<\/p>\n
Unmasking of 25 alleged Bible Contradictions of different nature.
\n\t(Used version: NASB, unless differently mentioned)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
426.<\/span> Who were the sons of Heman?<\/span><\/a><\/strong> Jehiel and Shimei <\/span>(2 Chronicles 29:14) <\/p>\n 427.<\/span> Was Jesus silent during his trial before Pilate?<\/span><\/a><\/strong> He spoke many words on his own behalf.<\/span> (John 18:33-37) <\/p>\n 428.<\/span> How did Jesus cure the blind man?<\/span><\/a><\/strong> By spitting on the ground, wiping the muddy spit in his eyes, and then washing it off<\/span> (John 9:1-6) <\/p>\n 429.<\/span> Does God have a body?<\/span><\/a><\/strong> No, God is a bodiless Spirit.<\/span> (John 4:24, 24:39) <\/p>\n 430.<\/span> How many stalls did Solomon have?<\/span><\/a><\/strong> 4,000<\/span> (2 Chronicles 9:25) <\/p>\n 431.<\/span> When were the stars made?<\/span><\/a><\/strong> Before the earth was made.<\/span> (Job 38:4-7) <\/p>\n 432.<\/span> Is it wrong to steal?<\/span><\/a><\/strong> No, it’s OK to steal sometimes.<\/span> <\/p>\n 433.<\/span> Did Joshua remove the twelve stones from the Jordan River?<\/span><\/a><\/strong> No, they are still there. <\/span>(Joshua 4:9) <\/p>\n 434.<\/span> May strangers observe the Passover?<\/span><\/a><\/strong> No<\/span> (Exodus 12:43) <\/p>\n 435.<\/span> How should strangers be treated?<\/span><\/a><\/strong> Kill them.<\/span> (5 instances) <\/p>\n 436.<\/span> Were the Philistines subdued all the days of Samuel?<\/span><\/a><\/strong> No <\/span>(1 Samuel 13:5-10) <\/p>\n 437.<\/span> Why did God turn the sundial back ten degrees?<\/span><\/a><\/strong> As a sign that he would defend the city against the Assyrians.<\/span> (Isaiah 38:4-8) <\/p>\n 438.<\/span> Is Jesus peaceful?<\/span><\/a><\/strong> No<\/span> (Matthew 10:34, Luke 12:51-52, 22:36, Revelation 19:11) <\/p>\n 439.<\/span> When did Jesus’ temple tantrum occur?<\/span><\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n 440.<\/span> Where did Jesus tell his disciples to go after his resurrection?<\/span><\/a><\/strong> He told them to tarry in Jerusalem. <\/span>(Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4) <\/p>\n 441.<\/span> Did the women immediately tell the disciples?<\/span><\/a><\/strong> No, they told no one since they were afraid.<\/span> (Mark 16:8) <\/p>\n 442.<\/span> Did Jesus say, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up”?<\/span><\/a><\/strong> No, he didn’t.<\/span> (Matthew 26:59-61, Mark 24:57-58) <\/p>\n 443.<\/span> Does God dwell in temples?<\/span><\/a><\/strong> God does not dwell in temples.<\/span> (Acts 7:48) <\/p>\n 444.<\/span> Can God be tempted?<\/span><\/a><\/strong> God can be tempted.<\/span> (9 instances)
\n\tBukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth<\/span> (1 Chronicles 25:4)
\n\tRight so<\/strong>. Heman who worked under king David had 14 sons. David reigned from 1010 – 970 BC.<\/p>\n
\n\tPartly right<\/strong>. These two descendants of Heman lived about 300 years later, at the time of Hezekiah, who was king from 715 – 686 BC. According to the rule “The son of a son is a son,” each descendant of Heman could be called “son of Heman”. Compare: Jesus the Son of David.
\n\tNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tHe was silent.<\/span> (Matthew 27:12-14, Mark 15:3-5)
\n\tVery wrong<\/strong>. The first part of the trial<\/em> before Pilate (i.e. before his interview with Herod). Jesus was accused of claiming to be the King of the Jews and by speaking Jesus confirmed that claim<\/em>. This was not so great a problem for Pilate as everyone could speak as he pleased. What were his punishable activities, that was the question. The accusers saw that Pilate was not impressed, and therefore came up with all sorts of accusations on which Jesus refused to react. Jesus probably started from the principle that the accuser had the burden to give proof. This was pretty confusing for a man like Pilate who turned out to be a man following the movements of the people instead of principles of justice.<\/p>\n
\n\tVery wrong<\/strong>. The first part of the trial Jesus spoke during His confirmation and then did not speak in public again. Then Pilate took him inside the Praetorium (John 18:33-38a) and had a short personal interview with Jesus concerning the type of Jesus’ kingdom (not of this world).
\n\tHereafter Jesus was sent to Herod (Luke 23:8-12) and after his return the second part of Pilate’s public trial<\/em> became a complete failure resulting in a bloody affaire from beginning to end (it was here in which Jesus was not heard at all<\/em>; Yes, then things are disposed to end up in misery): scourging, first mockery (crown and humiliation), presentation by Pilate in public, return inside and second mockery (and second humiliation), Thereafter: (last sayings of Jesus) followed by the way to Golgotha, the crucifixion, and death.
\n\tNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tThis is not one instance, but two different ones.
\n\tBy spitting on his eyes<\/span> (Mark 8:22-25)
\n\tPartly right<\/strong>. Jesus also laid hands on his eyes and He did it two times. This happened in Bethsaida (8:22) halfway Jesus’ ministry, short before Peter’s Confession.<\/p>\n
\n\tRight<\/strong>. This happened in Jerusalem, shortly before Jesus’ Passion.
\n\tNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tYes, God has a body.<\/span> (9 instances)
\n\tWrong<\/strong>. He created man in his image, i.e. as spiritual individuals, as God is Spirit. Sometimes this is spoken in the Bible about God in a metaphorical way; “The right hand of the Lord is exalted the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. I will not die, but live,” (Psalm 118:16-17 KJV). The 9 quoted instances are all examples of metaphorical speech.<\/p>\n
\n\tRight<\/strong>. Indeed God is a Spirit and a Spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones (Luke 24:39).
\n\tHe is a living Spirit, therefore He is called the eternal Spirit and the living God (Hebrews 9:14).
\n\tSee the article.<\/span> <\/a>
\n\tNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\t40,000<\/span> (1 Kings 4:26)
\n\t“Solomon had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots”
\n\tRight<\/strong>. Cribs for the horses.<\/p>\n
\n\t“Now Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots”
\n\tRight<\/strong>. Stables for the horses and their chariots. (Read your texts. Please.)<\/em>
\n\tThat means: one stable for ten horses with their chariots.
\n\tNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tOn the fourth day of creation, after the earth was made. <\/span>(Genesis 1:1, 16-19)
\n\tPartly right<\/strong>. It is not impossible that there existed already materials (heavenly bodies?) in the universe used by the Lord for the creation of the stars. At least on the fourth day they got their fixed lights and fixed motion.<\/p>\n
\n\tWrong<\/strong>. No lack of criticism, but complete lack of fair biblical insight by the critics.
\n\t4: “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? …"
\n\t7: "… When the morning stars sang together. And all the sons of God shouted for joy?”
\n\tVery wrong<\/strong>. Foundation of the earth, this is what happened in the earth crust: the rising of mountains and the lowering of the seafloor. It all resting on the bedrock of the earth (on the third day). The Morning Stars and the Sons of God are identical: God’s armies of angels (Lucifer is a fallen morning star, Isaiah 14:12).
\n\tCompare the article<\/span><\/a>: What is the earth set upon?<\/span>
\n\tNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tYes, it is always wrong to steal.<\/span> (Exodus 20:15, Matthew 19:18 and 9 more instances)
\n\tWrong<\/strong>. All the examples have the eightieth commandment as their fundament. However the Ten Commandments were given for normal life. Sometimes there could be made a deviation from the rule, e.g. in times of war it was accepted to kill enemies. The following examples for stealing are also clear. <\/p>\n
\n\tPartly right<\/strong>. It was only acceptable to deviate from the rule within a lawful setting: wartime.
\n\tExodus 12:35-36 “… they [Israelites] had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.”
\n\tIt was not unfair that the Israelites received payment for so many years of hard labor in slavery. Moreover they asked it openly from the Egyptians who were willing to give.
\n\tEzekiel 39:9-10 They will take the spoil of weapons from their enemies.
\n\tNahum 2:9 After the fall of Nineveh the people will take the valuables of the city.
\n\tWisdom 10:19 (No biblical book; outside the canon of the Hebrew Bible)
\n\tNo Contradiction <\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tYes, he took them to Gilgal.<\/span> (Joshua 4:20)
\n\tThe critic suggests that there is one set of twelve stones at stake. However it is all about two sets of twelve stones.
\n\tPartly right<\/strong>. (About the first set of twelve stones) The Israelites entering Canaan under Joshua crossed the river Jordan. There were taken twelve stones from the river Jordan for a monument ashore; Gilgal. “And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.” (Joshua 4:3, 4-8, 20)<\/p>\n
\n\tWrong<\/strong>. (About the second set of twelve stones) There were also twelve stones taken for a monument in the middle of the river Jordan (4:9), “And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, … and they are there unto this day.” The words are there unto this day<\/em> refers to the time of writing and publishing of the book of Joshua in the past. These words do not refer to a promise that they would always remain there.
\n\tSee the article.<\/span><\/a>
\n\tNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tYes<\/span> (Numbers 9:14)
\n\t“If an alien sojourns among you and observes the Passover to the Lord, … so he shall do; you shall have one statute, both for the alien and for the native of the land.”
\n\tRight<\/strong>. The used Hebrew word is gér <\/em>(sojourner, new-comer): someone who has been constrained to leave his place or tribe and seeks shelter and dwelling in another place. It is not at all clear what his rights were in Israel, but he had the possibility to celebrate the Passover.<\/p>\n
\n\t“This is the ordinance of the Passover: no foreigner is to eat of it;”
\n\tRight<\/strong>. The used Hebrew word is here: nékar (foreigner, someone from a foreign country): It was not allowed to let him attend the Passover, as he was no Israelite and belonged to another country. This was certainly a precaution that nothing went wrong with the most holiest celebration in Israel, due to unconcern.
\n\tAnyway the critic has compared two different classes of people to build his Bible Contradiction. However that is not acceptable.
\n\tNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tLove and be kind to them.<\/span> (13 instances)
\n\tRight<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
\n\tVery wrong<\/strong>. For the construction of his Bible Contradiction the critic has chosen for the rules of war that Moses gave about the treatment of the Canaanites (1). A second point he found in the rule concerning foreigners not being permitted to enter the Israelite courts of the tabernacle (or the temple), apart from the court for the strangers. They risked capital punishment in case of transgression. (2).
\n\t1. Moses rules concerning the Canaanites were strict rules in times of war. There was only a war if a Canaanite city declared war, or acted hostilely.
\n\t2. There are nearly no occasions that these things happened.
\n\tSee the article.<\/span><\/a>
\n\tNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tYes<\/span> (1 Samuel 7:13)
\n\t“So the Philistines were subdued and they did not come anymore within the border of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.”
\n\tRight<\/strong>. With the days of<\/em> a ruler are defined the period of his leadership.<\/p>\n
\n\t“Now the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen, and people like the sand which is on the seashore in abundance;”
\n\tWrong<\/strong>. Only when Saul became king in Israel (after Samuel as a judge) the Philistines saw again there options to invade the land of the Israelites.
\n\tNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tAs a sign that He would heal Hezekiah’s boil.<\/span> (2 Kings 20:7-11)
\n\tPartly right<\/strong>. The return of the sun shadow ten steps on the stairs was the sign that Hezekiah would enter the temple the third day (healing is implied). “What will be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the Lord the third day?” <\/em>(2 Kings 20:8)<\/p>\n
\n\tWrong<\/strong>. The critic overlooks Isaiah 38:22 “Then Hezekiah had said, ‘What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the Lord?’”
\n\tTake note<\/strong>. The threat of the Assyrians and the fact that Hezekiah had lived for the Lord with whole his heart and the disappointment to die so early are in both descriptions (2 Kings and Isaiah) important circumstantial motives, but the return of the sunlight was strictly speaking the sign that Hezekiah would return into the house of the Lord again.
\n\tCompare the article<\/span><\/a>: Is it OK to tempt (or test) God?<\/span>
\n\tNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tYes<\/span> (Matthew 5:9 and many more instances)
\n\t“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
\n\tRight<\/strong>. Jesus, while being arrested forbade Peter to use the knife for his defense. It is very clear that Jesus ordered his followers to be peaceful in society. This will be very important still. The modern<\/em> power of destruction has turned modern<\/em> wars into uncontrollable modern<\/em> monsters. Prevention of war will therefore be of major importance in the modern<\/em> world, but to what costs? <\/p>\n
\n\t“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”
\n\tPartly right<\/strong>. As Jesus is the Righteous One. He is the Mirror of Mankind in which the unrighteous see themselves. So, there is an ongoing spiritual war in this world which no one can escape. And yes, the results of this spiritual war are reflected in the wars of this world. Of this spiritual war Revelation 19:11 testifies: “and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is<\/em> called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.” (Revelation 19:11) Nevertheless Jesus himself remains peaceful in this process<\/em>, and He also asks that from his followers.
\n\tSee the article.<\/span><\/a>
\n\tNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tThe story is that Jesus expelled merchants from the temple courts. It is the interpretation of the critic that this was Jesus’ tantrum, instead of an act of righteousness concerning the central place of prayer in Israel. There are given three different moments this happened. What was the right moment? the critic asks. However there is no need of questioning here. If Jesus was a man of consequence He acted in this way consequently: i.e. He did that more times, each time when He came in the temple at market day.
\n\tAt the beginning of his ministry <\/span>(John 2:11-16)
\n\tThe day of his Triumphal Entry<\/span> (Luke 19:36-45)
\n\tThe day after his Triumphal Entry<\/span> (Matthew 21:2-3 mistakenly, Mark 11:1-17)
\n\tTake note<\/strong>. The critic mistakenly refers to Matthew 21:2-3, should be 21:12-13 and is to be reckoned together with Luke 19:36-45; the day of the Triumphal Entry.
\n\tRight<\/strong>. It was at least three times that Jesus expelled the merchants.
\n\tNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tHe told them to go to Galilee.<\/span> (Matthew 28:10, Mark 16:7)
\n\tRight<\/strong>. Between Jesus’ resurrection and Ascension (40 days) there was a short period in Galilee where Jesus appeared again to his eleven disciples (Matthew 28:16-20) and where Jesus again spoke with them about the Great Commandment (28:18-20). This is the final passage of the Gospel of Matthew and it gives the impression to also be the last words of Jesus to his disciples. However, that occurred shortly thereafter (Ascension), near Jerusalem. and that is related in the final passage of Luke 24:46-49.<\/p>\n
\n\tRight<\/strong>. The Ascension is described in Luke 24:46-49 and Acts 1:4-11. Back in Jerusalem, after the Galilee visit<\/em>, Jesus again appeared to the eleven and He instructed them to remain in Jerusalem. The Ascension took place near Bethany (Luke 24:50) and ten days later the outpouring of the Holy Spirit took place.
\n\tCompare the article<\/span><\/a>: Did Jesus go to heaven after his death and before Ascension?<\/span>
\n\tNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tYes, they immediately ran to tell the disciples.<\/span> (Matthew 28:8, Luke 24:8-9)
\n\tPartly right<\/strong>. It is likely they first told other women and together they went to the apostles (Luke 24:8-9).<\/p>\n
\n\tWrong<\/strong>. “They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.” Note that ‘anyone’ is an indefinite pronoun! That is: it is not be taken in an absolute sense, but the context has to explain it. Firstly: if a messenger didn’t tell anyone en route it was a good messenger! Secondly: Mark 16:9-10 describes Mary Magdalene as the main reporter, which is in accordance with Matthew 28:1 where she is described as the initiator to go and inspect the grave<\/em>.
\n\tNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tYes, he did. <\/span>(John 2:19-21)
\n\tRight<\/strong>. It was a strange saying that no one understood it, not even his opponents. John adds that they later understood that He spoke about his resurrection “But He was speaking of the temple of His body.”<\/p>\n
\n\tWrong. <\/strong>Only two false witnesses spoke about ‘the temple of God’ (Matthew) and ‘this temple made with hands’ (Mark). Jesus being the dwelling place of God, didn’t say so.
\n\tSee the article.<\/span><\/a>
\n\tNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tGod dwells in temples. <\/span>(1 Kings 8:13, 2 Chronicles 7:12, 16)
\n\tWrong<\/strong>. The Biblical view is that God dwelled at the place where the temple stood with the surrounding courts and with an open contact to the sky to bring offerings and prayers unto heaven in a holy place.<\/p>\n
\n\tRight<\/strong>. Stephen and Paul have stated in clear words that God doesn’t dwell in manmade temples.
\n\tSee the article.<\/span><\/a>
\n\tNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tGod can’t be tempted.<\/span> (James 1:13)
\n\tRight<\/strong>. “God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.” The meaning is clear: "God cannot be tempted successfully<\/em> by evil.” It is impossible how often people have tried.<\/p>\n
\n\tWrong<\/strong>. Of course many people have tried to tempt God. No question of that. But they did not do that successfully. It brought only bad luck. Unbelief is the feature of temptation, and temptation is never trusting. Being active while trusting is the most wonderful attitude for a Christian.
\n\tCompare the article<\/span><\/a>:<\/span> <\/span>Is it OK to test or tempt God?
\n\tNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n