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NASB | Luke 1:2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Luke 1:2 exactly as they were handed down to us by those [with personal experience] who from the beginning [of Christ's ministry] were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word [that is, of the teaching concerning salvation through faith in Christ], |
Bible Question:
Matthew 12:39-40 states that “as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Some think this means that Jesus went into his tomb just before sunset on Wednesday and came out of the tomb on Saturday just before sunset. Others feel the three days and three nights is an idiom and Jesus went into the tomb on Thursday or Friday and arose Sunday morning. My question concerns the spices which the women prepared and brought early Sunday morning to the tomb. Mark 16:1 – When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him. Luke 23:56 – Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. The women bought the spices after the Sabbath was over, but prepared them before the Sabbath! How can these two scriptures be reconciled? |
Bible Answer: Dear Jim, We have a clue about why these accounts are different in Luke 1:2,3; just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consectutive order, most excellent Theophilus. Luke interveiwed the apostles and the disciples to get a consectutive order for his account. Mark however may have had sources as well, as he was not one of the twelve. What we can conclude from this is that the women came with spices. We can also conclude that when people tell stories they tell them from a different point of view from one another and the different sources told their stories from these viewpoints that may not coincide from account to account in the minutia of the details, but agree on the substance. I myself have posted similar questions about the end of the four gospels and am laughing to myself that I missed this nugget about the spice! Bravo! The accounts cannot be reconciled in their particulars but can in their substance and that is how you reconcile an account like this one. The Bible is indeed the innerrant word of God and contains some discrepancies at points, but not at any major points and not doctrinally ever. Exegesis can only take you as far as the constraints of the text will allow, the rest is a true mystery of God. I would not say that such forays are fruitless, or meaningless, all of scripture is profitable and God breathed. Here is for you; II Timothy 2:15 Be ready to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handing the word of truth. By His Grace, Tamara |