📅 Today is Day 5 of The 20-Day Easter Special
Each day leading up to Easter, we’re critically examining a core resurrection claim—one at a time—through the lens of reason, evidence, and The God Question’s Core Philosophy.
🧠 Today’s Big Question
If the resurrection really happened as the defining moment of Christianity, why do the four Gospel accounts contradict each other at nearly every major detail?
Wouldn’t something this miraculous—something this pivotal—warrant a consistent, unified report?
📜 A Quick Glance at the Conflicting Accounts
Let’s break down just a few of the major discrepancies in the Gospel resurrection stories (found in Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20–21):
| Element | Matthew | Mark | Luke | John |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who went to the tomb? | Mary Magdalene & “the other Mary” | Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, & Salome | A group of women, unnamed at first | Mary Magdalene (alone), then others |
| Was the stone already rolled away? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Who was at the tomb? | One angel | One young man | Two men in dazzling clothes | Two angels inside tomb |
| Where were the angels/men? | Sitting on the stone | Sitting inside | Standing inside | Sitting inside |
| What was said to the women? | “He has risen… go tell…” | Similar message | Similar message | Angels say little; Jesus speaks |
| Did the women tell the disciples? | Yes | No—they said nothing (original ending) | Yes | Yes |
| Who saw Jesus first? | Women (Mary Magdalene, etc.) | Not shown in earliest version | Two disciples on the road to Emmaus | Mary Magdalene alone |
| Where did Jesus appear? | Galilee | Galilee (as predicted) | Jerusalem | Jerusalem |
And these are just a few of the inconsistencies. When you compare the full narratives, it becomes clear: these are not four people describing the same event. These are four theological retellings—written decades apart—for different audiences, with different agendas.
🔍 Applying The God Question’s Core Philosophy
Let’s examine the resurrection accounts using our critical thinking lens:
1. Do the accounts rely on evidence or belief?
All the Gospels rely on hearsay and secondhand testimony. There is no contemporary, verifiable documentation of these events—just writings decades later by authors who were promoting a specific theological message.
2. Are alternative explanations addressed?
No. The Gospel writers do not account for inconsistencies or attempt to harmonize the contradictions. Apologists today often try—but the results require cherry-picking, assumptions, and speculation.
3. Is there independent corroboration?
None. All four Gospels are religious texts written within the same faith community. No non-Christian source from the 1st century documents a resurrection, empty tomb, or angelic appearances.
4. Are the claims falsifiable?
No. These are miracle claims presented as divine truth. Any contradiction is explained away as a “matter of perspective” or “complementary” rather than being taken seriously as a credibility issue.
5. Do the contradictions raise more questions?
Absolutely. If the resurrection were a historical event, why do the supposed eyewitnesses disagree so wildly on who saw what, when, and where? If God wanted us to believe it, wouldn’t he have made sure the story was consistent?
💭 Conclusion
For a faith that hinges entirely on the resurrection, these Gospel contradictions should give any honest seeker pause.
We’re not talking about minor differences in wording—we’re talking about clashing stories that disagree on the key details. And when sacred stories look more like legend development than eyewitness reports, we have every reason to question their truth.
The God Question isn’t afraid to ask the hard questions. Because if we’re going to stake our beliefs—and our lives—on something, it should be grounded in truth, not tradition.
📺 For Further Exploration
YouTube Video:
🎥 Are the Gospels Historically Reliable? The Problem of Contradictions
A breakdown of how and why the resurrection accounts differ—and why that matters.
📌 Daily Reminder
Today is Day 5 of our 20-Day Easter Special.
We’ll return to our regular Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday posting schedule after Easter—on April 21st.
God or Delusion? 