A new series of 25 rejected SAB Contradictions.\u00a0Can God do anything? Is childbearing sinful? Is circumcision required? Did Jesus say before the cock crows or before the crock crows twice? And More.<\/p>\n
76.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>Should every man bear his own burden?<\/span><\/strong><\/a> Yes<\/span> (Galatians 6:2) 77.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Who buried Jesus?<\/span><\/strong><\/a> Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus<\/span> (John 19:38-42) The Jews and their rulers<\/span> (Acts 13:27-29) 78.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>On what day did the temple burn?<\/span><\/strong><\/a> On the tenth day<\/span> (Jeremiah 52:12-13) 79.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Did God command the Israelites to make him burnt offerings?<\/span><\/strong><\/a> God did not ask for any burnt offerings.<\/span> (Jeremiah 7:22) 80.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>Who appeared to Moses in the burning bush?<\/strong><\/span><\/a> An angel<\/span> (Exodus 3:2, Acts 7:35) 81.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>What became of Cain?<\/span><\/strong><\/a> He\u00a0settled down, married, had a son and built a city.<\/span> (Genesis 4:16-17) 82.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Was Jesus taken to Caiaphas or Annas first?<\/strong><\/span><\/a> Annas<\/span> (John 18:13) 83.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>Will those who call on the Lord be delivered?<\/strong><\/span><\/a> No<\/span> (Matthew 7:21, Jeremiah 14:12, Ezekiel 8:18, Micah 3:4) 84.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Can God do anything?<\/strong><\/span><\/a> There are some things that God cannot do.<\/span> (Judges 1:19, Mark 6:5, Hebrews 6:18) 85.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>How should the Canaanites be treated?<\/span><\/a><\/strong> Welcome them as fellow citizens with the same rights as Israelites.<\/span> (1 reference) 86.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>How long was the Egyptian Captivity?<\/strong><\/span><\/a> 430 years<\/span> (Exodus 12:40, Galatians 3:17) 87.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Does God prefer castrated men?<\/span><\/a><\/strong> No<\/span> (Deuteronomy 23:1) 88.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Is casting out devils a sign of a true Christian?<\/strong><\/span><\/a> No, some who don\u2019t follow Jesus can cast out devils too.<\/span> (Mark 9:38, Luke 9:49) Note<\/strong>. The word “follow” has two meanings: 89.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>Did God kill all the Egyptian cattle in the sixth plague?<\/strong><\/span><\/a> No he saved some to kill later.<\/span> (Exodus 9:19, 12:29) 90.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>Is it OK to have a census?<\/strong><\/span><\/a> No. God killed 70.000 men because of David\u2019s census.<\/span> (2 Samuel 24:1-17, 1 Chronicles 21:2)
\nNo<\/span> (Galatians 6:5)
\nPartly right<\/strong>. In Greek is used the word \u2018phortion\u2019: load, lading (of a ship). Meaning from the context: We live together with imperfect people, we have to accept from each other some inconveniences apart from our own problems. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
\nRight<\/strong>. In Greek is used the word \u2018bar\u00e8\u2019: burden. Meaning from the context: everybody has to live his own life. Nobody can take it over. The answer must be \u201cYes\u201d.
\nSee the article<\/span><\/a>: To bear or not to bear?<\/span>
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\nJoseph of Arimathaea<\/span> (Matthew 27:57-60)
\nRight<\/strong>. It was Joseph who had got permission from Pilate to do that, and Jesus came in his tomb.<\/p>\n
\nRight<\/strong>. It was Nicodemus, Joseph\u2019s acquaintance, who helped him bury Jesus.<\/p>\n
\nWrong<\/strong>. There was no approval of “the Jews” concerning Jesus\u2019 death or funeral. This way of anti-Semitic thinking should lay far behind us and it is also not deducible from the text.<\/strong>
\nJesus was buried with the approval of the Jewish and Roman authorities – It is accepted use of language to say than that \u201cthey buried him \u2026\u201d. (Better: One buried him \u2026)
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\nOn the seventh day<\/span> (2 Kings 25:8-9)
\nWrong<\/strong>. On the seventh day \u2026 Nebuzaradan \u201ccame to Jerusalem\u201d. Here is the ingressive form of the verb without the (Hebrew) preposition \u201cbe\u201d, meaning: \u201cto undertake a journey to Jerusalem\u201d.<\/p>\n
\nRight<\/strong>. On the tenth day \u2026 Nebuzaradan \u201centered into Jerusalem\u201d. Here is the resultative form with the (Hebrew) preposition \u201cbe\u201d (be-Jerusalem: into Jerusalem). Maybe Nebuzaradan came from Ribla, in that case he needed 3 – 4 days to arrive at Jerusalem.
\nNote. Many theologians suppose a scribal error \u201ctenth versus seventh\u201d, but there is absolutely no reason for this assumption.
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\nGod commanded the Israelites to make him burnt offerings.<\/span> (Exodus 8:27, 10:25, 20:24, 29:16-18)
\nRight<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
\nWrong<\/strong>. Jeremiah states that God did not give the commandments for sacrifices when they left Egypt. Indeed, they got these commandments when they were at Mount Sinai. The first commandment after the exit of Egypt was (Exodus 15:26) to hear and obey the voice of the Lord and to this voice Jeremiah refers in verse 7:23. It ends with the marvellous words: \u2026 that it may be well unto you<\/strong>.
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\nGod<\/span> (Exodus 3:4, Mark 12:26)
\nRight<\/strong>. Moses knew it was God who was speaking to him as he heard: \u2018I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.\u2019<\/p>\n
\nRight<\/strong>. And of the angels He says, \u2018who makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.\u2019 (Hebrews 1:7, Psalm 104:4)
\nIt is \u201cand \u2026, and \u2026\u201d, instead of \u201cor \u2026, or \u2026\u201d. And God (through the spoken word), and an angel (through the unnatural fire).
\nSee the article<\/span><\/a>: Who appeared to Moses in the burning bush?<\/span>
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\nHe was a fugitive and a vagabond.<\/span> (Genesis 4:11-12)
\nRight<\/strong>. Everybody who saw him thought: That is the killer of his brother. That was the meaning of being a fugitive and vagabond during all his life.<\/p>\n
\nRight<\/strong>. But all knew during his life that he had killed his brother. And that made him still a fugitive in the eyes of the people.
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\nCaiaphas<\/span> (Matthew 26:57, Mark 14:53, Luke 22:54)
\nWrong<\/strong>. He was taken to the residence of Caiaphas and there he first met Annas as John clearly states. The residence; this is obvious from Matthew: \u201c the high priest, where the scribes and elders were assembled\u201d; and from Luke: \u201cand brought him into the high priest\u2019s house\u201d; and from Mark: \u201c led Jesus away to the high priest \u2026\u201d \u00a0without the remark who Jesus met first.<\/p>\n
\nRight<\/strong>. Annas being the father in law of Caiaphas was or lived in the high priests palace where Caiaphas resided. And John clearly says that Jesus first spoke with him.
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\nYes<\/span> (Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21, Romans 10:13)
\nRight<\/strong>. When they call to him with all their heart (Psalm 119:145).<\/p>\n
\nWrong. <\/strong>When they don\u2019t call to him with all their heart (Isaiah 29:13), which is obviously the case in all the referred texts.
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\nGod can do anything.<\/span> (Genesis 18:14, Job 42:1-2, Jeremiah 32:27, Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27, Luke 1:37, 18:27, Revelation 19:6)
\nWrong<\/strong>. Everybody in past, present and future knows that God cannot act against his own character or principles: against his righteousness, against his love etc. It is part of the Biblical meaning of the word \u201cGod\u201d and doesn\u2019t require defense (Hebrews 6:18). Judges 1:19, misinterpretation \u201che\u201d refers to the tribe Judah, not to the Lord. Mark 6:5, God can be limited in his blessings by human misbehavior, unbelief etc.<\/p>\n
\nRight<\/strong>. (see above)
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\nGod will kill or drive them out for you.<\/span> (7 references)<\/span>
\nKill them all without mercy.<\/span> (2 references)<\/span>
\nDrive them out of Canaan.<\/span> (1 reference)
\nPartly right<\/strong>. In all these texts is made clear that the Israelites had the right to follow the general rules of war at that time.
\n1. If there was an attack one had the right to defend themselves.
\n2. Women, children and old people remained outside actions of war.
\n3. If a war was lost, the winning party had the right to take the properties of the enemy.
\n4. An enemy had the right to flee; if not the war continued until death.
\nSome descriptions in the book of Joshua make clear that:
\n– not all Canaanites had been driven out by Joshua (13:1): “<\/span>Now Joshua was old and<\/i> advanced in years when the Lord<\/span> said to him, \u201cYou are old and<\/i> advanced in years, and very much of the land remains to be possessed.”
\n– parts of the land were conquered only by self defence (11:20): “For it was of the Lord<\/span> to\u00a0harden their hearts, to meet Israel in battle in order that he might utterly destroy them,”<\/p>\n
\nWrong<\/strong>. Only if Canaanites had accepted the religion of Israel, there was a possibility to integrate in the life of the Israel people. Examples: Rachab (from Jericho), Ruth (from Moab), Uriah (the Hittite), a.o.
\nSee the articles: <\/span>(1)<\/span><\/a> How should strangers be treated? <\/span>(2)<\/span><\/a> Is God merciful? <\/span>(3)<\/span><\/a> Was Moses meek (rules of war)?<\/span>
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\n400 years<\/span> (Genesis 15:13)
\nWrong<\/strong>. We have to reckon with 215 years in Egypt.<\/strong> It is clear that God is speaking in Genesis 15:13 about all the descendants of Abram; not only about the sons and grandsons of Jacob in Egypt \u2026 A clear misinterpretation.<\/p>\n
\nWrong<\/strong>. We have to reckon with 215 years in Egypt<\/strong>. The translation should be: Now the time of (the existence of) the sons of Israel, after\/when they had lived in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years (Exodus 12:40).
\nSee the article<\/span><\/a>: How long was the Egyptian captivity?<\/span>
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\nYes<\/span> (Matthew 19:12)
\n“<\/span>For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother\u2019s womb; and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.”
\nWrong<\/strong>. God does never prefer selfmutilation, nor mutilation by others. Jesus’ saying here is metaphorical and not literally as it ends: “He that is able to receive it …” Which refers to a special meaning and not the literal. It was in the old Jewish culture accepted custom if men didn’t marry, but lived only for the religion. Rabbi Simeon ben Azzai (scribe, torah-scholar, flourished 120-140 CE) was not married and said: “I am in love with the Torah; let others fill the world with descendants.” Also Essenes formed religious communities for men following an unselfish way of life for the benefit of the people that lived around them. “They were respected by the common man as well as by kings” (Philo).
\nJesus referred to this possibility for men to dedicate themselves only to the Kingdom of God and not also to a married life (e.g. apostle Paul).\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n
\n“<\/span>No one who is\u00a0emasculated or has his male organ cut off shall enter the assembly of the Lord<\/span>.<\/span>”
\nWrong<\/strong>. This has nothing to do with rejection of mutilated (castrated) men by the Lord. This is a multifunctional command<\/em> with many implications. It was forbidden in Israel to castrate others. That would make undone the circumcision. And by that someone lost in fact his origin, future and rights. They lost their voice in the public assembly. They were less than slaves who also were circumcised and who enjoyed all the religious rights and protection as native Israelites. Jesus’ reference (see up) concerning eunuch by bad birth (or accident) gives the impression that there was a social custom to integrate those in the community.\u00a0 <\/span>
\nIn short we have to do with an overall protection of Israelite people against social and religious castration in classical times.
\nTake note<\/strong>. Presumably strangers who were eunuchs were not prevented from entering the temple court of the strangers to pray to Yahweh (Acts 8:27, Isaiah 56:4-5).
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\nYes, it is a sign of a true believer.<\/span> (Mark 16:17)
\nWrong<\/strong>. Jesus gave this task to his apostles again<\/em> (Compare Matthew 10:1). He didn\u2019t give this task to all his followers as it should be done cautiously.<\/p>\n
\nWrong<\/strong>. Jesus endorsed the actions of those who had accepted him and helped others by praying for them and rebuking demon powers in Jesus\u2019 name. But it is not a necessary feature of all Christians\u00a0to act in that way. One does not have to do this to be a true Christian, which can be an important issue to some.<\/p>\n
\n– (1) follow physically a person (Jesus) as the disciples did.
\n– (2) follow with the heart without the physical presence\u00a0of that person (Jesus).
\nBoth ways of following are accepted in the gospels.
\n(In Acts 19:13 things went wrong due to wrong application.)
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\nYes, they were all killed.<\/span> (Exodus 9:3-6)
\nWrong<\/strong>. Only the cattle in the field were killed (Exodus 9:3), not the cattle in stables, cow houses etc.<\/p>\n
\nWrong<\/strong>. There is no relation between the plague of pestilence and of heavy hail.
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\nYes. Solomon had a census (like his father David\u2019s) and God didn\u2019t mind at all.<\/span> (2 Chronicles 2:17)
\nWrong<\/strong>. This was not <\/strong>a numbering of Judah and Israel like David did to know the number of his soldiers. This was a counting of strangers and had nothing to do with military force.<\/p>\n
\nRight<\/strong>. It was not OK to take a census concerning military power as the wars of Israel were events of necessity and everyone who could fight was called up for war.
\nCompare the article<\/span><\/a>: Who tempted David to number Israel?
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n