Christians only please...Why does the bible contradict itself so much/?

Question

I was told that Constantine added a lot to make people follow him and fight his wars. Is this true or is there other reasons why? I am a Christian by the way.

In Ephesians it says in one chapter thou shalt not kill then two chapters later it says do not let a sorcerer live.

I'm sorry I meant Exodus

Answer 1

The Bible is a collection of historical documents, poetry, letters, mythological stories, descriptions of visions and wisdom writings.

These were written in a period probably covering more than 1,000 years by many different writers from different cultural backgrounds who understood the world in different ways.

One of the key problems with the Evangelical Christian doctrine of verbal inspiration (the idea that the words of the Bible are the exact words of God) is the contradictions within the Bible. For example, one passage describes God tells David to conduct a census of Israel. In another book, it is Satan who compels David to conduct the very same census. That's quite a contradiction!

The culture in Israel at the time the Bible was written was an oral culture rather than a writing culture. This means that stories were passed down through word of mouth, rather than being written down. Thus the stories of the Bible may have been passed down by word of mouth for generations before they were written down. For example, the events in the book of Isaiah cover a period of over 200 years. Either Isaiah lived for a very long time, or more likely the book of Isaiah was written by a number of different authors who were disciples of the sayings of Isaiah, and recorded them in writing, applying them to their contemporary period.

In conclusion, to say the Bible is 'inspired' does not necessarily imply that the words in the Bible are the exact words of God. God's Holy Spirit could have been moving and working through the communities who handed down the stories of the Bible by word of mouth - maybe that is what Paul meant when he wrote that the Bible is inspired.

The fact is that the theory of verbal inspiration doesn't stand up to an intellectual and historical analysis. To reject the theory of verbal inspiration is not to reject Christianity - the theory itself is less than 200 years old, and there were many Christians before that time! There are also many Christians today, including myself, who do not believe in verbal inspiration.

God bless you,

David

Answer 2

Hey,

You are a Christian and yet in the question you make a statement such as "the bible contradict itself so much?" Non-believers read that far and then say "well, if even Christians believe that, why should we bother to read it!!

As others have already responded, you don't provide any basis, you are just repeating rubbish. Even the Dead Sea Scrolls demonstrate that much of the Bible was written before the time of Constantine. True, the Bible was "written" by several human authors.over a periood of many hundreds of years, in two main languages, etc., etc. There are things in it which are difficult to understand.

You say you have been "told that Constantine added a lot to make people follow him and fight his wars". No basis at all. Perhaps you are thinking of the Apocrypha. That is totally out of time, out of context, and not relevant.

You say "Is this true or is there other reasons why?" It is not true
"that Constantine added a lot to make people follow him and fight his wars". Also, it is NOT true that Constantine added a lot for "other reasons". Your basic premis that Constantine added anything is false. Since it did not happen, then how could there be any reasons?


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There is no evidence anywhere that Constantine added to the Bible. That is just more rubbish from non-believers attempting to undermine God's word. In actuality the Bible never contradicts itself in what it teaches or affirms.

The Bible does not contradict itself but there are things that can be hard to understand. Most people that say it contradicts itself never read the book. And they usually point to things that are taken out fo context for thier proof. Beyond this, it's hard to saw more without specific examples.

If you could provide specifics you may be able to get better answers

Answer 3

The only contradictions in the Bible are against the way some want to live. Constantine did not change the Bible. He only made it illegal to kill and persecute Christians.
Stop listening to people and read history.

Answer 4

I believe that the problem with the bible is that the translation from heavenly word or gospel wasn't clearly carried out due to the limitations of human brain capacity and human language. I wish that the Constantine rumor thing you mention isn't true but I am not sure as no information is readily available on them without being classified heretical. I think most people are christians simply because their parents were christians or christianity is the major religuion. It's sad to acknowledge but the truth normally hurts

Answer 5

Are you reading the Da Vinci Code or something? The bible doesn't contradict itself at all. Now there are times where the disciples give different views of the same story, but that isn't a contradiction because the end of the story is the same. So show me in the Bible where it contradicts itself.

Answer 6

Actually, the Bible dont contract itself,it seems that way to most people. A study into some of these discrepancies under varying circumstances will reveal the matter.The only part is it cant be done in this manner.I suggest you when you have time ask a Jehovah witness ,you dont have to get involved but ask that question Allow at least an hour if the witness is prepared beforehand.

Answer 7

Gee......

The Bible does not contradict it's self. This comment is made by so many people who do not read more than a text or two when someone points out a "contradiction".
IF a person were to read the entire text , a better meaning can be obntained and the "contradictions will be explained.

There are so many people who either don't understand the Bible, or don't WANT to understand the Bible.....or more importantly don't want YOU to understand the Bible and they claim these things hoping to drag you away from Christ.

If you question a passage, have someone you trust, such as your preacher , etc. explain it to you

Don't listen to the people in here. Including me.........don't take my word, do you own research with help from someone more knowledgeable .

Answer 8

I think that others change words around! If you have say two different brands of Bibles one may not say the same thing as the other! For example in my chruch youth group we will divotions and my youth group leader may not have the same kind of Bible mine may say:
Exodus 3:1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb the mountian of God!




But the other may say
Exodus 3:1
One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro,* the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai,* the mountian of God.

~*~Allison~*~

Answer 9

The Bible does not contradict itself but there are things that can be hard to understand. Most people that say it contradicts itself never read the book. And they usually point to things that are taken out fo context for thier proof. Beyond this, it's hard to saw more without specific examples.

Answer 10

There is no evidence anywhere that Constantine added to the Bible. That is just more rubbish from non-believers attempting to undermine God's word. In actuality the Bible never contradicts itself in what it teaches or affirms.