One of the problems for skeptics is the contradictions in the gospels. How can we explain them?
Let’s think of eyewitnesses, each giving their own version of an event. Each of them there will be a different version from the other. Sometimes we will find apparent contradictions between the versions.
This happens if the witnesses are kept separate from each other. But, let’s try to put all the witnesses together in one room. The witnesses will talk to each other, and will agree on a single version. Now they will all tell the same story.
This proves to us that the gospels, as eyewitness accounts, were written separately. This is the reason for the apparent contradictions. This happens every time there are eyewitnesses who witnessed the same event from different perspectives.
Sometimes, it seems like one version doesn’t make sense. But when we put it together with the others, it provides us with the missing piece of the puzzle.
In the Gospels the same thing happens. Take, for example, the first meeting between Jesus and Simon. We find these passages in Matthew 1 and Mark 1. Here, Jesus calls Simon, James and John to follow him. The three fishermen leave all their belongings and follow Jesus. But we may wonder how such a thing is possible?
This same event is recorded in Luke 5. Here Luke tells us that Jesus was walking followed by a crowd. Jesus borrows Simon’s boat to preach to the crowd. When he finishes, he asks Simon to go fishing again and throw the net into the sea. The net quickly fills up with fish. So many, that the net breaks down.
Simon and the others recognize that a miracle has occurred. And for this they leave everything and follow Jesus.
So what appear to be contradictions are actually different perspectives. When we put them together, they complement each other, and give us a larger picture of what’s going on.