Skeptics Always Search For Scenarios to Deny the Facts:
INTRODUCTION:
Skeptics and critics of the Bible are always trying to come up with scenarios and off-beat reasoning to deny Bible facts. This is even so with those who believe in Bible knockoff books whose authors plagiarized from the Bible and did not even do a good copy job. No surprise, this has always been the way of those per 2 Corinthians 4:4, in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn [upon them] (American Standard Version; ASV). There will always be those who wish to criticize the Bible on one concept or another such as one saying such self serving nonsense as, << While "most scholars" is certainly not the same as "all scholars", it is worth keeping in mind a a large number of highly trained Biblical Scholars do not believe that 2 Timothy is Pauline.>>. Or claiming contradictions without realizing just what contradictions actually are.
Lets stop and look at what contradictions actually are. The Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary defines them as follows:
contradict [Show phonetics]
verb [I or T]
(of people) to state the opposite of what someone else has said, or (of one fact or statement) to be so different from another fact or statement that one of them must be wrong:
If you're both going to lie, at least stick to the same story and don't contradict each other!
[R] He kept contradicting himself when we were arguing - I think he was a bit confused.
How dare you contradict (me)!
Recent evidence has tended to contradict established theories on this subject. [source - Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary]
The Bible is the word of God (YHWH) and God (YHWH) no where contradicts himself. However, many different individuals find what they call contradictions, but this is no surprise as so many have their own beliefs rather than accept the Bible as the Standard; therefore, they claim the Bible has contradictions. However, this claim must be considered in what they are calling contradictions which is anything that does not go with their preconceived view of the world. So of course when many individuals have their own agendas they will of course find many contradictions in the Bible with regard their own view or outlook. For example, one fellow told me he found over 7,000 contradictions in the American Standard Version in that it used God's (YHWH's) most commonly rendered English transliteration of the Tetragrammaton and that this was not the correct pronunciation. True it probably is NOT the correct pronunciation as it was pronounced in ancient Hebrew that did NOT have vowels but only constants. But, this is nothing but a so what!
So when reading this or that person says the Bible has contradictions, the question never answered really is contradictions with what. Of course the contradiction is with respect their opinion or outlook which of course accounts for nothing. So claimed contradictions are nothing but a relative thing related to an individuals outlook on the world around them and has no basis in absolute truth or reality. That is why I never give them any count or importance as many in ignorance do. I am NOT into playing games of logomachy as these individuals are really playing with themselves and others who do not have the comprehension to understand that contradictions are not absolutes, but only have any real meaning in context or relation to another point of view.
Always one should ask when he/she hears the word 'contradiction' is what it is in relationship to as it has no real meaning standing alone.
OPPONENT BECOMES A PROPONENT FOR JESUS (YESHUA):
Lets look at the case of Saul, who hated the followers of Jesus (Yeshua) so much that he journeyed to Damascus to harass all those calling on the name of Jesus. But on the way a strange thing took place as recorded at Acts 9:1-9, But Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 and asked of him letters to Damascus unto the synagogues, that if he found any that were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, it came to pass that he drew nigh unto Damascus: and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven: 4 and he fell upon the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he [said], I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: 6 but rise, and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7 And the men that journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but beholding no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing; and they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink. (ASV).
Upon reaching Damascus, a transition of Saul from an opposer to that of a proponent took place as recorded at Acts 9:10-22, Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said unto him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I [am here], Lord. 11 And the Lord [said] unto him, Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth; 12 and he hath seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight. 13 But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much evil he did to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name. 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake. 17 And Ananias departed, and entered into the house; and laying his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, who appeared unto thee in the way which thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18 And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized; 19 and he took food and was strengthened. And he was certain days with the disciples that were at Damascus. 20 And straightway in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that he is the Son of God. 21 And all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that in Jerusalem made havoc of them that called on this name? and he had come hither for this intent, that he might bring them bound before the chief priests. 22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ. (ASV).
However, modern skeptics and critics offer scenarios in an attempt to rationalize their none acceptance of fact and reality such as saying what happened to him was perhaps delirium, hallucination, a drastic psychological crisis, or something else provoked the qualms of Sauls tormented conscience causing a nervous breakdown and/or he had a predisposition to epilepsy. All this in an attempt to rationalize away the facts.
So despite what skeptics and critics say, Saul turned from being an opposer to becoming a follower of Jesus (Yeshua) and became known as the Apostle Paul. As the scripture says at Acts 9:22, But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ. (ASV).
CONCLUSION:
There will always be skeptics and critics who will try to rationalize away or claim contradictions for everything is the Bible, but this rationalization in no way changes the facts. And as can be seen from the foregoing, claimed contradictions amount to nothing as they merely indicate that there is a contradiction between ones narrow or personal agenda and the truth of Gods (YHWHs) word which is nothing but a SO WHAT!
Your Friend in Christ Iris89
INTRODUCTION:
Skeptics and critics of the Bible are always trying to come up with scenarios and off-beat reasoning to deny Bible facts. This is even so with those who believe in Bible knockoff books whose authors plagiarized from the Bible and did not even do a good copy job. No surprise, this has always been the way of those per 2 Corinthians 4:4, in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn [upon them] (American Standard Version; ASV). There will always be those who wish to criticize the Bible on one concept or another such as one saying such self serving nonsense as, << While "most scholars" is certainly not the same as "all scholars", it is worth keeping in mind a a large number of highly trained Biblical Scholars do not believe that 2 Timothy is Pauline.>>. Or claiming contradictions without realizing just what contradictions actually are.
Lets stop and look at what contradictions actually are. The Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary defines them as follows:
contradict [Show phonetics]
verb [I or T]
(of people) to state the opposite of what someone else has said, or (of one fact or statement) to be so different from another fact or statement that one of them must be wrong:
If you're both going to lie, at least stick to the same story and don't contradict each other!
[R] He kept contradicting himself when we were arguing - I think he was a bit confused.
How dare you contradict (me)!
Recent evidence has tended to contradict established theories on this subject. [source - Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary]
The Bible is the word of God (YHWH) and God (YHWH) no where contradicts himself. However, many different individuals find what they call contradictions, but this is no surprise as so many have their own beliefs rather than accept the Bible as the Standard; therefore, they claim the Bible has contradictions. However, this claim must be considered in what they are calling contradictions which is anything that does not go with their preconceived view of the world. So of course when many individuals have their own agendas they will of course find many contradictions in the Bible with regard their own view or outlook. For example, one fellow told me he found over 7,000 contradictions in the American Standard Version in that it used God's (YHWH's) most commonly rendered English transliteration of the Tetragrammaton and that this was not the correct pronunciation. True it probably is NOT the correct pronunciation as it was pronounced in ancient Hebrew that did NOT have vowels but only constants. But, this is nothing but a so what!
So when reading this or that person says the Bible has contradictions, the question never answered really is contradictions with what. Of course the contradiction is with respect their opinion or outlook which of course accounts for nothing. So claimed contradictions are nothing but a relative thing related to an individuals outlook on the world around them and has no basis in absolute truth or reality. That is why I never give them any count or importance as many in ignorance do. I am NOT into playing games of logomachy as these individuals are really playing with themselves and others who do not have the comprehension to understand that contradictions are not absolutes, but only have any real meaning in context or relation to another point of view.
Always one should ask when he/she hears the word 'contradiction' is what it is in relationship to as it has no real meaning standing alone.
OPPONENT BECOMES A PROPONENT FOR JESUS (YESHUA):
Lets look at the case of Saul, who hated the followers of Jesus (Yeshua) so much that he journeyed to Damascus to harass all those calling on the name of Jesus. But on the way a strange thing took place as recorded at Acts 9:1-9, But Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 and asked of him letters to Damascus unto the synagogues, that if he found any that were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, it came to pass that he drew nigh unto Damascus: and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven: 4 and he fell upon the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he [said], I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: 6 but rise, and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7 And the men that journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but beholding no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing; and they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink. (ASV).
Upon reaching Damascus, a transition of Saul from an opposer to that of a proponent took place as recorded at Acts 9:10-22, Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said unto him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I [am here], Lord. 11 And the Lord [said] unto him, Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth; 12 and he hath seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight. 13 But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much evil he did to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name. 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake. 17 And Ananias departed, and entered into the house; and laying his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, who appeared unto thee in the way which thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18 And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized; 19 and he took food and was strengthened. And he was certain days with the disciples that were at Damascus. 20 And straightway in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that he is the Son of God. 21 And all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that in Jerusalem made havoc of them that called on this name? and he had come hither for this intent, that he might bring them bound before the chief priests. 22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ. (ASV).
However, modern skeptics and critics offer scenarios in an attempt to rationalize their none acceptance of fact and reality such as saying what happened to him was perhaps delirium, hallucination, a drastic psychological crisis, or something else provoked the qualms of Sauls tormented conscience causing a nervous breakdown and/or he had a predisposition to epilepsy. All this in an attempt to rationalize away the facts.
So despite what skeptics and critics say, Saul turned from being an opposer to becoming a follower of Jesus (Yeshua) and became known as the Apostle Paul. As the scripture says at Acts 9:22, But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ. (ASV).
CONCLUSION:
There will always be skeptics and critics who will try to rationalize away or claim contradictions for everything is the Bible, but this rationalization in no way changes the facts. And as can be seen from the foregoing, claimed contradictions amount to nothing as they merely indicate that there is a contradiction between ones narrow or personal agenda and the truth of Gods (YHWHs) word which is nothing but a SO WHAT!
Your Friend in Christ Iris89
