No, the Gospels do not truly contradict each other; apparent differences arise because the writers often record different events and emphasize different aspects of Christ.
Les Feldick points out that the four Gospel writers do not always write about the same events, so when accounts are not exactly the same, they may be describing separate occasions rather than contradictions. He also explains that Matthew, Mark, and Luke (the synoptics) focus on Christ's humanity, while John focuses on His deity, which accounts for many differences. The writers were moved by the Holy Spirit, so the differences are part of God's design.
Luke 24:41-43 — Luke records a post-resurrection appearance where Jesus eats fish and honeycomb, demonstrating that each Gospel writer selected specific events to record.
John 15:1 — John records Jesus' 'I AM the true vine' statement, showing John's unique emphasis on the deity of Christ.
Revelation 22:16 — The final 'I AM' in Revelation ties Christ's deity to all of history, which Les notes is consistent with John's Gospel.
Scripture presents four Gospel accounts, each recording a different selection of events from Christ's life. For instance, Luke records the resurrected Jesus eating broiled fish and honeycomb before His disciples (Luke 24:42-43). John records a separate appearance by the Sea of Tiberias, where Jesus prepared breakfast for His disciples after a night of fishing (John 21). The feeding of the 5,000 is recorded in John's Gospel as a sign pointing to Christ's deity (John 6). These differing records show that each writer deliberately chose material for his particular purpose rather than writing an exhaustive biography.
Les Feldick explains that the apparent contradictions between the Gospels are not real contradictions. He notes that 'the four Gospel writers do not always write about the same events,' so when accounts differ, they may be describing different events entirely. This is why, for example, the temptations are recorded in Matthew, Mark, and Luke but not in John; likewise, the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane is in the three synoptics but not in John. Les also emphasizes that Matthew, Mark, and Luke are the synoptic Gospels and deal primarily with Christ's humanity, while John's Gospel deals with His deity. Matthew depicts Christ as the King, Mark as the Servant, Luke as the Son of Man, and John emphasizes His deity. Furthermore, Les reminds us that the writers were moved by the Holy Spirit, so they did not have to rely on human memory; every word is divinely inspired.
Les Feldick observes that the four Gospel writers do not always write about the same events. When accounts are not exactly the same, the events may be separate occurrences. For example, Luke records Jesus eating broiled fish and honeycomb after His resurrection, while John records a different appearance by the Sea of Tiberias where the disciples had been fishing all night.
Les teaches that Matthew, Mark, and Luke are the synoptic Gospels, dealing primarily with Christ's humanity, while John deals with His deity. This is why the temptations and the agony in Gethsemane are recorded in the synoptics but not in John. Matthew depicts Christ as King, Mark as Servant, Luke as Son of Man, and John as God. These distinct perspectives explain many of the differences between the accounts.
Les notes that the writers were not relying on their own memory of events from years earlier. The Holy Spirit moved them to write, so every word is put together by the Spirit. Thus, even differences in wording or details are part of God's inspired Word, not human error.
What Jesus Said From the Cross — 7 Statements Explained
Me." Then the next one will be in the next page or so, John's Gospel chapter 15, and now He says, "...I AM the true vine, my Father is the husbandman." And then we always like to tie the 8th with the 7th, and that would take us back to Revelation chapter 22. The number 8 in the Scripture is always indicative of new beginnings.
Different Events, Not Contradictions
Les says the four Gospel writers do not always write about the same events, so differences do not amount to contradictions; they are often different events.
Synoptic Gospels Focus on Christ's Humanity
Les explains that Matthew, Mark, and Luke deal with His humanity while John deals with His deity, explaining why events like the temptations appear only in the synoptics.
Different Portrayals of Christ
Les describes how each Gospel writer presents Christ differently: Matthew as King, Mark as Servant, Luke as Son of Man, and John as God.
John Omits Events Emphasized by the Synoptics
Les shows that John does not record the temptations or Gethsemane's agony because those emphasize Christ's humanity, which the synoptics cover.
Why Only Matthew, Mark, and Luke Are Synoptic
Les reiterates that the three synoptics focus on Christ's humanity, with Matthew depicting Him as the future King on David's throne.
The 8 Signs in John's Gospel — What They Mean for Israel
Alright, well let's move on through the Scriptures a minute, and come with me then to chapter 6. And here we have the account of the feeding of the 5,000. Again I'm not going to take a lot of time on it, because you know them better than I do.
Holy Spirit Inspired the Writers
Les refutes the idea that writers relied on human memory; the Holy Spirit moved them to write every word, making the differences part of God's design.
Luke 24:42-43: And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them.
Luke records a post-resurrection meal, illustrating a distinct event that shows the Gospel writers chose different details.
John 15:1: I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
John's Gospel emphasizes Christ's deity through the 'I AM' sayings, a focus not found in the synoptics.
Revelation 22:16: I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
This ties the 'I AM' theme to Christ's eternal purpose, showing the unique emphasis of John's writings.
No. Les teaches that apparent contradictions often arise because the writers record different events. Even where details differ, the Holy Spirit superintended the writing of every word.
Those three Gospels focus on Christ's humanity, so they record events that display His human experiences. John's Gospel focuses on His deity, so it omits those events.
As Les explains, they did not rely on memory. The Holy Spirit moved them to write, so every word is divinely inspired, eliminating human error.
Watch the Teaching: What Jesus Said From the Cross — 7 Statements Explained