Our Fall series, WHY?, is answering some of the questions people often think or ask as they consider the Bible and the Christian faith.

Today's question: Why are there so many contradictions in the Bible?

Behind every question is a motive. Besides a sincere desire to attain some particular knowledge, questions are often based upon some assumption, misunderstanding, or some underlying bias that intends to deny or twist the truth.
Learning to get to the real issue in conversation often requires a clarifying question, otherwise your response will probably be off target.

As we consider our question today, we need to look at how the dictionary defines a couple of words:

1. Contradiction: "A fact or statement of something being true that is the complete opposite of something else, so that one of these seemingly must be wrong."
Example: Genesis 1:1 says "In the beginning God" while Psalm 14:1 says "There is no God." To resolve this seeming contradiction, you might want to read the complete verses.
Example: The Bible says that Jesus was God and yet says that He is man. This truth is explained in Philippians 2:5-8 (Hypostatic Union)

2. Discrepancy: "A difference between two things that should be the same. Often this term is used in accounting; could show an irregularity in 2 separate ledgers.
Example: Matthew 28:5 records there was an "angel" at the tomb, but John 20:12 records there were "two angels". Which is true?
When we compare the Matthew passage with John 20, we see that Matthew and John are describing different time periods. Matthew is describing the initial moving of the stone and John is describing the initial meeting of Jesus. Another angel could have appeared during this later event. These authors are speaking about different times in this account.

There are several truths we need to remember as we represent the Lord and interact with those who've either rejected God or are questioning Biblical statements:
The Bible is the inspired, inerrant, infallible word of an All-Powerful, All-Knowing, and All-loving God who desires to have a relationship with those He has created.
Bible is God Given, God Guided, God Guarded
We understand Him to be a truth-teller, and not an author of confusion.
Psalm 33:4
Numbers 23:19
Titus 1:2
1 Corinthians 14:33a

The vast majority of humanity is spiritually darkened, blind to God's truth, and willingly in rebellion against all that God is.
Romans 1:21
2 Corinthians 4:4a
The only true enlightenment comes when a person becomes a child of God and receives the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2).
A person who questions a particular subject has the burden to show that there is truly a contradiction, not just to make rash statements or accusations. Our role is to help a person see at least one rational explanation or solution.

Most contradictions fall within these following "baskets" or categories:

First – A person may see a fact or event through the lens of misinformation or a pre-determined bias; to justify a way of thinking or behaving.

Second – A person may not understand the cultural, grammar, language, and word meaning differences found in the languages used by people in the Bible. Example: It was common for people and places to have several names, be known by your father’s name, ancestral tribe, location, or even a historical event.

Third – A person may not have studied all the related passages surrounding an event. Because of this he may see some events that conflict with other or appear to be the same, but upon diligent study will see them to be separate events. Example: The genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1 and Luke 3.

Fourth – A person may take a passage or truth out of its cultural context or historical time line. There were some definite actions that were only for Jewish people.

Fifth – A person has forgotten that story lines of the same event, from various sources, may have differing details. Example: Two cars collided last week. A red Honda hit an unknown vehicle on the 18th of September.

Sixth – A person may not know that the New Testament was a fulfillment and a growing expansion of the Old Testament. Often in Jesus’ teaching He would say things like “You have heard it said _____, but I say to you _______.

Seventh – A person could jump to unwarranted conclusions because they don’t understand that the Bible was not written in a strict chronological form.

Eighth – A person may not realize the process whereby God’s Word has been handed down, generation to generation.

The Jewish scribes followed a near perfect process when transcribing copies of the Old Testament Scriptures.
The process of transcribing copies of Scripture is pretty amazing, here are some of the details:
1. They could only use clean animal skins, both to write on, and even to bind manuscripts.
2. Each column of writing could have no less than forty-eight, and no more than sixty lines.
3. The ink must be black, and of a special recipe.
4. They must verbalize each word aloud while they were writing.
5. They must wipe the pen and wash their entire bodies before writing the word "Jehovah," every time they wrote it.
6. There must be a review within thirty days, and if as many as three pages required corrections, the entire manuscript had to be redone.
7. The letters, words, and paragraphs had to be counted, and the document became invalid if two letters touched each other. The middle paragraph, word and letter must correspond to those of the original document.

See suggested web links below.

Supposed contradictions have a purpose in the overall plan of God:

1. They CAUSE us to think deeply.

2. They CORRECT our assumptions and misunderstandings.

3. They CHAMPION the reliability of the Bible.

4. They CALL into question our motives and bias.

5. They CENTER our lives upon the character of God.

6. They CONVINCE us to live deeper, better, and more assertive lives.

7. They CHALLENGE us to be disciple-makers.

Birthdays and Anniversaries!

Sunday, September 25 - Erich Mann
Monday, September 26 - Tim Schilz, Paddy MacDonald
Tuesday, September 27 - Connie Neff, Camden Carpenter
Wednesday, September 28 - Nikki Berry, Kirsten Smith