What do you do when you read your Bible and come across one of the HUNDREDS of contradictions?

Question

Do you just skip over those parts?

Answer 1

Darlene,

I have studied the Bible from cover to cover and have found that when I "think" I have found a contradiction, to keep studying and discover it was just ME not knowing the whole story. Over 40+ years of study, I have yet to find one true contradiction which is not either a scribal error or a grammatic error. It has taken 40 years, but has been well worth it in the long run. Now, hopefully I will have another 40 to get my life in alignment with that which is commanded for us.

Answer 2

I love it when people ask this question. They ask this question in complete earnestness, as if it disproves everything, and don't even stop to consider the corallary when they go out with their friends and argue over whether Cindy wore a red dress, blue dress, purple dress, or white dress to the junior prom six months ago; or when they sit with their spouses or significant other arguing whether they met on a Tuesday or Thursday, and whether their first date was at Applebees or The Macoroni Grill.

Try this experiment. Get a mug with some text or a pattern on one side only. Arrange one friend in front of the mug with the text, arrange two other friends on either side. Ask them to describe what they see. You won't get the same answers.

Then, go play a game of telephone, and ponder how, "Elaine went to the pantry and got herself a can of soup" became "Grant's going to kick the bucket on Sunday."

If you'll take the time to read, "The Case for Christ" you will discover that historians agree that the NT actually passes the historical accuracy criteria, and that too much lockstep agreement in every detail would undermine its plausability greatly.

Answer 3

That's a really good question. It's also hard to answer.

For me, I try to go back and do a word study to see what it said in the original language. Our English is so limited compared to Hebrew and Greek. I also try to find out about the history and the context of the passage, using commentaries or other historical records.

The thing is, I still have questions, and I bet you will too. There is a part of me that is going to keep on asking, keep on searching, and keep on studying, even asking God to show me what in the world He meant. And there's another part of me that just realizes my finite brain can never understand it all, and the childhood faith I had somehow lets me rest even when I still have questions.

If you really are wanting to figure this out and find a way to wrap your brain around all of this, perhaps you might want to contact a place like a seminary (one that believes in the Bible). I know of a pastor in Missouri who is awesome at discussing stuff like this. He really talks about it, just doesn't spout some opinion. Their website is www.windsorcrossing.org.

Answer 4

No....God's essence is a mystery....the dualistic nature of all life (good/evil for example) means there will be contradictions. When understood or approached from a spiritual perspective, these contradictions make perfect sense. I don't think we as human beings can fully understand or appreciate something so spiritual. The only thing I can suggest is read the text and then pray/meditate on it's meaning in your life. How does it lead you to love your fellow human beings as you would want to be loved? Good luck on your search for answers.

Answer 5

Then he [Moses] said to them, "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.' " The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died.
So... one minute we have God carving into stone, "Thou shalt not kill." Then the next minute we have God telling each man to strap a sword to his side and lay waste to thousands. Wouldn't you expect the almighty ruler of the universe to be slightly more consistent than this? 3,000 dead people is a lot of commandment breaking. Obviously that is a total contradiction. The reason why you find contradictions like that in the Bible is because God is imaginary.

http://www.godisimaginary.com/i16.htm

Answer 6

There are no contradictions you just have to open your mind and try and understand it. For example in old testament days people stoned others for certain crimes but Jesus had to correct them by saying "Let him who has no sin cast the first stone." You have to consider the whole entire book when you are reading. Besides it can be easy to misinterpret it. You should ask God to help you understand it and I promise he will. I was just like you a few years ago but I can read it and understand it completely just like a light bulb was turned on!

Answer 7

God didn't mess up when he told man to write his word. It is just because we are SO closed to another's thoughts that are not our own that we think that God is not right and that there are HUNDREDS of contradictions.

Seriously though, and I'm not saying this to be mean, but was the verse that you thought was contradictiong: Genesis 1:1? (1n the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.)

Answer 8

I see the Bible as written by humankind and not as the word of God. When I read the Bible, I see it as man's attempt to understand himself and his existence. So no, I don't skip over anything.

Answer 9

There are no contradictions in the Bible. Everything is written just as God wanted it.

Answer 10

I have read the Bible several times cover to cover, and in several different translations/transliterations. I have never even found one contradiction in the entire Bible.