Bible Contradictions: Side by Side, Word for Word
61A Much Closer Look...
Your Guide to Scriptural Imperfection
“Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.” Rudyard Kipling
So………
You believe there is no contradiction in the Bible? You think it’s without error and directly from God Himself? Well, guess again. Even if it is directly from the Almighty, it came through human instruments and is therefore subject to flaw. This post will simply place side by side a number of passages that apparently disagree with each other. You are free to attempt a reconciliation between the passages. But I doubt if you’ll succeed. Enough said. Here we go.
(First, many thanks to William Henry Burr who did the hard work in his 1987 book, Self-Contradictions of the Bible. I give him full credit for this amazing effort. Mr. Burr, you have served your world well.)
God appears satisfied with his work.
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold it was very good. Gen. 1:31
God seems dissatisfied with his work.
And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth and it grieved him at his heart. Gen. 6:6
(Why would God regret ANYTHING? Isn’t that a human trait?)
God lives in temples.
And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him: I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for a house of sacrifice…For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there forever; and mine eyes and heart shall be there perpetually. II Chronicles 7: 12, 16
God does NOT live in temples.
Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands. Acts 7:48
(Was Paul as familiar with the Old Testament as we think he was?)
God lives in the light.
Dwelling in light which no man can approach unto. I Timothy 6:16
God lives in the darkness.
The Lord said he would dwell in thick darkness. I Kings 8:12 He made darkness his secret place. Psalms 18:11 Clouds and darkness are round about him. Psalms 97:2
That’s not much, you say. Ah, but wait. This is just the beginning. The contradictory passages are legion and I will be posting more of them throughout the year. By the time we’re finished, you’ll wonder how you ever missed them all. In the mean time, you can begin preparing your arguments to support inerrancy. Make them strong; make them urgent. You’re going to need all the strength you can muster.
Keep Thinking for Yourself
- New Thought Blog - Spirit Feast - Richard Kent Matthews\' Executive High Watch
Let old documents and testaments be guides only. There is never ultimate truth in any of them. If there is any truth at all, it is within you. Where else would it be, for God sake? Come visit for interesting articles, meditations, messages, podcasts.
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Very interesting, but most that believe in God (Jesus Christ) have seen these "Contradictions" before and know why the unlearned think they are "Contradictions" just missing in their (the unlearned)life is the "Holy Spirit", and he fills the gaps where there is a lack of knowledge, and causes the words to become alive.
Thanks to ALL4Jesus. Always keep an open mind as I am certain you will.
To HOOWANTSTONO: I have been a student of the Bible since the 1950s. Over those many years I have wondered and wondered about the apparent contradictions and have asked many questions to many ministers, teachers, and scholars. The only ones who use your approach are the ones who were unable to give me a satisfactory answer to my questions. Now, I understand. So many of the contradictions are, in fact, contradictions. They're bound to happen in a book made up of many volumes created over many centuries with many writers, editors, redactors, and people with special interests.
So, which is the best language to use for our English editions? Early Greek? Aramaic? Early Latin? Hebrew? Coptic? And which English version should we claim as Truth? King James? New International? Good News? Duoay?
It's also important to remember this: Even if God spoke directly to the Bible writers, we do not have those original autographs. We have copies of copies of copies of copies of bad copies of worse copies. Did the copiers mean to mess things up? Not always. But sometimes. Bishops and cardinals and popes and kings through the centuries had agendas. If something didn't fit with that agenda, simply change it so it would. After all, the Church, not the Bible, was the final authority. At least, in their minds.
I was a born again Christian for 25 years of my life. That is, until I really began studying Scripture, opening my mind to what I was reading, and quit listening to all the Evangelical, traditional, and Catholic "experts" and listened to my own heart and mind.
It's interesting. When you trust your gut, you usually head in the right direction. Not always, of course, but usually.
If where you are works for you, then I wish you all the best in your journey.
Now the last one I didn't catch. Thanks for that one.
I also had someone tell me that when those so called Christians who don't like what you say or I say or others here about religion and the Bible then they must be afraid of something and it isn't at you but at themselves.
In the bible it also says that the NEW Covenant precedes any of the OT, but Christians still profess out of the OT. That in itself is a condtradiction. They also come against us as not knowing anything of the bible or religion and we must not have Goid in us--yet the Bible says much differently. I have also done exactly as you have Richard........studied for years, not just last night. LOL
like you said the bible was written by man. we have to look at it from that perspective. take your first point from gen. did god "regret" man, or what man had become? do we take this literally, or is it meant to be a lesson?
while some things in the bible may not be literal, taken as the lesson they were meant to be, they can still hold the same value to the faithful.
i would like to point out one that is not a contradiction when looked at in context. your second "god lives in templates". this is quite simple... before the sacrifice of christ god lived in temples, separated by a thick vial from his people. after, he is no longer separated from us so is no longer confined (for lack of a better word) to the temples.
Thanks LG.
MW09: Here is the main challenge with your approach. Unless you can take the entire Bible literally, then it all becomes subject to interpretation. And since you can't take it all literally, one interpretation is as valid or invalid as another.
Here's one for you. Ancient gods almost always required sacrifices. Why do you think that is the case? Couldn't they just get it right in the first place? What kind of human would a totally obedient human be, one that never ate from the Forbidden Fruit?
He/she would be an instinctual animal. What makes us what we are is our ability to disobey consciously. And I truly believe we are intended to be that way. God didn't want pets; he wanted companions. And companions are sometimes at odds with each other. You don't throw your kids into a fire because they won't do everything you tell them to do. You let them grow and learn and find their own path. If you really love them, that's what you'll let them do. You get out of their way. You're there if they need you, but you don't threaten them for being independent.
Let's get real. The creator of the universe is not found in books, religious or otherwise.
i agree he wanted obedience because of love and not robots.
personally i believe that "hell" is not a place of fire but that this was the most dramatic way the authors could think of to describe it. hell for me is a total separation from god. not because god sends you there (as you have said what kind of loving god would do this?) but that is chosen by those who reject god. think of it this way... you are sinful, as am i. stepping into the presence of god would be like looking into the sun after spending hours in a pitch black cave, painful. those who refuse to let go of the sin flee from god because they can not have both.
its a matter of choice.
The only problem, as I see it, with your premise is, there can be no separation from God, no separation from the creator or the creation. Where would it be? And the authors were not being dramatic. They believed what they said.
The universe needs us. Without conscious awareness, the universe has no meaning whatsoever. Only a living, breathing sentient being can bring meaning into this chaos. I'm not even certain the universe could exist without consciousness--our kind, not the spiritual kind alone.
But what do I know, eh?
well im by no means an expert but maybe hell is ceasing to exist at all? just speculation. this is one of the things that ill find out in the afterlife. who knows maybe your right. i don't really believe that anyone can truly know these things here on earth, but it sure is fun to discuss! keep these hubs coming, i really enjoy them and the discussion with fellow free thinkers.
though i consider myself a christian most christians reject me as my views don't align with theirs. like the fact that i see most churches today as being just as pompous and legalistic as the pharisees being there biggest complaint. whether either of us is 100% right is most certainly out of the question but at very least your writing causes me to think. and for that i applaud you.
keep up the good work!
On the surface, what you present here would look like contradiction. I could dig out a couple dozen other apparent contradictions too. However, after many years studying scripture myself, I can see when God speaks from different perspectives and in accordance with the audience. When we understand the thrust of what He is wanting to say, generally these 'contradictions' melt away. I'm not going to spend my time going through all the 'contradictions' you pose because I want to spend my time studying and writing hubs.
Despite man's best efforts, whatever he hears from God will be coloured by his own experiences, views and opinions, so it is always conceivable that what is written may have a human 'flavour' added to it. We know that the church has a history of covering up, hiding, deliberate missinterpretation too.
What I do conclude is that I trust God in His wisdom has plotted a path working around the human frailties, much like picking your way across a stream by using available stepping stones, to give us a bible that essentially is His desired message.
You say you were once a born again Christian. Well all I can suggest is that you ask God yourself to resolve the 'contradictions' for you as you study the Word with a fresh eyes approach. Whatever the church or it's members might be, don't throw out the baby with the bathwater because it is to Him you answer to and no one else.
First, to MW09: Thanks for the vote of confidence. I understand the rejection of which you speak. The Christian religion is full of folks who reject what other Christians believe. It's been that way since the time of Paul. Why should it be any different now?
And to DisHead10: "...study the Word with a fresh eyes approach." It was that very path that led me away from inerrancy and literal interpretation.
We do not answer to any god ultimately. We answer to ourselves and to the world. That's challenge enough.
Personally, if a god wants to speak to me, do so directly. No go-betweens or religious interlopers. No priests, no ministers, no rabbis or mullahs. And especially no old documents. I can gather a lot of information from those old documents but not a direct message from a god. If indeed there were "godly" messages within those old papers, they were for the author, not me. Interestingly enough, Spirit speaks to me all the time. It's only words: Practice compassion.
But wait... The best is yet to come. I don't just have a couple of dozen contradictions. I have many dozens. When this series of posts is concluded, please ask me the same questions. I have a feeling your mind may have changed by then. That is, if you continue to read and be open to new and exciting possibilities.
In the mean time, I know that you mean well. We are of the same cloth. I applaud you for your dedication.
Blessings to you.
Hi Richard,
You are quite right to say that the bible should not be interpreted literally. Jesus' parables for example often make no sense at all in the literal. He said of the crowds that they did not understand him when He spoke in parables, and I guess that's because they tried to understand with literal ears. The message was always hidden so that the hearer was required to think, reason and enquire if they didn't understand but wanted to know more.
As Jesus stated that the OT prophets, Psalms, etc, all spoke about Him then we can conclude that the OT is also parable. Behind the literal meaning, there is always a hidden picture of Christ in the prophesies, the festivals, and the historical events.
You are also right to say you don't need a priest/minister/mullah, as a go-between. I don't believe Jesus ever intended organised religion, and He certainly spoke to people directly Himself as individuals. From my experience, when I ponder scripture on my long commute to work is that it begins to link up, one to another, one passage confirming another in the meaning that they are wishing to convey, not necessarily in the literal of what they say.
Go well.
Well said.
Here's the next challenge. Everything you wrote flies in the face of traditional Christianity, whether Catholic or Protestant. If one must decide for him/herself what the interpretation must be of a certain parable or other reference, it then becomes possible to interpret in pretty much any way one chooses. Hence, the many denominations and sects within Christianity. All of them claim the others have the wrong or at least misguided interpretation. And the literalists are horrified at the idea of individual interpretation.
Fact remains, however, that even the literalists have diverse interpretations.
You said something that always amuses me when I read or hear it, and that's not to be condescending in any way. I have made the same, shall we say, miscalculation: "I don't believe Jesus ever intended..." That's quite an assumption, don't you think? How could we possible know what Jesus--or for that matter, any of the biblical authors--intended or had in mind when doing the act or writing about the act. And how could anyone know what Jesus was thinking or saying when he was on the cross and all the disciples had scattered? How could anyone know that he said, "Please take this cup from me." Or "Why have you forsaken me?" Those who wrote of such things were a hundred years after the fact. Talk about assumptions.
You see, the further we get into this discussion, the more it becomes apparent that the Bible cannot be taken literally without great struggle. Even taking it symbolically or figuratively presents enormous challenge.
But we shall continue and the fun will increase, I guarantee it.
Blessings again.
Hi Richard,
However you view the bible, I have found it to be a guide for life and sufficient to bring any person to the truth, it's a mesh through which anybody can either accept Christ or reject Him.
During your 25 years, were you ever infilled with the Holy Spirit?
I know many 'Christians' who never have been, and they tend to belong to Churchianity rather than Christ.
1 Timothy 2:3-5 (King James Version)
3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
John 14:6 (King James Version)
6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John
The answer to your question, "Were you ever infilled with the Holy Spirit?" is a misleading one. Unless I answer just as you think I should, you will say that I never knew Christ. The so-called Baptism of the Holy Spirit is very different in each branch of Christianity and each one thinks the others are doing it wrong. So, I will just say this: I know that the Spirit lives in each person, me included. To bring It forth, one must practice love. If one does not practice love, then one is not aware of the Spirit within, even though it is always there.
Trick answer, too, eh?
I*ts all trick questions because if you do not believe in the exact same way as another that has been so taught by rote to just not see any other way you are doomed to what they call hell. FAITH as I understand it is nothing like what Christians tell and try to pound into others. Sorry here, but this hub *inspired* (Just as GOD has inspired others so he also does with many who are rejected) me to write a hub about what I believe Faith to me right from the words of Jesus in that Bible: http://hubpages.com/hub/Faith-Believers-and-Non-Be
There is faith and there is certainty through experience. They are not mutually exclusive. Faith is substance and evidence. So is experience. But experience is subjective. Two people on the same carnival ride will have two different experiences. Both are right--individually speaking. But neither is Ultimate Experience.
Same with religion. One person can NEVER relay to another the kind of experience he/she has had in any given situation, especially a so-called spiritual one. In your experience of the world, you are completely alone, unique in all the universe.
You cannot know Ultimate Truth. Even if It exists, your experience of it will be totally different from mine. So how can you say yours is the right experience of it and mine is wrong? That's absurd at best and stupid at worst.
Time to quit pushing agendas. You, Christian, are no more right than you, Muslim, who is no more right than you, Hindu, who is no more right than you, Jew, who no more right than you, Atheist. And no more wrong, either.
One word of caution: If you are female, steer clear of religions that teach that you will still be inferior to men, even in heaven.
My article was different then what you are saying. FAITH and RELIGION are two completely different things. Jesus tells us what FAITH is. That was what my article was about. It wasn't about pointing fingers or who is right and who is wrong.
Sorry if I gave the impression that I thought you were pointing fingers. I know you weren't. But you are right: Faith and religion are two different things. I think you'll agree, though, many people think they are the same. When you question one, you question the other, according to those who connect the two.
Comments?
Hey, Richard! It's me, Susie...you know, of Edele and Shelly? Ha ha! Anyway, I heard something I totally subscribe to and is quite relevant to the subject matter here. "Love is my religion and the Universe is the Book." I love this!
I have often wondered how one can take partake in a particular dogmatic set of religious beliefs, saying it is THE truth and there is no other. To me that is like trying to fit the whole of the Universe and everything within it, (and without, for that matter) on the head of a pin. Well, maybe in a quantum realm, that might be possible, I don't know. Anyway, it seems pretty silly if you ask me. There is just too much mystery and our little minds are so finite. Better to lead with an open heart than a closed mind in life, I always say.
Bless you, Richard! You're doing a very good thing here!
Thanks, Susie. Good to hear from you.
You are right. Mystery is the best religion, so to speak. And mystery is always mystery. Once it isn't, it becomes dogma. That's when the fun disappears and the priests take over. Well, up theirs. I'll take mystery every time! (Said in fun and love, of course!)
Can I ask, were you ever infilled with the Holy Spirit during your 25 years as a 'born again' Christian?
John
Hi I see that I have asked that once before, and you have answered it to the best of your ability.
My experience has shown that once someone has been infilled with the Holy Spirit, they find a unity of belief with other Holy Spirit filled believers, though I do accept that we are ALL potentially filled with a guiding spirit, and that that spirit may well lead one to benign and even compassionate thoughts, deeds and actions, it need not be the Holy Spirit, of whom there are many counterfeit spirits infilling folk.
Gods Holy Spirit is unique and undeniable.
But there are many OTHER counterfeit spirits who will let folk believe whatever they wish, as long as they are kept from the Holy Spirit.
In my experience, the Holy Spirit convicts us of our errors, other spirits seem to work on the easier premise of 'I'm OK, your OK, why sweat the small stuff'
John
There are no such things as counterfeit spirits. That is a false teaching of the early Catholic church that led to accusations of demon possession and led to the execution of many thousands of innocent people up to as recently as the 19th century. Now, having said that, let me say this. There is only one Spirit. There is no war raging in the nether realms between Satan and his angels and Christ and his. That, too, is a myth.
Yes, when I was in the Pentecostal movement I had that so-called infilling experience. I, too, became convinced that it was the Only Way. But something didn't seem quite right. The whole evangelical approach is way too narrow and small for the Creator of the universe. Eventually, I left it all behind. (Ooo...Left Behind. Does that ring a bell?)
I'm not trying to be flippant here. Over that past few decades, I have changed. The Spirit hasn't. I have chosen a different approach. The Spirit is the same one I encountered in the Pentecostal Church. I let go of my belief in a literal devil. The One Spirit doesn't care. There is no separation in Spirit. That is all in the minds of people.
You are free to believe as you choose. You can believe I'm deluded and probably going to hell. You can say that I am following false spirits. It matters not. I know that I am fine.
One last thing: if what you believe is true, that Jesus saves from sin, that the devil is real, and that there will be (literally) hell to pay for the unbeliever, then you can keep that god. He is too arrogant, too angry, and too egotistical for my tastes. I would rather spend eternity in hell than even one moment with that god.
But, thank Spirit, none of that is true. There is only One Power. The Christian is fine, the Muslim is fine, the HIndu, the Buddhist, the Taoist are fine, you are fine, I am fine.
See you in Glory!
Why would God regret ANYTHING? Isn’t that a human trait?
God has many human traits. Why would this surprise you?
Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
This is why. Earth was lovely and good before mankind in sinful nature entered the scene.
(Was Paul as familiar with the Old Testament as we think he was?)
YES Paul was a pharisee, jewish and a son of a pharisee.
The duality which stumpeth thee is: God both dwelled in temples made by hands and what temple of any size is ever really gonna hold Him. I don't see a problem here.
Light and darkness; i see no problem here either. Mythopoetic language can be deceptive at a quick glance.
SHORT CHEAP-SHOT HUB. might as well delete it or combine it with another cheap-shot hub. zzzzzzzzzzzzz
A believer would, of course, respond as you have. Your god has the basic characteristics of Renaissance paintings. My god does not. The Bible is a human book, nothing divine about it. But that's just my view. I had originally intended to list hundreds of contradictions as a series of these particular posts but decided the work would not be appreciated. I stand by my claims that the Creation Story in Genesis is myth and used by Jews as a teaching story rather than historical fact.
Oh, one more thing: If the Creator of the universe has human physical and emotional characteristics, I want nothing to do with him. That kind of god sounds more like Pan or Apollo. Paul didn't like them, either. But, so what??
My thanks to you for taking time to comment.
god is love, judgment, anger, sorrow, wisdom, compassion, and some others... patience, longsuffering, etc.. what you want is a god like islam.. a square box who cannot relate to the human condition, that is a god i want nothing to do with.
I enjoy a God who understands my afflictions, my hurts, my sorrows and has compassion on my frailties and loves me.. I don't understand how you could want anything less than that.
Actually, I want more than that. I am not interested in a god with human characteristics, a god who gets angry, a god who seeks revenge, a god who pours out wrath, a god who kills his Chosen People over a bit of disobedience, and worst of all, a god who can allow ANY of his creatures to be permanently separated from him in some kind of hell, especially the creature he claims to love the most. NO, that god is dead to me. The Spirit in which I trust is not separate from its creation. It is not only the maintainer of the universe but is in actuality the universe itself, a living and active organism which is in a constant state of change and re-creations. And I am an expression of that Spirit, of that Power, and can never be separated from it. I do not look for it in some heaven or some far off place, or some church. I find that Spirit here in my own heart, my own being. This Spirit is consistent. It never waivers. It is always in accord with its own laws and principles. It is a Presence that I not only CAN trust; I do trust it. There is only One Power and Presence. And it is the very essence of All That Is.
The God of the Bible, for me, is way too puny, too small, too arrogant, and ultimately, too false for me to ever consider again.
Just my views. Again, blessings to you.
Richard,how do u even dare to post this as contradiction?do you find God dwelles and God does not dwellers in both verses?think about it.or you just wanted to deceive the inocent.God said what he had made was good but did he say it was good forever?Does it say God lives in lights only? Then how is it a contradiction? Have you tried to consider the law of contradiction?may God lead you to the truth.I sure value ur opinion but I didn't see a bit of room left for reasoning.let this not be taken as being rude but defense instead.
The actual list of contradictions is several hundred strong. This is just the beginning. Remember, the Bible is a man made book. There is no divine truth in it. It's that simple. Nothing produced through human hands and human brains can ever be perfect, no matter who does or does not dictate it.
Thanks for your comments.
No divine truth in it?that means you believe in the existence of devine truth.If so, which one is it?Because you can't use the phrase "devine truth"just to win the argument while you don't have one.
Let me be more clear. In my opinion, there is no such thing as 'divine' truth. There may well be truth, but we do not know it. We know bits of truth because we have only bits of information. We cannot use two and three thousand year old books as the rock bottom basis of Truth. It's more than just superstition; it's dangerous.
The Bible has been used for many centuries to justify all kinds of violence against people. From charges of heresy to Inquisitions to validating slavery and the subjugation of women, from anti-Semitisim to anti-gay and everything in between. Plus, there are thousands of denominations, sects, and cults that all claim that they have the only true interpretation of Scripture.
When the Christian church or the Christian believers finally come forth with one interpretation, good enough for every Christian, then maybe we can look at the Bible with a little more interest. But it does not appear that will be happening any time soon.
Thanks again for your comments.
A person who was once truly saved can not turn his back on God.He or she might backslide but they will remember their Savior again.why don't you bring tour so called contradictions here and discuss on it?remember I am not a Bible scholar but I have enough to help a bother consider his saviour once again with the help of God.Translation differences should not make you forget your saviour.
God bless you.
Oh, you poor misguided person. The Bible is not the divine word of god, nor is a savior necessary. The Source of All That Is remains One with Its Creation. No one suffers in any kind of hell or separation. I would think you would embrace that idea. But no. You would rather see two camps: The saved and the lost. The idea that no one is ever lost upsets people who believe as you do. I have only sympathy.
Thanks for your comments.
OThis is a prime example of the danger of assumption.why would I be upset if no one is lost?isn't this the main reason of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ as I believe? Isn't Jesus a good shepherd who leaves 99 to look for 1? Why do we people make the so called contradiction an excuse to not believe in it when the truth is different? Think about it!your website's foundation is contradiction in the Bible,yet it doesn't cover 1%.the reason is,it is not the contradiction that made you believe that there is no saviour. It is the devil that you don't believe exists.believe it or not,there is a saviour and he is Jesus Christ.
You're right about one thing. The biblical contradictions are not the main reason I stopped with the Savior thing. There's more to it than that. I have covered much of it in other Hub articles and on my blogsite: http://www.spiritfeast.blogspot.com. If you're interested, you can check them out.
ALL4JESUS Level 1 Commenter 2 years ago
Our minister is preaching on a series which he calls the words he wish Jesus didn't say - because the words are confusing to our translation and time frame. Love the questions you raise. The Bible is a guide and a framework - the mysteries of our God are simply too magnificent to even start to comprehend. Enjoyed your Hub! Please keep hubbing!