Friday, March 24, 2017

How Did Judas Really Die? Shedding Light On Apparent Bible Contradictions.

Did you know that there are two apparently conflicting accounts, of Judas's death, in the Bible?

In Matthew 27:3-5, Matthew tells us that Judas hung himself after betraying Jesus. However, in Acts 1:16-19, Luke tells us that Judas fell headlong and his guts burst out.  

Which one is correct? Can both of them be correct?  

As always, the truth is found in the details. Unfortunately there are many Christians that will proclaim that both are true, without having an explanation, for the apparent conflict. There are also Atheist and Nonbelievers that disingenuously use this apparent contradiction, as a tool to lead uninformed Bible readers, away from the faith. So, what is the truth?  

Well, a reading of the Greek in Matthew, reveals that after Judas' guilt got too much for him, he tried to returned the 30 pieces of silver, for betraying Y'shua, Jesus, back to the chief priests. In turn, the priests, unable to put the money back in the treasury, due to the law, bought a burial place in the nearby Potters Field, for strangers. A reading of the Greek shows that most English translations properly interpreted Matthew. 

As for Acts 1, most English Translations go like this: 

"Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his insides gushed out."

The NIV and Berean Bibles actually put Judas' name in the verse, solidifying the apparent contradiction.

However, a closer look at the Greek, behind these translations, reveals what the actual verse says.

"Now, therefore, they purchased a piece of ground, out of the unrighteous reward and it came to pass, he was put head first into it, with a crack, and all his bowels gushed out."

Now, what is the whole story? As in Matthew, Judas went and hung himself, most likely hanging there for days. His body would begin to decompose and swell from the gases inside. Once found, he barely was recognizable and his body was most likely turned in, as a dead stranger. They would have taken his body and thrown it into the Potters Field, for strangers. This swelled up and decomposing body would have cracked and split wide open, upon hitting the bottom of the grave. Much care would not have been given to an already unclean body. 

So, in reality, the true scriptures are correct and complimentary to each other.

This is another great example of why serious Bible readers should get back to the original Scriptures, in order to find the real truth of God's Word, instead of reading someone else's erroneous translation.

And that's what you're find When You Search For The Truth.

4 comments:

  1. Thanks for the clarification. I can think of other examples that are seeming contradictions because of translation errors. It's good to study the original meaning.

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  2. Hi Keith,
    I have often wondered about this discrepancy, and now you have been used to correct it. That is why we are all different parts of the body - to build one another up with the gifts we have been given.
    God bless you and you family.

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  3. Hi Karen, Yes, I am actually beginning a YouTube Channel, debunking the apparent contradictions.

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  4. Hi Brenad, Totally agree. God gave us first, his Word, then Nature and finally each other to edify. God Bless you and yours, too.

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