Biblical contradictions?

Question

I've noticed in several questions where people point out contradictions in the Bible that Christians just say that it is a mistake made by one of the scribes that was copying the Bible. They missed writing a 1 to change an age by ten years for example. If you can accept that these mistakes were made in the Bible from scribes, how can you accept anything in the Bible as accurate? I'll give you the benefit of the doubt with the existence of Jesus. For the sake of argument, we can say that he was a guy that did pop up occassionaly in Roman scribblings. There is NOT any other record of him walking on water or healing lepers. How can you take that for truth if you can admit that there are mistakes in the Bible? I'm baffled by this notion...

If you need a post with contradictions and the Christian reactions, just say so. I'll see if I can copy and paste the address of such a question which led me to THIS question.

The question is:
How can you accept anything in the Bible as accurate or claim it to be truth when you turn the other cheek and say that contradictions and inaccuracies are caused by the error of man? You can't have it both ways. It's either true or it isn't true.

I'm not looking for a "Believe as you want, and I'll believe as I want," answer. I'm trying to understand the logic behind this fallacy. How can you believe something with such an obvious logical flaw?

Ok, stop trying to say, "The Bible doesn't have any contradictions," or some equivalent. That's not my question, and I'm not trying to point out any contradictions or argue that point.

There was another question where I saw Christians say these contradictions come from mistaken scribes. We're past the point of, "Do these contradictions exist?" We've moved on to, "How can you have truth and untruth at the same time?"

Answer 1

To answer your question, we accept because we can comprehend the meaning of what we are reading.

Why not try reading the Bible for actual meaning?

Not even the whole Bible. Just find a New Testament and read the passages that are written in red. Read carefully. See what Jesus is actually saying.

Then consider how silly this discussion really is.

How does the line go? The man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing?

To paraphrase: The skeptic who sees the wording of everything, but the meaning of nothing.

Answer 2

Scribal error is a bad way to explain Biblical contradiction. Also it's untrue. It's possible there are some mistakes because of poor transcription, but one can hardly ascribe most Biblical contradictions to it; they tend not to be something that a dropped word or digit could fix. A better reply is that there were many different authors each writing God's message in their own words; there's bound to be contradictions. For the sake of argument, let's say that Jesus didn't walk on water, and he didn't heal lepers. Does it matter? It's hardly critical to the Christian faith. What's important is not the specific facts and details, but the overall message, which does remain consistant (love God, love others) throughout the Bible.

Answer 3

If the purpose of inspiration of the scriptures was to make a perfect book that would hold up to scientific scrutiny, I would agree with you. However, if the purpose of inspiration is to lead us to a knowledge of God that will make us wise unto salvation, the Bible is more than adequate.

There is a big difference between cultural and scientific understanding errors, or even errors by scribes and doctrinal error. Please show me, if you can that the Bible is in doctrinal error. Show me where the Bible contradicts itself as it pertains to my salvation. I do not care how old Jehoichin was when he started to reign, or what the Bible writers had to say about the shape of the earth. These things are not salvific. I do not believe that every time one of the Bible writers wrote an error, that the Holy Spirit tapped them on the shoulder to correct said error, unless it was a doctrinal error. There is an underlying harmony in the Bible that should lead any honest seeker to a knowledge of God and His plan for the salvation of man. God chose to use humans in writing the Bible. Perhaps he wanted to give enough evidence to convince the honest seeker after righteousness, but not enough to remove all doubts from the skeptics.

The question is not, is the Word of God pure enough, but are you an honest seeker or a skeptic looking for a place to hang your doubts?

You accept things every day that have errors in them. The newcast, your spouse, your children, the government, the school system, the IRS. You don't throw these things completely out because of error. Don't pretend that you are so pure that you do this in every area of your life. If you understood the reason for inspiration and the limits of inspiration, you would understand how there can be human errors in the Bible and yet it can still be called the Word of God.

The reason we compare text with text and scripture with scripture is to verify other writers accounts of the stories and doctrines in the Bible. When several different writers, from differing time periods, in different lines of work all agree on points of doctrine, we can be much more certain that we have the proper understanding of the doctrine being taught.

Answer 4

If we encounter seeming discrepancies in the Bible, it is good to realize that people often say things that appear contradictory but are easily explained or understood. For instance, a businessman may correspond with someone by dictating a letter to his secretary. If questioned, he would say that he sent the letter. But since his secretary typed and mailed the letter, she could say that she sent it. Similarly, it was not contradictory for Matthew (8:5) to say that an army officer came to ask Jesus a favor, whereas Luke (7:2, 3) said that the man sent representatives.

The foregoing examples show that Bible difficulties can be resolved. Hence, there is good reason to have a positive attitude toward the Scriptures. Such a spirit was recommended in these words appearing in a family Bible published in the year 1876:

“The proper spirit in which to deal with those difficulties is, to remove them as far as practicable, and to cleave and submit to the truth, even when every cloud cannot be cleared away from it. We should imitate the example of the apostles, who, when some of the disciples were offended by what they called a ‘hard saying,’ so as to forsake Christ, silenced every objection with this: ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life, and we are sure that Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ . . . When we see a truth seemingly in conflict with another truth, let us try to reconcile them, and show them thus reconciled to all.”—John 6:60-69.

Answer 5

As far as my religion goes, there are no contradictions in the Bible. Some may not understand the true meaning of a scripture, and then they make up some sort of excuse such as a 'mistake of a scribe'.. what is that? would God allow someone to make a mistake in his Word the Bible? I dont think so. You just need to know what it means, not change the meaning. If you give me the scripture that is innacurate, I could probably give you the true meaning.

Answer 6

There is no mention of the civil rights struggle in secular history doesn't mean it didn 't happen. History is written from the viewpoint of the writer. If a skeptic writes history would he include the mention of someone he does not personally believe in. These suppose mistakes are erroneous views, compare and research.

Answer 7

those are good questions to have- the dead sea scrolls can back up the old testament- most will say so what, it does not apply to me- doesn't it? what did Jesus teach? there was no new testament here to read when He taught "the scriptures". the new testament were letters written to people and churches on scrolls-long after Jesus went to be with Father- they did not have mass production like we know- and most could not read or write for that matter. and then you have King James who hated the Jews so.... he made his own translation----- it's a mess- but if you wade through it, With prayer- you'll get the message Father wants us to get---- "If you love me you will keep my commandments". not man's---- start at the beginning-----

Answer 8

On top of that, the bible was changed many times, the versions read now, are nothing like what was originally written. The Catholic church changed many things in the bible, including taking books out of it, changing words, ect. So amazingly over time did Jesus somehow go from wading in the water or walking on step stones to walking on water? Who's to say?

Answer 9

The Bible has been the most scrutinized book ever written...written centuries before printing was invented.
Maybe we should compare the Bible with some of our popular modern books and find contradictions...you will be shocked at the result.
Let the Bible be; read it or leave it.

Answer 10

Most Christians simple listen to what their pastor has to say about the Bible and they take it at face value. It's your general appeal to authority. There are merely a handful of Christians who have actually seriously studied the Bible and the history surrounding it... it's no wonder they don't see any problems with it.