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DOCTRINE QUESTION 114

QUESTION 114:
Why in the four accounts of the gospel, do angels appears differently during the visits to the tomb?

ANSWER:
It is rather difficult to harmonize four different writers writing the same thing. Each of them are writing to different people and for a different purpose.

Here are the four accounts:

Matthew: 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary... Mark 16:1, and when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome.... Luke 23:55, 24:1, Luke 23:55, and the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. 24:1. Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre.... The “they” here could be many women (see Mark 15:40-41), John 20:1. The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early...., John 20:2. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple,... She came back again alone. John 20:11. But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre.

Here is my answer that might help. Each of these were four different visits. See underlined above. Please note:

John 20:1.: One woman.
Matthew: 28:1: Two Women
Mark 16:1: Three Women
Luke 24:1: Possibly many women.

An important lessons for us to learn. Never confuse what we do understand with what we don’t, or, as the world would say, “Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water.” Christ’s death burial and resurrection is the only passport to heaven. However, it is only for those who repent of their sins and trust Him. Have you?

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen