Contradictions in the Bible

[rrobs]

"Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears." (NIV 1 Corinthians 13:8)

Evidence from the NIV NT that it is not the whole word of God, because if it were then Corinthians would not be declaring it as incomplete would it?

In the OP I said it was important to keep the times straight. Some things in the Bible talk about the past, some now, and others in the future. I also mentioned context. Taking those two things into account, it is clear the Corinthians is talking about the future. Notice all the future tense verbs. Why can't we know something in the future we don't know now? That's not very complicated.

 

[Subduction Zone]

A common conception of the Bible is that it contradicts itself. It sure does look that way. I can't argue that. And yet it claims to be the truth,

John 17:17,

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
​

Well, there is something in the Bible that doesn't even need "interpretation." It's a pretty straight forward declaration. While belief in the statement is optional, it would nonetheless be hard to make it say anything other than that God's word, the Bible, is truth. But how can it be truth if it is full of contradictions?

A more fundamental question though might be, is it really full of contradictions, or do many jump to conclusions before doing any exhaustive study for themselves? I find that question particularly relative considering how many already know it is contradictory without having considered alternatives.

What alternatives?

• To whom is God speaking in any part of the Bible? We commonly say one thing to one person or group, and something totally different to another.
• To what time period do the two "contradictions" belong? It's nothing new; times change. We all know that in our daily life. Well, God can do that also.
• What is the context? You tell your kids not to shout in the restaurant, and then tell them shouting is OK when walking in the forest.
  
• Are we sure two different accounts are talking about the same event? There are times when recognizing that what seems to be the same event are actually two, albeit similar, events. Lot's of similar events in the Bible.
  
• Are we sure the Bible version we use is true to the original Hebrew and Greek texts? It wouldn't be unusual for a scribe to make an honest mistake. It might just be possible that the scribe interjected their own "view" on doctrinal matters. I know of one "contradiction" that vanishes when a comma is removed. The original texts had no punctuation at all. The comma was added by some scribe and is therefore devoid of any diving authority.

There are other considerations, but I've found that those 5 clear up 99% of the apparent contradictions in the Bible. So now I have no trouble seeing that God's word is truth. It just takes a little bit of "getting under the hood" to see how the engine runs.

You misunderstood John 17: 17. That does not say or even imply that the Bible is true. It only claims that "God 's word" is true, and it does not define that at all.

 

[rrobs]

Citations, what verses are conradictions?

You have to show there is such things. Not just assert that there is. Or else...

You said you'd give me a million dollars.

So pony up! I don't have to prove you said it.

I thought I was plain in the OP that I don't believe there are in fact contradictions, so it would be hard for me to cite one. However other people do come up with them. Do a new post and ask people where the Bible contradicts itself. I'll follow you on that to see what people say. You should get plenty.

 

[Subduction Zone]

This is so funny.

God gives 'apparent contradictions' to those who are looking for contradictions.

They are not looking for God. They are looking for any reason not to follow God. And so God gives it to them.

God gives them the lie. (2 Thess. 2:11). "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie."

Would God do that? You bet He would.

Good-Ole-Rebel

Do you realize that that verse calls God a liar?

 

[rrobs]

You misunderstood John 17: 17. That does not say or even imply that the Bible is true. It only claims that "God 's word" is true, and it does not define that at all.

Where do we find whatever it was that John was talking about?

 

[rrobs]

Do you realize that that verse calls God a liar?

You are rejecting the book because of one verse? What about the rest of the things in it?

Besides, if you apply the principles, you could figure out what this verse is really saying.

 

[rrobs]

so your op is an attempt to become the pivot point of truth?

and …...no

not buying it

The Bible says God gave us free will, so you obviously believe that part. Do you believe anything else it says?

 

[Thief]

The Bible says God gave us free will, so you obviously believe that part. Do you believe anything else it says?

I suspect....scripture is a litmus test

after the last breath.....we stand from the dust
heaven will be there to see what stood up

and the question will be......What do you believe?

your answer will make all the difference

and they might respond.....Who told you that?
and WHY did you believe it?

They will deal with you according to your declaration

and then go looking for that person....who told you such things

 

[whirlingmerc]

The Bible says God gave us free will, so you obviously believe that part. Do you believe anything else it says?

I believe everything it says

Ten Principles When Considering Alleged Bible Contradictions | Cold Case Christianity

 

[Subduction Zone]

You are rejecting the book because of one verse? What about the rest of the things in it?

Besides, if you apply the principles, you could figure out what this verse is really saying.

No, of course not. But it is interesting to see the reaction of some Christians when their holy book refutes itself. It does not do this just once, the Bible contradicts itself again and again. This site may help. Just click on any of the lines that you see there:

BibViz Project - Bible Contradictions, Misogyny, Violence, Inaccuracies interactively visualized

 

[Subduction Zone]

Where do we find whatever it was that John was talking about?

It helps if you read it in context and know some of the history of the Bible. For example that could not have been about the New Testament. Can you figure out why?

 

[Tom Sawyer]

It's not supposed to be a solvable equation that results in a definitive answer one way or the other. If you believe without question then you're fooling yourself. If you disbelieve without question then you're fooling yourself. At the end of the day the Bible is just a book. It's several books, rewritten and modified to fit many different religious factions. It became several books because of man. A book like that given into the hands of man, what did you think would happen? It's not something you read and consider fact so much as it is something you feel and know is real. We are born knowing right from wrong instinctively before we are even able to read. That's God.

 

[blü 2]

A common conception of the Bible is that it contradicts itself. It sure does look that way. I can't argue that. And yet it claims to be the truth,

John 17:17,

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
​

Well, there is something in the Bible that doesn't even need "interpretation." It's a pretty straight forward declaration. While belief in the statement is optional, it would nonetheless be hard to make it say anything other than that God's word, the Bible, is truth. But how can it be truth if it is full of contradictions?

If you read it carefully, you'll find it doesn't quite say that.

Instead it makes two claims: Thy word [ie the word of God] is truth, which I take to mean 'truthful', 'true'; and
I have given them your word ie I have accurately passed on your message.

The problem is that Jesus says a lot of things but he rarely identifies which words are God's and which words are his ─ and you'll note that he doesn't warrant his own words as truthful, at least not here. So there's no simple way to determine which words of the bible are said by John's Jesus to be truthful.

And of course you can't make a statement true by saying "This statement is true". Truth has to be established by comparing the claim to the situation that objectively exists.

 

[susanblange]

I believe everything it says

Ten Principles When Considering Alleged Bible Contradictions | Cold Case Christianity

Proverbs 14:15. "The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going".

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Would God do that? You bet He would.

So, god's a liar and punishes people for using a skill known as critical reading?

 

[ChristineM]

A common conception of the Bible is that it contradicts itself. It sure does look that way. I can't argue that. And yet it claims to be the truth,

John 17:17,

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
​

Well, there is something in the Bible that doesn't even need "interpretation." It's a pretty straight forward declaration. While belief in the statement is optional, it would nonetheless be hard to make it say anything other than that God's word, the Bible, is truth. But how can it be truth if it is full of contradictions?

A more fundamental question though might be, is it really full of contradictions, or do many jump to conclusions before doing any exhaustive study for themselves? I find that question particularly relative considering how many already know it is contradictory without having considered alternatives.

What alternatives?

• To whom is God speaking in any part of the Bible? We commonly say one thing to one person or group, and something totally different to another.
• To what time period do the two "contradictions" belong? It's nothing new; times change. We all know that in our daily life. Well, God can do that also.
• What is the context? You tell your kids not to shout in the restaurant, and then tell them shouting is OK when walking in the forest.
  
• Are we sure two different accounts are talking about the same event? There are times when recognizing that what seems to be the same event are actually two, albeit similar, events. Lot's of similar events in the Bible.
  
• Are we sure the Bible version we use is true to the original Hebrew and Greek texts? It wouldn't be unusual for a scribe to make an honest mistake. It might just be possible that the scribe interjected their own "view" on doctrinal matters. I know of one "contradiction" that vanishes when a comma is removed. The original texts had no punctuation at all. The comma was added by some scribe and is therefore devoid of any diving authority.

There are other considerations, but I've found that those 5 clear up 99% of the apparent contradictions in the Bible. So now I have no trouble seeing that God's word is truth. It just takes a little bit of "getting under the hood" to see how the engine runs.

I have read 3 different versions of the bible, cover to cover. And too many individual books, verses etc to number and i can confirm that not only does the bible contradict itself, the different versions contradict each other.

The only two ways some (by no means all) the contradictions can be excused is either by cherry picking to ignore the worst ones or using a time machine to skip over them

 

[Skwim]

You have to separate the OT from the NT. The NT is full of contradictions, but the OT is not. The NT is the doctrine of Satan. Job 31:35. Jesus is his counterfeit messiah. Jesus is the modern day idol of Israel. He has been kicked out of Heaven and reincarnated. He is the leader of the "sons of darkness" and this time he will die by bursting into flames, along with all of his followers. Ezekiel 28:18-19, Zechariah 14:12.

Don't kid yourself. There are plenty of contradictions in the OT.

All the plant life was destroyed by hail.

Exodus 9:25
23 So Moses raised his walking stick into the air, and the Lord sent hail with thunder and lightning down on the earth. The Lord caused hail to fall all over Egypt. 24 The hail was falling, and lightning was flashing all through it. It was the worst hailstorm that had ever hit Egypt since it had become a nation. 25 The storm destroyed everything in the fields in Egypt. The hail destroyed people, animals, and plants. The hail also broke all the trees in the fields
​

All the plant life was destroyed by locusts.

Exodus 10:13-15
13 So Moses raised his walking stick over the land of Egypt, and the Lord caused a strong wind to blow from the east. The wind blew all that day and night. When morning came, the wind had brought the locusts to the land of Egypt. 14 The locusts flew into the country of Egypt and landed on the ground. There were more locusts than there had ever been in Egypt. And there will never again be that many locusts there. 15 They covered the ground, and the whole country became dark. The locusts ate every plant on the ground and all the fruit in the trees that the hail had not destroyed. There were no leaves left on any of the trees or plants anywhere in Egypt.


​

Saul's daughter was childless.

2 Samuel 6:23
23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
​

Saul's daughter had five sons.

2 Samuel 21:8
8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:


​

David paid 50 shekels for the property.

2 Samuel 24:24
24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
​

David paid 600 shekels for the property.

1 Chronicles 21:25
25 So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight.

.


​

 

[Skwim]

This is so funny.

God gives 'apparent contradictions' to those who are looking for contradictions.

"Apparent contradictions"? How much clearer of a contradiction can one get than:

Ahaziah was 22 years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign;

2 Kings 8:26
Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri king of Israel.
​

And then asserting Ahaziah was 42 years old when he began to reign;

2 Chronicles 22:2
Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.​

They are not looking for God.

Or have "found god" and are honest enough to admit there are contradictions in the Bible.

.

 

[Skwim]

I thought I was plain in the OP that I don't believe there are in fact contradictions, so it would be hard for me to cite one.

Then I suggest you take a look at posts 39 and 40. There are four you'll be able to cite.

.

 

[exchemist]

A common conception of the Bible is that it contradicts itself. It sure does look that way. I can't argue that. And yet it claims to be the truth,

John 17:17,

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
​

Well, there is something in the Bible that doesn't even need "interpretation." It's a pretty straight forward declaration. While belief in the statement is optional, it would nonetheless be hard to make it say anything other than that God's word, the Bible, is truth. But how can it be truth if it is full of contradictions?

A more fundamental question though might be, is it really full of contradictions, or do many jump to conclusions before doing any exhaustive study for themselves? I find that question particularly relative considering how many already know it is contradictory without having considered alternatives.

What alternatives?

• To whom is God speaking in any part of the Bible? We commonly say one thing to one person or group, and something totally different to another.
• To what time period do the two "contradictions" belong? It's nothing new; times change. We all know that in our daily life. Well, God can do that also.
• What is the context? You tell your kids not to shout in the restaurant, and then tell them shouting is OK when walking in the forest.
  
• Are we sure two different accounts are talking about the same event? There are times when recognizing that what seems to be the same event are actually two, albeit similar, events. Lot's of similar events in the Bible.
  
• Are we sure the Bible version we use is true to the original Hebrew and Greek texts? It wouldn't be unusual for a scribe to make an honest mistake. It might just be possible that the scribe interjected their own "view" on doctrinal matters. I know of one "contradiction" that vanishes when a comma is removed. The original texts had no punctuation at all. The comma was added by some scribe and is therefore devoid of any diving authority.

There are other considerations, but I've found that those 5 clear up 99% of the apparent contradictions in the Bible. So now I have no trouble seeing that God's word is truth. It just takes a little bit of "getting under the hood" to see how the engine runs.

Where in the bible does it claim to be the truth? Your chosen quotation does not say that. What it says is that "thy word", i.e. the word of God, is truth. You are assuming, without offering evidence, that the bible asserts that it, itself, is the word of God. Where does it say that?