Why are there so many inconsistencies in the bible?

Question

Is it because so many people wrote that they couldn't keep the stories straight? Or did they just make it up as they went along?

For example:

GE 1:3-5 On the first day, God created light, then separated light and darkness.
GE 1:14-19 The sun (which separates night and day) wasn't created until the fourth day.

GE 1:11-12, 26-27 Trees were created before man was created.
GE 2:4-9 Man was created before trees were created.

GE 1:20-21, 26-27 Birds were created before man was created.
GE 2:7, 19 Man was created before birds were created.

GE 1:24-27 Animals were created before man was created.
GE 2:7, 19 Man was created before animals were created.

GE 1:26-27 Man and woman were created at the same time.
GE 2:7, 21-22 Man was created first, woman sometime later.

GE 1:31 God was pleased with his creation.
GE 6:5-6 God was not pleased with his creation.
(Note: That God should be displeased is inconsistent with the concept of omniscience.)

and so forth

Answer 1

It was rewritten so many times and there are so many versions. That is the problem.

Answer 2

There are no inconsistencies in the Bible, only inconsistent interpretation like you have done here. So, I will go through each and every example and explain it to everyone.

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GE 1:3-5 On the first day, God created light, then separated light and darkness.
GE 1:14-19 The sun (which separates night and day) wasn't created until the fourth day.
--
No inconsistencies here. God created light. And then later he created the Sun, which is a source of light. If you are going to allow for the existence of God the Creator, you have to allow for Him to be able to create light without having a light source.

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GE 1:11-12, 26-27 Trees were created before man was created.
GE 2:4-9 Man was created before trees were created.
--
No inconsistencies here. You've mis-interpeted Genesis 2:4-9. This isn't a chronological account or "checklist" but an explaination of the surroundings. The Gen 2 passage does not say that man was created before trees.

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GE 1:20-21, 26-27 Birds were created before man was created.
GE 2:7, 19 Man was created before birds were created.
--
No inconsistencies here. Gen 2 is a detailed account of God creating one more of each creature so that Adam could name them. The creatures were all made by then, but God did make one of each from then on so that Adam could learn the lesson of who created everything and why none of the creatures were suitable as a "help-meet" for him.


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GE 1:24-27 Animals were created before man was created.
GE 2:7, 19 Man was created before animals were created.
--
No inconsistencies here. Same as above.


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GE 1:26-27 Man and woman were created at the same time.
GE 2:7, 21-22 Man was created first, woman sometime later.
--
No inconsistencies here. Again, this isn't a chronological report but an overall description of what happened. A summary with a peek into what happens down the road, followed by more detail as the detail is necessary.

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GE 1:31 God was pleased with his creation.
GE 6:5-6 God was not pleased with his creation.
(Note: That God should be displeased is inconsistent with the concept of omniscience.)
--
No inconsistencies here. God was pleased with creation in its state at the beginning. He was displeased with its state after the Fall. Yes, God is Omniscient, but He also knows that we are not.

Answer 3

At first glance they seem to be inconsistencies. But if you read them carefully you will find it's a matter of tense and wording.

GE1:3-5 God creates light itself and it is separate from darkness.
GE1:14-19 God puts the lights (sun, moon, stars) in the sky to
differentiate day from night.

GE1:11-12,26-27 God creates trees and vegetation.
GE2:4-9 (to paraphrase) God had not yet sent the rains for vegetation to grow, but then streams came up and watered the ground so there could be vegetation, THEN he made man and placed him in the garden of Eden.

GE1:20-21,26-27 God creates birds.
GE2:7,19 Verse 19 speaks in past tense that God had formed birds, then he brought them to man to name.

GE1:24-27 Same as above with birds.
GE2:7,19 Same as above with birds.

GE1:26-27 God created Adam and Eve.
GE2:7, 21-22 Verse 7 explains that Adam was created; Verses 21-22 are going back to explain how Eve was created from (after) Adam.

GE1:31 God saw that it was good.
GE6:5-6 God has become displeased with the choices men are making. Omniscience means "all-knowing." The fact that He has become displeased with something that He was once pleased about stems from the fact that he gave men "free will" to make their own choices.

Answer 4

I don't have the time to go over each one so I will start with the first one.

GE 1:3-5 he creates light
GE 1:14-19 he creates the sun, moon and stars

The light he creates is just light not the Sun it states in GE 1:14 the light is in the Firmament of heaven, meaning light hanging in the sky which is the Sun.

When first looking at the two anyone can get the impression that you have but look at it further, read and understand. Try to understand the meaning behind it.

Answer 5

The Bible is actually a collection written by different people so you get different versions of the same story. Within the first books of the Bible, some people think Moses wrote it all but in fact he was more like an editor. In the new testament it's easier to tell that the accounts were from different people so you can tell there are different perspectives. Also remember that the Bible was written, interpreted, edited, etc by MEN so that happens. It wasn't sent to us by fax. But the cool thing is you can find information about events like the Great Flood in other culture's writings so we know this stuff really did happen.

Answer 6

Truth is many sided. Two people can disagree about something and both be right. Hundred's of people can have different ways of seeing a thing and all be right.

God's perspective is a panoramic view of all things. He alone can see the many sides of truth.

And who am I to question God. God's thoughts are higher than man's thoughts. When I don't know, when I think I know, when I know that I know I am safe "under neath the everlasting God." I have found that place and no man can take it from me.

I am like a child saying to God, why doesn't a cat bark? There are many things that a child does not know. I do know that I am in the hands of a Loving Father. It is enough.

Answer 7

First of all, the Bible wasn't written by just one author. It is a compilation of many letters and records - some of them historically sound, others based on myth and legend. Second, it has been translated into many different versions - each of them may have its own interpretation. I think the best use of the Bible is not to read it and try to find literal truth in every aspect, but read it and find the parts that "speak" to you - then find your own "truths" and use them for a feeling of inspiration.

Answer 8

After reading the other answers, I think the better questions would be: Since it seems so easy to be confused by the two creation accounts, why would God or anybody else include them both?

Since, it seems both are to be believed as true, wouldn't it have made much more sense to include just one?

What purpose does the inclusion of both accounts serve other than to confuse the already confused?

Answer 9

because god, the stories in the bible, and bible/ book based religions are all lies. A web of tales that will never be consistant because corrupt men wrote the book from tales that were passed on.

Answer 10

Just have faith. j/k Who knows except the people who concocted the stories as a method of mass control didn't compare notes before publication. ;-(

Answer 11

because it was written by humans (inspired by God). I STRONGLY recommend "Who wrote the Bible" by Richard E. Friedman.