Why are differences between Gospel accounts not contradictions?
The Gospel writers are not necessarily describing the same events; each may report different circumstances and details of separate occasions. Scripture records only highlights of Christ's miracles, so apparent differences often reflect distinct events rather than conflict. When details do not fit, they concern events that did not occur at the identical time.
Les teaches that when studying the Gospels, you often have to jump back and forth between accounts and arrange the material chronologically rather than according to its order in Scripture. Many people assume the feeding of the 5,000 in one Gospel is the same feeding of 5,000 in another, but that is not necessarily true. Each account, if examined closely, has different circumstances and different details. That does not mean the writers are conflicting; it simply means one writer is talking about one event and another is talking about another event. John explains that not all of Christ's miracles were recorded, only a small portion. If all the miracles Christ did in those three years had been written down, the world could not contain it; it would take too much material. So we have only the highlights. This is why, as you study the Gospels, you should keep in mind that there is no contradiction. One writer gives an account of this event, and another writer gives an account of that event. Sometimes they record the same event, but when they do, you can tell by the details. If the details do not fit, then rest assured they are reporting on something that was not in the identical same time.