ContradictionsReading order 419Bible context 3 min read
Where did Peter make his famous confession about the identity of Jesus?
Matthew and Mark explicitly locate the confession near Cesarea Philippi, whereas Luke supplies Bethsaida for an earlier scene without naming the confession's location.
- Textual conflict
- Weak tension
- The alleged conflict needs substantial assumptions, such as treating an omission as a denial or figurative language as literal.
- Importance
- Minor
- A local detail in a story, chronology, or inventory.
Luke's supposed Bethsaida location is inferred from the preceding scene rather than stated for Peter's confession.
An editorial assessment of the quoted passages. Importance describes the stakes; it does not increase certainty. Reading order weighs both.
Peter's confession occurs around Cesarea Philippi
And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Cesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am? And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets. And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.
Mark 8:27-29
Translation / edition: King James Version (KJV)
Read the full chapter:Mark 8
When Jesus came into the coasts of Cesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.