For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: What were the last words of Jesus?
Here are the three answers which the skeptic believes shows a Bible contradiction:
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
“About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” 47 And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 48 Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. 49 But the rest of them said, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him.” 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.” (Matthew 20:18-19)
Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.
“And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last.” (Luke 23:46)
It is finished.
“Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” (John 19:30)
(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)
Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:
- When dealing with skeptics’ claim of Bible contradictions it seems one can never be reminded enough of what exactly is a contradiction. A contradiction occurs when two or more claims conflict with one another so that they cannot simultaneously be true in the same sense and at the same time. To put it another way, a Bible contradiction exists when there are claims within the Bible that are mutually exclusive in the same sense and at the same time.
- None of the three verses recording Jesus’ final words contradict one another. Jesus could have said all three phrases as part of the last few words He uttered before His death. In order for there to be a logical contradiction one or more verses have to say “Jesus’ only last words were ___.” But none of the three verses states that. Only when a passage exclude any other last words recorded by the other Gospels in the Bible would we have a contradiction. And again this simply is not the case.
- To validate the skeptic’s claim that Jesus’ last words were “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” the Skeptic Annotated Bible referenced Matthew 27:46-50. These words from Jesus are specifically found in verse 46. But note what verse 50 states: “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.” While verse 50 does not record what it was specifically that Jesus cried out it could have been “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit” that Luke 23:46 record or “It is finished!” that John 19:30 record. It can even be both phrases that Jesus cried out. The point here is that Matthew 27:50 itself indicates that after Jesus said “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Matthew was aware that further last words were said. So Matthew 27:46-50 doesn’t show a Bible contradiction but rather suggests strongly that Jesus spoke other words.
- Remember just because different Gospels record different sayings of Jesus’ last few words while other Gospels are silent about it does not mean that there is a Bible contradiction. We see even in secular history how some sources quote certain facts and other sources omit them but does mean the omission is a denial of those facts. See for example our posts “Bible Contradiction and Thanksgiving Story” and “Bible Contradiction and Louisiana Purchase.“
We don’t have a Bible contradiction here.
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I think there was 7 things said by Jesus on the cross. The first one you said ; A perfect sinless God who hates sin could not look at His Son as He carried the sin of sin world . Then when He cried it is finished, it was a shout of victory as He finished what God had Him do. A sinless God-man paid the cost of sin which we had been carrying, the wages of sin is death , and He did that for me !!
You are right there are seven sayings Jesus had on the cross…and they are very powerful. What a truth to rejoice over with what you said: “. A sinless God-man paid the cost of sin which we had been carrying, the wages of sin is death , and He did that for me !!” May we never grow cold to that wonderful truth amen????
Yes we better not! My pastor did a message on the seven words for 7 sermons
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Thank you for the reblog Vincent!
You’re very welcome Pastor Jim 👍
If folks held our secular history books to the same standard they demand Scripture to meet, we would have to discount most of recorded history. LOL, I think I have said this before.
If they are consistent they would have so much “discounts” you start thinking they are at the 99 Cent Store “Everything Must Go” Closing Sale…
Ha ha ha ha…now that was funny, and so true.
Thanks for another “contradiction” rebuttal! Wally makes a good point. Unbelievers examine the Bible with a prejudicial microscope while never questioning the veracity of other ancient records. But that’s understandable. They can’t afford for the Bible to be right.
You’re welcome! “They can’t afford for the Bible to be right.” I think that is what it boils down to; they employ a double standard for the Bible that they don’t apply to other historical records and of course like what Wally said if they applied those standards to other record we would have to discount a lot of history. As I said to Wally If they are consistent they would have so much “discounts” you start thinking they are at the 99 Cent Store “Everything Must Go” Closing Sale…
RE: If they are consistent they would have so much “discounts” you start thinking they are at the 99 Cent Store “Everything Must Go” Closing Sale…”
True! AKA throw out ALL the history books because NONE of them are accurate.
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Skeptics are stupid to use this one…
[…] What were the last words of Jesus? […]
[…] What were the last words of Jesus? […]
If any skeptics bring this up they deserved to be laughed at.
[…] What were the last words of Jesus? […]
I’m learning how to read the Bible accurately through your series
Remember when reason was king for the atheists? Well not so but now its feelings and sound logical deduction has fallen by the wayside when they interpret the Bible.
Well done! Stay the course in refuting these. They tried this one on me recently but didn’t know I know this site!
I use to read Skeptic Annotated Bible online. But one can’t take them seriously after a while
Your harmonization is well done!
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[…] What were the last words of Jesus? […]
Well what a delight to read these posts responding to the critics. Years ago I had to buy to read Archer’s encyclopedia of Bible difficulties but today sites like yours make it for free
The atheists like to bring this up
Any atheist using the Skeptic Annotated Bible and believe what’s there has to be extremely gullible or already made up his or her mind that the Bible isn’t God’s Word.
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