Background: An atheist on the internet (who seems to disdain the Bible and Christians) sent me a link to this article "30 Pairs Of Bible Verses That Contradict One Another" in order to try and cast doubt about God and his word. It didn't work. In fact, it was a blessing that got me inspired by Yahweh to serve him by addressing the "contradictions".
Here is the beginning of the article.
A long, long time ago, I used to be a Christian. Then again, I also used to believe in Santa Claus. The thing that primarily killed my faith is that I read enough of The Bible to realize that it teemed with contradictions and thus couldn’t possibly have been divinely inspired, AKA the infallible words of a perfect God that was dictated to human transcribers.This is part 2 (verses 16 thru 30). I will attempt to go thru these contradictions one by one and see what I come up with. Comments are welcome.
Please feel free to send comments to yahwehseeker32@yahoo.com. (Note: Please be civil. Abrasive or abusive comments from those who disagree will be ignored/trashed).
Alleged contradiction #16
And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. —Mark 15:25
…about the sixth hour…they cried out…crucify him….Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. —John 19:14-16
My Response
You can read more details about by clicking on the link to this article
Alleged contradiction #17
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned… —Romans 5:12
Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death. —John 8:51My Response:
Now with John 8:51 KJV
He is speaking about God's gift of salvation for those who receive/believe in him as their personal savior. Those who do receive the free gift of eternal life due to God's grace even though we are still sinners. We need to keep repenting for our sins and strive to work hard not to sin.
Alleged contradiction #18
Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. —Genesis 9:3
It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall. —Romans 14:21My Response:
They are both in completely different contexts. Genesis 9:3 refers to God's blessing to Noah.
Romans 14:21 is Paul's letters to the Romans
He is using an analogy to gluttony and drunkeness which will lead people down the path of sin. Read verse 20. It's all about the context. A single verse (without showing the context in which is lives) is the cause of most of these "contradictions".
Alleged contradiction #19
Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?…And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly… —Matthew 27:13-14
Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?…Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? —John 18:33-34In John, he did not reply with an answer but rather a question back to Pilate. In Matthew, he did not feel it necessary to say Jesus responded with but just a question back to Pilate. I do honestly believe this is not a contradiction because Jesus not give Pilate an answer to his quesiton. Both verses are saying the same thing.
Another link that explains this is this link
Bible Rejecter’s Question # 12: Silent before Pilate?
Matt 27:13-14 says that Jesus was silent before the Roman governor but according to John 18:33-37, 19:11 Jesus said much when the Jews brought him before Pilate.
Bible-Believer: Matt 27:13-14 could not possibly mean that Jesus was COMPLETELY silent before Pilate, for it records Him speaking to him about being King of the Jews in verse 9! John is only recording more of this brief “King” conversation in 18:33-37. Matt 27:12 says when Jesus was “accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing”, not He said nothing to Pilate full stop! (See also Mark 15:4-5) John also speaks of a period when Jesus’ wouldn’t answer Pilate in 19:9. The two accounts are in total harmony.Alleged contradiction #20
For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about. —1 Kings 7:15
Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty and five cubits high, and the chapiter that was on the top of each of them was five cubits. —2 Chronicles 3:15My Response
Kings specifies 18 cubits each. Chronicals says 2 of them totaling 35. Granted, 18 * 2 does not = 35, it's 36. But it's possible that it could have been between 18 and 19 cubits per pillar, so the round up effect. The same can be said for the circumference. 5 + 5 = 10 but Kings suggests both could have been between 5 and 6 cubits. So again 5.7 + 5.7 = 11.14 which rounds up to 12 cubits. This is not a reach. Would it add any meaning if they said "5.713846923" cubits?
Alleged contradiction #21
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. —Proverbs 26:4
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. —Proverbs 26:5My Response
This article will show that this is not a contradiction.
The futility of trying to impart wisdom to a fool is the basis of Proverbs 26:4-5, which tell us how to answer a fool. These seemingly contradictory verses are actually a common form of parallelism found in the Old Testament, where one idea builds upon another. Verse 4 warns against arguing with a fool on his own terms, lest we stoop to his level and become as foolish as he is. Because he despises wisdom and correction, the fool will not listen to wise reason and will try to draw us into his type of argument, whether it is by using deceit, scoffing at our wisdom, or becoming angry and abusive. If we allow him to draw us into this type of discourse, we are answering him “according to his folly” in the sense of becoming like him.
The phrase “according to his folly” in verse 5, on the other hand, tells us that there are times when a fool has to be addressed so that his foolishness will not go unchallenged. In this sense answering him according to his folly means to expose the foolishness of his words, rebuking him on the basis of his folly so he will see the idiocy of his words and reasoning. Our “answer” in this case is to be one of reproof, showing him the truth so he might see the foolishness of his words in the light of reason. Even though he will most likely despise and reject the wisdom offered to him, we are to make the attempt, both for the sake of the truth which is always to be declared, and for the sake of those listening, that they may see the difference between wisdom and folly and be instructed.
Whether we use the principle of verse 4 and deal with a fool by ignoring him, or obey verse 5 and reprove a fool depends on the situation. In matters of insignificance, it’s probably better to disregard him. In more important areas, such as when a fool denies the existence of God (Psalm 14:1), verse 5 tells us to respond to his foolishness with words of rebuke and instruction. To let a fool speak his nonsense without reproof encourages him to remain wise in his own eyes and possibly gives credibility to his folly in the eyes of others.Alleged contradiction #22
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. —Matthew 5:16
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. —Matthew 6:1My Response
This is not a contradiction.
Matthew 5:16 - Serve the Lord by doing good in his eyes by acting on his ministry, exalting the Lord and giving the Lord the credit he deserves.
Matthew 6:1 - Performing good works while exalting/promoting yourself and only giving yourself the credit (and not the Lord) will that you have already received your reward on earth for that come judgement day.
Alleged contradiction #23
And [Judas] cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. —Matthew 27:5
Now [Judas] purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. —Acts 1:18My Response
Please see this article for an explanation.
A part of it is:
“he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.” There is much discussion about the differences between the account of Judas’ death here in Acts and the account in Matthew 27:5 which simply states that Judas “hanged himself.” Many commentators simply say there were two accounts of his death, and Matthew and Luke recorded different traditions. However, first, the Bible is authored by God, and He would know how Judas died and what His inspired writers would put down. Second, it is unlikely that Luke and Matthew would write differing accounts since it seems that they both would have been familiar with Judas and what had happened to him. Judas was an infamous person, and if his death was as gory as Acts describes, Matthew would certainly have known about it and Luke would have heard much about it. There is no need to see a contradiction between Matthew and Acts. Matthew says Judas hanged himself and describes how Judas died. In contrast, Acts describes the ignominious end to Judas: that he fell, broke open in the middle, and all his bowels gushed out. The two accounts simply have different details.
Matthew and Acts are not difficult to harmonize. Conservative commentators show that the most logical explanation for what happened to Judas is that after returning the money to the priests, he went and hanged himself (Matt. 27:5), then later he fell to the ground and his body broke open (cp. Lenski, Kistemaker, Hendriksen, and many more). It seems likely that Judas would have hung for a few weeks at least, and finally, his body fell to the ground and the impact of the fall caused him to burst open. Peter and the rest of the apostles did not replace Judas and speak of his body breaking open until after the ascension, which was 40 days after Passover and even longer than that from the time Judas hung himself. So the fact is that Judas could have hung for quite a few weeks before falling and bursting open. The text does not tell us why Judas’ body fell but there are a number of logical possibilities. For example, the rope, weakened by time and weather, could have broken; or Judas’ body could have decomposed and weakened to the point it pulled apart due to its own weight; or someone might have cut the rope to try to get Judas’ body down (or even just to get the rope) and it fell; or it is even possible that people got Judas’ body down and threw it into the “field of blood” and it broke open upon being thrown.Alleged contradiction #24
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. —Matthew 10:34
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. —John 16:33My Response
The context is completely different between the 2 verses. This is not a contradiction.
Matthew 10:34 is about Jesus wanting to prepare people for his 2nd coming. Turning man against his father, etc.. means if the father won't follow Jesus but the son will, the "sword" is a figure of speech indicating that it's time for people to be saved/follow him even if it means having to leave a family member/family who will not follow Jesus.
John 16:33 is what is promised to those who believes in him.
Alleged contradiction #25
And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark. —Genesis 6:19
Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. —Genesis 7:2My Response:
This article will answer the contradiction to show that it is not a contradiction.
How many kinds did Noah bring into the ark, two or seven?
Genesis 7:2-3 and Genesis 6:19-20
Two (Genesis 6:19-20)–“And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. 20Of the birds after their kind, and of the animals after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive.”
Seven (Genesis 7:2-3)–“You shall take with you of every clean animal by sevens, a male and his female; and of the animals that are not clean two, a male and his female; 3also of the birds of the sky, by sevens, male and female, to keep offspring alive on the face of all the earth.”
Genesis 6:19-20 simply instructs Noah to preserve two of every kind.
Genesis 7:2-3 is additional information where seven of the clean animals were to be taken and two of every other kind. The reason for this is that the extra animals were for sacrifice. “Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.” (Gen. 8:20).
Logically, to have seven pairs also means that there are two pairs since the two are included in the seven. If one verse said to take only one pair and another verse said seven pairs, that would be a contradiction.Alleged contradiction #26
And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart… —Matthew 17:1
And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. —Luke 9:28My Response:
It is not a contradiction. This article will give you an in-depth answer.
Alleged contradiction #27
Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. —Matthew 26:52
Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. —Luke 22:36My Response:
This is not a contradiction. It's all about the context of the verses.
Please see this article
In Matthew 26:52
When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Peter took out his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant. Jesus told Peter to put back the sword because those who take up the sword will die by the sword. Some use this verse to support pacifism and to oppose capital punishment, which the Bible affirms elsewhere (Gen. 9:6).
Christ says that the one who has no sword should sell his robe and buy one. The apostles responded saying that they had two swords. Jesus responded saying that “it was enough.” In other words, they did not need to get rid of their swords.
Alleged contradiction #28
Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death. —II Samuel 6:23
But the king took the two sons of Rizpah…and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul. —II Samuel 21:8My Response:
Please see this article which explains why it's not a contradiction
Modern translations, for the most part, offer a different reading of the verse. For example,
2 Samuel 21:8 in the New American Standard reads: “the five sons of Merab the daughter of Saul, whom she had borne to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite.”This is also the same for the English Standard Version, the New International Version, and the New Revised Standard Version. The reason why they opt for this alternate reading is that there are two Hebrew manuscripts, and some ancient translations in Greek (Septuagint or LXX) and Syriac that have “Merab”.
2 Samuel 21:8.2 It is also worth noting that elsewhere Merab is clearly identfied as the daughter of Saul who married Adriel (1 Sam. 18:19).
Therefore, the woman being referenced in 2 Samuel 6:23 is Michal the daughter of Saul, whereas the woman in 2 Samuel 21:8 is Merab the daughter of Saul. These two women were sisters.
Alleged contradiction #29
…the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach… —I Timothy 6:15-16
The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice…clouds and darkness are round about him.
—Psalms 97:1-2My Response
The letter to Timothy refers to the Lord in Heaven. In Revelations, the Lord/Jesus is viewed something like the following
You cannot approach that.
Psalms 97 (author unknown)
The clouds and thick darkness is most likely the physical universe but heaven(where he dwells in the light) is in a totally different dimension by which we cannot see at the present.
We have set before us in this text:
I. The fact of the Divine government of the universe. There is no atheismhere: "the Lord." There is no polytheismhere: "the Lord" one. There is no pantheismhere: "the Lord " One different from the world that is ruled over.
(1) The sacred singer here speaks of a God who exercises a personal agency in the universe. "The Lord reigneth." That implies power.
(2) The psalmist suggests to us the fact that this personal agency of God is carried on in a regular and ordinary way. The words are, "The Lord reigneth;" and we read also in the passage of "His throne."
II. A second point is the mystery and awfulness of the Divine government. "Clouds and darkness are round about Him." The symbol expresses three ideas: (1) the majesty, (2) the incomprehensibility, (3) the judgments, that characterise the Divine government.Alleged contradiction #30
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: —Proverbs 24:17
The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. —Psalms 58:1My Response
These 2 verses don't contradict each other when put into context.
For Proverbs 24:17, see here
For Psalms 58:1 (which is actually 58:10), see here
The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance - When he sees the just punishment inflicted on the wicked. He will approve of it; he will see that it is right; he will be glad that law is maintained, and that wickedness does not triumph; he will rejoice in the safety of those who do right, and in their deliverance from the assaults and the designs of the wicked.Proverbs 24:17 speaks of sinful vengence (out of envy, etc..).
Psalms 58:1 The famous phrase"Vengeance is mine thus says the Lord". If you look at the above for 58:10, just vengeance from the Lord is something to rejoice in.
Both verses mean 2 entirely different things.
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