Contradiction I found in 13 different versions of the bible. There are many but here's just 1?

Question

Good deeds

Matt 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (NIV)

Matt 6:3-4 "But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secert. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (NIV)

Answer 1

go get um tiger you are makeing atheists out of all of them they do not care about the truth many will try to decieve you they are the devils pawns get a grip bible is an employee hand book and training manual .give unto ceaser work pay taxes your reward is in heaven lololololol

Answer 2

What contradiction?
Take the previous two verses in both cases and the matter becomes quite clear.

In Matt 5:14 and 15, Jesus refers to His followers as the light of the world, and to a lit (lighted) lamp. Then v. 16 says to let your light shine forth THAT GOD MAY BE PRAISED. Where did the followers get the light? From God, of course. So, whatever praise is given, that praise belongs to God.

On the other hand, Ch. 6: v. 1 "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
v. 2 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
v.3 "But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing."

Why not? Because YOU do not deserve any praise. Whatever you do, you are doing by the power of God.

At first, it may appear as a contradiction. But when taken in context, it simply means that one should live an exemplary lifestyle so that God will receive the credit, not the individual.

As you so clearly pointed out, there are a lot of (apparent) contradictions in the Bible. Most of them can be explained. Not enough is known about the context, culture and language use to explain the others as YET.

Answer 3

Of course there are contradictions between different versions of the bible. The NIV was translated by a group of liberals (a homosexual woman included), and other newer translations lack accuracy..

The meaning of the text you provided is: Do good works and show a good Christian attitude. But, when you give to needy and such, don't go around bragging about it...do it without telling the world you gave... God sees it and you will be rewarded. There's no contradiction in the scripture you gave. You just have to read it all in context.

Answer 4

Your first selection refers to the SPIRIT in which you conduct your deeds, whether they be charitable or merely day-to-day living. Matthew says to do it with the Spirit of love shining through each action, so that all may know that you walk with God and want to to follow that path themselves.

Your second selection refers to publicity and your REASON for charity. Are you doing it in a blinding media spotlight and hoping for lots of positive publicity and pats on the back? TSK,TSK,TSK. That's the WRONG reason. You are supposed to be giving because God wants you to be a giving, caring person and your priority is doing things God's way. Remember, Matthew also warns that those who give so that others may praise them have already received their reward, ie, the praise of their fellows. But you are supposed to want God's smile more than any human's pat on the back.

Now where's the contradiction in any of that? Perhaps you should learn Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek and Latin and read these books in the original? A few courses in the customs and cultures of first century Mediterrania wouldn't hurt either.

People, people, people, this is exactly why the Catholic Church for so many centuries held the Bible back from first-hand knowledge. Every schmuck that reads it thinks he/she has a better handle on it that anyone before or since. That way lies splintering. Cults, sects, schisms. Persecutions.

No matter what Martin Luther said, this is not a book you can just pick up and read and understand like it was Harry Potter. Even less is it a book you can pick and choose what you like and ignore the parts you don't agree with. Luther did exactly that and splintered Christianity for centuries.

Fortunately ecumenical dialogues are beginning to bear fruit and the reunification of Christendom is becoming a very real probablility in the near future.

You wouldn't allow your brother to perform brain surgery on you unless he WAS a brain surgeon, now would you? Certainly not just because he read a few books on brain surgery?

And this is FAR more important to you than mere medicine. Why do you persist in playing amateur hour with your immortal soul?!

Answer 5

What is contradictory in that? He was talking about two different situations.

Matthew 5:16 means that as Christians you should show good examples so that you will serve as model of how it is to praise God by example and that people may follow by praising God.

Matthew 6:3-4 means that when you extend your help to those in need, you don't have to tell people about the good deed that you just did because such good deed should be just betwwen you and God. Giving becomes magnanimous when it comes from within.

I thought you had 12 years in preisthood, you find it difficult to understand?

Answer 6

in Matthew 6:1-4, He told people to let their light shine before people (5:16) is stating that if the motive of doing something good is to be noticed by people, then don't do that. Don't boast about how "good" you are before people. That is wrong. There is nothing wrong with doing good works that will be seen before people, after all, we live among unbelievers. But, when you do good things, don't do them for the purpose of drawing attention to how "good" you are

Quoting out of context and juxtaposing verses together are common ways people come up with false contradictions

Answer 7

You see a contridiction where none exists. Matthew 5 speaks tyo a Christians obligation to make this world a better place to live by fulfilling their Christian obligations to their fellow man. Matthew 6 addresses the problem ob people who make a great show of their fulfillment of the Law's rules concerning providing support for the needy in their society. Their motive is not in obeying God or helping others, rather it is to gain the approval and admiration of their audience (note the sounding of trumpets to announce what they are doing).

Answer 8

people are aware of good people doing good works w/out the need of boasting. In your heart, you should help others w/out seeking man's praise. The Pharisees & rich of the time struggled w/ this issue. When they did a good work, their hearts were not in the right place.
There is no contradiction at all if u just give it a little thought.

Answer 9

They mean different things. The first one says to help people in need, and give the glory to God. The second is saying that you shouldn't pridefully do a good deed, so that it brings praise to yourself only. Instead, you should do it humbly, and God will reward you.

Answer 10

First, let your good deeds reflect the goodness of God, second, when doing so, do not brag to others about it.

Example, helping a single mother pay her utility bill, then telling all your friends for praise and accolades.