For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Is it OK to covet?
Here are the answers which the skeptic believes indicate a Bible contradiction:
Yes, some things you should covet.
Like prophecy.
“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.” ( 1 Corinthians 14:39)
And the best gifts. (Especially on Christmas morning.)
“But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And yet, I am going to show you a far better way.” (1 Corinthians 12:31)
Don’t covet.
Don’t covet anything.
“What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? Far from it! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.”” ( Romans 7:7)
“For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”” ( Romans 13:9)
“But sexual immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints;” (Ephesians 5:3)
“Therefore, treat the parts of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5)
At least not these things: your neighbor’s house, field, wife, slave, concubine, ox, ass, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male slave, or his female slave, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”” (Exodus 20:17)
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor desire your neighbor’s house, his field, his male slave or his female slave, his ox, his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.’” (Deuteronomy 5:21)
(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 two verses as affirming the claim “it is ok to covet” against six passage as affirming “it is not ok to covet.”
- The two passage the skeptics cited as affirming it is permissible to covet are 1 Corinthians 14:39 and 1 Corinthians 12:31. They both use the Greek verb ζηλόω.
- One of the meaning that is used specifically in these two verses is “seek.”
- Seeking can be either negative or positive, depending upon what it is being sought.
- Both 1 Corinthians 14:39 and 1 Corinthians 12:31 talk about seeking good things. Specifically 1 Corinthians 14:39 refer to seeking prophecy. 1 Corinthians 12:31 specifically is about seeking spiritual gifts that is meant to be acts of service to build up the church.
- So the skeptic statement about this verse teach us to seek “the best gifts. especially on Christmas morning” is either a misinterpretation by the skeptic of thinking this is referring to physical gifts or the skeptic is mocking God. Either way its not good.
- This verb is not used in the passage that the skeptics cite saying its not permissible to covet. So there’s no clash nor contradiction with the verses on the sins of coveteousness base upon use of words in the original language.
- The skeptics points out the King James for both 1 Corinthians 14:39 and 1 Corinthians 12:31 uses the English verb “covet” but this is old English and again the Greek verb used in both verse is not used in the verses that condemn coveting.
- The skeptic cited two Old Testament laws prohibiting coveting: Exodus 20:17, Deuteronomy 5:21. Both explicitly state it is wrong to want to get something that does not belong to you. So these passages is not saying all kinds of seeking, including good things from God, is wrong. There’s no conflict here with these passages with 1 Corinthians 14:39 and 1 Corinthians 12:31.
- The skeptics cited Romans 7:7, 13:9, Ephesians 5:3 and Colossians 3:5 as suggesting we cannot covet or seek anything. But none of these verse says “don’t seek anything.” The word “anything” doesn’t appear. Three of the verses didn’t use the word “any” and the one that did (Ephesians 5:3) in the context is clearly referring to condemnation of any sins in general, and not all things without exception, even good things (for many verses as proof that the Greek adjective we translate as “any” or “every” doesn’t everything without exception, see Should we do what the Pharisees say to do?). Moreover Romans 7:7 and 13:9 are explicitly citing the Old Testament laws of God, Exodus 20:17 and Deuteronomy 5:2, both of which we mentioned in point five is saying don’t covet property that isn’t yours. One cannot misconstrue Romans 7:7, 13:9, Ephesians 5:3 and Colossians 3:5 as saying we cannot seek anything.
- There is no contradiction here. Seems the skeptic needs to learn of How to Handle Bible Contradictions.
- 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.”
[…] Is it OK to covet? […]
Thanks for the insight. This seemed fairly absurd on the part of the skeptic.
Blessings.
This is terrible even for Wells and other skeptics. Thank God this was not a theologically difficult one to refute! I know this woke world has floating standards and rules in regards to coveting (and stealing); however, no one, not even the individual woke finds coveting (or stealing) good when it is against them! May God reward you for not losing your mind or compromising your sanctification when refuting these non-contradictions!
Amen Mandy, couldnt have said it better!
And amen! Hope you are doing well in the East Coast…I imagine things are getting hotter and humid for you guys?
Wow good one: ” however, no one, not even the individual woke finds coveting (or stealing) good when it is against them!” That is a very good point! I am trying to start up my skype but it seems I haven’t used it for so long I might need to download the app on my laptop. Hope to see you and Kent in 4 hours??
Looking forward to it!!!!!!
I emailed you my Skype info, hopefully it works!
He deletes himself.
He sure is self=defeating! I just prayed for his salvation again as inspired by your comment!
Thank you.
Great way of saying he’s self-refuting!
Thank you. Blessings.
The skeptic thought (confusingly) he had this one but he does not understand and above all does not have the heart for GOD to know and discern what Paul wrote about. Blessings to you and your family!
You are right there is a moral/spiritual dimension that effects skeptics like Jim Wells from understanding the Bible. A culpable ignorance of course. Good point. Led me to pray again for Steve Wells to know Christ as Steve is getting older and closer to eternity. See you in a couple of hours on Skype? I’m trying to fix my Skype problem before then!
Just install the app and then check/test audio/video and new features.
I don’t see how anyone could view these verses as contradictory. They are reaching.
I agree it’s quite a stretch. This isn’t the brightest one from the Skeptic Annotated Bible. How are things with you?? Glad to see you drop by brother!
Things are fine here, thank you for asking, Pastor Jim. It is quite warm in Arkansas but at least we’ve had lots of rain unlike much of the country. It is perfect weather for growing tomatoes. I’ve got about 20 plants out so we’ll see how they do.
Heading to listen to John Haller’s prophecy update. I try to catch him every Sunday.
I hope all is well with you and your family.
God’s blessings…
Thanks for the good refutation. I recently mentioned two-dimensional thinking with regards to IFBers, and it strikes me that Steve/Stephen Wells is appealing to the two-dimensional thinking of atheists with this alleged contradiction. A young child could understand the difference between good coveting and evil coveting.
Good point about how atheists like Steve Wells have “two dimensional thinking.” Reading this makes me think of how many skeptics are like non-CHristian version of IFB with some internet atheists, complete with the 90s feel of old html website. Have you seen the Skeptic Annotated Bible site? It has the same quirky asthetics I feel I’ve seen in some old school IFB KJVO old webpage look. Sometimes do you wonder how some skeptics don’t like “fundamental” Christianity so much they become their own “fundies” in their secular atheism??
Huh?, contradiction where ?
Thank you for the fantastic brilliant work you do refuting these attacks on God’s Word.
Blessings to you and your family.
I think the skeptics are really off on this one, by saying there’s a contradiction. Thanks for your encouragement with your comment, I really do want to refute more of these. Pray for me for wisdom and strength to write more of these post countering so called Bible contradictions.
Praying that the Lord will continue to give you wisdom and strength for His glory .and thank you for all you do pastor Jim.
Have a blessed weekend
The internet allow ignorant people to have a platform that people looking for echo chambers then find and spread.
Interesting post; thank you for sharing this SlimJim ☺️. God bless your ministry!
Is this atheist Buddhist, thinking all desires are bad?
Excellent insight. Thanks for your reminder both to interpret God’s Word in context and how the atheist has a bankrupt worldview to even say something is a contradiction. Again well explained.
Nicely explained! Context matters a whole bunch and so does understanding the the original language.
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