Gospel Contradictions Answered! Part 1

The Baptism of Jesus and the Transfiguration


*If you have a specific Gospel Contradiction question, not answered in these five feel free to leave a comment and I will get back up to you and try to post a new entry*


I'm reading through the Gospels side by side and it is truly an amazing experience and I highly recommend it to others:

Awesome Parallel Gospel Account Site

There is a frequent charge against the Bible that the Gospel accounts contradict each other and so I have set out to answer these supposed contradictions. I will update this entry as I go along and if you have any questions please feel free to comment.


1) Who did God address at Christ's Baptism?

Matthew 3.13-17 "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased."

Mark 1.9-11 "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."

Luke 3.21-22 "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."

John 1.29-34 No account of voice given

The Matthean account account differs with the Markan and Lukan account with God voice saying "This is my ..." instead of "You are my..."

Let's first look at the Transfiguration accounts in which all the Synoptics have God referring to Christ as "This"

Matthew 17:5 "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!"

Mark 9:7 "This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!"

Luke 9:35 "This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!"

What can we say from this? We know that God was talking to the 3 at the transfiguration, so in the Matthean account of Jesus' baptism God addresses the crowd, while in the Markan and Lukan account God address Christ Himself.

As for the Transfiguration accounts differing, this just a matter of preferential editing:

"This is My beloved Son, My Chosen One, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!"

For more answered contradictions check out these entries:

Gospel Contradictions Answered! Part 2

Gospel Contradictions Answered! Part 3

Gospel Contradictions Answered! Part 4

Gospel Contradictions Answered! Part 5