A few weeks ago my blog hit a milestone of 150 Alleged Bible Contradictions Answered. These are posts in response to the listing of Bible contradictions from the Skeptic Annotated Bible website. Looking back at my writings I thought it was important that for Christians when skeptics bring up Bible contradictions to not waste the opportunity to go deeper studying God’s Word. Why? It is so we can know how to answer these objection. But I want to go deeper: Its also to study God’s Word to love God more and to apply the Word of God in our lives by first being in awe and worship of God the Father, the Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Don’t waste your Bible contradiction. Here are ten highlights of the devotional thoughts and applications I had looking back at my study of God’s Word while trying to answer these so called Bible contradictions.
- How long was the ark afloat? We already answered it here. One of the passage stated “In the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat” (Genesis 8:4). I love how there’s a play on words: “rested” in Hebrew is playing on the name of Noah. Noah’s ark “rested” on the seventh month. Way after the Noahic age, according to Leviticus 23:23-36 during the time of Moses we see various holidays implemented on the seventh month (the month of Tishri). This include the Feast of Trumpets, Tabernacles and Scared Assembly. Leviticus 23:27 also indicate the seventh month was the month of atonement. This theme of “rest” and “atonement” from the seventh month makes me think of how Christ is our rest and atonement. Have you found your rest in Christ by trusting in the atonement of Christ?
- I answered here the question “When did Jesus receive his beating?” In that post I noted the use of two different Greek verbs to describe the beating/whipping Jesus received before and after Jesus was sentenced to be crucified by Pilate. The first is the verb μαστιγόω. It derives from a word that originally referred to horse whip. The second beating used a verb that is the most severe: φραγελλόω. The action of φραγελλόω is no longer a slap on the wrist, like one whip a horse. Lexically the Greek verb refer to a “knout” or “cat” with lashes of knotted cord or even wire. Its so severe it was forbidden to flog Roman citizens with it. It was also administered before a capital punishment. Reading this moves me, thinking of Christ suffering. He suffered all that before He was even crucified; and He underwent that to save me, a sinner and an enemy of God. How could I not love Him?
- I went into geographical details with Burying and Saying Bye to Parents in Luke 9:59-62. But what I got away from that is noticing how people were given excuses to not follow Jesus. It made me think more soberly to watch out that I don’t make excuses that sounds really pitiful in not following or obeying Jesus.
- Speaking of excuses one of the most 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 fully when the verse fully quoted actually affirm the other verse the skeptic tries to get the verses to pit against each other logically. This was such terrible scholarship you got to question the sinfulness of people to intentionally and deliberately twists Scripture. This makes me realize people are like what Scripture says in Romans 3:10 and Romans 3:23: That no one seeks God on their own effort and also that all of us are sinful. How we need God’s grace!
- From Did Jesus ask God to save him from crucifixion? it dawn on me that the only time in Scripture God answered Jesus with a “no” was during the night before His death as He prayed in the Garden to the Father of whether or not God would allow the cup to pass from Him. Obviously it did not and Christ would go die for our sins. It got me thinking of how Jesus is righteous and God listens to Him. Yet in the one time God answer “no” it was for our benefit: Our salvation. We should be so grateful and loving towards Jesus and God the Father for allowing our sins to be atoned through the work of Christ on the Cross.
- While answering Did Jesus drink on the cross? it made me think of how much I love Jesus more for suffering on the Cross fully instead of numbing the pain with the first offer of a drink. Wow, that’s my loving Savior who took on the full wrath of God the Father, to save me from my sins!
- Is it a good thing to be childish? In that post I noted Scripture wants us to be child-like in the sense of being humble and dependent upon God. Yet at the same time we are not to be immature and childish in the sense of being gullible. We must test all things with Scripture and be wise in how we communicate!
- While writing What was the name of the tax collector who was called by Jesus? in its context it reminded me that if we understand what the grace of God through Christ means we should be disciples of Christ and follow Him even if it costs us.
- Studying to write Did John the Baptist recognize Jesus as the Son of God? it made me realize that a great man of God such as John the Baptist could be discouraged during difficulties. That made me realize trials and tribulation in my life is not that much of a unique experience; others believers have been through tough times as well and waver. Still we cling to Jesus and know that our “clinging” to Jesus is the grace of God working within us.
- Answering Who is the first and the last? reinforce to me that the Divinity of Christ is Biblical. If Jesus is God don’t forget this most important application: We are to worship Him for He is God and worthy of our Worship! Have you worshipped Him above all else? Praise and worship Him now!
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Thanks. Due to a little digestive issue, I have been up worshipping since about 4:00am. I discussing similar issues, I have had people quote the Bible with an almost imperceptible twist (the subtle double negatives), sometimes from agnostics and sometimes from fellow church members. Loved these, and love your detailed contradiction arguments also.
Thank you Mark for reading this. Wow 4 Am was when I went to sleep writing this. I’ll be praying for your digestive issue, anything else I can pray for?
I am learning to live with it, but I have no clue what my “sin” was. I was on my most restrictive diet yesterday. But I have “odd” news about my wife not ready for publication. He creatinine went from 4.2 to 2.6 in one week. The doctors said “impossible” so they think someone screwed up and they are repeating the tests this week. I say “miracle” because I announced to the Sunday school class that I wanted that very thing so that no explanation could be made other than “miracle” and then two days later… If she is indeed under 3 on creatinine, then they double check with a 24 hour collection before taking her off dialysis. We need prayers that the present numbers are correct. And by the way, we had our first Sunday school class in person, in masks, spread out, on Sunday. Another prayer answered.
Thank you for the 150 times you refuted these alleged Bible contradictions. And thank you too for this guide/salient elements to look into and respond to. GOD bless you and your family!
You are welcome brother. Thanks for reading them! For the 300 posts on your blog, does that mean you have been blogging every day since you started given your anniversary of your blog is coming soon?
Yes, I’ve not missed a day since the official start (except 1 post in January that I put on private).
Thanks for your dedication to resolving purported contradictions. It always has confounded me how people can be so centered on their own culture and not see that other cultures communicate differently.
However, maybe this perspective comes with years of studying and practicing technical communication for companies that ship internationally.
Wow that sounds interesting; how many different and what kind of nationalities have you have to work with in the past?
I have produced manuals for use in China, Russia (actually Kazakhstan and Ukraine), Germany, Romania, Italy, Greece, Germany, and Spain.
Although I once had a little exposure to German, technical German and the German spoken from those I learned from are light-years apart.
The balance of the translations (and changes due to sensitivities of those peoples) depended on the expertise of translators and subject matter experts in the target countries.
When I said “The balance of the translations,” I should have said “all of the translations.” The second paragraph was all about the inadequacy of my German.
For me, I have no problem going deeper in my studies. My problem can be going so deep in the studies that it becomes an intellectual pursuit crowding out worship. I wonder how often I cross this line. Thanks for inducing me to consider this yet again.
I wonder how often I cross the line too! Though I think you are more cerebral than I am (a compliment). Hence I decided to do this post about not wasting Bible contradictions! I bet there’s a dozen technical books you are reading right now?
Not that many! And because I’m working on a few writing projects, I’m more consulting reference works here and there for specific things, rather than reading entire books. But I do have three I’ve started–all technical.
Jim, “to study God’s Word to love God more and to apply the Word of God in our lives by first being in awe and worship of God the Father, the Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit” Amen and Amen! This is why I study God’s Word as well. This is the cry/prayer of my heart. For your point on μαστιγόω I couldn’t help but wonder (by googling which so far has not been helpful!) if masochist is a derivative of μαστιγόω. I am thankful for these 150 and counting posts! Thank you for sharing your reflections with us, so powerful! Meditating and reflecting on what God has done in the past, is currently doing and will do in the future is supported in both the Old and New Testament. Praising God for you, Nancy and your girls!!
Wow good point pondering if the word related to Masochist…do you think they are related to some common root word or has your digging around reveal anything?
I am SO sorry I missed Study last night, I gotta get used to West Coast time! I would have joined late and didn’t want to interrupt. I will do better this Sunday and Tuesday! As to your question see my response to Craig!
If I may jump in here… In the online LSJ is the cognate μαστιγίας (mastigias), defined as one that wants whipping, a rogue. My ‘middle Liddell’ is more expansive: one that always wants whipping, a worthless slave, a sorry knave (and the all Greek entry at the link appears to mirror this English).
In the online etymologies I’ve found, the modern word comes from 19th century German; so, it would be helpful to have some German language proficiency (I don’t). However, my 1983 unabridged heavier-than-ten-bricks Webster’s claims it comes “after Leopold von Sacher-Masoch”—for what that’s worth. Does the italicized portion (italics in original) intend to indicate the man’s hyphenated last name, this portion emphasized for the sake of describing the etymology; or, is this hyphenation an added appellative to denote his proclivities?
Hi, Craig and Jim! Craig, thank you for your efforts with this! The term “masochism” did derive from his name. I honestly would have thought this would have origins in the Greek or Latin rather than German considering the rampant sexual immorality of the Greco-Roman world. My brain is ALWAYS trying to correlate words/thoughts/ideas/concepts, sorry for this rabbit hole!
Oh, I happily go down these ‘rabbit holes’! No matter if they end in dead ends, I almost always learn something new.
I am WAY more inclined to fall down Hebrew and Aramaic rabbit holes than Greek. How about you?!
I’ve never learned Hebrew or Aramaic. The Greek is enough of a challenge!
Thanks so much for these and all you do for the Kingdom of God! 🙌🙌🙌👏
Thank You Jim for going deeper. The threads of deep truths woven through scripture are only understood in this kind of scrutiny. Even believers so often chop those threads up into little pieces for little insights without the big picture. The contradiction people, without knowing it, are a tool in the hand of God…Like pharaoh and so many others. I love the thread of “Rest” and am looking forward to our ultimate “Rest” while experiencing his “rest’ in so many ways now.
Amen! Hope your part of the country is doing ok Gary
We are fine here Jim, Our part of the country for the most part doesn’t want the media or politics to make rules that don’t fit. Even our governor is quoted (quite often around here) as saying “all there is up there is rocks and cows.
Church and Sunday school and evening family night meets and feeds the mosquitoes outdoors.Virus deaths here are way down the list of death causes.
We all need to go deeper. Thanks for the challenge.
Blessings.
Thanks for this listing! Yes, it’s easy to dismiss Steve/Stephen Wells’ contradiction claims. Most of them are absolutely ridiculous BUT they can prompt us to contemplate some of the glorious truths about our Lord and our walk with Him. Excellent!
Gotta redeem time spent in Apologetics by worshipping God. How’s the weather in New York ?
73F and cloudy today in ROC and the weather lady just reported that some of the cloudy haze is Cali’s smoke! How is your smoke and fire situation?
Wonderful what you are doing here brother
Great summary, and a wonderful perspective on these readings. J.
Amazing how much God teaches us when we experience a little bit of adversity.
Lovely insight.:)
Thanks! It’s good to hear from you!!! Many were praying, how are you?? Did you place make it ok with the hurricane?
Yes. Many apts. lost their roofs, tho. The devastation here in La. is going to take months to repair.:( Continue to pray for West Coast and East coast. Thank you for prayers, Sweet Grand.
The skeptics are satire of themselves. Doubt they ever think all census has changing numbers
Congratulations on your milestone! 🎉
This is great . Thank you.
Wow, this is so great brother! 150 and still climbing, keep up the great work my friend!
Pastor Jim, this summary shares an enriching harvest from God’s Word. Thanks for encouraging us to read our Bible with the intention to study and learn.
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Nice title and good teaching
When I hear an atheist say there’s a Bible contradiction I don’t let them get away with it. I say “Enlighten me, show me one contradiction in the Bible, just one. The Bible doesn’t have one contradiction. I’m gonna stick with what I know is true.”
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