Contradiction with Luke 10:38-42
These verses describe Mary as sitting at Jesus' feet and listening to His teaching, emphasizing her devotion and spiritual focus, which contrasts with the act of anointing with perfume mentioned in John 11:2.
Luke 10:38-42: Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
Contradiction with Mark 14:3-9
Describes a seemingly different event where a woman anoints Jesus, sparking debate about whether it's the same Mary of Bethany, leading to differing interpretations and potential contradictions regarding Mary's actions and timeline.
Mark 14:3-9: And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured [it] on his head. [spikenard: or, pure nard, or, liquid nard]
Contradiction with John 12:3
Depicts Mary anointing Jesus' feet similarly to John 11:2; the proximity and similarity of two separate accounts about the anointing event creates confusion regarding the exactness and necessity of both narratives.
John 12:3: Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
Contradiction with Matthew 26:6-13
Describes a woman anointing Jesus' head at the house of Simon the leper, which causes debate over whether it's the same occurrence as in John 11:2, suggesting possible discrepancies in identity and location.
Matthew 26:6-13: Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
Contradiction with Luke 7:37-38
Describes a "sinful woman" anointing Jesus' feet in a Pharisee's house, leading to discussions on whether this is the same event with different portrayals or a separate incident altogether.
Luke 7:37-38: And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that [Jesus] sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
Paradox #1
The potential inconsistency with John 11:2 is that it refers to Mary anointing Jesus, which is detailed in John 12:3, suggesting the event was already known before it is actually described in the narrative. This can confuse the sequence of events since it mentions an incident not yet recounted in the story.