25 so called Bible Contradictions of the SAB Collection. Some are real questions; however, positive and biblical answers are possible for all. There are always simple and natural answers on alleged Bible Contradictions. Here are mine.
(Used version: NASB, unless differently mentioned)
401. Should we let others see our good works?
Yes, we should. (Matthew 5:16, 1 Peter 2:12)
Partly right. We cannot prevent others seeing our good works and Jesus and Peter taught their disciples to become familiar with the rule: “For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed.” (Marc 4:22).
No, we shouldn’t (Matthew 6:1, 23:3, 5)
Right. According to Jesus’ teachings it is a wrong intention to show your unselfish actions to the world. If we are seen by God it’s enough.
See the article.
No Contradiction
402. Can God be seen?
Yes, many have seen Him (30 instances)
Wrong. There are several expressions used in the referred passages which indicate that seeing with natural eyes seems to be implied. However when we look to the context on the contrary we see that this is out of the question:
11 instances: God appeared to someone … (Abram, Isaac, Jacob): in a dream, through a force of nature (storm etc.),
8 instances: having seen God (face to face) … (Jacob, Moses): meaning meeting someone intimately (face to face, metaphorical language),
rest of instances: not seeing at all, but: speak with, talk with, know, be judged by.
No, God is invisible and cannot be seen (7 instances)
Right.
See the article.
No Contradiction
403. How many of Senaah’s offspring returned from Babylon?
3630 (Ezra 2:35)
Right. This is a quotation from the list that Ezra recorded in Babylon at the meeting place of departure after the exile.
3930 (Nehemiah 7:38)
Right. This is a quotation from the list that was compiled after the journey to Jerusalem. It shows that after the departure many of Senaah’s offspring who came up later, joined the stream of immigrants.
See the article: Contradictory lists about Israelites that returned from Babel.
No Contradiction
404. Should you serve God alone?
Yes (Matthew 4:10, 23:10)
Right. It’s all about serving God in a spiritual way: worship and following his commandments.
No (7 instances)
Wrong. All these instances are about serving people and not worshipping at all.
See the article.
No Contradiction
405. What is the earth set upon?
Nothing (Job 26:7)
“And [He] hangs the earth on nothing.”
Right. This is a brilliant description of how planet Earth moves forward in the universe disconnected from any other object.
Pillars (1 Samuel 2:8)
“For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
And He set the world on them.”
Wrong. The foundations in the earth crust (èrèts) are meant as they form the continental shelve, base, for the mainland (tébél, here: world).
See the article.
No Contradiction
406. How should a man who has sex with a menstruating women be punished?
“If a man actually lies with her so that her menstrual impurity is on him, he shall be unclean seven days,…”
He shall be unclean for seven days. (Leviticus 15:24)
Wrong. This is not about sexual intercourse, but about the place where a woman sleeps or sits during her period of menstruation. No one else should touch that place. If so that individual has to wash himself and his clothes. Till the evening his uncleanness will be in force. If he sleeps on the same bed he will be seven days unclean.
He and the woman shall be cut off from among their people. (Leviticus 20:18)
Right. The ultimate punishment in Israel was that someone would be cut off from the people of Israel. Nobody but God could do that. This punishment is often given in situations where it was nearly impossible to collect evidence via witnesses to bring a case for court.
See the article.
No Contradiction, as it are two total different cases of transgression.
407. Do bad things happen to good people?
Yes (Habakkuk 1:4, 13; Hebrews 12:6)
Partly right. The Bible is not blind to the unrighteousness in this world that hurts many guiltless people. Or as Habakkuk cries (4)
“Therefore the law is ignored, and justice is never upheld. For the wicked surround the righteous; therefore justice comes out perverted.” There are also all sorts of natural disasters that fall on guiltless people as Ecclesiastes 9:12 suggests “like fish caught in a treacherous net and birds trapped in a snare, so the sons of men are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them.” Yes, bad things can happen to good people, nevertheless there is consolation, see further.
No (Proverbs 12:21, 19:23, 1 Peter 3:13)
“No harm befalls the righteous,…” (12:21)
Partly right. Yes, harm may fall on the righteous as we have seen earlier. But it does not necessarily overwhelm him as he knows that his God’s grace is always greater than the pain.
No Contradiction
408. What did the sign over Jesus’ head say?
This is Jesus the King of the Jews. (Matthew 27:37)
The King of the Jews. (Mark 15:26)
This is the King of the Jews. (Luke 23:38)
Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. (John 19:19)
Wrong. Matthew and Mark only give the accusation (the charge) on the sign, not the full text of it. Luke is only mentioning an inscription, without the claim of a full inscription. John gives the most complete quote of the sign on the cross.
See the article.
No Contradiction
409. Did Jesus perform many signs and wonders?
Yes (Mark 16:20, John 3:2, Acts 2:22)
“Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples,…”
Right. Indeed Jesus did perform many signs and wonders.
No (Matthew 16:4, Mark 8:12, Luke 11:29)
“An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it…”
Very wrong. The critic reads the expression ‘generation’ to mean the people who were all contemporaries of Jesus, which is of course very wrong as Jesus is not against all the people of his generation (adulterous). The word generation here is “descendants of someone or of something”, in this case representatives of hypocritical false religious leaders.
See the article.
No Contradiction
410. What did Judas do with the silver?
He bought a field. (Acts 1:18)
“Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness…”
Very wrong. He didn’t buy it, but the chief priests bought a burial field with the money of betrayal (Matthew 27:6). Judas’ name remained connected with it as the money originated from Judas. NASB: Now this man [Judas] acquired a field… This is perfectly right: he got, received… Apparently Peter—speaking here, Acts 1:18—referred to the fact that Judas was the first to be buried on this burial field. So yes, Judas—after his death—got a field as a burial place bought with the money of his betrayal.
He threw it on the ground. (Matthew 27:5)
Right. There you are.
No Contradiction
411. Do Christians sin?
Yes, everyone is a sinner. (1 Kings 8:46 and 6 more instances)
Partly right. Yes Christians are not perfect, however they no longer sin as they used to do, not being slaves of sin anymore.
No, Christians are sinless. (Romans 5:14, 1 John 3:6, 9, 5:18, 3 John 11)
Wrong. The real problematic instances are those of 1 John 3. They go back to Jesus’ sayings “Don’t sin again!” Jesus didn’t mean that these people should become perfect, without sin at all, but not sinning in a way they used to do as second nature, which brought them sickness, diseases, misfortune and seperation from God.
See the article.
No Contradiction
412. Where did Moses receive the ten commandments?
On mount Sinai (Exodus 31:18, 34:4, 32, Leviticus 26:46, 27:34, Nehemiah 9:13)
On mount Horeb (Deuteronomy 29:1, 1 Kings 8:9, 2 Chronicles 5:10, Malachi 4:4)
The critic suggests that two different mountains are meant with the two names Horeb and Sinai and that two different Law Givings occurred.
This is very wrong. The name Sinai for the mount is identical with Horeb. Evidence: Exodus 3:1 On Horeb, the mountain of God, the Lord spoke to Moses in the burning bush; in 3:12 is said: you (with the people after the exit out of Egypt) will serve me on this mountain. In 18:5 they are near the mountain of God, that is in the desert of Sinai (19:1) with the mountain Sinai (19:18).
Moreover, on Sinai with a great fire on it the Ten Words were given on two tablets, according to Exodus 34:28. We see the same features in Deuteronomy 4:10, 13 about the Law giving on Horeb. (Meaning of Sinai unknown; meaning of Horeb probably: dryness, wilderness; Lexikon zur Bibel, red. Rienecker, 71969).
Take note 1. The critic refers to an article of G. Greenberg to sustain his Bible Contradiction which doesn’t make it very convincing to read his contradiction directly from the biblical text itself.
Take note 2. Differences in the wording of the Ten Words (Commandments) in Exodus (20:1-17) and Deuteronomy (5:6-21) are in no way evidence for different things. Enlargements and shortenings in the Deuteronomy version are to be understood as Continued Prophecy by Moses’ direct speech when he is referring to the Law Giving in the past. This freedom of prophetical speech in quotation was possible by the meticulous Documentation of the original (here Exodus 20:1-17). Compare also the free quotations of the Old Testament by Jesus and the apostles.
No Contradiction
413. How many singing men and women returned from Babylon?
200 (Ezra 2:65)
Right. This is a quotation from the list that Ezra recorded in Babylon at the meeting place of departure.
245 (Nehemiah 7:67)
Right. This is a quotation from the list that was compiled after the journey to Jerusalem. It shows that after the departure, some of Bebai’s offspring who came up later, joined the stream of immigrants.
See the article: Contradictory lists about Israelites that returned from Babel.
No Contradiction
414. Were the men or angels inside the tomb sitting or standing?
Sitting (Mark 16:5, John 20:11-12)
Standing (Luke 24:3-4)
Wrong. The critic confuses the standing of the angels outside and the sitting of them inside the tomb.
In Luke is told that the women—after the inspection and departure of the apostles Peter and John—entered the tomb. Not finding the body they went again outside, where they met two angels (standing). About this interview outside (standing) is told in Matthew 28:1-5 that one of the angels invites the women for a real inspection of the tomb especially the place where He had laid (Matthew). With the angels they enter again into the tomb. One of the angels (Mark), sitting now, showed the shroud of Jesus, the emptiness and the shape of it just as at the burial. The resurrection took place through the shroud just as later when Jesus entered a room while doors and windows remained closed. Also in John’s Gospel is told that the angels were sitting in the tomb while they spoke to the women.
See the article.
No Contradiction
415. What was Jesus’ sixth commandment?
You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 19:17-20)
Honor your father and mother. (Mark 10:19-20)
There were not six, but only five commandments. (Luke 18:20-21)
Jesus refers freely to the Ten Commandments in his discourse with “the rich young ruler”.
Wrong. The critic doesn’t see that “the rich young ruler” never existed. The features of the descriptions show that we have to do with three rich men of which only one is young. In the Jewish culture it was not possible to become a ruler while young (by inheritance) as one was chosen for it at the age of about 40. Only one of the older men was a ruler (the one who didn’t kneel, as kneeling was not appropriate for a ruler). So it is crystal clear that Jesus—talking with these men at different times—could refer to the Ten Commandments in three different ways. (For quoting the Old Testament in the New Testament see above 412: Take Note 2.)
See the article.
No Contradiction
416. What was Jonathan’s first slaughter?
The Philistine garrison in Geba (1 Samuel 13:3)
“Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba…”
After the Geba smiting (1 Samuel 14:4)
“That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made was about twenty men…”
Wrong. The critic claims a contradiction as in 14:4 a first slaughter is mentioned, while earlier (13:3) also a victory by Jonathan occurred. In 14:4 the first slaughter happened in a war between Israelites and Philistines. It is altogether out of the question that the conflict in 13:3 was part of the existing war, it became only the motive for the Philistines to mobilize a huge army against the Israelites.
See the article.
No Contradiction
417. Does God sleep?
God never sleeps. (Psalm 121:3-4)
“Behold, He who keeps Israel, will neither slumber nor sleep.” (4)
Right.
God sometimes sleep. (Psalm 44:23)
“Arouse Yourself, why do You sleep, O Lord?
Awake, do not reject us forever.”
Very wrong. God is not physical, He cannot sleep at all; sleeping is not meant. The meaning of the verb to sleep is necessarily metaphorical here: being/sitting inactive. At least the meaning is, or the translation could be: “Arouse Yourself, why are you inactive, O Lord? Wake up, do not reject us forever!” Compare Psalm 78:65 “Then the Lord awoke as if from sleep,…”.
(Lexicon Koehler-Baumgartner ’53, sub voce: 3. Untätig sein, be indolent)
No Contradiction
418. How many valiant men who drew the sword as counted by Joab?
800,000 for Israel; 500,000 for Judah (2 Samuel 24:9)
Right. “Valiant men” were soldiers with battle experience.
1,100,000 for Israel; 470,000 for Judah (1 Chronicles 21:5)
Wrong. Here are not mentioned “valiant men”, soldiers with battle experience, but only “men”. So included are a mobilization of 300,000 men for Israel without battle experience; and a mobilization for Judah of 30,000 men without battle experience.
See the article.
No Contradiction
419. Who brought Joseph into Egypt?
The Midianites (Genesis 37:36)
The Ishmaelites (Genesis 37:28, 39:1)
Wrong. The critic suggests that these are two different groups. However in Genesis 37:28 we read:
“Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they [Joseph’s brothers] pulled him up and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. Thus they brought Joseph into Egypt.”
So it is crystal clear that Ishmaelites from the region Midian bought Joseph and brought him to Egypt. Within the story these men can be called Midianites (37:36) as well as Ishmaelites (39:1)
No Contradiction
420. Was Solomon David’s second or fourth son by Bathsheba?
Second (2 Samuel 12: 15, 24)
Right. After the passing away of the first child of David and Bathsheba Solomon was born: their second son.
Fourth (1 Chronicles 3:5)
“These were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon, four, by Bath-shua the daughter of Ammiel;”
Wrong.
Changes in genealogies could be made for a specific reason. Especially for main characters in the story. It could be important to make a change as his position was already known for the readers. By giving Solomon the last place of the four sons of Bathsheba, the writer in fact gave the other sons a place before Solomon. It was certainly a signal that they were as important to David as Solomon and that nobody should disdain them because of his (David’s) transgression with Bathsheba.
See the article.
No Contradiction
421. What was Solomon’s gift to Hiram?
Wheat and oil (1 Kings 5:11)
Partly right. “Solomon then gave Hiram 20,000 kors of wheat as food for his household, and twenty kors of beaten oil;” This was the payment for Hiram’s royal household. But there was also payment for all the workers (see further) who provided Solomon of wood and stones for the building of the temple in Jerusalem.
Wheat, barley, wine and oil (2 Chronicles 2:10)
Partly right. “Now behold, I will give to your servants, the woodsmen who cut the timber, 20,000 kors of crushed wheat and 20,000 kors of barley, and 20,000 baths of wine and 20,000 baths of oil.” Here is referred to the payment for Hiram’s men who provided the materials Solomon needed for the temple.
No Contradiction
422. When did Solomon’s reign begin?
476 years after the Israelites left Egypt. (1 Kings 6:1)
Right. In the fourth year of his reign Solomon started the building of the temple. That was the 480th year after the exit from Egypt. So his reign started 476 years after the Israelites left Egypt.
570 years after the Israelites left Egypt. (Acts 13:17-22, 1 Chronicles 29:26-27)
Wrong. The counting in Acts 13:17-22 does not at all refer to the period from the Exodus until the reign of Solomon. The period from Abraham until Joshua is meant and is about 450 years. The critic has made use of the KJV which has been translated inadequately here: (20) "And after that he gave unto them judges years about the space of four hundred and fifty, until Samuel the prophet.” Following the word order of the used Greek text, it should be: 20 "And after that—about the space of four hundred and fifty years—he gave unto them judges, until Samuel the prophet.” It is clear that the 450 years relate to the foregoing period without the time of the judges until Samuel.
See the article.
No Contradiction
423. Was Jesus the son of David?
Yes (Acts 2:30, Romans 1:3)
Right.
No (Matthew 22:42-45)
42 "What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?” They said to Him, “The son of David… 45 If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?”
Very wrong. Jesus does not suggest that the Christ is not a son of David, but He asks how it is possible that this son of David is called “Lord” by David. Jesus is suggesting that the Christ is not a pure natural son of David, but a divine son of David. That is only possible if there is a supernatural conception for this Son of David.
No Contradiction
424. How many sons did God have?
Only one (1 John 4:9)
“By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son…”
Right.
Quite a lot (many references)
“Adam, which was the son of God.” (Luke 3:38)
Partly right. More examples: Israel is God’s first born son; Ephraim is my firstborn (instead of Manasse Genesis 48:21); Satan (Job 1:6); Solomon; peacemakers; Christians; God’s lost sons (not in the list) etc.
The critic suggests in his listing that this is a Bible Contradiction: Only one Son, Jesus, and also a lot of other sons from all sorts and conditions of men (and even not men). But there is no contradiction as he overlooks the fact that a Capital is used only for the Son Jesus and all the other sons are lacking a capital. They are all minor sons and daughters of God in contrast to the Great Son Jesus, the Christ.
No Contradiction
425. How many sons did Gideon have?
70 (Judges 8:30)
Wrong. This number was counted when Gideon was still alive. Moreover after this counting Gideon received two other sons: Abimelech (Judges 8:31). The latest son of Gideon was Jotham. When Abimelech killed his 70 brothers (Judges 9:5) it was Jotham who witnessed that from a safe distance (Judges 9:5)
72 (Judges 9:4-5, 23-24)
Right.
No Contradiction
No Bible Contradictions