Some of the contradictions occur due to different writers telling different stories to different audiences; some are due to insertions or deletions by scribes. (We do not have the originals.)
One of Paul's letters says women should not be church leaders, yet in another he speaks favorably of some women who are leaders of one of the churches to which he was writing. The various Gospels tell different versions of the Crucifixion and Resurrection. In one, Jesus is silent all the way to Calvary and through his execution. In another, he cries out in despair. In another, he is forgiving everyone around him. There are contradictory accounts of who went to the grave, who found the body risen, and to whom Jesus went and what he said.
There are conflicting accounts of the Christmas story. In one version, the family goes to Egypt. In another, they go back home to Galilee.
The contradictions abound. Most people don't know about them because they are somewhat suppressed by preachers, but to deny them is folly.
It's OK that there are contradictions. Different people interpret the same event in different ways and different ideas resonate with different audiences. God appears to each of us in the way we're most likely to understand. No two people have the same experience of God, nor should they. That's fine. It doesn't make the Bible any less inspired. But to deny the contradictions is simply foolish. Trying to maintain that position will force you to twist yourself around like a pretzel.
The Bible is God’s breathed word. If there are any contradictions in it, it means that one side of the contradiction would be a lie. There is only one thing God is incapable of doing, and that is to lie.
You needn't go all the way to the New Testament to find puzzles. Eve is identified as the mother of all mankind and bore Cain and Able (population earth 4 and rising). Cain killed Able (Oops, now 3), he was banished and left for the land of Nod whereupon he married and produced children. What?
My question: Cain's wife was apparently from Nod? Where did the people of Nod come from? Where was Nod in relation to the garden? Is Nod ever mentioned again in any part of the known Bible? Did Adam and Eve vacation in the land of Nod and procreate like bunnies, before Cain and Able took it to the mat? "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it" doesn't seem to fit the timeline...
Regards,
GtG
Technically, I believe there is a quote in Acts taken from an Old Testament passage as part of the Septuigint, which is quoted differently than the OT passage. The significance of this is the NT passage, quoted from Christ, is still usable by God the Holy Spirit in the continuing sanctification of the believer through faith in Christ.
This separates His Word from other Scriptures, which other religions treat the explicit written Scripture as Holy, but rejects any meaning other than the literal meaning.
It also stresses the explicit role of God the Holy Spirit in our salvation, which other religions lack to recognize.
I gotta agree with old bill on this one. Here is one that applies to him.
Pro 26:4 Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are.
Pro 26:5 Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.
>> “Speaking as someone who has taught a Bible course, the Bible is full of contradictions. Every scholar and student of the Bible knows it.” <<
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Biblically illiterate unbelievers such as your self may believe such tripe, but the contradictions come mostly from lack of reading comprehension.
There are a few bloopers in the Gospels that were caused by translating them from the original Hebrew into Greek; these are from Hebrew puns and idioms being translated by unbelievers ignorant of the Hebrew culture.
Your so called contradictions are actually just extreme ignorance on your part. You really do not know what you are reading.
There is no contradiction in the Christmas story. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the Magi visited...Herod got jealous. An Gabriel came and told Joseph to flee to Egypt and they did. After that Herod died, they returned to Nazareth.
It's REALLY simple and the Bible spells it out. Each Gospel writer tells a part of the story. Your problem is you don't want to try and piece it together or for some reason you think God owes you the full story in chronological order in one book.
There is no contradictions in the crucifixion...just your ignorance at how the events unfolded.
Part of your problem with Paul is you have no clue about the original Greek and you are in complete ignorance of the context. It's not a mystery to most bible scholars...and IF I were a more patient man and actually thought you would listen...I would explain it...but I see an agenda from you more than a willingness to learn.
And again...you are VERY wrong. Every scholar does not know it. I can name a hundred of the best Biblical scholars in history who would fight you with Apologetics for even saying they think that. You are making a false statement. The only "scholars" I know of that think the way you do are very liberal and seek to undermine the bible at any turn.
And citing Bart Ehrman IS PROOF that one can be a "biblical scholar" and not know what the heck they are talking about. Because people like him look at the Bible with an agenda...instead of looking to what God has to say. They come into the debate with the attitude that the bible is wrong...that somehow they are smarter than God. Bart Ehrman is not a believer...and therefore does not have the Spirit of God in him...and thus: Is blind.
1 Cor 1:26, 27 - "For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;"
Romans 1:21, 22 - "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools"
Christ has never held you back. Get to it then.
There are allegories in the Holy Bible, that is without question. However, some of the writings that Bill thinks are allegories, are not.
Let’s get this straight...for the record, the truth is that Bill O’Reilly is a contradiction. We would all be better off if Bill O’Reilly would just SHUT UP!
There are no contridictions in the Word of God. There are different views of similar occurances reported by writers who may or may not have directly witnessed what they reported. And there are differences because of translation. It is important to remember that God is the same, yesterday, today and forever...as is his Word.
There are also different ‘interpretations’ of what is written. Paul told the Corinthian women to ‘Shut Up’...they were chit chatting during the church gatherings and disturbing the congregation gathered there. He never said women had no place in being part of the church in any way, shape or form. Many women had a part in the formation of the early church, including teaching.