FROM DOUBTER
If you think that your bible is the inspired inerrant word of the living god then it seems to me that any flaws in it render this proposition false full stop. The bible is supposed to have been written by the creator of the universe but, I think you or I would sit down one afternoon and come up with some way to improve upon it. There’s so many basic mistakes in the text that it couldn’t have been written by an magical being in the sky. Here’s a couple for you:
What was the exact wording on the cross?
(a) “This is Jesus the King of the Jews” (Matthew 27:37)
(b) “The King of the Jews” (Mark 15:26)
(c) “This is the King of the Jews” (Luke 23:38)
(d) “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” (John 19:19)
Did Jesus pray to The Father to prevent the crucifixion?
(a) Yes. (Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42)
(b) No. (John 12:27)
That’s just a tiny amount. There’s a hell of a lot more.
RESPONSE
Your first description of the Bible is correct, but the others aren't. The Bible is the INSPIRED Word of God. God inspired men to write the Bible, but He did not write it Himself. The Bible says that scripture is "God-breathed". I take this to mean that God strongly guided His scribes in what to say, but less strongly (unless it was a direct quote) in how to say it. In other words, God expressed Himself through men. So we have Paul's style of writing differing vastly from Luke's and other authors of the Bible. You're right - God did not physically write the Bible, men did. However, it was God Who inspired and guided the writing with His Spirit.
Now let's examine your first "basic mistake". I checked all the quotes, and they are accurate. Let's imagine you're an investigator. You interview these four eye witnesses separately after the fact, and discover these are the facts they agree upon:
- The Romans sentenced Jesus to His death by instigation of the Jews.
- He was nailed to a cross.
- They put a sign above Him.
- The sign said "The King of the Jews".
The only detail that varies is whether the sign began with "This is", "This is Jesus", or "Jesus of Nazareth,". I want you to consider this honestly...if four witnesses came to you with this story, would you believe them, or would you think they were lying because of that small variance in detail? Have you ever heard several people tell their personal version of some event? I have. They omit some details other witnesses may include, or include details that they, unlike other witnesses, were in a position to see or hear. That is always the case.
Now consider this: what if all four witnesses gave you the EXACT same story down to using the exact same wording? What would you think? Would you think they rehearsed their story to perfection to hide something? I would. So these verses are not "basic mistakes", but bear the stamp of authentic eye-witness accounts. This is precisely the kind of thing we'd expect if four witnesses told their personal stories of an event.
Now let's examine your second "basic mistake". I've included the quotes you referenced so everyone knows exactly what we're talking about:
Matthew 26:39 - Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
Mark 14:36 - "Abba", Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
Luke 22:42 - "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
John 12:27 - "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour."
Here's something for you consider: Matthew has 28 chapters, and you quote from the 26th; Mark has 16 chapters, and you quote from the 14th; Luke has 24 chapters, and you quote from the 22nd; John has 21 chapters and you quote from the 12th. One of these things is not like the others, lol. Can you guess which it is?
Your first three quotes all refer to words Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane to His Father in heaven. Your quote in John occurs several days before the Garden of Gethsemane, and Jesus was speaking, not praying, to some Greeks and some of His disciples. Do you think words said in a different time and place to a different audience for a different purpose might have something to do with this apparent "mistake"? Taking words out of context is a common tactic to "find" contradictions in the Bible. It appears you didn't check this out yourself, but just copied and pasted what someone else viewed as a "mistake". Next time, be a little more careful.