Matthew 1:21

Contradictions (2)

Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.

• What was Jesus H. Christ's real name?

  The New Testament gives Jesus a long string of names and titles — Jesus, Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, the Word, Son of Man, Son of the Highest, Son of David, Son of God, Holy One of God, Lord Our Righteousness, Alpha and Omega, the Amen, Lion of Judah, Faithful and True, Word of God, King of Kings, the Morning Star, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace — and Revelation 19:12 says no one knows his real name at all. The 'contradiction' as posed is largely a category error (these are titles, not legal names), but the underlying problem — competing Christological titles drawn from different prophetic streams — is real.

  Critical scholarship: Usually considered reconciled.

  Historical detail

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• What will happen to Jews when they die?

  Matthew 8:12 has Jesus say that *hoi huioi tēs basileias ekblēthēsontai eis to skotos to exōteron* — 'the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness' — a phrase the SAB and a long Christian interpretive tradition has read as referring to ethnic Jews. Matthew 1:21 says Jesus came to save *ton laon autou apo tōn hamartiōn autōn* — 'his people from their sins' — and Romans 11:26 famously declares *kai houtōs pas Israēl sōthēsetai* — 'and so all Israel will be saved.'

  Critical scholarship: Genuinely disputed among scholars.

  Theology

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