Undesigned coincidences in the Bible
The term ‘undesigned coincidences’ was coined by J.J. Blunt in his 1851 book, ‘Undesigned Scriptural Coincidences‘. The idea has been popularised by a number of modern authors, most notably Lydia McGrew in her book ‘Hidden in Plain View‘ (2017). There is also a chapter on ‘Undesigned Coincidences’ in Peter J. Williams, Can We Trust the Gospels?.
(I am aware that atheist Richard Carrier has denied the existence of ‘undesigned coincidences’. But I regard his opinions on Christ and the Gospels as unnecessarily and unresaonbly sceptical).
J.C. Thorpe has compiled this helpful account. This is dated 2013, and therefore does not take account of McGrew’s work.
What follows is based on Thorpe’s work.
An ‘undesigned coincidence’ may be defined as:
‘an insignificant detail within a narrative which matches some other, independent, detail in such a way that the two point to a consistent fact which does not form part of the main narrative.’
The existence of undesigned coincidences is good evidence that the text in which they are found is a, accurate record of actual events. In a fictional account, it would be both difficult and pointless for the author to devise such tie-ups in the narrative, but then to so ‘bury’ them as to make them invisible to all but the most careful readers.
Additionally, the presence of undesigned coincidences is good evidence that the written account of events described has been faithfully transmitted. Because these coincidences are not obvious, it would be easy for them to be lost as copies (and copies of copies) were made of the original manuscripts.
The following characteristics emerge:
1. Insignificance. One or both accounts must contain an incidental detail (i.e. one that does not make any difference to the overall flow of the narrative) that would probably go unnoticed by any writer who was setting out to produce a corroborating account.
2. Independence. The two accounts must show signs of independence. In other words, it must be clear that one is not simply a copy of another, or have any direct reliance on it.
3. Agreement. The two accounts must, of course, be in agreement. Often, they will help, unobtrusively, to explain each other. The details must produce a fact that is incidental to the main point of the narrative.
List of possible undesigned coincidences
The following is based on Thorpe’s list, with some additions. He acknowledges that some are stronger than others.
I have expanded many of these in my Bible Commentary notes.
- John’s testimony to Christ’s pre-existence, Jn 1:30, Lk 1:26ff
- John attests to Jesus as the Son of God, Jn 1:34, Mt 3:6f, Mk 1:11; Lk 3:22
- The Call of the Four Disciples, Matthew 4:18-22 and Luke 5:1-11.
- Water into Wine, John 2, Mark 7:3
- Jesus Moves to Capernaum, Lk 4:23, Mt 4:12f
- Secret Disciples in Jerusalem, Jn 2:23; 3:2, Lk 5:17
- Matthew in the Disciples List, Mt 10:2-4, Mk 3:16-19; Lk 6:14-16
- Peter’s Wife, Mt 8:14, 1 Cor 9:5
- Evening Healing, Mt 8:16, Lk 13:14
- Matthew’s House, Mt 9:9f, Mk 2:15; Lk 5:29
- The Centurion’s Servant and the Nobleman’s Son, Lk 7:1-10, Jn 4:46-53
- The Baskets, Mt 14:20; Mk 6:43; Lk 9:17; Jn 6:13/Mt 15:37; Mk 8:8
- The Grass, Mt 14:19; Mk 6:39; Jn 6:10/Mt 15:35; Mk 8:6
- Women and Children, Jn 6:10, Lk 9:14,15, Mt 14:21
- Philip and Bethsaida, Jn 6:5, Jn 1:44, Lk 9:10
- Whence the crowds? Mk 6:31, Jn 6:4
- Barley Loaves, Jn 6:9, Jn 6:4
- The Disciples and the Storm, Mk 6:45, 48, Jn 6:18/Mk 4:35-41, Mt 8:23-27, Lk 8:22-25
- The Wind and the Boats, Jn 6:25, Mt 14:24
- Miracles Near Bethsaida, Mt 11:21, Lk 9:1-6
- The Baptist and the Pharisees, Lk 7:29f, Mt 3:7-10
- Herod’s Servants, Mt 14:1f, Lk 8:1-3
- The Disciples and Fasting, Mt 17:21, Mt 9:14
- Jesus and the Samaritan, Lk 9:51-53, Jn 4
- The setting of the Good Samaritan, Lk 10:29-37
- Jesus’ Brothers, Mt 12:46, Mt 13:54
- The Ship, Mt 4:21,22 and Lk 5:3
- The Death of Joseph, Mt 12:46, Mk 6:3, Lk 8:19, Jn 2:12, Jn 19:26f, Acts 1:13f
- The Death of Zebedee, Mt 4:21, Mt 20:20, Mt 27:55f
- Galilee and the Jews, Jn 7:1, 52, Mt 26:73, Mk 14:70, Lk 22:59, Lk 13:1
- The Entry into Jerusalem, Mt 21:8, Jn 12:12, 17f
- Days to the Passover, Mark 11-14, Jn 12
- Jesus and Bethany, Jn 11, Mk 11:11, 19, Lk 21:37; 22:39
- John in Jerusalem, Jn 18:15, 19:26f,
- The Servant of the High Priest, Jn 18:10,15,26,
- Peter and the High Priest’s Maid, Mt 26:71, Jn 18:16
- Doorkeeping Maids, Jn 18:16f, Acts 12:13
- Peter’s Accusers, Mt 26:69,71, Lk 22:55f, Mk 14:66-71
- Upper Rooms Mk 14:14f, 55f, 66
- Destroying the Temple, Mk 14:57-59, Jn 2:18-21
- Prophesy: Who struck you? Mt 26:67f, Mk 14:65, Lk 22:63f
- The Charges against Jesus, Lk 23:1-4, Jn 18:33-38
- Paying Taxes to Caesar, Lk 23:2, 20:21f
- Herod and Pilate, Lk 23:12, 13:1
- Pilate and the Crowd, Mt 27:15-26; Mk 15:6-17; Lk 23:1,13-21; Jn 18:38f,40, Jn 12:12-19; see also Mt 21:1-10; Mk 11:1-11; Lk 19:28-40; Jn 18:20,21
- Jesus mocked, Mk 15:16-20
- Rufus, Mk 15:21; Rom 16:13
- The Veil of the Temple, Mt 27:51; Mk 15:38; Lk 23:45, Eph 2:14
- Go out into all the World, 1 Cor 15:6, Mt 28:16-19
- Luke and Jesus’ visits to Jerusalem, Lk 10:38, 13:1,4, 13:34, 17:11
- Martha and Mary, Lk 10:38, Jn 11:1-46
- The Virgin Birth in John’s Gospel, Jn 8:41, Gal 4:4
- The Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem and John’s Gospel, Jn 7:42
- John and the Ascension, Jn 3:13, 6:62, 20:17
- John, the Bread and the Cup, Jn 6:53-56
- The Trials of Jesus and Paul, Mk 14:53,55, Acts 22:30-23:1-10, Lk 23:6, Acts 23:34
- The courage of Joseph of Arimathea, Mk 15:43, Jn 19:38
- The roster of widows, 1 Tim 5:9f, Acts 6:1-4
- Personalities of Paul and Barnabas, Acts 15:39, 9:26f, Col 4:10f
- Timothy’s upbringing, 2 Tim 3:14f, Acts 16:1-3
- Timothy’s knowledge of Paul’s persecutions, 2 Tim 3:10f, Acts 13,14,15
- Paul’s imprisonment for the Gentiles, Eph 3:1-6, Col 4:3
- Aristarchus, Acts 19:29; 27:1f; Col 4:10; Phile 23f
- An ambassador in a chain, Eph 6:18-20