1001 Errors in the Christian Bible
Home
Dedication
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Contact Us
Matthew -- Errors 15-21
#15
Matthew 1: (KJV)
“17…and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are
fourteen generations.”
Almost 600 years separate the birth of Shealtiel from the birth of Jesus
resulting in an average of 46 years per generation. This average is contradicted
by all known averages for this period outside of Matthew. Luke’s
average would be 27 years and Josephus’ average would be 25 years.
#16
Matthew 1: (KJV)
“18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise:”
The Greek word for birth here, “genesis” is exactly the same
Greek word used in Matthew 1:1, “a record of the genealogy”
and has a wide range of meaning such as “birth”, “creation”
and “genealogy”. Church Fathers generally used the Greek word
“gennesis”, which has a more limited meaning of “birth”
to describe the nativity. Thus, it is extremely unlikely that the same
author would have used the exact same Greek word in Matthew 1:1 and 1:18
to describe a genealogy and a birth. The genealogy and birth stories are
probably from two different sources.
#17
Matthew 1: (KJV)
“18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise:”
Most extant manuscripts have this wording but a few don’t have “Jesus”.
The name is omitted in Irenaeus’ reference to 1:18. The position
of “Jesus” in the sentence varies in Greek manuscripts which
is often the sign of a scribal addition. There is no other uncontested
instance of an article preceding “Jesus Christ” in the Christian
Bible. Thus it is likely that “Jesus” is a scribal addition
to Matthew 1:18.
#18
Matthew 1: (KJV)
“18… she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.”
Literally, the Greek reads “having in the womb” and not “with
child”. In any case, there is no definite article, “the”,
in front of “Holy Ghost” in almost all Greek manuscripts. The
best translation would be “found to be pregnant through Holy Spirit”.
Christian translators have provided the “the” in English translations
(found to be with child of the Holy Spirit) in order to support their
belief that the Holy Spirit is a separate person.
#19
Matthew 1: (KJV)
“18..When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they
came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph
her husband,”
Mary has gone from engaged to married after a mere thirteen words, a record
that would stand until Liz Taylor two thousand years later.
#20
Matthew 1: (KJV)
“19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing
to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.”
The word that KJV has translated as “privily” is normally translated
as “quietly”. Under Jewish law at the time Joseph would have
had to deliver a writ of repudiation before two witnesses so it would
have been tough to keep it “quiet” unless the witnesses Joseph
had in mind were the blind and mute men of Chapter 9.
#21
Matthew 1: (KJV)
“20… fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife”
The literal translation of the Greek is, “do not be afraid to take
Mary your wife” which is an incomplete sentence making the meaning
ambiguous. Does it mean take as in sexually, take as in accept or take
as in bring home? Most of the main Christian Bibles have added words in
their translations to give the appearance of a complete sentence (the
relatively newer RSV being the exception):
NIV “do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife”
NASB “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife”
RSV “do not fear to take Mary your wife”
Darby “fear not to take to [thee] Mary, thy wife”
YLT “thou mayest not fear to receive Mary thy wife”
WE “do not fear to take Mary to be your wife”
Ad For Judaism
What we have in our history and writings you won't find in
the creeds and dogmas of other religions.
From meshugganahs to meshugas - you'll laugh.
From schlamazels to schlemiels - you'll cry.
We've had a long time to work with the material.
Our stories about Torah, work and good deeds
will make you giggle, chuckle, and occasionally even guffaw.
It’s not easy being the Chosen People.
Things have happened to us you wouldn’t believe.
We've been mobbed and robbed and shishkabobbed
but we always come up laughing.
After six thousand years, you develop one heavenly sense of humor.
Judaism. Choose it.