Bible Contradictions: Understanding and Reconciling Alleged Inconsistencies

1. “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” 1 Corinthians 2:5

2. Critical Questions on the Inspiration of the Bible How Do We Reconcile Apparent Contradictions? • Bible critics often say that the Bible is “full of contradictions” • If this charge is true, the Bible cannot be the inspired word of God (1 Corinthians 2:12-13, John 17:17, Titus 1:2) • In order to defend our faith, we must be ready to answer such allegations (1 Peter 3:15, Proverbs 15:28). • There are many enemies of spiritual truth in this world (cf. John 17:14). It should not surprise us that there are those who malign the Bible by claiming it contains contradictions. If one accepts the Bible as Truth, one must accept the demands of the Truth, and that isn’t always easy (Acts 17:30-32, 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). • It is one thing to claim there are contradictions; it’s another thing prove it. • Such claims must be challenged! Where are these contradictions? Are they actually contradictions, or do they only seem to be? Is there a logical explanation for apparent discrepancies?

3. Critical Questions on the Inspiration of the Bible Apparent Contradictions VS. Actual Contradictions • What constitutes a contradiction? • Josh McDowell has said, “The law of non-contradiction, which is the basis of all logical thinking, states that a thing cannot be both A and non-A at the same time. In other words, it cannot be both raining and not raining at the same time. If one can demonstrate a violation of this principle from Scripture, then and only then can he prove a contradiction.” • “When facing possible contradictions, it is of the highest importance to remember that two statements may differ from each other without being contradictory.” http://www.josh.org/resources/study-research/answers-to-skeptics-questions/isnt-the-bible-full-of-contradictions/ • An actual contradiction only exists when there is absolutely no way to reconcile two statements. If there is a logical explanation, there is no contradiction. • Difficulties are not contradictions (2 Peter 3:16)!

4. Critical Questions on the Inspiration of the Bible When Examining Alleged Contradictions: Expect to find an explanation (If John 17:17, then 2 Timothy 2:15, John 7:17, John 8:31-32). Use an accurate translation, compare translations, and look up words (e.g. Acts 12:4 Easter/Passover). Carefully study the context (immediate and remote) of the passage that seems problematic. Remember that words have different meanings in different contexts (e.g. 1 John 3:15 but commanded to hate? Luke 14:26 / Matthew 10:37). If two inspired witnesses give different details of the same event, assume that both are accurate and look for ways to harmonize their testimony. Compare parallel passages (Psalm 119:160).

5. Critical Questions on the Inspiration of the Bible When Examining Alleged Contradictions: For example, look at all four accounts of the gospel to get the complete picture of Jesus’ arrest at the garden of Gethsemane. In these accounts, Judas led a mob to arrest Jesus and one of the disciples reacted to defend the Lord. Mark 14:47 And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. Matthew 26:51-52 And, behold, one of them that were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear. Luke 22:50-51 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And Jesus answered and said, suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. John 18:10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.

6. Critical Questions on the Inspiration of the Bible Examining Alleged Contradictions: Remember that while the Bible accurately records events, it does not always approve of them (e.g. Abrahams lie, Rahab’s lie, 1 John 3:4). The Bible uses figurative language (Revelation 1:1, 2:9). Consult a good Bible teacher or a conservative Bible commentary (Nehemiah 8:8, Matthew 15:15, Acts 8:30-31, 15:2, 17:2,11, 18:26). Remember that in a few situations, apparent contradictions are the result of scribal errors. 2 Chronicles 36:9 and 2 Kings 24:8 appear to contradict in the KJV (eight vs. eighteen years old). However, the earliest Hebrew manuscripts of 2 Chronicles 36:9 agree with 2 Kings 24:8 * *Footnote in NKJV: “Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac, and 2 Kings 24:8 read eighteen.

7. Critical Questions on the Inspiration of the Bible Reconciling Supposed Contradictions What words were on the sign placed over the cross of Jesus? Read Matthew 27:37; Mark 15:26; Luke 23:38 and John 19:19-20. Can you harmonize all four accounts? What would you say were the exact words that were put the sign? Could the fact that the sign was written in three languages account for the different renderings of the gospel writers

8. Critical Questions on the Inspiration of the Bible Reconciling Supposed Contradictions Matt 27:37: “This is Jesusthe King of the Jews” Mark 15:26: “ The King of the Jews” Luke 23:38: “This is  the King of the Jews” John 19:19: “ Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews” Adapted from http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=6&article=650

9. Critical Questions on the Inspiration of the Bible Reconciling Supposed Contradictions Did the men with Saul of Tarsus hear the voice from heaven? Acts 9:7 says that the men traveling with Saul “stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.” Acts 22:9 says “they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke.” Is it possible to hear a person speak without understanding what they say? Do we sometimes use the word “hear” to mean “hear and understand”? In Greek this difference is expressed by the case of the noun “voice” (phōnē) that accompanies the verb meaning “to hear” (akouō). Acts 9:7 has the genitive case for “voice”, but in 22:9 it is in the accusative case.

10. Critical Questions on the Inspiration of the Bible Reconciling Supposed Contradictions How did Judas die? Compare the accounts of Judas death found in Matthew 27:5-10 and Acts 1:18. Did Judas hang himself or did he fall headlong in a field and burst open?

11. Critical Questions on the Inspiration of the Bible Reconciling Supposed Contradictions Who went to the tomb? Read the accounts in Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1-2; Luke 24:1; John 20:1. Who went to the tomb the morning Jesus was raised and what time of day did they go?

12. Critical Questions on the Inspiration of the Bible Reconciling Supposed Contradictions Matt 28:1:”In the end of the sabbath, *as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.” *”at the dawning into the first day of the week (MKJV)” Mark 16:1:”And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.” Luke 24:1:”Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.” John 20:1:”The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdaleneearly, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.”