Tough Bible Contradictions?

Question

This is posed for people who read and understand the Bible. I need some advice.
It has been said that the Old Testament advocates archaic laws, slavery, killing your children who speak against you, etc..
What is your intepretation of these ancient issues? Do you believe the Bible is outdated, and it is up to modern interpretation, or do these notions have some symbolic meaning? What is your take?

What should I take from the Bible? It is an intimidating text with so many interpretations. Sometimes I feel that fire of the Holy Spirit, and sometimes I fear the flame.

I am Episcopalian and I have both the KJV and NKJV. Are there any study guides that are not so conservative in their views and geared toward Episcopals? I am a former Catholic and as you know Catholics rely mainly on the priests for Bible interpretation-- one of the reasons I left Catholicism.

Any wisdom on these issues?

Answer 1

Joe can you tell me where these are in the Bible and I will be more than happy to help you with them. Or are these things you have heard. I recognize some of what you speak but, just as Satan wants us to do dont just read that verse. Read what is said before it and what is said after it. I can tell you the Bible advocates reincarnation. Where Jesus says one must be born again. But without the things said prior to that and after that would be a huge contradiction in the Bible. If you are having trouble understanding the Bible you need to be in prayer about it. God will open youre eyes and heart if you are truly sincere. Amen and Peace out..................

Answer 2

If you're looking for study guides, aren't you then looking for external interpretation of the Bible already? Why then leave the Catholic church if you're going to use other people to interpret scripture for you?

The Catholic Church has study guides, and there are a great number of Bible studies going on, and not all of these are run by priests. The point is that there is one organization that has been studying scripture since Christ was here; Protestant churches have a history of about 600 years, or 1400 less than the Catholics.

Sola scriptura is great, if people are capable of understanding scripture on its own; the problem is that that's not possible. Without history, without an understanding of idioms, without an understanding of tradition, scripture leaves holes.

Take a well-known example: (paraphrased) "It's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven." Everybody knows that a camel can't fit through a needle's eye, so it might be assumed that a rich man can't get into heaven.

The problem is that many people don't know that a special type of gate into the town was called a needle's eye. It required a certain amount of training or coaxing for a camel to get through. It wasn't something impossible, but not something a camel might do normally. Without external support, the Bible becomes misleading in this case. One needs more than the Bible to understand the Bible. Possible errors such as this is part of what the Catholic Church was trying to prevent. Where does this leave Sola Scriptura? Without external clarification, the Bible might lead one into heresey, saying that rich people automatically go to hell.

I'm not Catholic.

As far as more liberal commentaries, you might ask your local priest. I'm sure that they might be able to point you toward some literature that would be more in line with Episcopal beliefs and teachings.

Along with the commentaries or other books, I might recommend that you get a good concordance, which is sort of like a Bible Dictionary, but it lists all and only the words in the Bible, and gives the meanings of the original Hebrew and Greek words in the manuscripts. The purpose of this book is to reveal what the words that were translated into English originally meant. These often have colors or variations in meaning that the translators may not have shed light on. This isn't intended to impugn a translator, but merely points to the fact that it is impossible to give an exact word-for-word translation when a word has either multiple meanings, or where a particular word may have multiple uses or shades that can't be expressed in a single word.

The amplified Bible tries to do this, but it becomes a bit clumsy and unpoetic to read.

In any case, I'm not a Christian, and can't speak for your particular church. I grew up Catholic, spent some time in other churches, taught Vacation Bible School, Sunday school, and worked in music ministry for over 25 years. I don't have anything in particular against Christianity; I simply don't believe it as advanced (put forth). If you feel this disqualifies my advice, that's fine, but I offer it anyway.

Answer 3

Bible difficulties, or apparent Bible contradictions, exist. The opponents of Christianity often use them in their attempts to discredit Christianity. Sometimes these attacks undermine the faith of Christians who either don't understand the issues or don't have the resources to deal with them.

Opponents of Christianity will cite what they consider a Bible contradiction or difficulty by comparing one verse to another (or more) that seems to disagree with the first. In doing this, several verses are often referenced as being contradictory or problematic. Therefore, to make this section of CARM easy to use, it is arranged by verse for easy lookup. Since many of the same "difficulties" deal with one verse in opposition to another or even several others, I have listed all the verses addressed in the same answer. This makes the initial list look larger than it really is. For example, how many animals did Noah bring into the ark? Genesis 6:19-20 says two while Gen. 7:2-3 mentions seven. Therefore, both verses are listed and both links point to the same answer.

http://carm.org/introduction-bible-difficulties-and-bible-contradictions

If we read the Bible at face value, without a preconceived bias for finding errors, we will find it to be a coherent, consistent, and relatively easy-to-understand book. Yes, there are difficult passages. Yes, there are verses that appear to contradict each other. We must remember that the Bible was written by approximately 40 different authors over a period of around 1500 years. Each writer wrote with a different style, from a different perspective, to a different audience, for a different purpose. We should expect some minor differences. However, a difference is not a contradiction. It is only an error if there is absolutely no conceivable way the verses or passages can be reconciled. Even if an answer is not available right now, that does not mean an answer does not exist. Many have found a supposed error in the Bible in relation to history or geography only to find out that the Bible is correct once further archaeological evidence is discovered.

http://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-errors.html

The Big Book of Bible Difficulties: Clear and Concise Answers from Genesis to Revelation
By: Norman L. Geisler, Thomas Howe
http://www.christianbook.com/difficulties-clear-concise-answers-genesis-revelation/norman-geisler/9780801071584/pd/071584?event=AFF&p=1011693&

Answer 4

Yes, the Old Testament does say such things.
A couple of thoughts:
1. Get a better translation (NASB, NLT). In the last 100 years there have been great advancements on understanding languages & earlier finds in manuscripts.
2. King James himself would tell you to get a new translation, seeing that he had the Bible to be written in the common tongue.
3. When I took NT Greek, I used the NASB to check my work.
4. Romans 6 says, "You are no longer under law but under grace. Consider yourselves dead to the law." If you have received Jesus as YOUR savior & lord, then you are no longer required to keep the Old Testament laws (read Romans 6- St. Paul).
5. You cannot interpret or change the Bible! It says what it says. Better, you need to study the Bible. Why did it say that you could kill your children who spoke against you? Why kill women and children, leaving none alive? It has nothing to do with interpretation. They are direct commands from God- to those who were under the Law.
6. Norman Geisler, Wayne Grudem, Vine are all great authors who have written much on these subjects. I would recommend reading them.
7. Here is a link to a good study bible: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=302584&netp_id=369795&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW
8. Here is a good website: www.studylight.org

Hope this helps.

Answer 5

I don't know much about the Old Testament, I study the New Testament in my religious studies program... But I can say this: With Jesus, the covenant between Israel and God was replaced with a new covenant through Jesus (Jews/circumcision, etc. - Jesus/salvation - Christianity as the New Israel). This means that while the ancient Christians still regarded the Hebrew Bible, they eventually decided to stop following Jewish customs - as seen in the Pauline literature in the New Testament.

If you buy the NRSV Bible, at the beginning of each book is a synopsis with the history behind it, what scholars believe is going on, and who wrote it, etc. It is a scholarly bible, but the same text is used and might help you out. The synopsis' really helped me to understand what I was reading.

At any rate, the Bible was written for men by men in the Greco-Roman era and addressed issues the group faced within that culture. How it applies to Christians today, in my opinion, is that we can take the basic moral teachings from the NT and use them in our daily lives.. but even that gets tricky.... Paul teaches asceticism, the deutero-pauline texts (1, 2 Timoty & Titus) teach marriage, submissive women, etc.
Now that I've rambled... hopefully this helps you out!

Answer 6

That's your problem friend,you realie on man's word instead of God's Word. Don't get your mind cluttred by what man say's. Read God's Word for yourself,and don't jump around. Start with Genisis which is the seed plot of the whole Bible. Read it chapter by chpter and verse by verse. If you don't understand Genisis,the rest of the Bible will make no sense to you. I suggest you get a King James version along with a strong's concordance. That will help you take the englkish words back to the original Hebrew or Greek,to reveal a more in depth meaning.

Answer 7

I would suggest getting either an Amplified or Message Bible. The language is a little easier to read.

You might also consider doing some research into the culture of the Hebrews. It often helps to understand the reason for some of the things God said.

I have begun to read the Complete Jewish Bible. It's translated by Jewish scholars and often includes information about the culture.

Answer 8

I struggle with the Bible. Many people and stories in the Old Testament are clearly wrong with me.

I have a hard time believing God would kill of Job's family just to settle a bet with Satan.

Another problem I have is with Levi and Simeon (Jacob's sons) going down and killing all of the people in Shechem's town because of the raping of "Dinah". This slaughter was pure revenge and an act of cowardice. In exchange for the "defiling" of Dinah, Shechem asked Jacob for Dinah's hand in marriage. Jacob and Dinah's older brother's agreed on the condition that all of the people from the town become circumcised. After they agree and become circumcised, Levi and Simeon slaughter them all while they are weak and in pain from the surgery. What does Jacob do to his sons who have murdered hundreds and stolen many animals? Nothing!!!

I can see why some people have serious problems with the Old Testament. Further, I can see why Muslims, and some Arab Christians look up to Ismael more than Jacob (Yacoub).

Clearly, this is something Jesus would have preached again.

Answer 9

The Old Testament has many strange and hard to understand laws. As one other answerer said, it is important to study the culture of those times. For instance, slavery was not the same institution that we had here in the early years of US history. Slavery was more akin to our modern welfare system. There was no place to file for bankruptcy, so a person could sell themselves into slavery to save them from starvation. This sounds insane to us today, but it was a very different world then. There were no protections as we have today.

At one point the Israelites are commanded to kill followers of another religion. This is in reference to a religion that commonly burned young children alive to idols.

When you have the full story behind these OT laws and rules, they make more sense.

ALSO, remember, Jesus came to be the fulfillment of the law. He made it so we are no longer subject to those laws. They remain to remind us of all that we have been freed from.

Answer 10

In order to understand the Tanach, it is necessary to have some knowledge of the Talmud. You will find in the Talmud that laws such as "an eye for an eye" refer to the monetary value of an eye just as it does in today's law. If you accidentally killed someone in an automobile accident, would you expect the judge to rule that you be run over by an automobile? Well they didn't do that in Biblical days either. They weren't imbeciles! The Laws of the Tanach are the maximum sentences which were seldom, if ever, imposed.

Would you expect me to understand Christianity without ever having read your "New Testament?" Why do you expect to understand Judaism never having studied the Talmud?
.
.