Bibical contradictions?

[Silyosha]

skeptictank.org/hs/berror3.htm
I found a troubling website with a long list of supposed Bibical contradictions, completely with exact verse. I haven’t had a chance to look at all of them, but it bothers me nontheless. Can anyone refute these claims?

 

[Stephen5]

All scripture in the original manuscripts is completely congruent and with no contradiction … otherwise we could not rely upon the Bible as truth

There may appear to be contradiction, but this is because there is lack of understanding on our part and we must strive to increase our knowledge and to reach correct rendering … this takes time, effort, and the Lord’s guidance in the process

Give me some examples of the claimed contradictions from the site and I will help you to refute them … the Bible contains no contradiction when all is understood correctly

2Timothy
3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

 

[Silyosha]

All scripture in the original manuscripts is completely congruent and with no contradiction … otherwise we could not rely upon the Bible as truth

There may appear to be contradiction, but this is because there is lack of understanding on our part and we must strive to increase our knowledge and to reach correct rendering … this takes time, effort, and the Lord’s guidance in the process

Give me some examples of the claimed contradictions from the site and I will help you to refute them … the Bible contains no contradiction when all is understood correctly

2Timothy
3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Thank you for your reply. Here are some examples directly from the website.

*Was Jesus equal to or lesser than God?
Equal. JOH 10:30
Less than. JOH 14:28 *

*In Genesis, which came first: beasts or humans?
Beasts. GEN 1:25, GEN 1:26
Humans. GEN 2:18, GEN 2:19 *

*Did Judas keep the silver?
Yes. Acts 1:18
No. Matt. 27:5-7 *

*Did Jesus preach on the Mount or the Plain?
Mount. Matt.5:1,2
Plain. Luke6:17,20 *

*Who moved David to anger and number Isreal?
God. II SAMUEL 24
Satan. I CHRONICLES 21 *

*Who killed Saul?
Suicide. SA1 31:4
David’s man. SA2 1:15 *

*Who was the mother of Abijah?
Maachah the daughter of Absalom. 2 Chron 9:20
Michaiah the daughter of Uriel. 2 Chron 13:2 *

*Who carried the cross Jesus was nailed to?
Simon of Cyrene. Matthew 27:32
Jesus. John 19:17,18 *

*Has anyone before Jesus ascended into heaven?
No. John 3:13
Yes. 2 Kings 2:11 *

*Who slayed Goliath?
David. 1 Sam 17:4,7,50
Elhanan. 2 Sam 21:19 *

 

[Stephen5]

Silyosha,

I will address these issues for you soon … I have seen these before and the presenter is purposely attempting to discredit the Lord’s Word

 

[Ne_OrangeKnight]

Some quick responses:

*Did Jesus preach on the Mount or the Plain?
Mount. Matt.5:1,2
Plain. Luke6:17,20 *
Both. This is not a contradiction. One took place on a mount, the other on a plain; in one, Jesus said certain things, in the other, he said different things. He was giving the same basic lesson twice to different people, and probably did so in the manner best suited to each group.

*Who killed Saul?
Suicide. SA1 31:4
David’s man. SA2 1:15 *
Suicide. David’s man was lying. He was trying to get in good with the new king and it backfired.

*Who carried the cross Jesus was nailed to?
Simon of Cyrene. Matthew 27:32
Jesus. John 19:17,18 *
Both. Again, not a contradiction. Jesus started, and then his body’s strength gave out, and Simon took over. Other Gospels confirm this order of events.

*Who slayed Goliath?
David. 1 Sam 17:4,7,50
Elhanan. 2 Sam 21:19 *
David. This is based on a misreading/mistranslation of the Hebrew text. Elhanan killed Goliath’s brother.

According to Gleason Archer’s Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties on page 179, it says,

The sign of the direct object, which in Chronicles comes just before “Lahmi,” was ‘-t; the copyist mistook it for b-t or b-y-t (“Beth”) and thus got Bet hal-Lahmi (“the Bethlehemite”) out of it.
He misread the word for “brother” (’-h) as the sign of the direct object (’-t) right before g-l-y-t (“Goliath”). Thus he made “Goliath” the object of “killed” (wayyak), instead of the “brother” of Goliath (as the Chronicles passage does).
The copyist misplaced the word for “weavers” (’-r-g-ym) so as to put it right after “Elhanan” as his patronymic (ben Y-’-r-y’-r–g-ym, or ben ya 'arey 'ore -gim – “the son of the forests of weavers” – a most unlikely name for anyone’s father!). In Chronicles the 'ore grim (“weavers”) comes right after menor ("a beam of ") – thus making perfectly good sense.

Sam, the Neon Orange Knight

 

[Boxcar]

Thank you for your reply. Here are some examples directly from the website.

*Was Jesus equal to or lesser than God?
Equal. JOH 10:30
Less than. JOH 14:28 *

*In Genesis, which came first: beasts or humans?
Beasts. GEN 1:25, GEN 1:26
Humans. GEN 2:18, GEN 2:19 *

*Did Judas keep the silver?
Yes. Acts 1:18
No. Matt. 27:5-7 *

*Did Jesus preach on the Mount or the Plain?
Mount. Matt.5:1,2
Plain. Luke6:17,20 *

*Who moved David to anger and number Isreal?
God. II SAMUEL 24
Satan. I CHRONICLES 21 *

*Who killed Saul?
Suicide. SA1 31:4
David’s man. SA2 1:15 *

*Who was the mother of Abijah?
Maachah the daughter of Absalom. 2 Chron 9:20
Michaiah the daughter of Uriel. 2 Chron 13:2 *

*Who carried the cross Jesus was nailed to?
Simon of Cyrene. Matthew 27:32
Jesus. John 19:17,18 *

*Has anyone before Jesus ascended into heaven?
No. John 3:13
Yes. 2 Kings 2:11 *

*Who slayed Goliath?
David. 1 Sam 17:4,7,50
Elhanan. 2 Sam 21:19 *

What is pleasing to God? to know him to love him and to serve him…are we doing that when we refute the HOLY SPIRIT< try Psalm 14 there is not a good man left noone prays to GOD,the most important part of our life, Jeus help me for without you I am bound to fail.

 

[Stephen5]

Silyosha,

The scriptures are totally compatible with no contradictions … the presenter’s views are all fraudulent

Was Jesus equal to or lesser than God?
Equal. JOH 10:30
Less than. JOH 14:28

Jesus is both God and human …. both scriptures are true [John 14:6-10]

In Genesis, which came first: beasts or humans?
Beasts. GEN 1:25, GEN 1:26
Humans. GEN 2:18, GEN 2:19

The beasts were made first …. then the Lord brought them to Adam

Did Judas keep the silver?
Yes. Acts 1:18
No. Matt. 27:5-7

Judas took the silver, but later cast it in the temple and the chief priests bought the potters field ….Judas indirectly bought the field by his actions and by taking his own life

Did Jesus preach on the Mount or the Plain?
Mount. Matt.5:1,2
Plain. Luke6:17,20

Both …. He simply left His setting higher up and walked down to a level plateau on the mountain to meet the multitudes

Who moved David to anger and number Isreal?
God. II SAMUEL 24
Satan. I CHRONICLES 21

Both …. the Lord moved him …… the devil provoked him

Who killed Saul?
Suicide. SA1 31:4
David’s man. SA2 1:15

Saul killed himself …. the Amelkite claimed that he then slew him …… and David had the Amelkite killed for his actions against Saul

Who carried the cross Jesus was nailed to?
Simon of Cyrene. Matthew 27:32
Jesus. John 19:17,18

Both …. first Simon, and then Jesus

Has anyone before Jesus ascended into heaven?
No. John 3:13
Yes. 2 Kings 2:11

No …. none before …. Elijah was not taken to heaven [made immortal], but was taken up into the atmospheric heaven by a supernatural action of the Lord …. neither was Enoch taken to heaven …. the Lord took him in physical death to spare him from a violent death by the wickedness of the day and from the ensuing judgment of the flood

Who slayed Goliath?
David. 1 Sam 17:4,7,50
Elhanan. 2 Sam 21:19

David slew Goliath with a sling …. Elhanan slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite with a spear in another battle

 

[atheist1]

skeptictank.org/hs/berror3.htm
I found a troubling website with a long list of supposed Bibical contradictions, completely with exact verse. I haven’t had a chance to look at all of them, but it bothers me nontheless. Can anyone refute these claims?

Silyosha,

While it appears to me that there are some contradictions that are not explainable I would bet 90+% of the contradictions listed by sites such a skeptictank have already been dealt with by believers centuries ago.

I know tektonics has a pretty good website answering a list similar to the one offered by skeptic tank. You should read both sides and come to your own concusion.

 

[chaunceygardner]

skeptictank.org/hs/berror3.htm
I found a troubling website with a long list of supposed Bibical contradictions, completely with exact verse. I haven’t had a chance to look at all of them, but it bothers me nontheless. Can anyone refute these claims?

Sure the contradictions exist, probably hundreds of them. This is only a problem if you insist on taking every word in the Bible as factually and literally true. But is that the way we are supposed to think of it? One can take the messages and teachings contained in both the OT and NT seriously and believe in the underlying purpose and spirit of the words, and as a guide for our faith, without having to accept each sentence as literal truth.

The fact that contradictions do exist tells us it is the message that is the meaning and truth we seek, not the historical events themselves. We should be reading it to learn what God is telling us about how we should live our lives on this earth, not as a history book.

Stephen5:

All scripture in the original manuscripts is completely congruent and with no contradiction … otherwise we could not rely upon the Bible as truth.

Sorry, but that is not correct. First, we don’t have any of the “original” manuscripts of the books of the Bible, and second, there are many contradictions and factual errors in the manuscripts we have. They are clearly the result of errors made by the authors or because they wanted to present an underlying truth or lesson and the factual basis for it or its agreement with other writings was not an important consideration.

And your last statement shows a poor understanding of the purpose of Scripture. Factual and historical inaccuracies, contradictions in how events occurred or disagreements about what was said should not detract from the truths contained in the Bible, and should not lessen our faith in it or in God.

Don’t look to the Bible as a source of facts, but as a source of truth. There is a big difference. If your faith is based on the Bible being 100% factual and in total agreement with itself and with our knowledge of the physical universe, then that faith is built on quicksand.

 

[buffalo]

There is a skeptic bible antidote somewhere. If I can find it I will post it.

 

[Stephen5]

“Don’t look to the Bible as a source of facts”

Where do you look for your facts?

I would say that you have a big problem

Better seek the Lord and His truth in His inerrant scriptures … without them you have no assurance of your salvation

Your comment is a reflection of your own disbelief

Study thy self approved and you will strengthen your faith

2Timothy
3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

 

[John7]

skeptictank.org/hs/berror3.htm
I found a troubling website with a long list of supposed Bibical contradictions, completely with exact verse. I haven’t had a chance to look at all of them, but it bothers me nontheless. Can anyone refute these claims?

If you want to do more research, Google:
“bible contradictions answered” or “answering bible contradictions”

and get sites like:
bringyou.to/apologetics/bible.htm

 

[atheist1]

“Don’t look to the Bible as a source of facts”

Where do you look for your facts?

Stephen,

From reading a few of your posts I take it you are a believer in the inerrancy of scripture, at least with regards to the original copies. Am I right?

As you may have guessed I am not a believer scriptural inerrancy. Pretty obvious huh? While most alleged contradictions can be countered with plausible solutions there are some rather tough ones out there which I don’t believe have a solution unless one claims “copyist error”.

I have one particular short section of the OT in mind that isn’t really a contradiction but is rather puzzling if in fact one accepts that all of scripture is inspired. Do you have the time or the interest for a discussion?

 

[atheist1]

Stephen,

From reading a few of your posts I take it you are a believer in the inerrancy of scripture, at least with regards to the original copies. Am I right?

As you may have guessed I am not a believer scriptural inerrancy. Pretty obvious huh? While most alleged contradictions can be countered with plausible solutions there are some rather tough ones out there which I don’t believe have a solution unless one claims “copyist error”.

I have one particular short section of the OT in mind that isn’t really a contradiction but is rather puzzling if in fact one accepts that all of scripture is inspired. Do you have the time or the interest for a discussion?

This is the scripture I am describing:
NIV Deuteronomy 22:

Marriage Violations
13 If a man takes a wife and, after lying with her, dislikes her 14 and slanders her and gives her a bad name, saying, “I married this woman, but when I approached her, I did not find proof of her virginity,” 15 then the girl’s father and mother shall bring proof that she was a virgin to the town elders at the gate. 16 The girl’s father will say to the elders, “I gave my daughter in marriage to this man, but he dislikes her. 17 Now he has slandered her and said, ‘I did not find your daughter to be a virgin.’ But here is the proof of my daughter’s virginity.” Then her parents shall display the cloth before the elders of the town, 18 and the elders shall take the man and punish him. 19 They shall fine him a hundred shekels of silver ** and give them to the girl’s father, because this man has given an Israelite virgin a bad name. She shall continue to be his wife; he must not divorce her as long as he lives.
20 If, however, the charge is true and no proof of the girl’s virginity can be found, 21 she shall be brought to the door of her father’s house and there the men of her town shall stone her to death. She has done a disgraceful thing in Israel by being promiscuous while still in her father’s house. You must purge the evil from among you. **

 

[chaunceygardner]

Chaunceygardner said: “Don’t look to the Bible as a source of facts”

Where do you look for your facts?

“Facts” are not the same as “Truth”. The Gospels were not written as pure history or biography, they were evangelization tools. They were each written by different people with different points of view, for different audiences. The same with most of the Epistles, written to address specific issues in specific Christian communities. The Church turned them into Scripture, choosing which to include and which to exclude.

Read the Gospels (and other books of the Christian and Hebrew Bibles) looking for the core teachings and messages and God’s purpose in communicating them to us, Ask yourself: What is important, what is essential, what does God want me to know and do? Then the contradictions and factual errors scattered throughout are meaningless, and have no affect on what is truly important. But too many Christians worry about and argue over the supposed "facts’ while missing entirely the basic truths contained within.

Seek God through the simple, not the complex. Take off your blinders and open your eyes, mind and heart to what God is telling us.

 

[Stephen5]

Atheist 1,

You are not alone [there are most likely billions on the earth today] … I know many atheists … and I use to be one, most likely more aggressive than yourself

I don’t have a great deal of time, but would urge you to continue your investigation of the Bible … I took the task with the motivation to disprove it

Didn’t happen that way … I can now prove with no doubt that the Bible is what it claims to be hands down … to most any who are willing to listen and spend time in study

I have no religious affiliation and was never exposed to any organized professing christian denomination … still don’t and will not … event to this day after 30+ years of study

Visit my simple website sometime [it is listed on my profile]

In regard to your particular offereing of scripture for discussion you need to be more specific regarding your evaluation … your selection is a bit off the wall and falls into the area of Israaelite legalisms that were given to set the nation apart from all other nations

What is your specific reason for selection and why do you think it is contradictive and or unrealistic?

 

[Stephen5]

“Take off your blinders and open your eyes, mind and heart to what God is telling us”

This statement is a contradiction in itself in my opinion

I typically do not dialogue with those who bring argumentation to a public forum

I believe it makes a mockery of the Lord’s purposes

I will answer reasonable questions and share information, but your demeanor and position is of no interest to me .

 

[Silyosha]

Thank all of you for your replies. They have helped me very much. Now, I really don’t want this to turn into an argument…

 

[Stephen5]

Silyosha,

I agree … hope you have had you question answered regarding the congruency of the scriptures of the Lord’s Word

 

[atheist1]

A,

You are not alone … I know many atheists … and I use to be one, most likely more aggressive than yourself

I don’t have a great deal of time, but would urge you to continue your investigation of the Bible … I took the task with the motivation to disprove it

Didn’t happen that way … I can now prove with no doubt that the Bible is what it claims to be hands down … to most any who are willing to listen and spend time in study

I have no religious affiliation and was never exposed to any organized professing christian denomination … still don’t and will not … event to this day after 30+ years of study

Visit my simple website sometime [it is listed on my profile]

**In regard to your particular offereing of scripture for discussion you need to be more specific regarding your evaluation … your selection is a bit off the wall and falls into the area of Israaelite legalisms that were given to set the nation apart from all other nations

What is your specific reason for selection and why do you think it is contradictive and or unrealistic**?

Thanks for your response.

There is no textual contradiction involved but the verse I posted does seem to call into doubt either the inspriation of the text or the omniscience of being (God) which supposedly inspired the text.

When we read the text I posted we see that if a man calls into doubt the virginity of his bride by claiming that there is no proof of her virginity after he and his bride have had intercourse it is expected that the girl or the girl and her family provide the proof of her virginity or as some texts have it, the tokens of her virginity.

In verse 17 the proof is described as a cloth which presumably would have been the bedding or a type of towel the couple would have laid on during their first time together. As you know some women bleed the first time they have intercourse but this isn’t true all the time. A woman may be a virgin and for a number of reasons not bleed.

Pity the bride who actually was a virgin and didn’t bleed because the punishment for not being a virgin is being stoned to death by the men of the town. Interestingly enough the penalty for the man, should his bride produce the proof of her virginity, is simply being fined and forbidden to divorce his wife.

So if a woman is actually a virgin but for whatever reason doesn’t bleed and therefore can’t produce the “proof” of her virginity is given the death penalty…by stoning.

It seems to me that it’s more likely a primitive people wrote this text than an all knowing and all loving God. We now know that the evidence being demanded in Deut 22 is ridiculous (the evidence that will save the young girls life) but several thousand years ago they didn’t have the knowledge we have today.

How could an all knowing God inspire such a law? The young bride may very well be a virgin but, as I mentioned before, not bleed during her first time. I suppose you could also question how a just God could directly inspire such a law.

An all knowing God would have certainly realized the evidence being asked for is not truely evidence of a brides virginity. So why would He ask/demand such evidence and leave the brides life in the balance?

If the text isn’t inspired that solves the problem but opens up a bigger one. How does one know what is and what isn’t inspired within the pages of the bible?

Hopefully I have stated my problem with this section of Deuteronomy clearly enoughand am looking forward to your answer.