i have a debate tomorrow in adv. new testament?

Question

the debate topic is:
"The Bible is full of contradictions, God says one thing and then turns around and says the direct opposite." (i know this is wrong)
The verses given are Ex. 20:13 and Deut. 7:1-2

I have to prove this wrong in front of the class tomorrow

Any good topics or debate ideas would be wonderfully and greatly appreciated!!!

Please only answer this if you know the topic or you are a Christian....this is a serious subject that I do not take lightly...so if your just answering to mock God or prove the Bible wrong Please wait for another time. Thanks

Answer 1

The original-language words variously rendered “kill,” “murder,” and “slay” refer to the taking of a life, the context or other scriptures determining whether the deliberate and unauthorized or unlawful taking of another person’s life is involved. For example, in the command, “You must not murder” (Ex 20:13), the Hebrew word for “murder” (ra·tsach´) here clearly refers to deliberate and unlawful killing. But at Numbers 35:27 the same term denotes an act that an avenger of blood was authorized to carry out. Therefore, the command, “You must not murder,” has to be understood within the framework of the entire Mosaic Law, which authorized the taking of human life under certain circumstances, as in the execution of criminals.

WHEN Jehovah gave Israel the land that he had promised to Abraham, morally debased nations were occupying it. The Bible candidly reports that God decreed the destruction of those wicked nations, and he appointed the Israelites to be the executioners. (De 7:2) Many persons have criticized that action. Others humbly acknowledge that it is hardly appropriate for imperfect humans to set themselves up as judges of God. (Compare Eze 18:29.) Their desire is to understand God’s ways. What do they learn?
This record clearly demonstrates that all people are accountable to mankind’s Creator, Jehovah God, whether they profess to believe in him or not. It shows that God is patient but does not shut his eyes to wrongdoing. (Ge 15:16) It makes clear that Jehovah leaves the responsibility for young children on the shoulders of their parents; he does not relieve the parents of this and thus allow them to feel that their actions affect only themselves. (De 30:19; Jos 10:40) It also shows that all who will turn from their bad way and worship Jehovah can be spared from destruction.—Jos 6:25; 9:3–10:11.
The Bible clearly identifies the wicked practices in which the inhabitants of Canaan indulged. Halley’s Bible Handbook (1964, p. 161) concludes: “Archaeologists who dig in the ruins of Canaanite cities wonder that God did not destroy them sooner than he did.” The lesson is clear: Jehovah does not forever tolerate wickedness.

Answer 2

Whoa whoa whoa.... "Advanced New Testament" and the verses are both from the Old Testament? ...................... Uhhh.. Something doesn't fit there! Tell the teacher "THAT" is a contradiction!!!!!!

Anyway, it is necessary to know how important it was to keep the Jews alive. Those tribes listed in Deut. were ferocious and aggressive tribes that Israel would not be able to co-exist with. If Israel was destroyed, then Christ could not be born because the Jews would have been slaughtered. In the short term, people had to be killed, but in the long-term it was only so Christ could come and humanity be spared.

Besides, the word in Ex. 20:13 for "murder" is used in that case, and it meant homicide, not "war-killings". Consider how much more the Bible talks against homicide than it does against accidental killing: (Murder) Gen 4:9-12; 9:5,6; 49:7; Exd 20:13; 21:29-32; Num 35:16-22,30,31; Deu 5:17; 17:6; 21:1-9; 22:8; 27:24,25; 1Ki 21:19; 2Ch 24:22; Job 24:1-25; Psa 5:6; 9:12; 10:2; 26:9,10; 37:32; 38:12; 55:23; 94:3; Pro 1:11,12,15,16; 6:16,17; 12:6; 28:17; Isa 26:21; 59:3,7; Jer 2:34; 7:9,10; 19:4; 22:3; Eze 22:9; 35:6; Hsa 1:4; 4:1-3; Hab 2:10,12; Mat 5:21,22; 15:19; 19:18; Mar 7:21; 10:19; Luk 18:20; Rom 13:9; Gal 5:19-21; 1Ti 1:9; Jam 2:11; 1Pe 4:15; 1Jo 3:12,15; Rev 9:21; 21:8; 22:15

(Accidental) Exd 21:13,28-32; Num 35:11-15,22-28,32; Deu 4:41-43; 19:2-10; Jos 20:1-9

Murder is condemned, but preserving the state of Israel was absolutely necessary for the salvation of mankind. True, the Jews were disobedient and did many wrong things as recorded in the Old Testament, but they had to defend themselves against aggressive tribes who would seek to destroy them.

Answer 3

Points I would make
(1) In general:
The difference in spirit between the Old and New Testament, are the Old Testament reflects human history when living under the "letter of the law" while the New Testament where Jesus Christ is added allows humanity to live by the "spirit of the law" which was lost. So the Old Testament can be interpreted as warnings and consequences associated with the past way, where the point was man was fallen and not able to follow God's laws, so this led death and destruction. While the New Testament points the way toward liberation and spiritual salvation by living by the spirit of the laws. If you do not breaks the laws to begin with, or if you do, you quickly reconcile and do not act out of hatred or unforgiveness, then you never have to face or follow the laws that governed transgressions after the fact. So by following the New Testament, the laws in the Old Testament are either obeyed, or the parts that dictate punishments and ill consequences are no longer applicable because those transgressions are prevented.
(2) Specifically
Both these excerpts come from the Old Testament.
Ex. 20:13 still applies, thou shalt not kill or "murder" which in spirit includes not having "hatred" for our brother, which Jesus explained was already committing "murder" in our hearts. Again, the difference between the letter and the spirit of the laws. Killing and murdering is different in spirit. The point is not to kill with hatred, either spiritually or physically.

Deut 7:1-2 applies to acts of war that were not God's ideal but were the consequences of disobedience to God. Again, if we follow the spirit of the laws in the New Testament, and no longer hate our brothers or disobey God, then we no longer have situations which result in the kind of actions cited here. This is more of a warning not to invoke the wrath of God, which leads to death and destruction which is not God's will for us. It is not a justification of killing but serves the opposite - to deter and warn.

The purpose is not to validate killing at all, but to show the tragic ill consequences that occurred in the past.

The conclusion I would draw is that all seeming "contradictions" show the fallacy of trying to judge or discredit one another by the letter of the law, where anyone can interpret contradictory meanings out of spite or rebellion. (I would review Romans 2 about the dangers of judging or haggling over the letter of the law) Rather than live harmoniously by the true spirit of the law in which these contradictions do not exist. (I would cite Matthew 18:15-20 and James 5:16 where the point is to reconcile in the spirit of truth, whether through rebuke or mutual confession, instead of finding fault for the sake of judgment, blame or punishment, which is the wrong spirit.

This is a tricky point. Many Christians may disagree. The Bible warns that families and congregations will one day become divided, even throwing each other out. That is not to say this is God's ideal will, but is a warning of things to come. So those contradictions and conflicts are a sign we are still living under the letter of the law, judging others unfairly, instead of seeking to live under the spirit of the law that precludes these conflicts from arising. That is the main point I see to these sample passages.

Answer 4

Moses was the author of both books and the author of the first five books in the Bible. He wrote under the inspiration of the holy spirit. There are no contradictions in the bible. In Exodus, we cannot kill unjustly using our own free will. Since God is perfect justice, Deut. was a command to kill and It was a just act. It was a divine command given by God.

It is a mortal evil for humans to kill unjustly using our free will and emotions. The exceptions are self-defense and just war.

It is not evil when God commands it in Deut. God is the source of all goodness and justice. God cannot commit evil. Evil is the absence of God. Whatever God wills is good and just. Divine justice always has a just reason.

Answer 5

the word "kill" in ex 20:13 in the hebrew is the word "murder"
the taking of innocent life (Strongs Concordance #7523)

in deut. 7:1-2 these are heathen nations and God is judging their sin they are not innocent.

in deut. 7:3-4 God explains why

I hope this will help your debate. God speed!

Answer 6

Christian non expert.

The word in contention here is murder. What God commanded the Israelites to do was not murder but sanctioned execution. That is to say those, in the land, had their time in the sun and had yet to change their wicked ways. So, when the Israelites came into the land they were in a sense God's executioners.

Other arguments are similarly based. That is to say God ordered a "first strike" before those in the land could harm the Israelites or lead them to stray from God. Which is accurate as that is what happened.

Two weaker arguments, which I do not buy into are as follows. First, God ordered it so it was not murder. Second God only meant not to murder fellow Israelites all else were fare game.

Answer 7

Exodus 20:13 -- thou shall not muder......thy fellow Israeli...for all Israeli's are God's chosen people.

Deut 7:1-2 -- it is ok to smite the enemy because they are non-Israeli's; they worshipped idols and any intermarriage with them would "taint" the purity of Israeli blood. Even to enter into a business agreement with them was tantamount to acknowledging their false gods. It is why the Samaritans were despised...they were foreigners who were brought into Palestine after the fall of the First Temple and intermarried with the Jews: "9The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.") JN 4:9

Incidentally, the term "Jew" only came about after the formation of the southern Kingdom of Judea...people from here became known as Jews.....long after the events of Exodus and Deuteronomy.

Answer 8

The Sabbath is the seventh Day for Jews & Gentiles. Luke 24:40 4-40 8 Then Y'shua mentioned to them " those are the words which I spoke to you whilst i became with you, that each and every person issues could be fulfilled that have been written interior the regulation of Moses & the Prophets and the Psalms appropriate to Me" 40 six "subsequently that's written & subsequently it became mandatory for the Messiah to go through & to upward thrust from the lifeless the third day, 40 seven And that repentance and remission of sins could be preached in His call to all international locations beginning at Jerusalem. and you're witnesses of those issues." Now if Y'shua became going to alter the Sabbath day He might have informed His disciples right now, yet HE did not. WHY not? because of the fact there became no substitute to the Sabbath day & any differences have been made by potential of adult men who think of they have the authority to accomplish that. Why bypass away such an considerable component out? not something is replaced. The early converts no rely if Jew or Gentile accrued on the seventh day. 2 mentions of the 1st day have not something to do with the Sabbath. Paul taught after sunset on Saturday the 1st day & left interior the morning of the 1st day on his journey. it fairly is not a precedent. the different point out is approximately amassing money for Jerusalem & became accumulated on the 1st day, no money is dealt with on the Sabbath. additionally not a precedent for making Sunday the gentile sabbath. A careful analyzing of Acts tutor that each and every person the conferences have been on seventh Day Sabbath & on no account on 1st day sunday.

Answer 9

Exodus 20:13, God was refering to one Israeli taking the life of another Israeli, in Deut. it is alright to kill in a battle setting and is condoned by the highest authority. I hope this helps.

Answer 10

Read Deuteronomy 9, the people of the land of Canaan were receiving the judgment of God upon them for their wickedness, the wrath of God. This is not murder for the people of Israel did not kill them by their own accord but by the instruction of the Lord, thus the reason sometimes they won and other times they loss because they were not always obedient unto the Lord.

5 It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the LORD your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 6 Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.