Episode Details

Episode 278 examines the apparent contradiction in Matthew 23:35 concerning the identity of Zechariah's father. Was Jesus referring to Zechariah the son of Jehoiada in 2 Chronicles, the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, or someone else entirely?

Lance Smith explores the leading explanations, including ancient naming conventions, possible textual variants, the case for the prophet Zechariah, and other historical traditions. He weighs the evidence behind each view and explains why he finds the connection to the Zechariah of 2 Chronicles the most convincing.

Ultimately, the episode shows that the passage presents no genuine contradiction and that Jesus' primary purpose was not to identify Zechariah's father, but to condemn a long history of rejecting and persecuting God's messengers.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith 

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com 

1. Skeptics Annotated Bible: https://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/zechariah.html 
2. Eric Lyons, “Zechariah Who?” Apologetics Press, January 28, 2007: https://apologeticspress.org/zechariah-who-2078/
3. Dr. Tim Chaffey, “Contradictions: Was Jesus Wrong About Zechariah’s Father?” Answers in Genesis, February 28, 2012: https://answersingenesis.org/jesus/jesus-is-god/was-jesus-wrong-about-zechariahs-father/
4. Franklin, “Who Was the Zechariah Referred to in Matthew 23:35?” Reformed Baptist Christian Blogger, April 6, 2023: https://reformedbaptistchristianblogger.wordpress.com/2023/04/06/who-was-the-zechariah-referred-to-in-matthew-2335/
5. James Bradford Pate, “Two More Ideas on the Identity of Zechariah in Matthew 23:35,” April 6, 2016: https://jamesbradfordpate.wordpress.com/2016/04/06/two-more-ideas-on-the-identity-of-zechariah-in-matthew-2335/
6. Lynne Hilton Wilson, “The Confusing Case of Zacharias,” Religious Educator 14, no. 2 (2013): 107–123 (BYU Religious Studies Center): https://rsc.byu.edu/vol-14-no-2-2013/confusing-case-zacharias
7. John MacPherson, “Zacharias: A Study of Matthew 23:35,” The Biblical World, Vol. 9, No. 1 (January 1897): https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdf/10.1086/472016 (and reprint discussion at American Vision)