Within the last six months I’ve looked at some alleged Bible contradictions in Luke 9. I’ve considered “Did or did not the Samaritans receive Jesus?” and “Burying and Saying Bye to Parents in Luke 9:59-62.”
Here’s another question that allegedly shows a Bible contradiction: “Did Herod think Jesus was John the Baptist?”
Yes
Herod thought that Jesus was John the Baptist reincarnated.
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. (Matthew 14:1-2)
But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead. (Mark 6:16)
No
People were saying that Jesus was John the Baptist who had risen from the dead, or Elijah (Elias), or one of the other prophets. But Herod didn’t believe Jesus was John the Baptist, saying, “John I have beheaded: but who is this?”
Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him [Jesus]: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead; And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again. And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him. (Luke 9:9)
Here’s my thought on this Bible contradiction:
- We must admit that formally, the claim “Jesus is John the Baptist” and the claim “Jesus is not John the Baptist” are mutually contradictory.
- But technically, Luke 9:9 does not supply the claim “Jesus is not John the Baptist” that is necessary to make this a case of “Bible contradiction.” A careful look at Luke 9:9 reveal that Herod was asking a question, “but who is this, of whom I hear such things?” To be precise, the question indicated that Herod was wondering who Jesus was; it was not a denial of the possibility that Jesus was John the Baptist. Herod was confused; this is indicated by the fact that in Luke 9:9 it states that “he was perplexed,” Herod’s use of the interrogative pronoun in the Greek to show him asking a question since the people have all kinds of speculations about Jesus and finally, Herod being curious, “desired to see him,” as the end of the verse said. Wondering about the identity about Jesus is not a denial that He was John the Baptist.
- Some might counter point 2 by saying that in Luke 9:9 Herod denied that he thought Jesus was John the Baptist because Herod said “John have I beheaded.” But both Matthew and Mark acknowledges the fact that John was beheaded (Mark 6:16, 6:27, Matthew 14:10). Yet at the same time both Matthew and Mark record Herod believing Jesus was John the Baptist since Herod believed the beheaded John the Baptist was resurrrected/risen. Thus, for Herod to acknowledge that he has beheaded John the Baptist is not contradictory of the belief that Jesus was the risen John the Baptist.
- In light of point 3 that Matthew and Mark record Herod believing that Jesus was the resurrected John the Baptist, our skeptic friend is wrong to say “Herod thought that Jesus was John the Baptist reincarnated.” Reincarnation is not the same thing as resurrection/arisen.
- So Luke 9:9 is not necessarily incompatible with Matthew 14:1-2 and Mark 6:16. It could be phrased in the following manner that shows the statements can be synthesized: “And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.” Luke 9 record Herod’s wonder while the other accounts record Herod’s conclusion.
- Let’s say for the sake of the argument that Luke 9:9 does contradict Mark 6:16. I don’t think this is the case. Still, we wouldn’t be totally surprised at Herod going back and forth with his beliefs given all that the people were saying; so he couldn’t make up his mind since he doesn’t know first hand (and that’s why Herod wanted to meet Jesus).
- Let’s continue for the sake of the argument that Luke 9:9 does contradict Mark 6:16. What does this mean? That Herod held contradictory beliefs. But that’s not something to fault the Bible per se; it is something to fault Herod. Luke and Mark gave the account of Herod’s contradiction. We typically don’t fault witnesses for reporting someone’s fault. If it is true that someone is at fault, and the witnesses accurately reported it, we don’t blame the witnesses but are glad for the witnesses’ testimonies of the person at fault being inconsistent.
Let this be an example of the importance of Spirit-filled studying the text with diligence, logical precision and doing justice to the context.
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Thanks for sharing this post with your readers!
You’re very welcome Brother!
God article SLIMJIM.
Do you know any article against the extreme grace message?
About the preachers telling us the Jesus spoke to jews only, and only Paul was sent to the heathens? And they tell us that it is wrong (or unnecessary) to ask God about forgivness.
This is a great problem in Norway now, since the most successful free pentacostal church is pushing this message harder and harder.
In forehand, Thanx for advice.
Wow sorry somehow I forgot to comment back! I have not heard of the extreme grace message before. Do they think all people need not to ask God for forgiveness? That is rather odd…I’m going to have to look more into it, is there any website they have that propagate this teaching?
Sorry for looong delay. This is a part of the extreme grace cult popping out from Tulsa:
https://escapetoreality.org/2014/11/13/ask-god-for-forgiveness/
(hope the link works)
Herod was probably paranoid, as many tyrants are. He had every reason to be. Perhaps he was worried that J the B might be “a beast whose fatal head-wound was healed”, back from the dead to torment him (?). Another possible “fatal head wound healed” is the servant of the High Priest in Gethsemane who had his ear cut off and restored by Christ. But I digress.
Good point on the paranoia of tyrants, certainly Herod was no different. That’s a lot of connection with head wounds. Of course the greatest one of all is the Messianic Seed who crushed the head of the Serpent, that ancient enemies of Old.
You are much more patient than I am such questions tie my brain in knots…
Thank you for such kind words to read as I am taking a break from sermon prep. Sometimes I want to tie such objections and their arguments into knots for skeptics and attackers of the faith NOT to do things like this. Pam, I hope you have a blessed, Spirit filled and Gospel rejoicing Resurrection Sunday, that the Lord be gracious with you and your physical trials tonight and tommorow.
Thank you, Jim and I pray the same for you. We need that Resurrection power every day and I’m certainly grateful that Jesus purchased it for us. I woke up without pain this morning and feel better than I have for awhile.
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Good stuff here! As a slight oversight, in point 2, I think you meant Herod was asking the question, not John the Baptist.
Wow thank you for catching that, fixed!
[…] Did Herod think Jesus was John the Baptist? […]
Delighted to read this reply
I’m so tired of seeing the atheist say this a Bible contradiction. Rarely does an atheist go the extra step of showing why its actually a contradiction. I just love seeing them get all mad whey a Christian apologist confound them and
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I’m glad you answered this
[…] Did Herod think Jesus was John the Baptist? […]
The audacity is on the part of the atheist, to think they could come to the Word of God as though they have something to offer in terms of insight and to judge over God’s Word
I wish the skip have the recognition that their trusted Skeptic Annotated Bible is shoddy
We don’t read the Bible out of context. Heathens need to know that
[…] typed up “Did Herod think Jesus was John the Baptist?” for Twitter search which is one of the Skeptics Annotated Bible’s alleged […]
Kind of looks like the skeptic made the same type of mistake again and again. Its foolish for any atheist to present something like this as a contradiction.
“Let’s say for the sake of the argument that Luke 9:9 does contradict Mark 6:16. I don’t think this is the case. Still, we wouldn’t be totally surprised at Herod going back and forth with his beliefs given all that the people were saying;”
I didn’t think of it that way at first, but that’s a point to consider.
Some people are laughing when they mock God and bring this up as a contradiction; what ain’t funny is that God is real and their little accusations amounts to nothing
They think this is a contradiction??? I never meet an Atheist with an IQ of at least 100. Let your friends know I’m looking. The basis for saying this is a contradiction is not from the passages but some old farts imagination. Seriously check out what the SAB website looks like, it’s old.