I hear people say that the Bible is full of contradictions, well can you name one, and give proof of it?

Answer 1

Almost all people who claim contradictions in the Bible are actually simply misinterpreting. For example, I go to work at 8:00am and come home at 5:00pm. I tell my wife all about my day that day in some order. All truth. And in that I mention that my friend was fired before lunch. Next that friend from work comes over and tells her he got fired when he got back from lunch. Who told the truth? We both did! I told her he was fired before lunch - referring to MY lunch which I had not taken yet. He tells her he was fired after lunch referring to HIS lunch which he had just returned from.

In the Bible, the writers told things from their point of view which may have been different from another point of view or they used an expression that we use differently (see the word "bad" for more understanding of how words can be used in different ways). What happens is that somebody reads it, assumes they completely understand exactly what the writer was trying to convey and assumes that they have now found a contradiction.

In reality, if they stopped to think they could explain away their own contradiction! I've seen the "101 contradictions" and must say that almost every one has a very simple explanation that is so obvious that anybody who thought about it could see it isn't a real contradiction.

Thanks for the great question and the chance to rant!

Be blessed!

Answer 2

How could the sun be created, before sunlight? Several days in fact. It is easier to understand, as a contradiction if you know that people used to think that the sun wasn't the source of light, but the recipient.

I will grant you, that this is only a contradiction to people that take the creation story as an accurate account of physics.

But, if you can accept this story allegorically, then you can learn a lot about pantheism, monotheism, etc.

Most of the so called contradictions in the Bible should be read as an invitation to learn something new. Don't close the book, just because you found what looks like a flaw. The Bible may seem flawed at first glance, but it is not shallow.

Answer 3

Hey Jack:

If you read a bit more diligently, you will see that the Genesis 2: 19 passage begins "Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them...." The word "NOW" refers to the fact that God had already made the beasts, even before Adam. This is different from the disputed use of the word "AND" that you have used, because "AND" would suggest that Adam was created first, when he really was not. If you read even further, after Adam had named all of the beasts, a suitable helper could not be found amongst them. (v. 20) Verse 21 goes on to describe how God formed woman from man.

When attempting to decipher the Scriptures, just as any important document, it is imperative to meticulously read the entire passage (chapter) to get the proper context. If your worry is that exact words and phrases are not properly translated from the original language, it's also important to find either a direct translation, (one that has is not a translation of a translation of a translation, etc. into archaic language) or consult the original language texts and do the translations yourself, keeping in mind that many times one word may have several meanings and/or tenses.
Shalom.

Answer 4

OK, here are a few. But first, let me tell you where I'm coming from:

-- Raised by real-deal Southern Baptists.
-- Studied Ancient Greek in school and read most of the New Testament in the original language.
-- Not a Christian, but I'm not anti-religious.
-- I believe that the writers of the Bible believed what they were writing. There was no fraud involved.

Here are a few of the contradictions:

1) The Genealogy of Jesus

Matthew Chapter 1 says that Jesus' paternal lineage was as follows: Joseph, Jacob, Matthan, Eleazar, Eliud, Achim, etc.

But, Luke gives the following paternal lineage: Joseph, Heli, Matthat, Levi, Melchi, Jannai, etc.

So which one is it? Yes, "Matthan" and "Matthat" might be the same person. But remember that we are dealing with a culture that did not use surnames. One name, one person. That was it.

This is not a big deal for historians: Historians have to sift through conflicting information all the time. It doesn't mean that Jesus was just a myth or that the Bible is fictional. It just means it was written by people with incomplete information, and therefore is clearly not an infallible text inspired by the Creator of the universe. I think God would have gotten this right.

2) The Resurrection Account

This is obviously a "big deal" topic in Christianity. You would expect a lot of factual agreement on this subject, but we don't get it. Here are the highlights of the different Gospels:

MARK: Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James, and Salome went to the tomb. The stone was already rolled back. No one was outside the tomb. When they went inside they saw one young man dressed in white who told them Jesus had risen.

MATTHEW: Mary Magdalene and Mary mother of James [no Salome] went to the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, and an angel came down from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat on it [somehow Mark forgot to mention this]. The "guards" were terrified [Mark fails to mention any guards -- and their presence doesn't make sense in his account]. The angel tells them that Jesus has risen.

LUKE: Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James, and Joanna [who?] go to the tomb. They find that the stone was already rolled away [I guess the guards were sleeping when this happened?]. They go inside and find TWO men in white clothes [?], who tell them that Jesus has risen.

JOHN: Mary Magdalene [alone?] went to the tomb first, and saw that the stone was moved away. She went running to Peter and the "disciple whom Jesus loved" [John?] to tell them and then they all three went back to the tomb. Peter went inside and found it empty. While Mary Magdalene was weeping outside the tomb, two angels appeared to her [sounds familiar...] then JESUS HIMSELF appears and comforts her [How did the other ones miss THAT?].

--------------------------

So you see, there are some real problems here. And while the genealogy stuff might be nitpicking, the resurrection accounts are too different to reconcile without a heavy dose of blind faith.

Yes, when people see stressful or amazing stuff, their memory gets spotty. I have no doubt that the people close to Jesus were in emotional turmoil like we can't even imagine after Jesus' horrific execution. Police will tell you that witnesses to upsetting events like a murder give very sketchy statements and multiple statements will have contradictions, even though there is no doubt that the murder actually occurred.

Still, no Prosecutor would go to court with evidence this thin and contradictory. The Gospels meet the standards for showing that Jesus was a real person who actually lived (and actually died), but they don't meet the standards for showing that he was actually part of God Himself and he miraculously rose from the dead.

Answer 5

The two creation stories:

Genesis 1:25-27

And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let us make man in our image.... So God created man in his own image.


Genesis 2:18-19

And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

There are many contradictions in the Bible but considering it's supposed to be the word of god, one contradiction is enough to invalidate the whole book.

Answer 6

The bible says thaat theres a god an all powerfull being and that we have freewill It’s impossible for god to be all-loving and all-powerful, and still allow people to go to hell.Think about it. why doesn't god let EVERY SINGLE person into heaven. It’s either because he CAN'T (not all-powerful) or he doesn't WANT to (not all-loving). There’s no other reason why people would have to go to hell.

(Another contradiction at the core of Christianity, how can man have freewill if god is the one who determines every single aspect of the universe??? think about It. the two ideas cannot co-exist.)

Answer 7

as a count number number of undeniable actuality that medical technique isn't about what you may call tangible data. What data does a psychiatrist have even as he makes a prognosis of psychotic ailment in protecting with not some thing although the affected human being's own subjective heritage and a question and answer MSE? What about alibis, even as human beings swear someone changed into with them on the time a criminal offense changed into dedicated? it really is admissible in a courtroom of regulation. If the information of someone can count number as data in a courtroom of regulation, or in a psychiatric exam, or different real existence circumstances, why shouldn't it in non secular concerns? after all, we are not residing in attempt-tubes and petri-dishes, in a lab someplace, or in witness stands, wanting "data" to lower back up each and every actuality... that is real existence - our lives

Answer 8

there are no contradictions in the Bible. that's what makes the Bible so unique. every seemingly "contradiction" is easily explainable.

Answer 9

According to Luke 16:19-28 (Lazarus and Dives) nobody can pass from Hell to Heaven or vice versa. Well Lucifer went to hell, did not pass go, did not collect 200 dollars, and i'm pretty sure he was in heaven, unless he was chilling on earth

Answer 10

EXO 15:3 The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.

ROM 15:33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.