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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
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