Book of Contradictions: A Challenge

[Cinjin]

A challenge was posed to me ...

I've issued the challenge before, never to be defeated (and I'm no bible scholar, but it's THAT easy I don't need to be)... please post one example of the bible being inconsistent or contradictory that cannot be explained to be nothing of the sort.

First of all Frodo, “never to be defeated” is very likely your own religious delusion, but more importantly, your challenge says that the ONE contradiction I choose can always be shown to be, quote, “nothing of the sort.” I take that to mean that you will not only prove that the contradictions are invalid but that you will also leave no doubt in our minds … being nothing of the sort and all.


ONLY 5 of the Hundreds of Bible Contradictions (quoted from both KJV and NIV)

1. Killing commanded
Ex 32:27 And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, [and] go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.
Killing forbidden
Ex 20:13 Thou shalt not kill

2. God is tired and rests
Ex 31:17 It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed
God is never tired and never rests
Is 40:28 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

3. God is the author of evil
Lam 3:38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come? Is 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
God is not the author of evil
James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

4. God is to be found by those who seek him
Matt 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
God is not to be found by those who seek him
Prov 1:28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

5. Robbery commanded
Ex 3:21,22Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver and gold and for clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters. And so you will plunder the Egyptians.” Also Ex 12:35,36
Robbery forbidden
Lev 19:13 Do not defraud or rob your neighbor Ex 20:15 Thou Shalt not Steal.


(Get ready to hear the word CONTEXT a lot. The #1 most often used defense of flagrant biblical contradictions.)

[Minimalist]

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem

--Matthew 2

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
--Luke 2

Herod died in 4 BC. Publius Sulpicius Quirinius was named Governor ( Imperial Legate ) of Syria in 6 AD.

The minimum ten year discrepancy cannot be reconciled.

Of course both may be but one must be wrong. So much for inerrancy.

[reverendjeremiah]

We have an entire list of them over at:

http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/co..._name.html
How many sons did Abraham have?

Abraham had two sons
-Galatians 4:22
"Abraham had two sons; the one by a bond-woman, and the other by a free woman. "

then suddenly in the story he only had one son, and even GOD thinks he has one son
-Genesis 22:2
"Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, ... and offer him there for a burnt offering."

Then he had many sons.
-Genesis 25:1-2
"Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. "

[Watson]

Boy should this be interesting...not.

[Minimalist]

Go pray or something.

[Rev. Rye]

1. Killing commanded
Ex 32:27 And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, [and] go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.
Killing forbidden
Ex 20:13 Thou shalt not kill

5. Robbery commanded
Ex 3:21,22Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver and gold and for clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters. And so you will plunder the Egyptians.” Also Ex 12:35,36
Robbery forbidden
Lev 19:13 Do not defraud or rob your neighbor Ex 20:15 Thou Shalt not Steal.

Okay, even I can say that the idea of a contradiction in the two examples is flawed. There is an explanation: The verses where Robbing and Killing are forbidden are for in-group affairs, and when they're commanded, it's for out-group affairs. This is why a group whose leader commands "Thou Shalt Not Kill," seems to spend much of its existence either in slavery or in war: The Ten Commandments were not intended to apply outside of inter-Israelite affairs.

That said, here are a few more contradictions:

Contradiction 1:
Does God want some people to go to Hell?

God wants everyone to go to Heaven,

1 Timothy 2:3-4: God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved.
2 Peter 3:9: The Lord is ... not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

God wants some people to go to Hell:

John 12:40: He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
2 Thessalonians 2:11-12: God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned.

Contradiction 2:
How long does God's Anger last?

God's anger lasts for just a moment.

Psalm 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment.
Jeremiah 3:12 I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever.

God's Anger lasts a long time

Jeremiah 17:4: Ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever.
Malachi 1:4: The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.
Matthew 25:41: Depart from me, he cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

Contradiction 3:
In whose name is baptism to be performed?

In the name of the Trinity

Matthew 28:19: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

In the name of Jesus only.

Acts 2:38: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ.

Contradiction 4:
Is God the author of confusion?

Yes

1 Corinthians 1:27: God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.

No

1 Corinthians 14:33: For God is not the author of confusion....

[fr0d0]

You failed CC. The challenge was to provide one example that actually passed the test. Please review your post and narrow it down to one. thanks

[Minimalist]

Ahem.....I gave you one.

[Rev. Rye]

You failed CC. The challenge was to provide one example that actually passed the test. Please review your post and narrow it down to one. thanks

And you can't just take your pick of one why?

[fr0d0]

At Min... the challenge wasn't directed at anyone but CC. I have a life!

Because if I pick one RevR I'll be accused of cherry picking. I want his best shot with no excuses for him to wimp out.