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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, August 6, 1867

FromReview and Herald, Vol. XXX, No. 8

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Infidel Objections to the Bible Answered. No. 7.

But one Woman came to the Sepulcher.—The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene, early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher. John xx, 1.
Two Women came to the Sepulcher. 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 to the sepulcher. Matt. xxviii, 1.
THE skeptic brings up these quotations as a contradiction between Matthew and John. In this, as in most other objections, he must presume upon a very superficial examination of the text on the part of the reader. For does it follow because John mentions only one, that no others could have been present? By no means. It would still be true, as John says, that Mary Magdalene came to the sepulchre, though a dozen others came with her whom he does not see fit to mention. Bagster has a note on this verse which may be entitled to consideration, as it contains a full explanation of the question before us, as well as several other points connected with it. He says:
Mary Magdalene, as well as Peter, was evidently at the sepulcher twice on the morning of the resurrection. The first time of her going was some short time before her companions, the other Mary and Salome, (Matt. xxviii, 1;) and observing that the stone had been removed, she returned to inform Peter and John. In the mean time, the other Mary and Salome came to the sepulchre, and saw the angel, as recorded by Matthew and Mark. While these women returned to the city, Peter and John went to the sepulchre, passing them at some distance, or going another way, followed by Mary Magdalene, who staid after their return. This was her second journey, when she saw two angels, and then Jesus himself, as here related; and immediately after, Jesus appeared to the other women, as they returned to the city. (Matt. xxviii, 9, 10.) In the meantime, Joanna and her company arrived at the sepulcher, when two angels appeared to them, and addressed them as the one angel had done the other woman. Luke xxiv, 1-10.) They immediately returned to the city, and by some means found the apostles before the others arrived, and informed them of what they had seen; upon which, Peter went a second time to the sepulcher, but saw only the linen clothes lying. Luke xxiv, 12.