ABC:John 20

Verse 1

Infidels.org includes on its "List of Biblical Contradictions" the question, "Who Was At the Empty Tomb?" TheThinkingAtheist.com also claims this is a contradiction.

“ Matthew 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

Mark 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

Luke 24:10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

John 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

”

That this is not a contradiction should of course be patently obvious. None of the verses remotely appear to contradict one another. Matthew 28 mentions two of the three present, Mary Magdalene and another Mary. Mark 16 mentions all three, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Jesus, and Salome. John 20 mentions only Mary Magdalene. Luke 24 mentions Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Jesus, Joanna (who may be the same as Salome and/or the mother of Zebedee's children in Matthew 27:56), and other women.

Rather than a contradiction, it is a proof multiple perspectives were being recorded, a proof against the erroneous claim the Gospels were produced from a single source (Q hypothesis). If one author was aware of one person present, another of two people, and another that three were there, it is in no way a contradiction. Or one writer may see fit to mention only one, another two, and yet another writer to mention all persons present.

In no way does it contradict, it simply means less detail was provided about those present by different writers. Had the Matthew or John passages said "ONLY X persons were at the sepulchre" than that would be a contradiction, but to put words in the mouth of the writers when that is not what they said is to falsely accuse the Bible of a contradiction that does not in fact exist.

Verse 10

TheThinkingAtheist.com claims the Bible is wrong about the following passage in their section "Was the Stone Rolled Away?", and makes the following comments (italicized):

“ Matthew 28:8-10 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

The visitors were overjoyed, and they ran to tell the disciples

Mark 16:8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

They were afraid, and told no one.

Luke 24:9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

They told the eleven and others.

John 20:10-12 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. ¶ But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

Mary informed Simon and the other disciple about the empty tomb, then she remained at the tomb crying.

”

In actuality there were two different visits by the women and disciples. Compare Mark 16:8,10, and John 20:2,18 in particular, both of which clearly distinguish between the two visits. The first time only Mary Magdalene ran to tell the disciples, as seen from Mark 16:8 and John 20:2. The Interactive Bible has an excellent chronology of what occurred. The critic is failing to mention crucial verses in Mark 16 and John 20 which reveal there were multiple visits by multiple women who went to tell different people.

“ Mark 16:8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

Mark 16:10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

John 20:2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

John 20:18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

”

First Visit, Three Women

First Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb early while it is still dark, leaves, and runs to tell Peter and John, who both hurry to see for themselves. Mark 16 describes two other women accompanying her, Mary the mother of James, and Salome. John 20 appears to describe Mary Magdalene's account as verses 1-18 are all clearly from her perspective and she is mentioned by name 4 times in the chapter. Mark 16 on the other hand is the account of the other two women, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, both of whom, unlike Mary, did not go tell the disciples immediately afterward. Thus Mark 16 states that they were afraid and did not tell others right away, while John 20, Mary Magdalene's account, states that she did run to tell others. Observe that John 18:11 like Mark 16:8 describes Mary Magdalene having the same initial impression of fear and sorrow, thinking Jesus' body had been stolen.

“ John 20:1 ¶ The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

Mark 16:1 ¶ And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

”

Second Visit, Women, Peter, and John

Mary Magdalene, unlike Mary the mother of James and Salome, has run to tell everyone. Presumably the other two women are there, and upon hearing her story, end up telling what they had been afraid to before. (cp. Mark 16:8, Luke 24:10) On hearing all of this, both Peter and John come to see for themselves. The rest of the eleven do not believe, but Mary Magdalene and other women come with Peter and John.

Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John all encounter the risen Lord on this second trip. Mary Magdalene, having come to the sepulchre a second time with the disciples, stays after they leave, crying. She meets Jesus, and then runs a second time to tell more disciples what has happened. (John 20:11-20) Peter and John while returning from the sepulchre are puzzling over the disappearance of Jesus' body when Jesus accosts them and gives them a verbal thrashing for their lack of belief. (Luke 24:25-26) Other women also apparently went as well, and encountered Jesus on the way also. (Matthew 28:8-10)

“ John 20:3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
11 ¶ But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

Mark 16:9 ¶ Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

Luke 24:10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.
13 ¶ And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

Matthew 28:8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

”

Verse 12

Jim Meritt of Infidels.org claims a Bible contradiction exists and asks "Whom did they see at the tomb?".

“ Matthew 28:2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

Mark 16:5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

Luke 24:4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

John 20:12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

”

This is actually one of the more difficult alleged contradictions at first sight because so many diverse events occur in a complex order. There are two good explanations of this that I am aware of.

The first is by Steve Rudd at The Interactive Bible with a chart demonstrating what order the events all occurred in, namely (1) Jesus' resurrection and rolling away of the stone witnessed by the guards only, (2) Mary, Mary, and Salome go to the tomb while it's still dark, (3) They see the stone rolled away but don't enter, (4) Mary Magdalene runs to tell John and Peter, (5) Peter and John go to the tomb, (6) 5 women arrive at the tomb a second time, (7) The women meet the angels, (8) The women except Mary leave to tell the disciples, (9) Mary alone stays and meets Jesus at the tomb, (10) Jesus then appears to the other women, (11) The women meet with the disciples to tell them what happened.

The second is by the Scofield Study Bible III in its note for Matthew 28:1 which presents roughly the same order: (1) Three women go to the tomb, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome; (2) The women find the stone removed by an angel; (3) Mary Magdalene runs to tell Peter and John; (4) Meanwhile Mary the mother of James, Salome, and the other women arrive at the tomb and meet angels assuring them Jesus is risen - they leave to tell the disciples; (5) Peter and John arrive at the tomb, look around, and leave; (6) Mary Magdalene returns to the tomb weeping and meets Jesus; (7) Jesus appears to the other women as they are on their way to meet the disciples.

At any rate, there were multiple arrivals by multiple people at the tomb and this is evident just from reading any one of the Gospel accounts in context.

• Matthew: First the women go to the sealed tomb. (27:61) Then they return a day later. (28:1)
• Mark: First the women go to the tomb to see where Jesus is laid. (15:47) Then they return to annoint Jesus. (16:1)
• Luke: First the women go to the tomb to see where Jesus is laid. (23:55-56) The next day they return to anoint Jesus. (24:1) Then Peter runs to the tomb to look for himself. (28:12)
• John: Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb. (20:1) Peter and John go see for themselves. (20:3) Mary apparently went with them because she stays at the tomb. (20:11)

None of the accounts contradict one another and all can be true. All the accounts except John mention the original arrival of the women to see where Jesus was laid, John doesn't mention it. Then the women all go to the tomb to anoint Jesus, all the accounts mention this, although John mentions only Mary Magdalene and Matthew mentions only her and another Mary. Luke and John mention the visit of Peter and the book of John mentions John and Mary Magdalene went with Peter as well.

It's not a contradiction for four different accounts to mention varying levels of detail about an event, if they all related the same exact detail there would be no need for four accounts, and they'd obviously have copied from one another and conspired to make a single cohesive account, right? Meritt appears to foolishly assume that "contradiction" means simply relating different levels of detail, a definition that makes absolutely no sense.