Bible Studies

---

Sometimes we hear about contradictions in the Bible and it is in an effort by Satan to sway us and turn us away from God. One that was heard just recently was that the Gospels report different numbers of women who visited the tomb of Yeshua early on the first day of the week nearly 2,000 years ago. It is not certain as to why this is considered to be a contradiction. However, we will clear up this misconception today. We will list the reporting Gospel verses below.


Matthew 28:1 (KJV)

1 …came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

Mark 16:1-2 (KJV)

1 …Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome…
2 …they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

Luke 24:1 and 10 (KJV)

1 …they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
10 …Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them…

John 1:1-2 (KJV)

1 …cometh Mary Magdalene early…
2 They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.


Before addressing the individual verses above, we will clear up the misconception that they are contradictory. All four verses agree that Mary Magdalene visited the tomb. However, it is important to note that none of the verses are exclusionary--that is, only so-and-so was at the tomb that morning so long ago. Each reports what the individual Gospel writer knew of the facts. Bearing the above in mind, one can immediately state that there is no Biblical contradiction to be found here. Can we determine with exactness how many women did visit the tomb that day?

The answer to the above is absolutely not! However, what we can do is state that there was a minimum number of women who visited the tomb early on the first day of the week so long ago. We determine that minimum number from the following reasoning:

a) All four verses mention Mary Magdalene.
b) Three verses mention the “other Mary” or “Mary the mother of James”.
c) One verse mentions Salome.
d) One verse mentions Joanna.
e) Luke is the most comprehensive and yet limiting verse.

You see, Luke mentions Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Mary the mother of James. However, this verse states that “other women” were with them. This places a lower limitation on the party of women. Therefore, according to Luke, there were no less than five women who visited the tomb of Yeshua.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE