Do Biblical contradictions matter?

Question

Do they cause believers to doubt? Are they dismissed as misinterpretations?

In case anyone asks...

Such as "Can God be seen?":

"And I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see my backparts." (Ex. 33:23)
"And the Lord spake to Moses face to face, as a man speaketh to his friend." (Ex. 33:11)
"For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." (Gen. 32:30)


"No man hath seen God at any time." (John 1:18)
"And he said, Thou canst not see my face; for there shall no man see me and live." (Ex. 33:20)
"Whom no man hath seen nor can see." (1 Tim. 6:16)

Answer 1

Yes they are important.

They SHOULD keep all Christians from turning the Bible into a false idol. Unfortunately, they only keep some Christians from doing so.

~ Lib

Answer 2

There are many contradications in the Bible! Anyone who says otherwise either never studied the Bible or are in such a state of denial that they are not the people to ask this to!

To anyone who applies reason also applies consistency! That is where the Bible fails horribly. The fact that there is the Old and New Testament is a good point of entry to start the discussion!

Yes, contradictions DO matter! How come Cain did not know his wife's name and met her in a strange land if all humans came from Eden? And weren't they related? So we are all the product of incest, then, because we came from Adam and Eve? Why then does incest produce deformed offspring? Some will tell you that that is because sin caused all those things, but even the Bible clearly states that Adam and Eve had children AFTER they sinned! Funny that some christians say that they are misreprestations, but then does that mean the God himself misrepresents his followers if his Bible IS the Word? And how can you find the truth if God allows misrepresentation in his work? Keep in mind misrepresentation is another, nicer, word for lie! So, either God lies or he's not consistent! Ask a Christian why this is the case!

Answer 3

All contradictions can be uncontradicting its just that people don't serch to find out the truth they just listen to what everyone else is doing.
Those verses you read are right.
But Jesus says,
Joh 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
Joh 5:47But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
Moses saw Jesus back not the Father's.
Most Christian's fail to see this. Read the first chapter of John the Word was made flesh, the word was God and with God.
I don't believe in the trinity either.
If you read above Ex 33:20 you see that God was in a pillar of smoke and couldn't be seen.

Give me another one.

Answer 4

They're usually dismissed as misinterpretations, yes. That's the one time Christians are willing to accept that the meaning of the bible has been greatly changed by successive revisions and translations. Of course it's only the contradictory bits that have been altered, and of the contradiction only the part they don't agree with is a mistake.

Answer 5

Nice list! But allot of them are a bit weak, without context they don't stand up! I think you'll find some of them are what's known as paradox's i.e. 130. Poverty a blessing Luke 6:20,24/ Jams 2:5 Riches a blessing Prov 10:15/ Job 22:23,24/ Job 42:12 Neither poverty nor riches a blessing Prov 30:8,9 131. Wisdom a source of enjoyment Prov 3:13,17 Wisdom a source of vexation, grief and sorrow One may need the latter to understand the former. Peace

Answer 6

Yes, Biblical contradictions matter. When people go to the Bible to try to see if something that they have been told is right or not, and the Bible contradicts itself, who are they to believe? What are they to do? In one passage it tells you to do one thing and in another it changes it's mind ( so to speak) yes. It is a very important issue. I do not think that they are misinterpreted.

This is why the Bible should not be strictly interpreted, but loosely to prevent mistakes coming from the texts.

Answer 7

It all depends on what you are looking to the Bible for when you read it. If you are going at it as an unbeliever, or an agnostic who is trying to find contradicitons, then yes, you will find them and they might strengthen your doubt about the Bible's integrity. But to read the bible as a history book is to miss the point entirely. It should be read as a book written by dozens of authors, thousands of years ago, in an attempt to convey their experience of God. And they do it through symbolism, allegory, and mythology. It's like when Shakespeare says: "Yonder in the window is the eastern light/ That light is Julia." Is he saying Julia is really made of light? No. Of course not. But he gets his point across better that way.

Answer 8

If you look at an elephant from in front do you see his eyes ,head and trunk. If you look at the rear end of an elephant do you see his Butt,and tail?? which is true. Any one that sees a contradiction in any scripture should simply ask; what is my point of relativity??? OR back up an see the whole picture. If one looks for flaws one will always find flaws.

Answer 9

The Bible does not have contradictions. That is why the Bible says that we should study to shew ourselves approved. The Word of God is just what it is. If you read it and not just parts, you will be able to understand. That is like me opening up a book and reading a few pages and assume I know what the other pages are saying although I have not read them. May God Bless

Answer 10

I would think it causes doubt. Which is why Christians say that there are no contradictions even when contradictions are staring them in the face. It's called denial.

Answer 11

Contradictions in faith for me are always about my lacking of understanding or true interpretation.

I do not doubt God, but my own ability to understand and interpret His meaning.

I pray for the Grace to better understand. God is God. I am not.