What about this Bible contradiction?

Question

Ecclesiastes 1:4 "...the earth abideth forever"

2 Peter 3:10 "the elements shall melt with a fervent heat, the earth also, and works that are therein shall be burned up."

What's this then?

Answer 1

Again, the Christians will brush off by saying:
The writer of Ecclesiastes (most likely Solomon) is writing in the context of his own lifetime. Compared to his own lifetime, the earth does remain forever. Peter is saying that the world will end in an absolute sense and is writing in a different context. Think of it this way. I could say that critics come and critics go, but the Bible remains forever. However, in a different context I might say that Christians won’t need the Bible when we are in heaven. These two statements are written in different contexts but are not contradictory.

However, the notion that Solomon, if he was the writer (and there is good reason to doubt this for archaeological reasons), would think of the world as eternal in comparison to his own life, should certainly have known better if he was writing under the inspiration of God. After all, this is supposed to be the word of God, isn't it? Then why can't God get his two oracles to say the same thing? The notion that the 2nd Peter reference is metaphorical doesn't wash. The earth is eternal or it is not, so if is, let's not use metaphors implying that it isn't. Of course, science has answered that it is the latter.

But the "Christian" mind doesnt see Logic does it?

Answer 2

"The earth abideth forever": Only God is eternal and everlasting in the fullest sense. But compared to the lives of humankind,the earth abides with little change.

2 Peter 3:10
The day of the Lord describes the end time events, the 2nd coming. At the end of this age in the day of the Lord's judgment, the heavens will pass away with the great noise and the elements will melt, presumably by fire ( see v.12 ).

Peter's description requires the unlimited power of God in dissolving the very elements of the universe, from which He will create a new heaven ad new earth. ( See v.13, Rev 21:22 )

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

The Earth will last forever. It's just that it will be made a new Earth, and there will be a New Heaven too, haven't you read that part?

Isaiah 66:22
For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.

2 Peter 3:13
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Revelation 3:12
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

( I forgot to mention, that get's to be new too )

Revelation 21:1
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

It's not so difficult. And you have to stop listening to people about the contradictions. I know that there are contradictions, but those who want there to be contradictions are typically f' heads. They don't even know what a Christian is.

Answer 5

No one has explained the concept of "context to you have they"?

Here's the full section of Ecclesiastes 1: 1-4
"Vanity of vanities, says the preacher. Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. What profit has a man from all his labor, in which he toils under the sun? One generation passes away, and another generation comes, but the earth abides forever."

Here is the REALLY obvious meaning: Earthly wealth is useless. You can't take it with you when you die. This life is without value, unless you store up treasure in Heaven. You personally are irrelevant in the grand scheme of things, because you will die, and the world will keep on spinning.

Solomon is giving an example. You will live for a short period, but the earth will be here alot longer than you.

Again, like your last question, we have 2 statements that compliment (not contradict) one another. The two sections essentailly say the same thing.

Answer 6

This is not necassirly a contradiction, forever is a diffrent context for humans and GOD one day for us is like a thousand years to GOD, because there are diffrent times even in revelations like times end, and forever and ever time is the question here.

Answer 7

Take it a step further,Revelation 21:1.I saw a new heaven and a new earth.
I gave my 55 Chevy a new engine ,paint job and upholstery.It looks great ,like a new car but it still my 1955 Chevy.
You are really grasping at straws!

Answer 8

The earth abideth forever until an asteroid hits it.

Answer 9

Just as we are to be baptized by water and then by fire (the Holy Spirit), so shall the Earth. First it was "baptized" in the flood, and later, it will be "baptized by fire" ie burned. Then, the earth will be heaven since the wicked will no longer be here.
"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."

Answer 10

Actually, the earth will burn in about 7.5 billions years, give or take. Once our sun runs out of hydrogen, this will inevitably happen. Sad but true.

Disclaimer:
This has nothing to do with religion. Just a fact of the starts life cycle.