351. Can women be church leaders?
Yes, they can. (Acts 18:26, Romans 16:1, 7)
Wrong. Two texts are too little to defend the opinion that woman can be Church leaders. Acts 18:26 is no reference to church leadership at all “But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.” It is true Priscilla was the wife of Aquila and is mentioned first, but this happened outside the synagogue or a church. In Romans 16:5 it is said “also greet the church that is in their house.” Nothing is said here that Priscilla or Aquila acted as church leaders, only that they provided room for the gathering of Christians. The New Testament only speaks of men in relation to church leadership: “An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.” (1 Timothy 3:2-3)
No, they cannot. (1 Corinthians 14:34-35, 1 Timothy 2:11-12, Romans 16:7)
Right. In biblical time there was one form of leadership not open for women: Church leadership. Why? After the Fall of Man it is said to the Eve: “Yet your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” Was this God’s will? No, it was a consequence of the Fall and it became fact. In marriage this domination of the man is to be ruled out by sincere service unto his wife as Christ served the Church (He was ready to die for her, how many men are ready? to kill their flesh?). Many tensions are connected with Church leadership, especially by the force of men. To protect women against these powers–often destructive–it is said that women should not submitted to these forces. Apologetics has always been a serious matter in Christianity, also confrontations with men inside and outside the church. Of course many women have found their way in speaking apologetically, but that is not the same as leading a church. Also problems between men in the church bring tensions, again not the ideal place for a woman to interfere as a leader to act as a judge between the powers of men. During or at the end of the homily service it was custom to put questions (1 Corinthians 14:34-35). The discussion service in the church including asking-answering was limited to men, certainly because of the dominion of men and to protect women against that single aspect. In our time the asking-answering part has been disappeared. In public women could preach, prophecy (i.e. building the church by word of mouth, by what God laid on their heart, with or without scripture references), pray, sing and witness and fulfil an active role in all these aspects (Acts 2:17-18, 1 Corinthians 11:5), which didn’t mean that they could be appointed as church leaders. There are no examples in the New Testament that women functioned as such. It should not be overlooked that in the Gospels is mentioning of women fulfilling a role of (natural) leadership in all sort of activities. But Church leadership is another thing.
The reference to Romans 16:7 suggests that Junias would be a woman named Junia or Julia which is incorrect as she could not be a fellow prisoner of Paul. In prison men and women lived separated.
No Contradiction
352. How high were the pillars?
18 cubits (1 Kings 7:15)
Right. 18 cubits one pillar.
35 cubits (2 Chronicles 3:15)
Wrong. “He also made two pillars for the front of the house, thirty-five cubits high, and the capital on the top of each was five cubits.” (NASB remark: high literal = long) The remark of NASB is important. For high the Hebr. word is qomah (Jeremiah 52:22) and not used here, instead is used ‘orèh, meaning: length. And that is the hint of the writer that the pillars are – not each, but – together on the ground 35 cubits. This is confirmed by his remark of the capitals of five cubits for the pillars. Two cubits of a capital fell into a pillar in standing position, leaving three cubits for the view of a capital in construction with a pillar in upright position (2 Kings 25:17).
The 35 cubits for two pillars give 17.5 cubits for each pillar. So the 18 cubits mentioned in 1 Kings 7:15 are to be taken together with half a cubit of a pedestal above the floor for each pillar.
See also SAB 87.
No Contradiction
353. Were plants created before or after humans?
Before humans (Genesis 1:11-13, 27-31)
Right. Plants were created on the third day and man on the sixth day.
After humans (Genesis 2:4-9)
Wrong. A flash back has been given here and a historical order can’t be supposed here.
No Contradiction
354. Should we try to please others?
Yes (Romans 15:2, 1 Corinthians 10:33)
Right. It depends on the intention. If we have the intention to do well to another, than it is OK.
No (Galatians 1:10)
Wrong. If we have the intention to please others to buy their approval, it is very wrong. Doing well to others should always be unselfish.
No Contradiction
355. Is Polygamy a good thing?
Yes (many Old Testament references)
Wrong. It was certainly not a good thing. We see in all Old Testament examples that marriages with more wives were very problematic and became a source of pain and misbehavior. We see in the Old Testament never God’s approval unto it, on the other hand we also see that God didn’t forbid or punish it. Nor did he send a special revelation (angel) to teach the people, as the rule was already settled in paradise (Genesis 2:24). Apparently it all occured under his admittance.
No (Genesis 2:24, Deuteronomy 17:17, Matthew 19:4-5, 1 Corinthians 7:2, Ephesians 5:33)
Right. In Genesis 2:24 is given the rule a man will leave his parents and marry a wife to be one flesh. In Matthew 19:4-5 Jesus again settled this as the standard for life “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” This remained the rule as is clear from 1 Corinthians 7:2 and Ephesians 5:33.
No Contradiction
356. How many children of the porters returned form Babylon?
139 (Ezra 2:42)
Right. This is a quotation from the list that Ezra recorded in Babylon at the meeting place of departure.
138 (Nehemiah 7:45)
Right. This is a quotation from the list that was made up after the journey to Jerusalem. It seems that during the journey one individual died.
See the article: Contradictory lists about Israelites that returned from Babel?
No Contradiction
357. How many men were possessed with devils?
One man (Mark 5:1-2, Luke 8:26-27)
Partly right. In these stories yes, one ill man is described. There has been a reduction in the description as only the dialogue of Jesus and one ill man has been presented by Jesus’ writers (speaker reduction, an often used way of storytelling among the Gospel writers.)
Two men (Matthew 8:28)
Right. From the record of Matthew we know that there were two men coming up to Jesus.
No Contradiction
358. What did Jesus do after his baptism?
He went immediately into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil for 40 days. (Mark 1:12-13)
Right.
He called his disciples and attended the wedding at Cana. (John 1:35, 43, 2:1)
Wrong. In the referred texts Jesus has returned from the forty days in the wilderness. The statements from John the Baptist in John 1:26, 29-31, 32-34 are clear references to the (40 days) earlier baptism of Jesus. After the forty days Jesus returned to the spot where John baptized and began to call his disciples (John 1:35, 43, 2:1)
No Contradiction
359. How much power did Jesus have?
There are some things that Jesus can’t do. (Matthew 20:23, Mark 6:5)
Partly right. Jesus is here speaking about his earthly ministry. In Matthew he refers to the work of his Father and in Mark he refers to the fact that he is not able to do something for someone if there is no faith at all. Jesus was indeed limited in his earthly ministry.
Jesus is all-powerful. (Matthew 28:18)
Right. Taking up again his divine majesty in heaven He could say that all power was given unto Him. However, we should remind that the word “all” is an indefinite pronoun, i.e. we don’t know prima facie what is actually meant with “all” here. It certainly refers to the “alls” in verse 20: all his words, all his love, all the time. (20) “teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
No Contradiction
360. Do Christians know how to pray?
Yes, Jesus taught them how to pray. (Matthew 6:9-13)
Right. Jesus taught the prayer “Our Father …” for regular needs.
No, they don’t know how to pray. (Romans 8:26)
Partly right. There are more than regular needs. Every Christian has serious ups and especially downs in his life that make him speechless. For this the Holy Spirit is given to each Christian to intercede “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Especially speaking in tongues can be of great help with regard to this.
See the article: Should you speak in tongues?
No Contradiction
361. Should you pray for everyone?
Yes, you should pray for everyone. (1 Timothy 2:1)
Right. Generally, God’s love is for all.
No, there are some people you shouldn’t pray for. (Jeremiah 7:16, 11:14)
Partly right. In the beginning it was OK that Jeremiah praid for them. But later Jeremiah is said by the Lord that it is in vain to pray any longer in public for people who in public rejected the words of God. Earlier the prophet Samuel said that he would not stop praying for his people (1 Samuel 12:23-25), but he also foresaid that they would be swept away if they would continue to sin.
No Contradiction
362. When David fled to Nob, what was the priest name?
Ahimelech (1 Samuel 21:1)
Right.
Abiathar (Mark 2:25-26)
Right. Shortly after David’s visit at Nob we are told that Abiathar fled to David with the efod and the urim and thummim. That was the instrument of the high priest to get insight into the will of God. So Mark is absolutely right to qualify also Abiathar as a high priest. Certainly he was appointed and installed already as high priest with all the duties, while his father (or uncle) only bare the title without the duties. Two high priests was normal in time of succession. “In the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.” (Luke 3:2) A few years later: “So Annas sent Him [Jesus] bound to Caiaphas the high priest.” (John 18:24)
No Contradiction
363. On what day of the month was Jehoiachin released from prison?
On the 27th day of the month. (2 Kings 25:27)
Right. This was the day of giving effect to the royal order (two days earlier) to release Jehoiachin: “…did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;” (literally KJV)
On the 25th day of the month. (Jeremiah 52:31)
Right. This was the day of decision by Evil Merodach to release Jehoiachin. The hiphil verb-form means: he caused him to go out [gave the order] … A rather broad description (the purpose of liberation), but from 2 Kings 25:27 it is clear that the decision to release Jehoiachin, is meant there. Unfortunately no Bible translation, as far as I could trace, has this distinction.
No Contradiction
364. Should Christians pray in public?
Christians should not pray in public. (Matthew 6:5-6)
Wrong. Here are Pharisees judged by Jesus as they used to pray in public with the wrong intention to show their faith to the people instead to show their faith to God. Their intention was wrong and therefore Jesus blamed their custom of praying on the marketplaces.
Christians should pray in public. (John 11:41-42, 1 Timothy 2:8)
Wrong. It is no Christian prescript to pray in public, or to not pray in public. In convenient ways, times and places it can happen. John 11 Jesus prayed before he brought Lazarus to life. In 1 Timothy it is only said that when someone prays in public he should have a pure and righteous conscience: “Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.” This is not to be read as a command for men to pray everywhere, but to pray always with good conscience concerning one’s actions, without anger, and not being quarrelsome.
No Contradiction
365. Is every word of God pure?
Yes (Psalm 2:6, 119:140, Proverbs 30:5)
Right.
No (2 Kings 18:27, Ezekiel 23:20, Habakkuk 2:16, Malachi 2:3)
Wrong.
(2 Kings) The Assyrian king Rabshakeh attacking Jerusalem said to the Judean negotiators: “Has my master sent me only to your master and to you to speak these words, and not to the men who sit on the wall, doomed to eat their own dung and drink their own urine with you?” This is the pure word of God in the sense that it is the exact rendering of what Rabshakeh then said. (Compare the article: Writing Discussions.)
The prophets also used expressions taken from ordinary life to refer to sinful actions that exposed the absence of God (Ezekiel, Habakkuk). Malachi 2:3 “… I [God] will spread refuse [vomit, dung] on your faces, the refuse of your feasts, …” Pureness in the Bible is also clear language.
No Contradiction
366. Was Rahab saved by faith or by works?
“By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.”
She was saved by faith. (Hebrews 11:31)
Right. It begins with faith as the motor. Without faith, without the motor, no works and no results. So only speaking about faith as saving power is absolutely correct.
She was saved by works. (James 2:25)
“In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?”
Right. Faith is always followed by works (how hesitating they may be in the beginning), without works there is no faith. So it is absolutely correct to say that she was saved by the works that followed her divine faith. By her works she was justified in front of others, by her faith she was justified before the Lord.
Compare the article: Is it wrong to lie?
No Contradiction
367. How long was Elijah’s drought?
Three and a half years (James 5:17, Luke 4:25)
Right.
Less than three years (1 Kings 17:1, 18:1, 18:45)
Wrong. “Now it happened after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the face of the earth.” The critic does not pay attention that is said ‘in the third year’, which is in the third full year of drought. That means: the drought started before the first full year of drought and one other full year followed (the second year), the year thereafter was the third year, and at the end of it, when the rains usually came Elijah brought the drought to its end. If the period before the first full year was about three quarters, the period of three and a half year for the entire drought is a reasonable figure.
No Contradiction
368. Who raised Jesus from the dead?
Jesus raised himself from the dead. (John 2:19-21)
“The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body.”
Right. The Bible says: “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.” (John 10:18)
God raised him from the dead. (Acts 2:24, 32; 4:10; 13:30; Galatians 1:1, and more)
“But God raised Him from the dead; …” (13:30)
Right. When the time had come for Jesus to take again his life after the crucifixion, he arose. This was all possible as Jesus gave up the spirit just before he died. He gave his spirit unto God, not a dead spirit but a living spirit (soul). Jesus’ spirit remained active in God’s presence and He arose through it (Compare Matthew 9:24-25). “Being the Son, death couldn’t hold him …”
After the resurrection there is always spoken about God who raised Jesus. Of course, Jesus being part of God and being God had the power to do this (John 1:1-3), “even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.” (2 Corinthians 5:16)
No Contradiction
369. Was Jesus a ransom for many or a ransom for all?
For many (Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45)
Right. In these verses is pointed to the actual effect of Jesus’ ransom: it has not effect for all, but for those who accepted Jesus as He is: for the sake of many. The Greek preposition anti (for the sake of) is placed before many: “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life [as] a ransom for [the sake of] many.” (Matth.)
For all (1 Timothy 2:6)
Right. The Greek preposition anti is placed here before ransom: “… who gave Himself [for the sake of] a ransom for all, …” That is: Jesus’ ransom was/is intended for all.
No Contradiction
370. Can God be found through reason alone?
Yes (Romans 1:20)
Wrong. This not said here. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made …” It is said here that nobody can deny with good conscience that there is no God. (To know Him personally is a different matter.) We can see that in nature. Leo Vroman (biologist and poet) has said (free quote): “When we observe biological phenomena carefully, it is difficult to believe that they exist.” Nobody has ever and nobody will ever be able to make one living blade of grass. It’s all beyond human knowledge and power. It’s of divine origin.
No (Job 11:7)
Right.
No Contradiction
371. Did Mary Magdalene recognize Jesus when he first appeared to her?
Yes (Matthew 28:9)
Right.
No (John 20:14)
Wrong. She did, but not immediately. When Jesus called her name she recognized him.
See the article.
Jesus didn’t appear to her; she had a vision of angels who told her that he was alive. (Luke 24:23)
Wrong. This is not her own testimony, but of two men who were not there (Emmaus walkers). They could not testify about the resurrection, but only about what the women said, that they had seen angels. They certainly didn’t dare to speak about the women’s testimony that Jesus arose and that they worshipped him. This was against their Jewish’ education that only God may be worshipped.
No Contradiction
372. Should we rejoice when our enemies suffer?
Yes (Psalm 58:10)
Rejoice about what? The critic suggests that the righteous should rejoice about the death of his enemy. Wrong. The righteous will rejoice in God, in his help and rescue, not in the death of a human creature.
“The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; He will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.” This a quite simple translation, but not logical as blood doesn’t wash at all and probably more to the point is: “He will wash his feet due to (because of) the blood of the wicked.” There were serious rituals of cleaning after a battle (Numbers 31:24). Compare the same construction: Genesis 18:28 “Will You destroy the whole city because of five?”
No (Proverbs 24:17)
Right. We should not rejoice in the misfortune of our enemies. “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; Or the Lord will see it and be displeased, And turn His anger away from him.” (Proverbs 24:17-18)
No Contradiction
373. Is it OK for a divorced woman to remarry?
Yes (Deuteronomy 24:1-2)
Right. In the Law of Moses divorce was arranged by writing a document of divorce and after that remarry was possible.
No (Luke 16:18)
Wrong. “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.” (1) This was said to Pharisees who were scoffing of Jesus (Luke 16:14-15), so this is not to be taken as a complete opinion of Jesus concerning divorce and it is not proper exegesis to take this verse on its own to declare Jesus’ view on it. Without any doubt Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for their interpretation of the Law to easily divorce and he blamed them as men for their misuse of the institute of marriage; they were in the position to oppress their wives, instead of building a conjugal relationship on mutual respect, free speech and love. (2) Word-for-word we read: “Everyone sending away his wife and marrying another (to marry another) commits adultery, and he who marries one just being sent away from a husband commits adultery.” In this translation the intentions are underlined, not the legal aspects. (3) In 1 Corinthians 7:12-13 Paul uses a Greek verb sun-eu-dokeoo, which means something as: together-properly-thinking (join in approving). This should be the fundament of a marriage. And if that is lacking and the unbelieving husband wants to leave, Paul says (7:15): “Let him leave.” It’s more in the power of a man to guarantee the joining in approving as he is the strongest one in the relationship. Compare what is said to the woman in Genesis 3:16 “Yet your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” It was never God’s intention the man to rule over his wife as they together should rule over the earth (Genesis 1:26); it was a consequence of the Fall of Man and it is still the first cause for divorce, if a man doesn’t make use of his faculty to love his wife sincerely.
No Contradiction
374. Should we rend our clothes?
Yes (2 Kings 22:19, 2 Chronicles 34:27, Ecclesiastes 3:7)
Partly right. It was no prescript, only a custom, a sign of mourning and it was good to do that in times of sorrow and repenting to the Lord.
No (Joel 2:12-13, 2 Kings 5:8)
Partly right. It should not be done without the right intention: “Rend your hearts and not your garments.” (Joel 2:12-13).
No Contradiction
375. Does God repent?
No, God does not repent. (Numbers 23:19, 1 Samuel 15:29, Ezekiel 24:14, e.a.)
Partly right. ‘To repent’ has several meanings:
1. to feel great sorrow for evil things one has done. God can’t feel sorrow for evil things He has done, as He doesn’t do evil things. Therefore He never takes back his once spoken word.
“Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind.” (1 Samuel 15:29)
Yes God can repent. (19 instances)
2. To feel great sorrow for evil things others have done. God can feel sorrow for evil things others have done, when he sees how people have made a mess of life.
“Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not carried out My commands.” (1 Samuel 15:10-11) Take note: Rejecting Saul as a king was not a broken promise as he remained king during his life.
3. To feel great sorrow for pain coming over people. In case of repentance of man there is room in the spiritual world of God for changing his mind, for forgiveness.
“If that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent [repent for] concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it.” (Jeremiah 18:8)
All the instances the critic has brought forward are explicable within these meanings of the word repent.
No Contradictions
No Bible Contradictions