Totally NOT a debate about the veracity of the gospels

[fr0d0]

If every account therein were exact, then we could say it was inerrant and infer that it was thus "the word of God" rather than reports by fallible men of remarkable events.

If they're not, we can't.

That's a big Bastard of a gnat. God doesn't / wouldn't make mistakes.

And yes people, I know there are bigger and more significant contradictions, but none so clear.

I think this best explains where you're coming from. I agree with your conclusions given this proviso. Inerrant to me never involved perfection as God directly authoring the bible. I regard the bible as so far inerrant - being the work of errant man.