Wrested Scriptures

Alleged Contradictions and Inaccuracies

Inspiration
Partial
Contradictions
& Inaccuracies

  Preliminary
  Exodus 6:3
  Exodus 33:11,20
  1 Samuel 15:35
  1 Kings 15:14
  2 Kings 18:5
  2 Kings 24:6
  Matthew 2:1
  Matthew 17:1
  Matthew 19:16
  Matthew 20:29
  Matthew 27:6,7
  Matthew 27:37
  Matthew 28:7
  Mark 2:26
  Mark 16:7,8
  John 2:13-16
  James 1:13

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Unique
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of Christ
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Mark 2:26
" . . . {David} went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat . . . "

1 Samuel 21:1-6
"Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest . . . so the priest gave him hallowed bread . . . "

Problem:
Mark quotes Jesus as saying that Abiathar was the high priest, but the account in Samuel to which James refers, says that Ahimelech was the high priest. Therefore, it is argued, one, or both accounts, is in error.

Solution:
  1. The apparent inaccuracy is resolved once it is realized that Abiathar and Ahimelech were names of both father and son. This can be seen by a comparison of the following passages:
    1. 1 Samuel 14:3 - "And Ahiah, {mg. called Ahimelech} the son of Ahitub . . . "
    2. 1 Samuel 22:20 - "And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David."
    3. 2 Samuel 8:17 - "And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests . . . "
    4. 1 Chronicles 18:16; 24:6 - same as 2 Samuel 8:17.

  2. The following diagram illustrates the point:
    Ahitub (1 Samuel 14:3) Ahitub (2 Samuel 8:17)
    father father
    of of
    Ahimelech (1 Samuel 14:3; 22:20) Abiathar (2 Sam. 8:17; 1 Chron. 18:16)
    father father
    of of
    Abiathar (1 Samuel 22:20) Ahimelech (2 Sam. 8:17; 1 Chron. 18:16; 24:6)
    Jesus and the account in Samuel refer to Ahimelech (or Abiathar, his other name), the son of Ahitub. There is, therefore, no inaccuracy. Jesus uses one name, and the Samuel account uses the other name, for the same individual.