According to Matthew, Luke and Mark, Jesus’ ministry lasted only one year. However, according to John, it lasted at least three years.
One may argue, one or three years doesn’t really make the difference, although such controversial statements debunk the myth of the infallibility of the godsend Bible. But here comes Irenaeus, who is considered by the today Christians as the greatest of the early Christian Fathers, and who lived in the century following Jesus, affirming that Jesus’ ministry lasted twenty years. In his work, “Against Heresies,” book 2 chapter 22, sections 5-6 we namely read …..
“They however, that they may establish their false opinion regarding that which is written, ‘To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,’ maintain that he preached for one year only, and then suffered in the twelfth month. They are forgetful of their own disadvantage, destroying his whole work, and robbing him of that age which is both more necessary and more honorable than any other; that more advanced age, I mean, during which also, as a teacher, he excelled all others. For how could he have had disciples if he did not teach? And how could he have taught, unless he had reached the age of a master? For when he came to be baptized, he had not yet completed his thirtieth year, but was beginning to be about thirty years of age…. Now, that the first stage of early life embraces thirty years, and that this extends onward to the fortieth year, every one will admit; but from the fortieth and fiftieth year, a man begins to decline toward old age; which our Lord possessed, while he still fulfilled the office of a teacher…. He did not therefore preach for only one year, nor did he suffer in the twelfth month of the year. For the period included between the thirtieth and fiftieth year can never be regarded as one year”
Can anybody enlighten us which is the true story?
Δεσμώτης
Article URL : https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103.htm#:~:text=Preface%20Chapter%201%20The%20apostles%20did%20not%20commence