Biblical explanation
A contradiction would require two statements that cannot both be true when they refer to the same thing in the same sense and under the same circumstances. Scripture instructs us to handle God's Word carefully rather than drawing conclusions prematurely. says: “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” Jesus also challenged people who interpreted Scripture incorrectly: “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God” (). Different Gospel writers sometimes emphasize different details. This does not automatically mean that their accounts contradict each other. One witness may record one detail while another records another. For example, one Gospel may mention one person at an event while another gives additional information about other people present. The accounts can complement rather than cancel one another. Scripture does not say that every difficult passage will immediately be easy to understand. Peter even says that some things in Paul's writings are “hard to be understood” (). Therefore, difficulty should not automatically be equated with contradiction. A careful study should consider context, wording, audience, chronology, genre, and the possibility that different writers are describing different aspects of the same event.
In brief
A contradiction would require two statements that cannot both be true when they refer to the same thing in the same sense and under the same circumstances.
Bible references
Go deeper into this topic Can We Trust the Bible? Start the studyThis answer is written and reviewed by the Word Oasis Editorial Team, and is presented with supporting references so you can examine each passage in context. If you notice an error or unclear statement, please suggest a correction.