does scripture contradict itself? For instance: There are several different references to where Jesus went?

Question

after he died, and told the good thief were he'd be going. Scripture says: He decended into hell, He went to the prision , to preach, he would be in paradise, what was the bosom of Abraham? How do you intrepret these different places? Hint: they are not heaven.

Answer 1

Same place, different names.

Sheol, the grave...

I prefer "Purgatory" - but - that's just my way of saying it. Your mileage may vary.

Answer 2

First, you neglected to give any of the specific verses in Scripture and asked your question in a general manner; I deal with this issue quite frequently so it is okay.
Jesus made it clear in John 10:18 that He not only had the power to lay down His life but to take it up again.
The thief on the cross in Luke 23 was asking for mercy from the only One who could give it.
When Jesus died what He did was to demonstrate that death and hell had no power over Him. Colossians 2:15 informs us that He made a public spectacle over them.
In other parts of The Bible (Luke 8:31) there is the mention of the abyss which is a holding place the demons until they are judged. Another description of it is mentioned in Jude1:6 and 2 Peter 2:4. There are some demons who have such destructive potential that God in His mercy to us keeps them under lock and key and will never allow them out.
Abrahams bosom is a symbolic place near to God.

When you interpret the Bible you must always remember that:
"Context is King"; in other words keep it within the framework of how it was said and its meaning (this is why so many people look to the Greek, Aramiac, and Hebrew texts.)
Another issue is that of hermeneutics which is the method by which the Scriptures are interpreted. All too often I have seen people both atheists and believers violate them in order to sustain their arguement.

Second, your attempt to say that it is not heaven cannot be substantiated as you are attempting to say that you know for certain that there is no such thing as heaven.
That in itself violates both the laws of logic and of non-contradiction as you are attempting to assert that you have the attribute of Omniscience.
Truth by its very nature and definition is intolerant, exclusive, absolute, and will not include any other competeing idea.
For example DNA tests are not done to include everyone but to exclude all others.

The overwhelming amount of claims by people who are hostile to God and the Bible of Biblical contradictions which I have examined over the past 16 years usually amount to a misunderstanding or lack of knowledge. In some cases however there is such sheer hatred and bitter prejudice and no amount of explanation is sufficient.
I am a former atheist; and the most bitter people who I have found are those who are of my former life.

What a person needs to do is to make a thorough examination of the evidence provided and then make an informed decision

Answer 3

Jesus came to accomplish a lot more than was visible to humans.
There was a good reason for Him to enter hell, while he was still apart from His body. How many generations had already gone to the grave without the promise He brought. You think He left them out? And I ask you, is it possible that one single soul remained in hell, after He came to get them out? I'm pretty sure they all took Him up on the offer.

Paradise is something hard to explain, expecially when most have no idea that they are spirit, much less being in tune with it. Paradise is something the spirit understands. Just take His word for it.

The bosom of Abraham is a resting place. We sleep, unaware of the passing of time. Considering that time doesn't exist beyond this mortal world, who could possibly understand what it mean?

Answer 4

check out POCM or Pagan origins of the Christ Myth

it all makes sense when christianity was taken from many current cults and stories that already existed

You already know Christmas trees and Easter eggs were originally Pagan, and you probably know the traditional mid-winter and spring timing of the two holidays was Pagan too. Mildly interesting. Not what you'll find here.

What you'll discover here is that Christianity inherited everything from the Pagans. The core of Christianity -- the worship of a dying Godman who is resurrected, ascends into heaven and brings salvation to mankind -- was also the core of a number of ancient Pagan religions that began in the Near East two thousand years before Jesus.

Christian theology borrowed more than the archaic myth of the dying-resurrected Godman. Initiation by baptism, communion with the God through a holy meal that represented the flesh of the dead God, the Holy Spirit, monotheism, and immortality of the soul were all core beliefs of many ancient faiths. They were simply part of ancient Mediterranean culture.

Answer 5

In order to believe what you are saying you have to assume much:
1) That 'prison' and Hell are two different places;
2) That Jesus cannot go to Hell and 'Paradise' on the same day.
3) That the 'Bosom of Abraham is in neither place and cannot be accessed in one day.
4) That Paradise is not Heaven and cannot be accessed in one day.

If you want to assume those things go right ahead. But I don't have to assume those things.

Answer 6

I am surprised most atheists aren't level 7 in Y!A. All most ever say is "I don't believe" "It never happened" "they are full of contradictions" all without being specific.

It sure would be easy to cut-and-paste your way to Top Contributor with such reasoned responses. :)

Speaking of specifics, I reviewed the four gospels for your references and other than Jesus telling the repentant thief "Today you will be with me in paradise" I haven't found the other references. Are they in scripture, or did some priest with an imagination make them up?

Answer 7

Dudette you need to take these things in order. First, of course Jesus went preaching before he died. That was the reason he came to earth in the first place. Then he died and was resurrected three days later right.

When he died, he went to hell... as in to the grave which is all hell is. When he was resurrected he was raised to his father's right hand in heaven. The use of "the bosom position of Abraham" is simply illustrative Abraham was one of his forefathers, and Abraham picturerd his Heavenly Father. The real Abraham was also dead in the grave. Finally, the paradise he mentioned to the evildoing hung on the torture stake next to him was the promised future paradise, the earth that Jesus himself will be instrumental in restoring to the condition his father Jehovah originally intended it to be in.

Answer 8

The Scriptures don't actually say he descended in to hell, it says he descended into the lower places which was paradise/abraham's bosom. Abraham's bosom is a place that old testament saints went to until a sacrafice (jesus) was made to cover their sins as well.

Answer 9

These are not contradictions, they are different circumstances, different ways of looking and expressing what one sees knows and understands. Keep studying the Scriptures,ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you, if you can,study with a group, and you will get better understanding. The Bible does not contradict itself . God is omnipresent - means God is everywhere present.

Answer 10

One finds what one looks for, so I'm sure people who search for discrepencies in the Bible will find them.

What useful purpose does this serve?

For many people, the Bible is inspirational, a guide to one's living and the foundation of their faith. They're not looking for discrepencies, they're looking for the keys to righteous living.

Others have no use for the Bible. That's ok too; however, that's not a valid reason to discredit it for those who find value in it.

It's always more beneficial to emphasize what one has in common with people than to highlight differences.

Answer 11

He went to the world of spirits, paradise and spirit prison. He went to paradise and organized his church there also and charged his followers like the apostles on the earth to go forth and spread his Gospel particularly to those in spirit prison or hell as some would call it.