~~~~~~Blatant contradiction~~~~~~?

Question

Mark 9:40 "for whoever is not against us is for us"

-Luke 9:50 "Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you."

Luke 11:23 (opposite) "He who is not with me is against me"

This say you don't need to believe in Christianity as long as you don't disbelieve it?

Answer 1

Yes there are contradictions everywhere in the bible, which is why i put no faith in it. It is written by man, and man alone, if it was from god, god would not of made it so difficult for us to understand, because god realizes that there are all levels of intelligence amongst humans. therefore making it easier for people to accept and believe and follow,correctly. I believe in the creator, but not the bible.

Answer 2

Very clever to post the above. Check the words "with me" to see the essence of this as compared to Mark 9:40 and Luke 9:50. If so, there is really no contradiction but the show of Jesus' consideration in alllowing those even not with him who is against him to do good in his name. Read the story before Jesus made those statements and you will be clear of the contradiction you thought you have believed.

Answer 3

It could have said something else originally. Here are two things we know about the bible. 1 There exists no originals of even the New Testament books. 2 There is more than one of each gospel, which is why it was strictly forbidden to carry the bible in the Dark Ages - many different copies. So the originals could have said the opposite in some cases because each person who copied it did so while adding his own belief and omitting some parts. James Gardner wrote an interesting book on the subject called "Jesus Who?", published May 30th 2006 check it out.

Answer 4

Dana, I read what Biblical scholars have to say about this. Their analysis is that the New Testament is not cohesive or homogeneous. In early Christianity there were many sects and each one had very different beliefs about who Jesus was and what he stood for. The Gospels reflect that fact. You can't really make sense of it. What you are pointing out is indeed one of the many, many contradictions in the New Testament. While Christians today look at the Gospels as inerrant, the early Christians saw the Gospels as nothing more than the memoirs of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. And who those four men were, no one knows. They were not disciples. They were written decades after Christ was crucified. And I don't know about you, but I cannot remember verbatim what someone said last night let alone decades ago.

Answer 5

You need to understand the situations....both were said for different reasons to different people....In Luke 9 and in Mark 9, Jesus is talking about the people who were casting out demons and such in the name of Jesus and the disciples were concerned they weren't part of "their" group.

Now in Luke 11, Jesus is talking to the Pharisees who were doing the opposite of what Jesus was doing so what He said to them was different from what He told the disciples.

Do you just pick and choose what you want to read/debate? I've spent time studying the Bible and you have to take things in context and understand why things are being said and to whom.

Answer 6

Formal Logic:

a = a person who is against you/christ
b = a person who is for you/christ

Mark 9:40 "for whoever is not against us is for us"
-a -> b

-Luke 9:50 "Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you."
-a -> b

Luke 11:23 (opposite) "He who is not with me is against me"
- b -> a
-a -> - - b
-a -> b

It turns out these things are logically the same.

Answer 7

To not be against you, is to not be of imminent threat. This was directed at the apostles, who were just people, like us. Jesus judges, we do not. God weighs the heart of all of us. Now, Jesus is talking about Himself, in Luke 11; and He is NOT like us- He is the Messiah and to not believe in Him, is to be against Him. It is not about belief in "christianity" but belief in Jesus being who He says He is. But even that is not the whole story; for even the demons believe. But to believe is to accept, and the way to love Jesus is to obey Him. This is the key; belief causes acceptance; and acceptance causes change from the flesh realm to the heavenly realm with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God in Jesus name, through repentance and then obeidiance follows to produce growth. To not believe nor disbelieve is to besitting on the fence- without the Holy Spirit indwelling; you will always fall on the wrong side, because only Jesus can save you. Before coming to the knowledge of the truth, we are described as blind, and not even having knowledge of that blindness. For the ways of a man always seem right in his own eyes...I can witness to that personally. I had no idea, before making that call on the Savior. Not making a choice IS a choice.

Answer 8

If you actually read those passages thru you will see that those people Jesus was talking about were teaching the same thing that Jesus was teaching, even though they weren't part of their group. What those scriptures should be telling you is that we shouldn't be clickish about the group we belong to and accept those who believe Christ is God incarnate no matter what they look or sound like.

God loves you girl. You can keep trying to find fault but it won't change the Truth. I hope you realize that soon.

Answer 9

Luke 9:50 This is a test by which others are tried. 11:23 is a test by which one tries himself --Ryrie

Answer 10

Mark 9:39-41
39) But Jesus said "Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able to soon speak ill of me. 40) Whoever is not against us is for us. 41) For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward."
Luke 9:49-50
49) John answered "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us." 50) But Jesus said to him, "Do not stop him; for whoever is not against you is for you."
Luke 11:23
23) Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Sorry but you misrepresented the verses. These are they in their fuller form and show that Jesus and the Bible of which you refer are actually consistent. Please try to be honest in this forum. Just as I shall give as honest an answer or question, so to should you.

Answer 11

...An incorrect interpretation, you should say. Either you are for Jesus Christ (a believer) or you are against Him - there is no middle ground. Which are you, Ms. Dana R?
...There is coming a time when you will give account of yourself to God - what will you say then?
...Romans 14:10-12 says this:
...10 "For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;
...11 for it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God."
...12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
...I urge you to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. (Acts 16:31)
...Whosoever will, may come.