Check out some similar questions!

Goldenwolf · Apr 22, 2009, 05:59 PM

Umm, I haven't got any doubts about the bible, but a teacher asked me to come up with some questions about where the bible would contradict itself or something like that, and he would answer me the best way possible. Do you have any doubts about the bible?
He told us to look every for doubts, and this is not school, it is a discussion/class I have in my free time, so it isn't homework. I have looked everywhere, but I can't find a SENSIBLE question to ask.

Gernald · Apr 22, 2009, 06:16 PM

How about, why G-d says do not kill and treat your neighbor as yourself and then tells people to take out there enemies or goes and smites someone.

Or the new testament has like four or five different versions of the birh of Jesus all of which have differenes: in one it's a cave not a manger, and in others its wise men, kings, or shepards, I think the gifts are different too.

It also speaks against incest but tells stories about it like Lot in Genesis.

There are tons, I googled it and found an awesome wesite with versus and everything: A List Of Biblical Contradictions

Anyway, hope this helps!

JoeCanada76 · Apr 22, 2009, 06:24 PM

The old testament says make sure all boys are circumcised the 8th day.

In the new testament it does not matter whether you are circumcised or not.

Gernald · Apr 22, 2009, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by Jesushelper76

The old testament says make sure all boys are circumcised the 8th day.

In the new testament it does not matter whether you are circumcised or not.

Forgot about that, parts of the new testament actually condemn it and call it mutilation; gallatians I think.

jakester · Apr 22, 2009, 06:52 PM

Hey guys, I have to at least interject some thought into this discussion because I fear if it continues the way it is going without offering any perspective, everyone will come away with the impression that the bible is just a total sham... it has all of these apparent "contradictions."

I think that if someone were to have the intellectual integrity to actually read the bible objectively, one would find that there really aren't contradictions. A cursory read of the bible would give that impression but then again any book which I just skimmed over could give me an impression that it was saying one thing... but upon reading the entire book, I may come to conclude that I had it wrong. If you come to the bible with the assumption that it is contradictory, and therefore invalid as a whole, then you will find verses that will substantiate that view. But you can do that with any body of literature... lawyers do it with the U.S. Constitution and skeptics do it with the bible.

If intellectual integrity is of value, you will have to consider the bible as a whole and not the individual pieces one can rip out of context and point to as a contradiction. I have taken many years of my life to study the bible and I have come to conclude that it is a really cohesive book and the authors do not contradict one another. It is the skeptic who takes a perfunctory approach to looking at the bible and deems it contradictory when he hasn't even considered the body of the bible as a literary whole.

For what it's worth, my two cents.

JoeCanada76 · Apr 22, 2009, 06:53 PM

The op wanted to know any contradictions in the bible. This could be one of them. Although it can be explained it is still a legit answer.

EdiT: I do not know what I was thinking about the forget part.

Joe

I agree with Jakester, All the contradictions or so called contradictions can all be explained. Many people see them but not with looking at the whole bible...
I do not believe necessary there are any contradictions but in saying this yes there are many APPARENT CONTRADICTIONS THAT COULD BE LISTED.

Gernald · Apr 22, 2009, 07:22 PM

Were you talking to me in the first bit?? I said I forgot about that not forget; I was trying to help by pointing to the book it would be in and why.

Totally agree w/ Jake too; even though I don't believe in the new testament, the old testament has it's moments when it comes to contradictions and they shouldn't be looked at unless in the context of the rest of the writings.

Triund · Apr 22, 2009, 07:24 PM

When I read the question put by Goldenwolf, a thought flashed across my mind that these contradictions if there is any, would give another opportunity to non-christians to try to speak against Christ. Like Dan Brown tried to prove that Jesus was married to Mary Magd. And there had been many attempts in the past to shake foundations of Christianity, yet they were never successful. So this could be another move by some anti-christian elements to tarnish the Bible.

Secondly, the things in New Testament are not contradicting the Old Testament. However, Jesus clarified those further and in some cases even raised the bar of expectation. Today I read Mathew 5 during my morning prayers.

jakester · Apr 22, 2009, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by Gernald

were you talking to me in the first bit??? I said I forgot about that not forget; I was trying to help by pointing to the book it would be in and why.

Totally agree w/ Jake too; even though I don't beleive in the new testament, the old testament has it's moments when it comes to contradictions and they shouldn't be looked at unless in the context of the rest of the writings.

Gernald - yeah, I understood what you meant by "forget." You may have been misunderstood... it's all good. Just curious, what do you mean that you do not believe in the New Testament? I'm not sure I understand what you mean by that. Not trying to put you on the defensive or anything.

classyT · Apr 22, 2009, 07:25 PM

Jake and Joe,

I agree, there are NO contradictions. The Bible isn't just any old book that can be opened and read. It takes the Holy Spirit to enlighten us. And I hate to get all scripturey but I love the word and I don't like even the thought of some teacher asking people to pick out what they think could be a contradiction... so here is my scripture and to back my point up...

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 corinthians 2:14

classyT · Apr 22, 2009, 07:28 PM

Originally Posted by Gernald

were you talking to me in the first bit??? I said I forgot about that not forget; I was trying to help by pointing to the book it would be in and why.

Totally agree w/ Jake too; even though I don't beleive in the new testament, the old testament has it's moments when it comes to contradictions and they shouldn't be looked at unless in the context of the rest of the writings.

Interesting? Why don't you believe in the NT?

Goldenwolf · Apr 22, 2009, 08:10 PM

The point of this exercise was to prove that the bible has no contradictions, and that if you read it carefully you will find out. We had to come up with five questions/doubts/contradictions from friends, family, etc. I couldn't see any contradictions in the bible myself, so that is why I thought it would be a good idea to post the question here, to get some ideas, not to start a theological debate.

arcura · Apr 22, 2009, 10:30 PM

I agree that there seems to be contradictions in the bible, but that is often the case where someone reads but does not study what the bibles says or is completely unaware of the culture and history of the times the various books were written.
It's like the one which some people often quote regarding the statement in Revelation "ch 22: 19. if anyone cuts anything out of the prophecies in this book, God will cut off his share of the tree of life and of the holy city, which are described in the book."
And they apply it to the entire bible which should not be done because the statement applies only to the book of Revelation and not to the many books which were written before Revelation was.
Peace and kindness,
Fred

Capuchin · Apr 24, 2009, 04:08 AM

How about the part where the guy comes back from the dead.

Triund · Apr 24, 2009, 05:11 AM

Originally Posted by Capuchin

How about the part where the guy comes back from the dead.

How do you see this as a controversy or contradiction?

Capuchin · Apr 24, 2009, 06:28 AM

I don't. I see it as something to have doubt over, as the OP asked.

galveston · Apr 25, 2009, 09:33 AM

Seeming contradictions involving numbers are indeed there.
Hebrew, like some other languages uses letters for numbers. The differences make no difference to the history or doctrines, and are probably due to a copyists error in one letter.

I have a standing challenge for anyone to present a biblical contradiction of any substance; i.e. anything that affects the meaning, teaching, or history.

We are talking about CONTRADICTIONS here, NOT whether you believe the Bible or not.
(edit)
About the genealogies given in Matt. & Luke. One is Joseph's which shows Jesus' LEGAL claim to the throne of Isael due to his being the adopted son of Joseph, the other is Mary's genealogy that shows that through her, Jesus is descended from king David.

arcura · Apr 25, 2009, 09:22 PM

galveston,
Right you are about that.
Fred

Leviston · Apr 25, 2009, 11:00 PM

Originally Posted by galveston

Seeming contradictions involving numbers are indeed there.
Hebrew, like some other languages uses letters for numbers. The differences make no difference to the history or doctrines, and are probably due to a copyists error in one letter.

I have a standing challenge for anyone to present a biblical contradiction of any substance; ie, anything that affects the meaning, teaching, or history.

We are talking about CONTRADICTIONS here, NOT whether you believe the Bible or not.
(edit)
About the geneologies given in Matt. & Luke. One is Joseph's which shows Jesus' LEGAL claim to the throne of Isael due to his being the adopted son of Joseph, the other is Mary's geneology that shows that through her, Jesus is descended from king David.

Nice try but in hebrew the numbers were written out for e, g for 21 they wrote twenty one not a 2 and 1, so your explanation is garbage .Its not liked whjen copying someone missed a 0.Quit playing games.You can maybe foul these people, but not me, I have spent almost half of my life studying different religions.As for more contradictions there are millions of them.I would have to write a book.

Also read the rules on when to gives reddies, just like your bible I am sure you have not read the rules either

Leviston · Apr 25, 2009, 11:06 PM

II SAMUEL 24

The Numbering

AND again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

While the author of Samuel 24 above, makes God the boss of the situation, the author of Chronicles below gives credit to the Devil.
I CHRONICLES 21

The Numbering

AND SATAN stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

Matthew and Luke are over-zealous in making DAVID the King, the prime ancestor of Jesus, because of that false notion that Jesus was to sit on the "THRONE OF HIS FATHER DAVID" (Acts 2:30). The Gospels belie this prophecy, for they tell us that instead of Jesus sitting on his father's (David's) throne, it was Pontious Pilate, a Roman Governor, a pagan who sat on that very throne and condemned its rightful (?) heir (Jesus) to death. "Never mind,'' says the christians, "if not in his first coming, then in his second coming he will fulfill this prophecy and three hundred others beside But with their extravagant enthusiasm to trace the ancestry of Jesus physically to David, (for this is actually what the Bible says — THAT OF THE FRUIT OF HIS (David's) LOINS, ACCORDING TO THE FLESH" (literally, not metaphorically Acts 2:30), both the "inspired" authors trip and fall on the very first step.