Question:  On the site http://bibleblunders.com, many claims are made based on failed prophecies and contradictions. Can you please address some of them, Dr. Oakes? Answer: Which ones do you want me to address?   I have already responded to most of these supposed contradiction at my web site.  If you go the question and answer section, then […]

Question: When did the ascension happen, on the first day of the new week as stated in Luke 24:51 or was it 40 days later, as stated in Acts 1:3? Answer: Of course, it was about forty days later.  Luke does not say when it happened.  The scene in Luke 24:33-49 takes place in Jerusalem, as […]

Question: Can you please explain to me Numbers Chapter 23:19?   Wouldn’t that disprove the trinity?   Can you please help me understand contradictions in the Bible?  I am very confused with these. Answer: This is an interesting question.  The answer involves how the phrase "son of man" is used in the Bible.  Let me discuss "contradictions" in […]

Questions: In my study I have come to realize a few things. One of them is that Paul, "called to be an apostle", never really knew Jesus. How then can he claim that "For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you…" (1 Corinthians 11:23)? How can he formulate theologies that […]

Question: I had a question regarding (Acts 7:15-16), (Matthew 9:18 / Mark 5:22-23) and (Matthew 27:8-10).;-In the Acts passage, it says that Abraham bought the tomb from the sons of Hamor, but it seems to conflict between what Genesis says.;-In the first Matthew passage compared with Mark, did the daughter die or was she dying? […]

Question:,I had a question regarding (Acts 7:15-16), (Matthew 9:18 / Mark 5:22-23) and (Matthew 27:8-10). In the Acts passage, it says that Abraham bought the tomb from the sons of Hamor, but it seems to conflict between what Genesis says. In the first Matthew passage compared with Mark, did the daughter die or was she […]

Question: I was reading 1 and 2 Samuel this morning and I found two different accounts in the way Saul dies. Did he killed himself or did the Amalekite who Saul asked to kill him do it? This is found at the the end of 1Sam and beginning of 2 Sam. Answer: Good question. I […]

Question: In 1 Samuel 20:4 has David pushing Jonathan to lie to his father. How do you explain this? Response: First of all, David clearly advised Jonathan to lie in this case. Bear in mind that David sinned many times as we know from the books of 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles. Just […]

Question: I noticed something interesting while contrasting the gospels of Mark and Luke the other day. The passages specifically were Mark 16:5-7 and Luke 24:4-7. On the surface these two passages appear to conflict in their stories. Mark tells that when they entered the sepulcher they saw a young man sitting inside clothed in white. […]

Question: Please explain to me the discrepancies, both theological and numerical, between 2 Samuel 24 and 1Chronicles 21. Answer: If you read my book Reasons for Belief on the reliability of the biblical texts, you will find the comment that we have a NT which is a virtually perfect copy of the original. With the […]

Question: I run a “myspace” for Christianity and I had my first tough post. I don’t know how to respond to it. Where did Jesus first appear to the eleven disciples after the resurrection? Here is the comment I got at my site: ;Where did Jesus first appear to the eleven disciples? oh wait i […]

Question Do you have a book that addresses a variety of alleged inconsistencies in the Bible. I recently bought a book called Encylopedia of Bible Difficulties. I have been able to resolve my questions through research. I must admit that I came upon some recently that concerned me. Is that normal? To see something that […]

The other gospels say that only ONE of the robbers mocked Jesus, while the other praised him. This is contrary to what Matt. 27:44 says which is that both robbers mocked the Lord. Please explain. One thing to bear in mind is that with the four gospels we have four independent accounts. Two of them […]

Question: If you place so much faith on the reliability of the synoptic Gospels and refuse to accept that they are not plain eyewitness statements,how do you account for the blatant contradiction between John 19:17 and Matt. 27:32 ? Answer: Jesus carried the cross-beam. Notice, it said “As they were going out.” Most likely, Jesus […]

Question: How do you reconcile: 1) Gen.23:2 with Joshua 14: 13 – 15 and 2) Gen. 14:14 with Judges 18:29? Answer: I am having trouble finding the potential contradiction in the first two. This may be because of the translation I have in front of me. I have Gen 23:2 “She died in Kiriath Arba […]

Question: Please explain the contradiction between Acts9:7 and 22:9. Answer: Acts 9:7 (NIV) “The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.” Acts 22:9 (NIV) “My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking ot me.” I do not […]

Question: I’m trying to reconcile an apparent discrepancy/contradiction between Matthew’s and Mark’s accounts of the Gerasene demoniac. Matthew says there were two while Mark says there was just one. I’m conviced the Bible is inspired, but it seems strange (to me at least). Wasn’t Matthew an eye-witness? And isn’t Mark’s Gospel Peter’s (another eye-witness) memoires? […]