Do evildoers prosper? Is it possible to fall from grace? Should we fear God? Will the righteous flourish? Important questions, aren’t they? Or is it all contradictory nonsense? Let’s have a look.
151. How should we treat our enemies?
We should love them, be kind to them, and treat them well. (Exodus 23:4, Proverbs 25:21, Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:35)
Partly right. Its here about opponents in daily life; not about enemies in war.
We should hate them and wish them evil. (Psalm 35:6,8, 55:15, 58:6-7, 68:23, 69:22-28, 83:9-10, 83:15-17, 109:6-14, 139:22, Lamentations 1:21-22, 3:64-66, 1 Corinthians 16:22)
Wrong. It has nothing to do with hate. All references except 1 Corinthians are concerned with enemies who have killed or are ready to kill. In all these cases the believer asks God to intervene and to act with the enemy according to his brutal intention of killing. And Yes, this is expressed in a very plastic way of speaking but it doesn’t go beyond the saying: “Avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19; 1 Corinthians (Anathema, be accursed.) has to do with the unbeliever who denies the work of Christ: He who rejects God, God can’t but give him over to his fate, the curse that is over the face of the earth since the Fall of man (Genesis 3:17).
No Contradiction
152. Has anyone ever ascended into heaven?
No one (except Jesus) has ascended into heaven. (John 3:13)
Right. “No man has ascended into heaven, but he who descended from heaven: the Son of Man” NASB (John 3:13)
When God descended on Mount Sinai he later on ascended back to heaven in his own power. Jesus then being the Word of God, the Messiah, descended on Sinai and ascended thereafter into heaven, united with God. So He is the only one who is able to teach about heaven, being the Word, the Messiah, the Son of Man.
Some have ascended into heaven. (Genesis 5:24, 2 Kings 2:11, Hebrews 11:5)
Wrong. Enoch and Elijah did not ascend in their own power into heaven. They were taken up into heaven by the power of God.
No Contradiction
153. Did Enoch die?
Yes (Hebrews 11:13)
Wrong. “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance … make it clear that they were seeking a country of their own.” (verse 13, 14 NASB) The critic reckons among “All these” also Abel, Enoch and Noah, but that is impossible. “All these” means the patriarchs (and Sarah), they were the owners of the promises and not Enoch, nor Noah who are mentioned earlier.
No (Genesis 5:24, Hebrews 11:5)
Right. He was taken up alive.
No Contradiction
154. Was Enoch the sixth or the seventh from Adam?
He was the sixth from Adam. (Genesis 5:3-18, 1 Chronicles 1:1-2, Luke 3:37-38)
Wrong. In the referred texts are three genealogies given with in the sixth place after Adam the name Enoch. So he was the sixth after Adam and not “from Adam”.
He was the seventh from Adam. (Jude 14)
Right. Here is no genealogy. Here is the expression; “And Enoch, the seventh from Adam, …” The Greek preposition “apo” (from) in this respect gives the inclusion of the first one. Compare Matthew 1:17 “So all the generations from (apo) Abraham to David are fourteen generations; …” Counting all the names including that of Abraham and David gives the result of fourteen.
No Contradiction
155. Will Ephraim return to Egypt?
Yes (Hosea 8:11-13, 9:3)
Right. Because of their sins Ephraim would return to Egypt, that was a severe judgement as they were liberated by Moses from Egypt in the past.
No (Hosea 11:3-5)
Wrong. There is here a translation problem. Many English translations had/have: “… shall not return into the land of Egypt.” The French Bible de Jerusalem accepted a “text correction” (the word “not” would be a failure of latter copyists): “… shall return into the land of Egypt.” The German Luther Bible made a wish of it: “… that Ephraim might not return into the land of Egypt.” The Dutch NBG 1951 made a rhetorical question of it: “Will they not return to Egypt?” (figure of speech with the answer: Yes they will.) Also the NIV has this translation, which is grammatically correct.
No Contradiction
156. When was Eve created?
At the same time as Adam (Genesis 1:27)
Wrong. “… in the image of God created he him; male and female created He them.” There is here no mentioning of time order at all.
After Adam and all the animals were created. (Genesis 2:20-22)
Right. (And Adam gave names to all cattle and to the fowl of the air …, but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.)
No Contradiction
157. Is everyone descended from Adam and Eve?
Yes, everyone is descended from Adam and Eve. (Genesis 3:20)
Right.
Some are not. (Hebrews 7:3)
Wrong. It is said here that Melchisedec was: “… without … descent etc.” This is in Greek agenealogètos: without genealogy, written descent. NASB translates correctly: without genealogy. So Melchisedek descended as every human being from Adam, but the Bible doesn’t give a written descent of him.
No Contradiction
158. Is God the creator of evil?
Yes (2 Kings 6:33, Isaiah 45:7, Lamentations 3:38, Amos 3:6)
Wrong. In all the referred texts God is not the creator of evil; but he is the Judge of Evil and he judges with righteous judgement. Sometimes judging evil He turns his back upon an evil matter/person and his counter player, the devil, immediately strikes; he pays evil with evil, being the creator of evil. However he cannot go further than God’s judgement about the case. This doesn’t mean in any way that God creates evil. God is light and there is no darkness in Him. He is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in loving-kindness and truth …!
No (Psalm 5:4, 1 John 4:8)
Right.
No Contradiction
159. Do evildoers prosper?
Those who do evil prosper. (Job 12:6, Psalm 73:3-7,12, Jeremiah 12:1
Wrong. “The tents of the destroyers prosper, and those who provoke God are secure …” In Job the opinion of the evildoers is given, not God’s opinion (Read your text critic!). Even the animals know better, verse 7: “But now ask the beasts, and let them teach you; …”
– In Psalm 73:3-12 a first impression of Asaf is given about the wealth of the wicked, but then follows the insight that nothing is what it seems. The final conclusion of Asaf is: “Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.”
– Jeremiah 12:1. The prophet is speaking about the prosperity of the wicked indeed, but with a negative connotation (verse 4): “How long is the land to mourn, and the vegetation of the countryside to wither? For the wickedness of those who dwell in it, animals and birds have been snatched away, …” It is prosperity on the surface. The critic suppresses an important part of the story. Take note: a half truth is a whole lie! And that‘s what the critic offers us.
Those who do evil are made desolate. (Psalm 34:21)
Right. Sometimes it takes time, but it will surely come.
No Contradiction, but extremely accurate!
160. Did Moses see God face to face?
Yes (Exodus 33:11, Deuteronomy 34:10)
Wrong. “Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend.” (Exodus 33:11) This is figurative. The used expression is: speak face to face (Exodus), or: know face to face (Deuteronomy) and not: see face to face!!!!
This figurative way of speaking is not unusual: “Do not hide Your face from me, …O God of my salvation!” (Psalm 27:9)
No, he only saw his back parts. (Exodus 33:20-23)
Right. This is literal. The expression is indeed: saw his back parts.
See the article: Can God be seen? and: Does God have a body?
No Contradiction
161. Is Salvation by faith alone?
Salvation is by faith alone. (Mark 16:16, John 3:18,36 and many more references)
Right. Faith (trust) through Jesus brings acceptance by God, that’s what we call salvation. Nearly all the references contain words as saved, salvation etc. Clear and convincing are: Romans 3:28, Ephesians 2:8-9: salvation by faith, not by works and not without works.
Salvation is not by faith alone. (Psalm 62:12, Proverbs 10:16 and many more references)
Wrong. There is a difference between two things: belief in God and good works. The critic doesn’t see a difference between the two. In all the referred cases he fails to see: salvation by faith, not by works and not without works. The biblical faith is always followed by good works, however they don’t bring salvation, they are a result of salvation. All the referred texts testify about that.
See the article: Was Abraham justified by faith or by works?
No Contradiction
162. Were the man with Paul nocked to the ground?
Yes, they fell to the ground. (Acts 26:14)
Partly, those who were ‘with him’. The occurrence happened at midday (twelve o’clock); that was a moment of prayer to Pharisees. Paul and some others ‘those who were with him’ separated to say their prayers.
No, they remained standing. (Acts 9:7)
Partly, those who remained on the road (9:7) didn’t fall; in general his fellow-travellers.
See also the article: Did the men with Paul hear the voice?
No Contradiction
163. Is it possible to fall from grace?
Yes (Galatians 5:4, Hebrews 6:4-6, 2 Peter 2:20-21)
Wrong. ‘Falling from grace’ refers to those who try to please God BY their behavior rather than relying on HIS GRACE!
– Galatians 5:4-5 “You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.” The critic didn’t quote verse 5 from which it is clear that Paul gives in verse 4 an unacceptable and also an impossible option for a true Christian.
– Hebrews 6:4-6 “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance,” Here is mentioning about people who were familiar with Christianity and its blessings, however they did not change their hearts and followed their unchanged hearts when the blessings were over. They cannot renew their life again to repentance as there was never repentance before. But yes, they can renew their life by a real and first repentance. 2 Peter 2:20-21 is to be read in the same way.
No (John 10:28, Romans 8:38-39)
Right. There exists personal security in the term “eternal life”. Receiving eternal life has the implication that it is a possession forever. In other words, Jesus’ promise “Who believes in Me has eternal life,” is the guaranty that He will never leave who converted to Him wholeheartedly.
Read the article.
No Contradiction
164. How many years of famine?
Seven years of famine (2 Samuel 24:13)
Yes, included are 4 years of famine that earlier passed during David’s reign.
Three years of famine (1 Chronicles 21:11-12)
Yes, not included are the 4 years of famine that earlier passed during David’s reign.
No Contradiction
165. Is it OK to call your father (or anyone else) father?
No (Matthew 23:9)
Wrong. With a capital the word ‘Father’ can refer to a spiritual leader, or God. Only for God it is applicable. The idea is that no person should depend on a spiritual leader in such a way that it opens the door for spiritual manipulation. Grace of God is the best and there is no substitute for that given by any spiritual leader. It is better to live without any Christian than to live without grace of God!
Yes (Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16, Ephesians 6:2, 2 Kings 2:12, 6:21, 1 John 2:13-14)
Right. Without a capital ‘father’ meaning (1) a biological father; (2) a respected person.
No Contradiction
166. Did Moses fear the king?
Moses feared the king. (Exodus 2:14-15)
Right. When Moses had killed the Egyptian he feared the king and left Egypt.
Moses did not fear the king. (Hebrews 11:27)
Right. When Moses left Egypt for the second time with the people of Israel forty years later he didn’t fear the king.
No Contradiction
167. Should we look for signs in the heavens?
Yes (Luke 21:11)
Right. ‘Signs from heaven’ have here the meaning of fearful cosmic events that will happen at the end of human history: “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves.” (Luke 21:25)
No (Jeremiah 10:2)
Right. ‘Signs of heaven’ have here the meaning of heavenly bodies that should not be used for idolatrous worship (gods; Jeremiah 10:11).
No Contradiction
168. Should we fear God?
Yes (Leviticus 25:17, Deuteronomy 4:10 and many more references)
Right. Fear with the meaning of ‘respect’, not with the negative meaning of ‘anxiety and distress’. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” (Proverbs 1:7) Where people start fearing God in this way they will experience God’s grace abundantly.
No (2 Timothy 1:7, 1 John 4:8,18)
Right. With ‘we’ in the main question “Should we fear God?” are meant the faithful believers. Fear with the negative meaning of ‘anxiety and distress’ unto God is no option for them. And that is explained in these verses. “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
No Contradiction
169. Who bought the potter’s field?
The chief priests bought the potter’s field. (Matthew 27:6)
Right.
Judas bought the potter’s field. (Acts 1:18)
Wrong, he didn’t buy it, but the chief priests did (Matthew 27:6). Judas’ name remained connected with it. Judas was buried in it and that is what is meant by “this man purchased (i.e. acquired) a field with the reward of iniquity.”
No Contradiction
170. When did the cursed fig tree die?
It died immediately. (Matthew 21:19-20)
Right. The day after the Glorious Entry, immediately after the cursing.
It didn’t die until the next morning. (Mark 11:13-14, 20-21)
Wrong. Mark also reminds the cursing of the fig tree at the day after the Glorious Entry (11:12-14). But there is a severe mistranslation. Having taught in the temple that morning Jesus leaves late, that is: at the end of the morning (19). He returned to the temple early (20) that is: early in the after noon, after the midday rest or siesta. This return in the afternoon is often wrongly translated as a return to the temple early in the morning of the next day (20). During this return in the afternoon Peter said: “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.”
See the article: Did the fig tree die the day of the Cursing, or a day later?
No Contradiction
171. When did Jesus curse the fig tree?
Before driving the merchant from the temple. (Mark 11:12-17)
General answer. Jesus drove out the merchants two times: the day of his Glorious Entry (Matthew 21:12) and the next morning when he came to the temple (Mark 11:12, 15). So the driving out of the merchants is not a bench mark.
Right. Before the second driving out in the morning, when Jesus went to the temple.
After driving the merchants from the temple. (Matthew 21:12,17-19)
Right. The morning after the first driving out, that is the day after the day of the Glorious Entry.
See the article: Did the fig tree die the day of the Cursing, or a day later?
No Contradiction
172. Was Jesus the first to rise from the dead?
Jesus was the first person to rise from the dead. (Acts 26:23, 1 Corinthians 15:20)
Wrong. Acts 26:23 “the first that should rise from the dead”; More accurate is the NASB translation: “He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” The first doesn’t refer to sequence here, but to order of importance; He made a general resurrection possible for those who expected the Messiah and believed in Him.
– 1 Corinthians 15:20 “the first fruits”; Again not referring to sequence, the first fruits from the harvest, but the best fruits from the harvest were set apart for the Lord. Those who die in the Lord are seen as a harvest, the resurrection, of which Jesus is the first, the most important one.
(The critic doesn’t seem to be hindered by knowledge or any understanding concerning the subject he writes on.)
Others rose from the dead before him. (1 Samuel 28:11,14, 1 Kings 17:22, etc.)
As said earlier it is not a matter of being the first being risen from the dead, but about someone who who was the first who by his resurrection brought glory and eternal life according to the old expectation of the coming Messiah.
Wrong. Samuel did not return on earth into a natural body. Neither did Moses, nor Elijah.
Right. A boy brought back to life by Elijah. Also by Elisha. The dead man who came in contact with the bones of Elisha. Jairus’ daughter. Risen saints appeared in Jerusalem after Jesus’ resurrection. The boy of Nain. Lazarus.
No Contradiction
173. To whom did Jesus make his first post-resurrection appearance?
The two Marys (Matthew 28:1, 9)
Wrong. It is not claimed in this text that they were the first to see Jesus. Moreover from other sources we know that Mary Magdalene was the first to see Jesus after his resurrection.
Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9, John 20:13-31)
Right. Mark 16:9 “He appeared first to Mary Magdalene” However it should be remarked that she was not alone at the tomb as she said John 20:2, “WE do not know where they have laid Him.” She was the first of the women at the tomb who saw Him.
Cleopas and another (Luke 24:13-31)
Wrong. Very strange claim as earlier in Luke 24:1-12 we read about the women at the tomb who see Jesus.
Cephas (1 Corinthians 15:4-5)
Wrong. It is not claimed in this text that he was the first to see Jesus. Moreover from other sources we know that Mary Magdalene was the first to see Jesus after his resurrection.
See the article: How many women came to the sepulcher? And also: Were the men or angles inside the tomb sitting or standing?
No Contradiction
174. Who was God’s firstborn son?
Israel (Exodus 4:22)
Ephraim (Jeremiah 31:9)
Right. In these cases the term God’s firstborn son is used metaphorically. I.e. figuratively with the meaning: most preciously beloved son (Israel) among the nations. Why? As Abraham had accepted God’s commandments by documentation and by doing them (Genesis 26:5) and the prophets after him continued to do so in his footsteps. The term does not refer to a sort of biological connecton between Israel and God. Ephraim was also a name for Israel in the days of Jeremiah.
Jesus (Romans 8:29, Colossians 1:13-15)
Right. It is here not only used with the meaning most preciously beloved (metaphorical). Jesus was in a special way God’s personal son as Mary conceived through the Holy Spirit. So it has also the literal meaning of God’s firstborn son.
The apostle Paul was keen enough to not take away the firstborn state from Israel as a nation when he called Jesus God’s firstborn son.
No Contradiction
175. How long was the ark afloat?
For seven months or so (Genesis 8:4)
Right. “And the ark rested in the seventh month, … , upon the mountains of Ararat.” Ararat is a chain of high mountains.
For at least ten months (Genesis 8:5)
Wrong. Here it is only said that the tops of the other (lower) mountains became visible (dry). No reference to the ark.
No Contradiction
No Bible Contradictions