Gospel writer says, hear the claimed discrepancy, weigh all the evidence and the reasonable inferences fairly, and reach only the conclusions the evidence supports.

A difference is not automatically a contradiction — reporting one person does not deny a second, and omitting an event does not deny it happened — but neither is every proposed reconciliation proven just because it is possible. Thirty-six questions are examined in order: birth and early years, ministry and miracles, the final week and crucifixion, the empty tomb and appearances, and additional comparisons. The resurrection stands at the center of the inquiry (1 Corinthians 15).

What is inside

• How to read the evidence
• The central proclamation (1 Corinthians 15:3–8)
• Five lines of evidence to examine
• Birth and early years — Questions 1–4
• Ministry and miracles — Questions 5–13
• Final week and crucifixion — Questions 14–23
• Empty tomb and appearances — Questions 24–34
• Additional comparisons — Questions 35–36

Scripture in this book

This book quotes or cites Scripture about 116 times, from 5 books of the Bible. Each reference opens in the ESV at Blue Letter Bible.

Matthew (34 references)

1:1-17, 1:16
2:1-12, 2:13-23
4:1-11, 4:18-22
Matthew 5
8:5-13, 8:28, 8:28-34
9:18-26
20:29, 20:29-34
21:1-7, 21:10-17, 21:12-17, 21:18-22
26:17-20, 26:34, 26:69-75
27:32, 27:37, 27:44, 27:46, 27:62-28:4
28:1, 28:2, 28:2-7, 28:5-7, 28:8, 28:9-10

Mark (29 references)

1:16-20
5:1, 5:1-20, 5:21-43
10:46, 10:46-52
11:1-7, 11:11-19, 11:12-14, 11:15-19
14:12-17, 14:30, 14:66-72
15:21, 15:25, 15:26, 15:32, 15:34
16:1, 16:1-8, 16:2, 16:4, 16:5-7, 16:6-7, 16:8, 16:9-20

Luke (32 references)

2:8-20, 2:22-39
3:23, 3:23-38
4:1-13
5:1-11
6:17-49
7:1-10
8:26, 8:26-39, 8:40-56
18:35, 18:35-43
19:29-35, 19:45-48
22:7-15, 22:34, 22:54-62
23:26, 23:34, 23:38, 23:39-43
24:1, 24:1-12, 24:2, 24:3-7, 24:4-7, 24:5-7, 24:9-10, 24:10, 24:12

John (18 references)

1:35-42
2:13-22
12:14-15
13:38
18:15-27, 18:28
19:14-16, 19:17, 19:19-20, 19:26-30
20:1, 20:1-2, 20:1-18, 20:2-10, 20:11-13, 20:11-18

1 Corinthians (3 references)

15:3-8, 15:12-20

Topics

GospelsReliability of the BibleApologeticsAlleged ContradictionsResurrectionMatthewMarkLukeJohnEvidence