Bible Contradictions

Introduction:

Read II Peter 8:15-16.  “Some things are hard to understand.”  It is not impossible, just more difficult.  Those who don’t comprehend, do so at their own peril.  God is fully capable of communicating His message.

You may have heard, “The Bible is filled with contradictions.”  Scripture has been attacked in this manner for centuries.  Many believe these accusations because they have heard them so often.

What is a contradiction?  One way to look at it is this:  “A thing cannot both be and not be, taken in the same sense and at the same time.”  For example, a thing cannot be both a door and not a door, taken in the same sense and at the same time.  Baptism, for a penitent believer, cannot both be necessary for salvation and not necessary for salvation.  If the Bible claimed that both statements were true, then we would have a real contradiction. (Source:  “Answering Alleged Contradictions in the Bible” by Dick Sztanyo

Body:

I.  Sources of Alleged Contradictions

· John Haley – Alleged Contradictions may be because of a: Difference in dates

Difference in authorship

Difference in standpoint or point of view

Difference in computing time

Use of several names for people and places

Use of the same words for different meanings

· Ignorance – Many today are completely ignorant of what the Bible teaches.    Example:  Difference in the old and new covenants

· No single Bible writer claims to tell the whole story.  The four writers of the gospel differ in their accounts because they address different audiences.  For instance, Matthew wrote primarily for a Jewish audience while Mark wrote to a Roman one.  For example, look at Matthews’s ancestry of Jesus as opposed to Luke’s.  A contradiction?  No.  They trace them through two different lines.  Matthew traces the legal or father’s line; while Luke traces the mother’s line.

· Some are not fair with the Biblical record.  They find what they want to find.

· Some misinterpret the Bible.  Critics have argued that James and Paul contradict one another in their teaching about faith and works.  Read Romans 3:27-28, Romans 4:1-2, Romans 11:6, and James 2:14-26.  The answer:  They are discussing two different types of works!  Paul’s works would be works of human merit (Ephesians 2:8-9) and works of the Law of Moses (Galatians 2:16).  James’ works would be works of righteousness.  (Acts 10:34-35)  So the only type of saving faith is an obedient faith.

· Sometimes there is a change in circumstances.  Creation of man was good.  (Genesis 1:31)  God was grieved that man was on earth.  (Genesis 6:6)  There was more than 1,000 years separating the two.  Things had changed!

Conclusion:

If we have difficulties in the Scripture and they are capable of rational explanations; then we do not have a contradiction.  God’s Word can be trusted. 

Bobby Stafford    

February 3, 2013