Atheist
Aren't there contradictions in the Gospels?
Apparent discrepancies among the Gospels are largely differences of perspective, emphasis, and selective detail typical of independent, honest eyewitness accounts, not the kind of irreconcilable contradiction that would undermine their historical reliability.
Catholic teaching
The Church teaches the Gospels faithfully and without error hand on what God wanted written for our salvation, while recognizing each evangelist wrote with a distinct theological purpose and audience, arranging and selecting material accordingly — a literary practice fully compatible with historical truthfulness in ancient biography.
Biblical foundation
Luke explicitly states he compiled his account from careful investigation of eyewitness sources 'that you may know the truth' (Luke 1:1-4), and John acknowledges he selected only some of Jesus' many signs for his specific purpose (John 20:30-31), showing intentional, purposeful selection rather than careless error.
Scripture references
Historical evidence
Ancient historians such as Plutarch routinely varied details, order, and emphasis when writing biographies of the same figure from different angles; classical scholars recognize the Gospels' variations fall well within the normal range of ancient historiographical practice rather than evidencing fabrication.
The Church Fathers
“Where each writer has determined that his own narrative should be constructed... it must not disturb us to observe that... one has followed this order and another that.”