4188 - Cleansing the Temple - Differences

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Sep 30, 1913

FromThe Signs of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 38

4188 — Cleansing the Temple — Differences

Please reconcile seemingly conflicting statements of fact as related in Mark 11:12, 15; Matt. 21:12; and John 2:13, 14. C. C.

We think that our correspondent will find no discrepancy or seeming difference between Matthew and Mark. Both of these relate to the same event. The passage in John relates to another event, at the beginning of Christ’s ministry; for it seems clearly evident that there were two cleansings of the temple, one at the very beginning and the other just before the crucifixion. John refers to the first: Matthew, Mark, and Luke to the second.

Neither is there any discrepancy between the texts Mark 3:16; Matt. 16:18; and John 1:42; for the texts do not state, as you will note, that Jesus so named him at that time. Mark, of course, was written years after the crucifixion. In Mark 3 it is simply stated that He ordained these disciples, and Simon He surnamed Peter. He doubtless did it before this; it does not say that He did so at that time. John 1:42 was probably the time when Jesus applied the term,—“Thou shalt be called Cephas [or Peter], which is by interpretation, a stone.” And even this may be taken as a prophecy. Matt. 16:18 is a confirmation of the giving of the name. A little thought in comparison of these seeming contradictions will show that there is not only no contradiction, but strong coincidences which prove the truth of the narrative. Differences are not necessarily contradictions.