This is another alleged Bible contradiction claim by skeptics that can be found at Skeptic Annotated Bible. I think this one is kind of silly.
We begin with a question: Was Jesus born in a house or a manger? Here are the two “answers” that the skeptic claims the Bible teaches:
In a manger, because there was no room at the inn
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
(Luke 2:1-7)
In a house
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, [a]magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
…
After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they [e]fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:1-2, 2:11)
Let’s take a closer look at whether there is a contradiction:
- To begin with skeptics tend to have a terrible tendency to say “Bible contradiction!” pitting one of the Gospels to one another without care of what’s going on so one should be very cautious over any claims of “Bible contradiction.”
- Luke 2 definitely described Jesus born in a manger.
- For there to be any “contradiction” remember that it requires two opposing statements to be claimed to be true in the same sense and the SAME TIME. But there’s not a possible contradiction since Matthew 2 doesn’t take place the same time as Luke 2. Note Matthew 2 takes place “after Jesus was born.”
- If Jesus was found in a house after He was born, that’s not in conflict with Jesus being born in a manger.
- Wouldn’t people want to find some shelter over time and might find one by the grace of God? Why are we surprised that sometime after Jesus was born we see His family finding shelter? It’s no Bible contradiction at all.
LOL! A house or a manager? I hadn’t heard that one before. There is some frolicking debate over 3 kings, 3 shepherds, or 3 wise men, however.
I actually am not too concerned about any alleged contradictions, how people perceive things is always a bit different and language can have different meanings. Than there are some paradoxes within faith, not contradictions at all, but parables and metaphors applied to different circumstances. If you think about it, the bible is quite a miraculous piece of writing. As Christ said, “If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?” It’s not so easy explaining things to us who don’t always have the eyes to see.
Amen sister! Thanks for readng and the comment! I think this alleged contradiction is an example of how some don’t want to try to even see at all. I mean, this “contradiction” shows some are trying to hard…right?
Let me toss this into the mix if I may. In all likelihood, the event with the Wise Men was a pretty good period of time after the birth of Jesus. If they left their land when they saw the star at his birth, a very long time would have passed before they arrived, as many think they traveled from as far as Persia. Jesus may have even been a toddler by then.
Two separate events are being described here.
Just my two cents.
You have a very good point there Wally. The Greek word for “child” is not the same word for infant here and I think the possibility is very real what you mentioned. Very very good Wally. I like what you tossed into the mix. I think of all the contradictions we’ve looked at thus far, this one gets the award for most obvious non-contradiction, what do you think? Don’t you think some people are trying too hard to make “contradictions” when they aren’t out there???
Thanks Brother Jim. I thought I had heard that about the word for child, but as I have said, I tend not to throw Greek around, because it’s not my area. Yes, this one is easily the most ludicrous of all you have covered, and the answer is so blazingly simple. Are they trying to hard? Well, or course they are. Our desperation to escape the convicting power of the Holy Spirit can cause us to do rather dumb things like this even.
🙂
ummmm….No words. I simply have no words.
I imagine you are referring to the “quality” of this alleged contradiction…
Quality and quantity of silliness.
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Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Thanks Vincent for the reblog! How are you today?
You’re very welcome Pastor Jim! Was bed ridden the past 3 days, diverticulitis. Feeling nearly 100% now, praise God!
Wow that sounds heavy. I’m glad you’re feeling better. I’m amazed you were still able to blog!
Hand held devices make it possible. To bad their not an effective treatment plan 🙂
Sorry to hear that Brother Vincent, but glad you are better
Thanks Brother Wally!
First, he was born and wrapped and placed in a manger. He was born near the manger, not in it. Given the geography of the land, the manger was probably in a cave. If you visit the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, they will show you the spot where they think it happened… yes, in a cave. Second, as you indicate, the wise men found “the child and his mother” in a house. Herod sent a message to kill all the boys in Bethlehem who had not reached their second birthday, after inquiring when the wise men first saw the star. Clearly, Mary and Joseph had taken up residence in a house in Bethlehem by that time. But the wise men did not arrive the same night as the shepherds, no matter how the greeting cards and television specials depict the event. Third, while some say that the wise men came from Babylon and others suggest Persia, I think they came from Arabia for two reasons: the only place in the world where all three gifts they brought are relatively easy to acquire was Arabia; and the prophet who spoke of the Messiah’s coming related to a star (Balaam) was an Arab. Imagine a group of Arabs showing up in Jerusalem looking for the King of the Jews…. J.
Wow that’s a crazy thought imagining Arabs coming to Jesus the Jew! Good list of your reasons by the way I definitely need to think through the Arab angle. I haven’t heard it before.
I think one of the reasons people see a contradiction here is that most nativity scenes show the wise men present at the birth of Jesus. Too many people base their beliefs about the birth of Jesus on these scenes rather than reading the Bible to see what it says. It is important for Christians to make sure that any public displays of Biblical events are true to what the Bible actually says.
That made me chuckle Clyde. At our church we take great pride in being doctonally correct yet do that very thing year after year
My dad, who is a pastor, decided that during Advent, the Magi would start at the back of the church and each week work their way up to the front. Then a church member made a comment about how the Magi that are at the Nativity are actually from last year just now getting to the scene. 🙂
Ha I love that idea! Thanks for it Dan
Man this Christmas I don’t think I can see the nativity scene the same again. I think this year’s Christmas you and I are going to be thinking back to this “contradiction” and the timing of the wise men arriving to see Jesus aren’t we Wally? Lol.
I say something every year lol but tradition dies hard lol
You have a point there Clyde about people being more informed by cultural portrayal of the nativity scene more than being informed by the Bible. That was insightful! Thanks for reading this brother!
I must say that I got a good chuckle out of this. It really does help when you read context. smh
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Dan for reading this post and sharing your thoughts! Come back soon!
House or manger? The answer is YES. Both. The question is being argued from a Western perspective, which ignores the cultural context of the birth of Jesus. According to Kenneth Bailey in his book “Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes” the manger where Jesus was born was in a house!! Our Western understanding of “no room at the inn” is misinformed. I tried finding an article I wrote on this a couple years back at Christmas but can’t find it immediately. Read Bailey’s book to understand why the answer is YES to both questions: house or manger.
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Perhaps more importantly, it’s well established that the Magi didn’t arrive until Jesus was between one and two years old.
That’s a good possibility too Lawrence. Merry Christmas!
Good post!
Thanks Dan!
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I see no contradiction here. If the skeptic only read better and think more carefully.
This is what it boils to: “For there to be any “contradiction” remember that it requires two opposing statements to be claimed to be true in the same sense and the SAME TIME. But there’s not a possible contradiction since Matthew 2 doesn’t take place the same time as Luke 2. Note Matthew 2 takes place “after Jesus was born.””
The nonbeliever here is blatantly twisting God’s Word!
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Answers in Genesis and others have dealt with this issue. There is an unfortunate mistranslation of “no room at the inn” because the word translated “inn” is different than the word used for the inn used in the parable of the good Samaritan. Some modern translations have it right: no room in the lodging place, or guest quarters. These often had access to the animals.
Thanks for sharing that I’ll have to search their website. Merry Christmas to you warrior! What does your Christmas looks like this year?
On this particular subject I highly recommend the book/commentary Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth E. Bailey. There is a bit more truth that should be said than what you have here regarding this supposed contradiction (which is only such because we aren’t viewing it contextually correct). In short Jesus was born in a manger and the manger was in the house. Read Bailey’s commentary on the birth of Christ and it will explain this in great detail.
If you don’t want to buy the physical copy of the book (although I’d recommend it), you can get it digitally here: https://www.itseyeris.com/book/jesus-through-middle-eastern-eyes/
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Jesus/YAHSHUA was already around 2 years of age when the Maggi came to visit Him. At that age, He was already staying in. a house 🏠 in Nazareth. Therefore, no contradiction.