What is the most convincing contradiction in the Bible?

Question

This question was asked less objectively last time. I hope the Bible critics can play fairly this time.

Please post ONE AND ONLY ONE example of what you consider to be a contradiction in the Bible.

So that I can't be accused of picking the one that suits my needs the most, I will let the readers pick the one they think is the best answer.

I will then post my explanation of why this is not really a contradiction in the Bible.

I plan to demonstrate that the things people think are contradictions actually glorify God even more but only to those willing to search the matter out.

Of course I will get accused of rationalizing everything to fit my needs which is why I will post my answer back as a question and let the readers vote on whether I have done an objective job at answering the issue.

This should demonstrate that those that say that the Bible is full of contradictions are really just making excuses.

All posts must contain one and only one example to be voted on.

Answer 1

Psalm 19:7

The law of the LORD is perfect

and

The rest of the bible

Because if the first statement is true, then how can anyone ignore the passages that are often ignored (Lot and his daughters, Killing those who work on the sabbath, etc.)

If the first statement is not true, then the god is fallible and the rest of the bible can also be considered not true

Answer 2

I don't know if it's really written in the bible, but I always heard that Mary was a virgin... Even if she conceived her child without having sex (which I doubt) she gave birth to him... So how can she be a virgin ?

Anyway, I gave you my contradiction... But you said "This should demonstrate that those that say that the Bible is full of contradictions are really just making excuses."

I'm not making excuses. I don't use "contradictions" in the bible to tell people I'm an atheist. I just don't believe in god, because I don't think a superior being created all that. I believe in the potential of humanity. I believe in life. I believe in evolution and in science.

I think it should be very interesting to chat with you, because at least you don't say "you atheists are stupid", you just want to share your opinion, and in that way you want to use logic, which is what most atheists use to understand the world.

Answer 3

Here's one for you and keep up the good work!

Acts 7:15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers, 16 And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.

Joshua 24:32 And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.

Answer 4

God created man in his own image. By saying this God himself states that he is a sinner, because by biblical definition god gave man all of his emotions, including the ability to commit the 7 deadly sins. Therefore God cannot be a perfect god because he created something as flawed as man.

Answer 5

Are you still there? Okay like the first guy said, the whole bible. That got to keep you tied up for a while and give the rest of us a break from your mr. know it all atitude.

Answer 6

Do you answer a fool?
PRO 26:4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

PRO 26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

Answer 7

yes this is all one contradiction with multiple proofs and examples.

Q? Could Jesus have hated anyone when he spoke words of forgiveness and non- resistance to wickedness? Did he not say, "Love your enemies" (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27), "Do not resist him that is wicked; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also" (Matthew 5:39) and, alternately, "To him that strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also" (Luke 6:29)?



Answer: These verses are taken as representative of the extraordinary forgiveness taught and exercised by Jesus. However, the sublime dictum to "turn the other cheek" was not practiced by Jesus himself. According to the Gospels, Jesus preached turning the other cheek, loving one's neighbor and praying for them, and forgiving those who wrong you. When did Jesus manifest such behavior in his personal relationships, during his lifetime, for others to emulate? Was it his cursing of the Pharisees (Matthew 23), his threat of violent retribution on cities that rejected his message (Matthew 11:20-24, Luke 10:13- 15), or his condemnation to death of Jews who would not accept him (Luke 19:27)? The fact of the matter is that he himself never turned the other cheek. Jesus never forgave anyone who rejected his claims. He responded to his opponents, not with passive resistance, but by answering criticism with criticism, reviling and threatening his adversaries (for example, Matthew 23).

It is clear from the Gospels that Jesus never forgave anyone who wronged or criticized him. At best, he only forgave those who wronged others. Whenever an opportunity arose to personally forgive someone, he always declined. For example, "he [Jesus] began to reproach the cities in which most of his miracles were done, because they did not repent. 'Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you Bethsaida! . . . Nevertheless I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment, then for you. And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You shall descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. Nevertheless I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you'" (Matthew 11:20-24, Luke 10:13-15). Instead of forgiving Judas for betraying him he said: "But woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed!

It would have been good for that man if he had not been born" (Matthew 26:24).

In John 18:22-23, we find that Jesus, when beaten by an officer, instead of offering quietly his other cheek argues with him:

But having said these things, one of the officers standing by gave Jesus a slap, saying: "Is that the way you answer the high priest?" Jesus answered him: "If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness concerning the wrong; but if rightly, why do you hit me?"

For his part, Paul, that great follower of Jesus, did not submit meekly to the high priest Ananias' order that he be smitten on the mouth:

And the High Priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him: "God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall. And do you sit to judge me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck? (Acts 23:2-3)

Paul did not offer his cheek in compliance with Jesus' command. Instead, he swore at Ananias in direct contradiction of another of Jesus' alleged commandments: "Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you" (Luke 6:28), and his own statement: "Bless those who persecute you; bless, and do not curse" (Romans 12:14).