For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Are those who obey the law cursed?
Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes indicate a Bible contradiction:
Those who follow the law are cursed.
“For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.”” (Galatians 3:10)
Those who do not follow the law are cursed.
“‘Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’” (Deuteronomy 27:26)
(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)
Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:
- When dealing with skeptics’ claim of Bible contradictions it seems one can never be reminded enough of what exactly is a contradiction. A contradiction occurs when two or more claims conflict with one another so that they cannot simultaneously be true in the same sense and at the same time. To put it another way, a Bible contradiction exists when there are claims within the Bible that are mutually exclusive in the same sense and at the same time.
- One should be skeptical of whether this is a Bible contradiction given the Skeptic Annotated Bible’s track record of inaccurately handling the Bible. See the many examples of their error which we have responded to in this post: Collection of Posts Responding to Bible Contradictions. Of course that does not take away the need to respond to this claim of a contradiction, which is what the remainder of this post will do. But this observation should caution us to slow down and look more closely at the passages cited by the Skeptic Annotated Bible to see if they interpreted the passages properly to support their conclusion that it is a Bible contradiction.
- The skeptic tries to pit Galatians 3:10 as affirming the claim “those who follow the law are cursed” against Deuteronomy 27:26 as affirming “those who do not follow the law are cursed.”
- Note the term “follow” used by the skeptic here has the meaning of obey.
- It is interesting to note that on the page of the Skeptic Annotated Bible the author Steve Wells only quoted parts of Galatians 3:10. The part quoted was “For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse.” But the skeptic leaves out the second half of the verse which reads “for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.” Readers will notice that the second half of Galatians 3:10 is a quotation of the Greek translation of Deuteronomy 27:26. Deuteronomy 27:26 of course is the verse that the skeptic here is trying to pit against Galatians 3:10 as a contradiction. The likelihood of this being a contradiction seems less likely when one realizes that Galatians 3:10 is quoting Deuteronomy 27:26 and extrapolating truths from that verse. The skeptics’ omission is academically dishonest.
- We have to see if the verse the verses were properly interpreted by the skeptics.
- The skeptics rightly interpreted Deuteronomy 27:26 as teaching that “”those who do not follow the law are cursed.” The verse talks about “he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.” What’s the consequences for this individual? The first part of the verse answer that: “Cursed is he.“
- It does not seem that the skeptics is justified to interpret Galatians 3:10 as affirming the claim “those who follow the law are cursed.”
- The verse does not say anything about obedience, and following God’s law. The skeptic cannot interpret this verse to say its teaching us that those who follow the laws are cursed.
- The only part of this verse that is not a quotation of Deuteronomy 27:26 is the beginning that states “For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse.” This part doesn’t say obedience of the law are cursed. It merely is saying those who are using the standard of the law they are under a curse, not because they obey the law but the law judges them. This is in agreement with Deuteronomy 27:26 actually because our disobedience to the standard of God’s Law leaves us curse.
- Also the context of Galatians 3 itself doesn’t affirm “those who follow the law are cursed.” Galatians 3:19 states the law is to show our transgressions (sins) as a mean of preparing us to trust in the Gospel. The mention of sins in Galatians 3 presupposes we are not following God’s law! So the skeptic is going against the intent of the author of Galatians 3 by claiming that Galatians 3:10 is teaching us that someone can obey the law.
- Given the skeptic misinterpreted Galatians 3:10 as affirming the claim “those who follow the law are cursed” therefore this verse does not contradict with the teaching of Deuteronomy 27:26 that “”those who do not follow the law are cursed.”
- We shouldn’t miss that worldviews are at play even with the skeptic’s objection to Christianity. The worldview of the author of the Skeptic Annotated Bible actually doesn’t even allow for such a thing as the law of non-contradiction to be meaningful and intelligible. In other words for him to try to disprove the Bible by pointing out that there’s a Bible contradiction doesn’t even make sense within his own worldview. Check out our post “Skeptic Annotated Bible Author’s Self-Defeating Worldview.”
[…] Are those who obey the law cursed? […]
The skeptics here has to invent a problem with the Bible when there isn’t one
Very helpful, brother, thank you for explaining this! 😃
Thank you! Are you guys homeschooling through this summer?
Yes sir, actually we have some ground to make up for. We got a puppy, Clementine our Golden Doodle needed a buddy 😂 she was bored all the time. But I forgot that new puppies are a LOT of work, so no one has gotten much sleep this month. Last month wasn’t much better, it was allergy Armageddon. So history and science has slipped, and we’re still struggling through math. I actually broke down and purchased some curriculum filler for history, and some science kits. First time I’ve paid for her lessons 😳.
How about y’all? How are the girls doing with their homeschooling routine?
Hi, Jim! Thank you for your hard work on this post! There are some verses and concepts where I can understand why the skeptic makes a case for a contradiction; however, this is not one of them! It takes more effort to disprove the Bible then it does to accept its authenticity. I know you’re a busy man but if you ever get a chance, watch Peter Williams’s lecture on eyewitness accounts of the Gospels https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5Ylt1pBMm8
I need to watch that! I do like Peter Williams though I haven’t read any of his books yet; have you read any of his titles? I think I read an article by him on reliability of the NT about a year ago. Feel free to share more videos from him!
I have watched a lot of his teachings. My Hebrew professor/Phd Director is friends with him. I have not read his works; however, I have benefited greatly from Peter’s lectures on the LXX, violence in the Bible and moral objections to the OT.
Hmm, Stephen/Steve Wells actually presents an interesting “contradiction” this time. The religious unsaved/natural man can read the Bible daily and conclude wrongly that Scripture teaches salvation by merit, but it is the Holy Spirit Who illuminates the Gospel of unmerited salvation by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone in Scripture. The pseudo-(c)hristian who holds to merited salvation is forced to rationalize away Galatians 3:10 and other such like verses/passages as referring only to adherence to Levitical dietary and ceremonial laws.
It’s interesting to me to see how there is spiritual blindness going on for the skeptic to think Galatians teaches we can obey our way out of the curse even though the authorial intent from the verse and surrounding contexts says otherwise. Have you dealt with Roman Catholic apologist’s use of this verse, if they do use this for their view of salvation?
RE: Roman Catholic apologist’s use of this verse
Galatians 3:10 and other verses/passages that present the Law in it’s correct context are brushed aside by Broussard and other Catholic apologists as referring strictly to dietary and ritualistic Levitical practices.
Wow so the skeptic didn’t cite the whole verse on their website which quoted the very verse they say Galatians 3:10 is a contradiction with? That’s a new low of dishonesty from the atheist.
Excellent insight:
“Readers will notice that the second half of Galatians 3:10 is a quotation of the Greek translation of Deuteronomy 27:26. Deuteronomy 27:26 of course is the verse that the skeptic here is trying to pit against Galatians 3:10 as a contradiction. The likelihood of this being a contradiction seems less likely when one realizes that Galatians 3:10 is quoting Deuteronomy 27:26 and extrapolating truths from that verse. The skeptics’ omission is academically dishonest.”
Thanks for this post that keeps the skeptic and the believer honest to the Word!
Excellent.
Thank you for reading this; praying for things down in Louisiana with masks, the virus, etc. Hope you are not too anxious?
Prayer is appreciated. We are fine here, so far.
The problem with the skeptics is they don’t see the larger picture/context, Jim
Indeed they miss it altogether; how are you doing with your flu today?
Thank GOD, I’m getting fine with all the rest but still staying in cooler places at home, Jim! It is hot in Metro Manila at 41 degrees Celsius.
You explained the non contradiction very well. Thank you for all the deep and hard work you do.
You’re welcome. Thanks for noticing the hard work. How was the evangelism today, did Daiman talked to you guys today?
We didn’t see Damian today. Evangelism was a bit slower today. Not as many people out although I did have a looooong conversation with a young man from the Moslem faith.
Only God can open the heart to believe the gospel.
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Exactly.
How are you doing brother?
For the most part, pretty good. I’ve (finally) gotten a job, and my new phone’s finally working.
This discussion encouraged me to read and study these verses in more detail. The correlation is intentional as Paul shares God’s Word about faith and the law.
[…] 2.) Bible Contradiction? Are those who obey the law cursed? […]
Thank you for the answer
The omission of what the verse itself fully says is intentional if not even malicious.
[…] Are those who obey the law cursed? […]
[…] pathetic so called contradictions (and there are may) was the one raised when the skeptic asked: Are those who obey the law cursed? It was so clearly not a contradiction that the skeptic on the website had to not quote a verse […]