What is the explanation for Bible contradictions?

Question

It claims that God cannot be seen in some parts but then says that God has been seen and the people have lived to tell. I know that some responses will say that I am reading out of context, but look for yourself at the lines: Ex 33:23, Ex: 33:11, Gen 32:20 and then look at John 1:18, Ex: 33:20, 1 Tim. 6:16.
I also know that some responses will be that I read it this way because I am already a disbeliever, are there any other ways to logically explain the numerous contradictions?

This is the website that I was looking at: http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/jim_meritt/bible-contradictions.html#god_seen

Answer 1

the explanation is lack of comprehention ...

Answer 2

I've seen that stupid website before. I used to think there were contradictions too but they can be explained. The problem is you're looking at them at face-value. This is why you need to study the Bible. Dig deeper and you'll find the answers.

Ex 33:11 He saw a pillar of cloud not God himself; thus it was God speaking to him as a pillar of cloud "face to face".

Gen 32:20 - This is not talking about God's face; even if it was this was only a man's "thought."

John 1:18 - No one has ever seen the fullness of God. (How can they?)

Ex. 33:20 ...? God is just saying no one can see his face.

1 Tim. 6:16 - If you read carefully it just said he dwells in unapproachable light and yet again... you can't see the FULLNESS of God.


Even still: that doesn't take from the fact that Jesus was a real man in history. Do you think he died for lies? He fulfilled real prophesies and spoke the truth.

Answer 3

People who read the bible for what it was really intended for are not bothered by the contradictions. The stories in the bible are about lessons and morals. Some people think the bible is actually try to tell information, like an encylcopedia, and that all the information should add up and be perfect, but that's wrong. A lot of them are just made up stories trying to teach lessons and morals.

Answer 4

Exodus 33:23 says that God's face shall not be seen at that time by Moses
Exodus 33:11 does not explicitly say that He saw God in that verse, but that God talked to him as a man talks to his friend, face to face. Moses obviously wasn't looking at His face there, since the following warning in verse 20 says no man can see His face and live.
Genesis 32:20 is talking about Esau not God.

It seems that to look at God's face is equivalent to looking at the true form of God the Father, of which no man has ever done excepting Jesus. In various other places God appears to other biblical people in various forms(fire, cloud, men, dreams), and they do see him, but not necessarily his true form. Since God the Father is spirit this makes sense that mere flesh can not see Him, but rather only images or phantoms of Him masking His true form, which can not be seen by mortal man apart from Jesus. So, there is no contradiction.

Answer 5

The Bible is a compilation of many writings that as Christians we consider "inspired by God".

While we believe that the Bible is the infallible word of God, we don't believe that our understanding or interpretation of that word is infallible.

Much of the Bible is in allegory or in parables, and as they were written anywhere from 1800 to 3500 years ago, we're not always sure if a particular portion is allegory or literal truth. We know that learned scholars have misunderstood portions of the Bible in the past, and I'm not arrogant enough to believe that I've got it all figured out now.

There are, however, common threads throughout. There is the history of a growing relationship between God and his people, there is the story of a people slowly learning what God really asks of us, and there are some rather clear instructions on how we should treat each other.

And before you ask, no, we still don't get even the clearest, simplest instructions right on a regular basis.

There are portions of the Bible that must not have made any sense whatsoever to people thousands of years ago, but are beginning to make some sense to us today.

For example, the concept that God exists independent of time and space is pretty clearly spelled out, but those concepts weren't understood at all by early Christians (and even some of us today have problems with that).

Even we get wrapped up in the details, and miss the lessons that are being taught. It happens all the time.

I'm certain that when I'm face-to-face with God, the best answer I can hope for is, "My son, I love you and welcome you, but how did you get My message so screwed up?"

A famous Rabbi was once asked about the content of the Torah. He replied; "Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God. All else is commentary."

While I see wisdom in that, I would add these. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind and with all your strength, and love your neighbor as yourself", and "Seek, and ye shall find, knock, and the door shall be opened to you".

I don't tell people to believe as I do. I tell them to honestly seek truth and wisdom. My faith tells me that if you do that, you will find God.

Answer 6

God has only been seen by one person and that is Moses, but he did not see his face just his back. No man could see God's face, that is what God is talking about. In Gen 32:20, Jacob did not see God's face, he was predicting his future saying one day he will see God's face. The bible does mot contridict itsself, it depends on how you interpet the words, it is easier to get a NIV bible.

Answer 7

There is no real "explanation." At least, not the type you're asking about - an explanation that actually explains the contradictions without doing violence to the dogmatic interpretation.

We have to remember that, in the first place, it never would've occurred to the authors of the books of the Bible to guard themselves against rational criticism. The thing practically didn't exist; and even to this day many Christians are utterly incapable of understanding any such arguments, which they regard as mere blasphemy. They don't worry about it, even so much as to argue that the text is interpolated or corrupted, or should be interpreted "allegorically." They simply ride over contradictions without noticing them. The most powerful arguments don't even rock the boat.

All the difficulties in exegesis have been pointed out often enough; and I've yet to see the Christian who is in the least disturbed by any of them. I suppose they'd be proud that I say so!

Answer 8

Constantine was probably not too enamored of the intellect of the masses who would be controlled by the collection of books he had assembled into the bible. His people carefully left out the books that would question slavishness and controllability. They didn't need to be excruciatingly careful because the innate tendency of most people to avoid responsibility overpowers reason anyway. That is why they left so many contradictions in there.
The believers just gloss them over because they have been filled with fear by those who benefit from the believers' addictions.

Answer 9

I am atheist myself but I am going to tell you are taking these lines out of context. If you read these lines in the Bible and not on a website you will find they are meant to say that you shouldn't turn away from God. The Bible is also horribly translated into mdern english so some confilcts with terminology.

Answer 10

God was never seen face to face IN ALL HIS GLORY. Moses saw the back side of Him as He passed by. Jesus is God IN THE FLESH. Since He was in the flesh, He wasn't in ALL HIS GLORY.
It's a matter of understanding Scripture, and not trying to FIND things wrong with it. You will never see the truth that way. It is to be read and studied IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH. Can you do that?

Answer 11

the ultimate translation of Genesis 22:one million isn't "tempt" yet try. Abraham grow to be no longer tempted to do evil in God's sight yet grow to be examined to no remember if he could be obedient to God's command. Abraham's obedience grow to be equated with Christ's obedience and foreshadowed it. whether, it grow to be in basic terms a try to Abraham surpassed. plenty to Isaac's alleviation. James refers back to the reality that God can't be tempted by way of evil nor does he tempt people into doing that it relatively is evil. i'm hoping I even have not ruined the ingredient your have been attempting to make yet somewhat that I cleared it up for you. It grow to be an exciting question.