Contradictions in the Bible, theists say they were added after the original Bible. Why would God allow that?

Question

This is GODS book. He supposedly inspired people to write it, and yet when I point out obviously disturbing or wrong passages, some people say, "Well that passage was added to later on after died. He did not mean for this verse to be there."

Ok, this is a very easy cop-out. It brings up the validity of the entire Bible itself, especially if God was only there for the inspiration part. The Bible as you know it could be completely false according to this excuse...

Why would God go to such great lengths to create this book, only to allow men to add and subtract to it at will? I know, man has free-agency, blah blah. Would God allow a single man to change parts of His book that would be around for thousands of years, and lead millions of followers down the wrong path?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AsxpC4J9Aq5K1OlSiK6NYVXsy6IX?qid=20070828084250AAkH0Dc

Look at the people who answer this question saying that Paul didn't really write this verse, and that verse....

This is my example, sorry I should have included that earlier.

Congratz to doug_lauder for being the first to quote John 3:16. I ws wondering if that would come up or not. Way to not suprise me.

Answer 1

When in defense of the Bible, believers don't know what a "cop-out" is. Point out contradictions and they will make the point you say. Show them where the Bible is PROVEN to be incorrect about a scientific fact and you will hear "that part wasn't meant to be taken literally" or "science hasn't proven anything, that's just a theory" or something along those lines. Point out the horrible acts committed by God-fearing, righteous men and you will get "that's in the Old Testament and doesn't count" or "just 'cause it's in there doesn't mean God approves". There are excuses for any and everything you can think of that could make the Bible fallible. Therein lies the problem. Why choose to do this with just the Bible? Why not do it with every piece of fiction ever written? Why claim righteousness and morality based on a book so incredibly full of ideas and actions not relevant to today's society? If Jesus did not derive His morals from scripture, why should any believer?

Answer 2

The "theists" you talked to are incorrect. The Bible is basically intact. There are minor word changes that are noted in the margin of the Bible. These are places where some copies of the early manuscripts differ with each other due to human error while copying.

There are very minor discrepancies in the 4 gospels. You would expect that to happen when you have multiple witnesses for the same event. They will remember different parts. An example of remembering different parts is that in one Gospel, Judas hung himself and another Judas fell off a cliff and his guts spilled out. What happened is that Judas hung himself on a tree over a cliff and the branch broke.

Sometimes different witnesses remember things differently. If they were EXACT, you would think they got together and contrived it. An example is comparing Matthew 10:10 and Mark 6:8-9 and what they should take on their trip. Should they take a walking stick or not? One says to, one says not to. The basic theme is intact though - they shouldn't take much on their trip.

HOWEVER, these are all VERY MINOR. They do not change the messages of the Bible.

If there is an example of a major discrepancy, I would like to see it.

Thanks,

Mike

P.S. OK - I see. Well, some people believe in the Bible. Some people Do not believe in the Bible. Some people pick and choose. I don't understand that part. Pick what you like, throw away what you don't like. If that's your point, I TOTALLY AGREE - An all powerful God would protect the Bible. We can't just take what we like. It's all or none.

Anyway, I don't think the passage is wrong or added later. It may disturb you and I can understand that. I didn't answer earlier, because I'm not sure I understand them either. I agree that this is a hard passage to understand. Not understanding does not equate to incorrect though.

We need to interpret the Bible in the culture it was written in. Notice that counts in the New Testament only include men and stuff like that. Perhaps, the main point is that women should behave in accordance to what is appropriate for the culture.

Another possibility is that Paul is just talking about in church. That does seem to be the context. In other words, women should not be pastors.

Another possibility is that it is part of the curse of sin. Notice Genesis 3:16 - the husband will rule over you.

Another possibility is that marriage is a model of the relationship between God and people. The church is often called the "bride of Christ". The church is supposed to follow Christ and Christ is the leader. Not that one role in marriage is superior to the other, they are just different.

Answer 3

Good point.. I am sure you are talking about me in regards to saying that Timothy was written after Paul died...But its not a cop out - from a scholarly, historical perspective, that is what happened.

God gave the Isrealites the Torah - whether he wrote it or Moses wrote it is not known. God sent Jesus - he did not write the New Testament. People wrote these stories out in an effort to pass them along to different communities. Theologies had to be developed over time...even most of the Old Testament is believed to have been passed down from oral traditon first and the various texts written later than their origination. This is clear from the inclusion or changing of well known Egyptian or Samaritan folk tales in the stories of the Old Testament.

That being said and including the fact that in college I learned what a crock of cr@p some of the texts are in the Bible, I still believe in the general message, moral teachings, etc. that are presented -in all three of the Abrahamic traditions. In my mind, God said "here is the teachings, live your life accordingly...and if you have lived a good and moral life you will be with me int he end" and then man/woman comes along and does what they will with them. Sometimes they corrupt, sometimes they go the wrong way, some times they go the right way.

So your question, how do we know that we haven't been led down the wrong path? I don't!! I definitely question whether or not I should become Muslim, as the Koran was the last testament God gave to a people... I guess that some times your faith is all you need to believe. And some times, the fact that there are so many contradictions and religions based on this God cause people to go another way.

And...even though there are contradictions in the Bible, I can still believe in it..and faith is the only reason I can give you.

Answer 4

The Bible IS the inspired word of God. If you look through the Bible you will find countless examples of God working around man's faults and weaknesses. That's why God has repeated important ideals throughout the Bible. When scholars see the connection they then bridge the thought. There were people who knew the connection even before it was sited because God always keeps a remnant of believers whom He gives personal revelation.

Answer 5

Some people won't admit the humanity of the Bible, but you can't deny it: People wrote it, people translated it, and people decided which books got in and which ones didn't. I'm not saying people weren't "inspired" to write it, but it's naive to think it's perfect in its current condition.

BTW, there is the Old Testament and the New Testament. Christians believe that when Jesus came, he "wiped out" the rules as stated in the Old Testament and brought a new "covenant" from God for mankind.

Answer 6

if you have correct understanding of scripture, there are NO contradictions in the bible.
the bible is the inspired Word of God & it is is NO error.

nothing is to be added or taken away ... if it is done, taught, etc., they will endure the wrath of God.

that's one reason why the Vatican will endure God's wrath. the pope has claimed that since he is the representative of Jesus Christ on earth, he has the authority to change scripture.
(WRONG!)

most people don't know what they're talking about.
they have OPINIONS only... which does NOT make them correct.

the Word of God is correct & it is our manual for living. we will be judged from what is in His Book, so our lives better measure up.

Answer 7

There are no contradictions in the Bible. Proposed contradictions are usually the result of a lack of understanding of a verse's context or a mis-translation of a word. There are no "contradictions" that have been proven to exist that cannot be refuted.

The site listed in the source has a large list of "alleged" contradictions and their explanations. Nothing found on R & S, as far as "alleged" contradictions, is new.

Answer 8

Wow. This is so far out there in left field that I don't know where to begin.
Nothing has been added to the original manuscripts. Any translation that has even slightly deviated from the original has been quickly attacked and discredited. What I hear in this question is a lie that spawns another lie that spawns a theory based on lies that is so far removed from actual truth that I can't seem to wrap my little bovine brain around it.

MooOO!

Answer 9

"God didn't create the bible, man did. Free will would leave alot of room for interpretation of the message...... " Wait, they were gosd inspired... Are you saying god cant get humans to write a book

Answer 10

#1 There are no contradictions in the Bible.
#2 People who tell you that passages were added on later do not know what they are talking about. The Bible is the same now as it was in the beginning.

Peace