The most confusing contradiction for me is the birth story in Matthew vs. Luke. Matthew's account suggests Jesus was born while Joseph and Mary were living in Bethlehem. After Jesus' birth, they flee to Egypt and only settle in Nazareth years later. Luke's version has Joseph and Mary traveling from their home in Nazareth to Bethlehem for a census, where Jesus is born. They then return directly to Nazareth about a month after Jesus' birth, with no mention of fleeing to Egypt.
Hi good question. The timeline is this - they start before the birth of Jesus living in Nazareth, then they go to Bethlehem for the census (Luke 2:1-4) Jesus is born in Bethlehem to fulfil Micah 5:2. While in Bethlehem Joseph is warned to flee from Herod to Egypt to fulfil Hosea 11:1. Herod then slays the children in Bethlehem, which is a fulfilment of Jeremiah 31:15. Joseph is told to return to Israel and journeys back towards Bethlehem in Judea (Matthew 2:19-23), but being warned he returns to Nazareth instead in verse 23. Luke records the short visit from Bethlehem to Jerusalem for the dedication of Jesus (Luke 2:21-38) The gap between verse 38 and 39 in Luke is filled in by Matthew in Matthew 2:13-23 This is not a contradiction but the Holy Spirit linking the narrative together through 4 Gospel accounts instead of just giving us 1 written narrative. It is like 4 people viewing an event or object from 4 different sides all true just 4 different perspectives.This is why we need to read the entire Bible to get the full picture God intended us to have. Luke 2:39 does not talk of the timeline but just says they settled in Nazareth. www.gotquestions.org is a good website for any questions. Luke also shows Mary living in Nazareth before the birth of Jesus Luke 1:26-27 Hope that helps😀
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The most confusing contradiction for me is the birth story in Matthew vs. Luke.
Matthew's account suggests Jesus was born while Joseph and Mary were living in Bethlehem. After Jesus' birth, they flee to Egypt and only settle in Nazareth years later.
Luke's version has Joseph and Mary traveling from their home in Nazareth to Bethlehem for a census, where Jesus is born. They then return directly to Nazareth about a month after Jesus' birth, with no mention of fleeing to Egypt.
Hi good question. The timeline is this - they start before the birth of Jesus living in Nazareth, then they go to Bethlehem for the census (Luke 2:1-4) Jesus is born in Bethlehem to fulfil Micah 5:2. While in Bethlehem Joseph is warned to flee from Herod to Egypt to fulfil Hosea 11:1. Herod then slays the children in Bethlehem, which is a fulfilment of Jeremiah 31:15. Joseph is told to return to Israel and journeys back towards Bethlehem in Judea (Matthew 2:19-23), but being warned he returns to Nazareth instead in verse 23. Luke records the short visit from Bethlehem to Jerusalem for the dedication of Jesus (Luke 2:21-38) The gap between verse 38 and 39 in Luke is filled in by Matthew in Matthew 2:13-23 This is not a contradiction but the Holy Spirit linking the narrative together through 4 Gospel accounts instead of just giving us 1 written narrative. It is like 4 people viewing an event or object from 4 different sides all true just 4 different perspectives.This is why we need to read the entire Bible to get the full picture God intended us to have. Luke 2:39 does not talk of the timeline but just says they settled in Nazareth. www.gotquestions.org is a good website for any questions.
Luke also shows Mary living in Nazareth before the birth of Jesus Luke 1:26-27
Hope that helps😀