Temple Cleansing ‘Contradiction’ (3)

The “2-cleansings” debate has done us another favour as well.  By resolving a superficial contradiction, the timeline of Jesus’ ministry comes into clear focus.  Was it two years or three?  Some have even asked if it lasted a mere one year, since the temple incidents were (they say) the same Passover.

The truth is, John’s gospel offers step by step, order-of-event information but, because its chronological integrity has been compromised by weak apologies,

Temple Cleansing ‘Contradiction’ (2)

If there really was a contradiction between John and the other gospels concerning the clearing of the temple, it would be a single error about timing. John says it happened at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry but Matthew, Mark and Luke say at the end. Now, when an author makes a mistake, he is unlikely to combine three or four errors for good measure. However, timing wasn’t the only difference in this case. So, when the reader notices not one but several differences, we may be excused for wondering if there might be another explanation. Could it be there was no mistake made at all and Jesus cleared the temple twice?

Temple Cleansing ‘Contradiction’ (1)

Contradiction hunters may have done Bible-believers a favour when it comes to their old favourite, “when did Jesus cleanse the Temple?” In each of the synoptic gospels – Matthew, Mark and Luke – the event comes at the end, only days before his arrest. However, St. John’s book doesn’t say that. He describes a temple cleansing at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry shortly after attending the wedding at Cana. (John 2:11-16) The occasions are similar enough to assume they were the same event but different enough to assume someone made a mistake. Surely this “contradiction” deserves to go to the top of the pile of those touted by the skeptics?

The Jubilee Cycle

There is no such thing as a ‘decade’ in the ancient calendar. It is a ‘weeks of years,’ in other words, seven. Likewise, there is no such thing as a ‘century.’ It is a ‘Jubilee,’ which is forty-nine years long. Two Jubilees equal ninety-eight years – not one hundred. This is made obvious in the calendar writings of the Dead Sea scrolls.

Synchronising with Planet Earth

We have seen how the Bible’s 360-day calendar is expanded to 364 days and how a relationship appears between ancient time-keeping and the number seven. This has led some scholars to wonder if further intercalations might follow a sabbatical pattern. Some Dead Sea scroll experts have mooted the idea, not the least of whom was Jean Carmignac, a French scholar (one of the translators), who proposed that 7-day additions be made on the 7-year cycle commanded by Moses.

360, 364 or 365 days?

The existence of a hidden calendar has always been suspected by those who follow biblical chronologies and timelines. So when ancient scrolls were found Bible students scrambled to see if anything confirmed their theories. They were disappointed. The scrolls stated in no uncertain terms that a year was to be 364 days, no less.

Concerning the Modern Jewish Calendar

A common area of confusion concerning the biblical calendar arises from an assumption that the modern Hebrew calendar is the same as the ancient one. It isn’t.