Last series of 25 SAB Contradictions; interesting questions, interesting answers.
(Used Bible translation NASB, unless differently mentioned)
451. How did God address Jesus at his baptism?
Directly (Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22)
Right. “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”
This was not necessarily the only divine saying at the occurrence!
Indirectly, God addressed those who witnessed his baptism. (Matthew 3:17)
Partly right. “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”
This was also not necessarily the only divine saying! It is difficult to decide which of the two sayings was the first or the second.
No Contradiction
452. For how much did David buy the threshing floor?
Fifty shekels of silver (2 Samuel 24:24)
Right. Only the threshing floor is meant. “To buy the threshing floor from you, in order to build an altar to the Lord,”
Six hundred shekels of gold (1 Chronicles 21:25)
Wrong. Here the surrounding place of the threshing floor is implied. “Give me the site [place] of this threshing floor, that I may build on it an altar to the Lord; for the full price you shall give it to me,”
No Contradiction
453. Should you speak in tongues?
Yes
Everyone should speak in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:2-5)
Don’t forbid speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:39)
Paul was proud of speaking in tongues, saying “I speak in tongues more than anyone else (1 Corinthians 14:18)
Partly right. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit, meant for Christians as is said "One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself."
No
Speak so that everyone can hear what you’re saying (Speaking in tongues is just speaking to the air, 1 Corinthians 14:8-9)
Wrong. The critic doesn’t refer to the necessary translation if speaking in tongues is practiced in public. So it is an exhortation to use this gift properly, this is said in 14:13 and skipped by the critic in his quote to construct his contradiction.
See the article.
No Contradiction
454. Was it OK to touch the risen Jesus before ascension?
Jesus didn’t let people touch him before ascension. (John 20:17)
“Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father;”
Wrong. There is a serious difference the critic doesn’t take into account. Here in John 20:17 (anabaino = go up) the translation word “ascend” is used which does not give a clear indication between (passively) being taken up (analambano) or (actively) going up. Here actively, present tense: During the day of Resurrection He is going up. The Ascension of Jesus 40 days after his resurrection is “His being taken up into Heaven” (Acts 1:9), i.e. beside the Throne of God. If so: Jesus didn’t like to be touched before He actually went into heaven in his resurrected state. Another—also plausible explanation— is, instead of “Don’t touch Me,” the nuance might be: “Don’t cling to (restrain) Me.”
Jesus permitted people to touch him before his ascension. (Matthew 28:9, Luke 24:39, John 20:26-27)
Right. From heaven Jesus appeared to his disciples during a period of 40 days to talk with them about the Kingdom (Acts 1:3). During these appearances they sometimes touched Jesus.
Compare the article: Did Jesus go to heaven after his death and before his ascension?
No Contradiction
455. When did the transfiguration occur?
Six days after the time when Jesus foretold his death (Matthew 16:28 – 17:2, Mark 9:1-2)
Wrong. Six days after Peter’s Rebuke
Eight days after Jesus foretold his death (Luke 9:27-28)
Wrong. Eight days after Peter’s Confession.
See the article.
No Contradiction
456. May Adam eat from any tree?
Adam may eat from every tree. (Genesis 1:29)
Wrong. The privilege of eating from every plant and tree with fruit yielding seed is given to Adam and Eve on the sixth day (1:29). From this prescript it is clear that the Tree of Knowledge didn’t have fruit with seeds; it couldn’t multiply itself.
There is one tree from which Adam may not eat. (Genesis 2:17)
Right. God had instructed Adam, before the creation of Eve, not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge (2:17). Genesis 3:3 makes clear that also Eve was well informed about the prohibition to eat from the Tree of Knowledge.
See the article.
No Contradiction
457. What were the twelve tribes of Israel?
There are six lists of the tribes of Israel. They all disagree somewhat about names, number and order. (six instances)
Each list is not given to repeat the first, but each list is definitely complete according to the explicit purpose for which it is given! The differences in the lists do not justify the accusation of contradictions in any way. No list claims to give a full list!
1. First list. Twelve sons of Jacob are given in the sequence of their birth with the blessings of Jacob before he died. Two adopted sons (Manasseh and Ephraim) of Jacob are not in it as they were blessed earlier (Genesis 49:1-28).
2. Second list. The tribes that go out to war. Tribe of priests is lacking (Levi); does not go to war. Included at the end: Manasseh and Ephraim, tribes of Joseph (Numbers 1:4-15).
3. Third list. The list of the 12 visiting men to inspect the land Kanaan. Again without Levi, it was not appointed to possess a tribe’s region. Including Manasseh and Ephrai (Numbers 13:1-15).
4. Fourth list. Deuteronomy, Moses gives his blessings to the tribes and their regions. Simeon is lacking as his tribe would live within the region of Judah (Deuteronomy 33:6-24).
5. Fifth list. Joseph is not mentioned as he is represented in his sons Ephraim and Manasseh (Ezekiel 48:1-27).
6. Sixth list. After the exile, Dan is lacking; it had got dwelling place within Manasseh. The name of Joseph is taken for Ephraim here (Revelation 7:4-8).
See the article.
No Contradiction
458. Was Jesus’ witness of himself true?
Yes (John 8:14)
Right. "Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true," This is a hypothetical statement, the point is that Jesus never testified about Himself without God's confirming testimony! So there were always two testimonies when Jesus was at work.
No (John 5:31, 8:18)
Wrong. Jesus says “If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true.” (5:31) But Jesus didn’t testify alone about Himself; his Father also testified with miracles, signs and gifts of the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 2:3-4).
And also: “ I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.” (8:18) The critic skipped the second (cursive) part of the sentence, about the necessary second witness in a legal process to create his contradiction. That’s what we call: doing tricks.
See the article: Did Jesus bear witness of himself?
No Contradiction
459. How many animals of each kind did Noah take into the ark?
Two (Genesis 6:19, 7:8-9, 14-15)
Right. One pair for the unclean animals and birds.
Seven (Genesis 7:2)
Wrong. Seven pairs for the clean animals which were to be used for sacrificial worship. Indeed, all animals came by pairs of two into the ark, also the seven pairs of the clean animals (Genesis 7:8-9).
No Contradiction
460. Is there an unforgivable sin?
Yes (Matthew 12:31-32, Mark 3:29, Luke 12:10)
Right. “… but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.”
Blaspheming the Holy Spirit includes rejecting the work of the Holy Spirit: i.e. repenting which is the condition for forgiveness generally.
No (Acts 13:39, Colossians 2:13, Titus 2:13-14, 1 John 1:9)
Partly right. Whoever is willing to repent, receives divine forgiveness from all transgressions.
See the article.
No Contradiction
461. Is it OK to marry an unbeliever?
Yes (1 Corinthians 7:12-14)
Wrong. This (1 Corinthians 7:12-14 ) is said about a couple already married before they heard the Gospel. A marriage before the Gospel came, was seen as a calling of God “Each man/woman must remain in that condition in which he was called.” (1 Corinthians 7:20)
No, they are unclean. (1 Corinthians 6:14-17)
Right. It was/is a rule in Christianity not to marry an unbeliever. If one of the two does not share faith in the Gospel there is no common ground for a marriage.
See the article.
No Contradiction
462. Should we believe in unseen things?
Yes (many instances)
Right, concerning special unseen things.
Faith, conviction of things not seen.
Promised things worthy a conviction.
Eternal things. Eternal inheritance.
Perspective of a better life to come. Eternal life
Hope that is seen is not hope. Eternal hope.
Believe all things. I.e. good things.
God, who rewards those who seek Him.
Jesus’ words.
No (Colossians 2:18)
Wrong. Only a right warning for all who want to live with Christ instead of with uncontrolled fictitious ideas.
See the article.
No Contradiction
463. Where did God kill Uzza?
At the threshing floor of Nachon (2 Samuel 6:6)
The name Nacon means “trustworthy, reliable”; certainly given by his parents at his birth.
At the threshing floor of Chidon (1 Chronicles 13: 9)
The name Chidon means “spear, javelin”; certainly given by his fellow soldiers. Both names were current during his life.
Take note. Did God kill Uzza? No, his death was accidental —however Uzza could have known—he touched the ark of the covenant and remained dead. With high-voltage lines the greatest caution should be exercised, the same with the ark of the covenant. Several accidents had happened in the past.
See the article.
No Contradiction
464. What did the soldiers give Jesus to drink?
Vinegar and gall (Matthew 27:34)
Wine and myrrh (Mark15:23)
Vinegar (Mark 15:36, Luke 23:36)
Vinegar and hyssop (John 19:29)
The critic suggests that Jesus was offered four different sorts of drinks: seemingly a fine Bible contradiction. However each description gives a feature of what they gave Jesus to drink.
Vinegar or sour wine was the name for old (bad, stale) wine. It was mixed with two ingredients.
Myrrh existed in powder form and worked as a drug in the wine to diminish the pain.
Gall gave the sour wine a bitter taste to prevent the soldiers from drinking the wine.
Vinegar and hyssop: i.e. vinegar on hyssop; a stick or a branch of the hyssop plant to carry the vinegar.
See the article.
No Contradiction
465. Did Jesus go to heaven after he died but before his ascension?
Yes, Jesus went to heaven on the day of his death. (Luke 23:42-43)
Right. But this was not the Ascension, but a transition to heaven as any believing individual is promised after death.
No, Jesus remained on earth after his death until his ascension. (John 20:17)
Wrong. Jesus arose, his body came to life again. Certainly his spirit returned into his body. It is generally taken that Jesus left the tomb to do his morning prayers, the angels remaining with Him. Where was Jesus later? There is no direct mention of it in the Gospels, but with the angels He would have returned into heaven, from where he appeared to his disciples during a period of 40 days to talk with them about the Kingdom (Acts 1:3).
At the end of this period the Ascension occurred. Jesus, being the Messiah, took his place besides his heavenly Father on the throne in heaven. This was not an entering in heaven after death. This was much more, He was given the place from where He was to take the reign of His Kingdom on earth.
See the article.
No Contradiction
466. Did the men with Paul hear the voice?
Take note! It happened at midday (Acts 26:13), the time of prayer for the Pharisees, and certainly Paul had found a quiet place beside the road to pray.
Yes, they heard the voice. (Acts 9:7)
Partly right. “The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.” These were the soldiers who didn’t pray at all and had remained on the road: they stood! They witnessed the voice, but didn’t understand the content.
No, they didn’t hear the voice. (Acts 22:9)
“And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me.” These were observant companions, those who were with me, who also prayed. (Acts 26:13) These all fell to the ground (26:14), they also witnessed the voice, but could not understand the content. Only Paul, praying alone, could hear perfectly what was said.
See the article.
No Contradiction
467. Where did Moses get water from a rock?
The wilderness of Sin in Rephidim (Exodus 17:1-7)
Right. The first time that water emerged from a rock. God ordered Moses to beat a rock and doing so water emerged from it.
The wilderness of Zin in Kadesh (Numbers 20:1-8, 27:14, Deuteronomy 32:51)
Right. The second time that water emerged from a rock. Here Moses was angry and took his staff to beat the rock instead of speaking to the rock as God had commanded him the second time. Moreover he said: "We will give you water,"instead of "The Lord will give you water."
See the article.
No Contradiction
468. How did God tell Moses to get water from a rock?
By smiting it (Exodus 17:5)
Right. The first time Moses had to strike the rock with his staff.
By talking to it (Numbers 20:7-8)
Right. The second time he had to only speak to (order) the rock to give water.
See SAB 467.
No Contradiction
469. Does God ever tire?
God never gets tired. (Isaiah 40:28)
Right.
Sometimes God gets tired. (Exodus 31:17, Isaiah 1:14, 43:24, Jeremiah 15:6)
Very wrong. God can be inactive, which sometimes has been translated with resting, without the implication that God is tired (Exodus). Sometimes it is used with the meaning of: being sick of, being disgusted with/at. But these are not meanings the critic suggests.
No Contradiction
470. Was Jonah swallowed by a fish or a whale?
Jonah was swallowed by a big fish. (Jonah 1:17)
Jonah was swallowed by a whale. (Matthew 12:40)
The contradiction would be the type of species: fish or whale, the latter is not a fish (no gills, no scales, giving birth). However it’s only about meaning of words.
Hebrew. (Jonah 1:17) With the Hebrew word dag(ah) each living creature in the sea can be meant, Genesis 9:2 “and all the fish of the sea, into your hand they are given.” It includes ‘all that lives in the sea’, or two types: ‘great sea monsters and every living creature that moves [in the waters]’. (Genesis 1:21). Dag gadool is simply a great/huge sea-animal/fish, whatever.
Greek. (Matthew 12:40) The classic Greek word kètos can have the general meaning: any sea-monster, huge fish (Lexicon Liddle Scott Jones). So the word doesn’t distinguish between all sorts of great species living in the sea. Nowadays one translates ‘sea-monster’, however the old translation ‘whale’ (KJV) was not too bad seeing the historical occasions of men being swallowed by a cachalot (subspecies of the whales) at whale-hunting.
Compare the article (additional remarks): Who cast Jonah into the sea?
No Contradiction
471. Who (or what ) is a ransom for the righteous?
The wicked (Proverbs 21:18)
“The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,”
Right. The general idea of the book of Proverbs is that a wicked is not a blessing for his surroundings in contrast to a righteous who can make a difference spiritually or/and practically. Jesus fulfilled this saying. He was not wicked, but became so in taking our wickedness so that we can be righteous through Him.
Jesus (Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, 2 Timothy 2:6)
“the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Yes. Jesus, bearing the sins of all mankind, became a curse for us. He came to bring eternal life. Accepting Him in our inner self is receiving that life. And as it is eternal life we have the guarantee that He will never leave.
Riches (Proverbs 13:8)
“The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth,”
Right. The idea is that whoever has something in reserve has a way-out in difficult times. Christ fulfilled this with his ransom. In Christ are all the riches we need. As it is said “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
No one and nothing since there are no righteous. (Job 15:4, Isaiah 41:26, 64:6, Romans 3:23)
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
Right. No one on earth could take the power of sin from us, so Jesus, coming from heaven, did it for us. He is the way to and of salvation.
No Contradiction
472. Who created heaven and earth?
God the Father did it all by himself. (Genesis 1:1, Isaiah 44:24)
Wrong. The critic overlooks the Trinity of God: the Father, the Son and the Spirit. Together they are One as God. Already 750 years earlier Isaiah predicted the birth of the Son, who is God. “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
Jesus did. (John 1:6-10, Colossians 1:16)
Right. He is the Word of God. Moreover: The Word was God (John 1:1). So, God created through the Word of God, God created.
Both of them did. (1 Corinthians 8:6)
Right. See the former comments.
No Contradiction
473. Who made the ark of the covenant?
Moses (Deuteronomy 10:1-3)
Partly right. Moses gave the order: he was (commissioner) and supervisor.
Bezaleel (Exodus 37:1)
Right. He was the actual builder. It is common language until this day to call both the commissioner and the actual maker (e.g. architect) ‘builder’.
No Contradiction
474. Who wrote the (second set of) ten commandments?
God (Exodus 34:1)
Moses (Exodus 34:27)
Kernel of the matter is Exodus 34:28: “So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread or drink water. And he [He, pres. auth.] wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.”
Many translations have in this verse He wrote [God], others have he wrote [Moses]. However Moses got the clear order to ascend the mountain for the second time “and I [God] will write on the tablets the words that were on the former tablets” (34:1).
See the article.
No Contradiction
475. Does God destroy both the righteous and the wicked?
God destroys both the righteous and the wicked. (Job 9:22, Ecclesiastes 7:15, Ezekiel 21:3)
Wrong. God does not destroy. It is essentially the work of God’s opponent, satan, to destroy. The Fall of Man is his creation, not God’s. As soon as people discover that it is God’s desire to save and not to punish and that much pain is the result of the Fall of man, often combined with personal transgressions and those of others, many people turn to God as their Helper and find relief.
God destroys the wicked, not the righteous. (Ezekiel 18:8-9, 19-20, 33:18-19)
Wrong. The spiritual law is “But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and practices justice and righteousness, he will live by them.” (Ezekiel 33:19) The thesis here is wrong. God does not destroy. Any individual lives in the Fall and will remain in the Fall unless he/she turns to the light of God’s revelation. God does not destroy at all; God saves, that is his character.
See the article.
No Contradiction
No Bible Contradictions