Does the Bible Contradict Itself?

[spockrates]

My feeble attempt to use the English language to describe your pathology didn't work.

Therefore I give you this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFyHTU8tg_0

I'd gladly play Clouseau to your Cato!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA8QrOAgh...detailpage

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Not sure I understand. Augustus lived until 19 August, AD 14, so Herod was alive during the Emperor's census.

Min already explained it in his original post. Quirinus was made governor in 6AD and Herod died in 4BC. Therefore it couldn't have taken place while both were in power, as those times were mutually exclusive.

The census would likely have taken several years to complete. Why could it not have taken place during the reign of both governors--beginning with one and ending with the other?

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spockrates, how about this one? It's not a contradiction but rather a complete misunderstanding between Gospel authors.

Mark 11 contains the part about Jesus and the fig tree:

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12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it.

15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written:

"'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"

18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

19 When evening came, they went out of the city.

20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!"

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This all came from Hosea 9 which refers to the destruction of Israel:

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Hosea 9:
1 Do not rejoice, O Israel; do not be jubilant like the other nations. For you have been unfaithful to your God; ...
7 The days of punishment are coming, the days of reckoning are at hand. Let Israel know this. Because your sins are so many and your hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool, the inspired man a maniac.
8 The prophet, along with my God, is the watchman over Ephraim, yet snares await him on all his paths, and hostility in the house of his God.
9 They have sunk deep into corruption, as in the days of Gibeah. God will remember their wickedness and punish them for their sins.
10 'When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your fathers, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree. But when they came to Baal Peor, they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved.
11 Ephraim's glory will fly away like a bird—no birth, no pregnancy, no conception.
12 Even if they rear children, I will bereave them of every one. Woe to them when I turn away from them!
13 I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre, planted in a pleasant place. But Ephraim will bring out their children to the slayer."
14 Give them, O LORD—what will you give them? Give them wombs that miscarry and breasts that are dry.
15 "Because of all their wickedness in Gilgal, I hated them there. Because of their sinful deeds, I will drive them out of my house. I will no longer love them; all their leaders are rebellious.
16 Ephraim is blighted, their root is withered, they yield no fruit. Even if they bear children, I will slay their cherished offspring.'
17 My God will reject them because they have not obeyed him;
We can clearly see here that the author of Mark uses Hosea 9 for his motif, because in Mark 11 the fig

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Matthew then reads this about the fig tree but doesn't understand why Mark wrote about Jesus going to inspect a tree that was out of season. It must have seemed rather absurd. So to fix that up he turns this event into a standard party trick to amaze his 12 zodia--I mean Apostles :

18 Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered.

As one can see, the allegory is completely lost. From Matthew's account we can no longer make the comparison between Hosea 9 and understand that Mark was referring to the destruction of Israel.

I guess to me this is a contradiction after all. The contradiction being between the authors. Why does it seem like Mark is not writing history but merely referencing the OT but then only to have Matthew write a completely different 'account of history'? Did they believe in the same things here?? Seems to me like they didn't. If my interpretation is right then it can be assumed that Mark knew Jesus wasn't a historical figure and Matthew was once again trying to force Mark into being literal history by writing similar accounts and losing the allegory.

Thanks FTR. I don't yet see the disagreement between the two authors. Both explain that Jesus caused the tree to wither. Neither mentions Hosea, nor explains a symbolic meaning of the miracle, nor even mentions that there is any metaphor to be gleaned from the event. Please explain.