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One of the objections that is usually made against the gospel writers is the one that is made by a famous skeptic: “Matthew’s Gospel is written completely in the third person, . . . Even when this Gospel narrates the event of Matthew being called to become a disciple, it talks about ‘him,’ not about ‘me.’
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1 Corinthians 12:4-11 states: "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills."
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The Gospels record the account of the Pharisees castigating Jesus' disciples for eating from the grain fields on the Sabbath day (Matthew 12:1-8; Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-5). In response to the Pharisees' unjust accusation, Jesus sites the historical account of David eating the showbread - an act only lawful for the priests in 1 Samuel 21:1-6. Some people have misconstrued this passage to teach that Jesus was upholding "Situation Ethics" and that David actually did not sin on this occasion. Such, however, is not the case.
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Through the years there have been claims that other "gospels" were reportedly found (such as the Gospel of Thomas, Phillip, Mary, etc.). You can find a list of these books on www.earlychristianwritings.com. Why are these not included in our New Testaments along with Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John?
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Some Christians quote Matthew 18:20 to try to justify their practice of going out on Sunday to fish, golf, attend travel ball or perform some other recreational activity, missing the first-day-of-the-week assembly and simply holding their "own services" since two or three are gathered. Many verses like this are abused in like manner (such as, Matthew 7:1 where people claim that you cannot judge (see our Question in the Q & A- Is It A Sin To Judge?).
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John the Immerser, who served as the forerunner of the Messiah, said in Matthew 3:11, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." What is the baptism of fire?
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Skeptics like to comb through the Bible and think they have found contradictions. Skeptics think they may have found a chronological contradiction this time. The contradiction they have said to find is that gospel writers and Paul cannot agree upon when the disciples became apostles. Did they become the apostles before the ascension of Jesus (Acts 1:9-11), which seems to be the case or was it after the ascension of Jesus? These passages Matthew 10:2, Mark 6:30, Luke 6:13, 9:10, 11:49, 17:5, 22:14, 24:10, Acts 1:2, and 1:26 call the disciples the apostles before the ascension of Jesus (except for Acts 1:26). Paul indicates in his letter to the Ephesians that the gift of apostleship was not given until after the ascension of Jesus (Ephesians 4:7-16).
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Matthew 1:16: "And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ."
Luke 3:23: "Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli"
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"Three days and three nights" was a common Jewish idiom (also known as "inclusive day" or "time reckoning").
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Skeptics of the Bible continue to search for supposed "contradictions" that will show that a Divine Mind did not supernaturally superintend over its contents.
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There is a prevalent idea in American culture that it is wrong for people to judge other people [which is a hypocritical idea in and of itself because such people are judging that you should not judge]. Usually, the verse that is used to support this false idea is Matthew 7:1, which is usually twisted totally out of its context (2 Peter 3:16).
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What is the meaning of Matthew 5:5? Many do not understand what meekness is, nor do they understand the blessing that comes to those who are meek. Meekness is not timidity, weakness, or cowardice. It does not mean that you let everyone walk over you like a welcome mat just whenever they want and however they want. While meekness does involve humility and gentleness, it is more than these two traits.
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Does Jesus’ statement to the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 12:39, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah” contradict John’s statement in John 20:30, “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book”?
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This question springs from the context of Matthew 16:13-20: “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’ So they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’
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This question comes from the context of Matthew 16:13-20. The Catholic denomination assumes this passage relates to when Peter would become the first pope on whom, they falsely say, the church was built. They assert that Peter is the rock. This cannot be true for the following reasons:
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One of the objections that is usually made against the gospel writers is the one that is made by a famous skeptic: “Matthew’s Gospel is written completely in the third person, . . . Even when this Gospel narrates the event of Matthew being called to become a disciple, it talks about ‘him,’ not about ‘me.’
Read More
