For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Who gave the law to Moses?
Here are the answers which the skeptic believes indicate a Bible contradiction:
Moses received the law directly from God.
“Then the Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.” (Exodus 19:20)
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven.” (Exodus 20:22)
Angels gave the law to Moses through the hand of a mediator.
“Why the Law then? It was added on account of the violations, having been ordered through angels at the hand of a mediator, until the Seed would come to whom the promise had been made.” (Galatians 3:19)
(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 (Exodus 19:20, 20:22,) as affirming the claim “Moses received the law directly from God” against Galatians 3:19 as affirming “Angels gave the law to Moses through the hand of a mediator.”
- Galatians 3:19 was properly interpreted. It does state angels gave the law to Moses. Angels giving the law to Moses is also affirmed elsewhere in the Bible.
- Stephen in Acts 7:53 states “you who received the Law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.“
- Hebrews 12:2 seems to imply this: “For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every violation and act of disobedience received a just punishment,“
- Even within the Old Testament Deuteronomy 33:2 states “He said, “The LORD came from Sinai, And dawned on them from Seir; He shone from Mount Paran, And He came from the midst of myriads of holy ones; At His right hand there was flashing lightning for them.“
- Both Exodus 19:20, 20:22 does affirm the claim “Moses received the law directly from God.” Exodus 20 gives us the Ten Commandments so Exodus 19:20, 20:22 are bookends of the giving of the Commandments. Both verses mentioned God’s presence when the Laws are given.
- To contradict Exodus 19:20 and 20:22’s claim that “Moses received the law directly from God” logically the claim from Galatians 3:19 would have to be “Moses did not received the law directly from God” or “ONLY Angels gave the law to Moses through the hand of a mediator.” But Galatians 3:19 does not assert those claims.
- Likewise to contradict Galatians 3:19’s claim “Angels gave the law to Moses through the hand of a mediator” logically the claim from both Exodus 19:20 and 20:22 have to be “Angels did not give the law to Moses through the hand of a mediator” or “ONLY God gave the law to Moses without a mediator.” But Exodus 19:20 and 20:22 does not assert those claims.
- The passages are compatible in which God was there and gave the commandments while also having angels involved. God can speak, write with “His finger” the commandments, and have the angels carry it to Moses, etc. There’s multiple ways angels can be involved.
- 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.”
Thanks for the great insight. Always very helpful.
Shalom!
I have one question (take it that this comes from a technical writer and not an expert in languages or theology):
I have heard that the Hebrew term for “angel” also translates as “messenger.” Could God not be His own messenger? Because. prior to the death and resurrection of our Lord, the news of the gospel was communicated by Christ (the second person of the Godhead) surely the law could likewise be conveyed by a Godly messenger (aka angel of God).
You are correct angels refer to messengers and not necessary the heavenly being Every time it appears. There are times it’s the divine messenger of the Lord in the Old Testament. I lean away from this being the case for Galatians 3:19 since Paul said angels, plural, which I think here refer to the heavenly created beings we often think of with angels. What do you think brother? Good analytical mind to think of this, with your technical writing background!
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Thanks for refuting another one of Steve/Stephen Wells’ alleged Bible contradictions! Once again, Wells goes to his bottomless well of either/or false dichotomies. I can picture Wells’ wife telling her scrupulously literalist that she’s going to pick up some scripts at the drug store. When she returns home, he finds out she also stopped at the grocery and he becomes uncontrollably enraged because she lied to him.
That’s a good analogy you gave. Made me think of Yesterday I went to get a hair cut and picked up a planner at Target. I can see Steve Wells say it’s a contradiction. Isn’t it amazing the way Steve Wells misinterpret the Bible use such horrible methods that if one apply it to natural conversation and facts it’s ridiculous and laughable. But when it comes to the Bible it’s esteemed as smart by unbelievers. I can imagine you studying the Byrd’s from various books you also have to synthesize all you have read to get a complete picture. Speaking of the band by chance did you read all the books on the band available in your local library???
Thanks and good supporting analogy! My wife and sons have asked me why I’ve read so many books on the same limited number of topics (RC-ism, the Byrds, Elia Kazan, Poland, Mormonism). It’s a quirk, but enjoy gaining more knowledge about things I’m already knowledgeable about, as you refer to. I checked our library system and they have just one of the seven Byrds books that are on my shelf. That’s it, one book. For grins, I checked to see how many books they have about the much more popular Beatles and they predictably have a ton.
Our brain is too small and we are too limited to fully understand the mind of God and the hostile unbelieving mind demonstrates its even more limited when they yield stupidity like this contradiction. The question is whether we will carefully study all matters in the Word until we arrive at a correct understanding of “thus saith the Lord” where all the verses are harmonized.
Only nonbelievers think these skeptics are bright in their mental capacity. They are a joke academically
They resort to troll level intellect
Good point that the statements weren’t contradictory. I think they know that, but are trying to find some reason to make people doubt the Scriptures. It is good to point out that their doubt is unfounded.
I agree I think on the surface level it doesn’t even seem like a contradiction and some people are just trying to encourage doubt. Thanks for reading this Frank! Have a blessed Thursday!
[…] Who gave the law to Moses? […]
Thank you for the clarification. God bless you as you continue this great work.
Thank you Beverley for reading this. Grateful for the encouragement. Have a blessed upcoming Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday weekend!
You are welcome and all the best to you also.
Sketipic Auther needs To truely study.
They do need to study for real!! Praying for Steve Wells to come to Christ and also praying for your upcoming medical procedure
Amen and Thank you. In prayer for you and chur h
Ah, I thought I responded to this earlier. Since Gal 3:19 doesn’t mention Moses, the skeptic is inferring Moses and I don’t think that is necessary. I also think it’s hypocritical of the literal skeptic to infer something when he never allows for inferences or figurative language. Thanks for refuting this and bringing it to our attention.
Good point: “ Since Gal 3:19 doesn’t mention Moses, the skeptic is inferring Moses and I don’t think that is necessary.” Also about thinking you commented but didn’t; I had the same thing happen with your psalm 24 post! I wrote something on my phone and must have not press entered and never sent it and must have cleared from the memory of the phone or something! That was a few days ago and today I was struck that my comment didn’t make it! So hope no offense was taken!!! How is your week so far?
Definitely no offense, brother!!!!! I didn’t even notice to be honest! It’s been a good week! Nathan’s going out tomorrow and I am looking forward to joining in with the youth tomorrow!!!!
Excellent work pastor Jim. Thank you for all the hard work you do with these.
Thank you Crissy for all your love and support! I really do appreciate it
You are so very welcome.
Have a blessed Resurrection Sunday brother Jim.
Galatians 3:19 talks about the Seed alluding to Genesis 3:15. That establishes for me that Genesis 3:15 is prophecy
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Its rather ridiculous what the skeptics make up in their desperation
The atheist’s desperation to justify rejecting the Bible result in tortured reasoning to say this here is a contradiction
Its horrible the atheist twisting of Scripture. God will judge most harshly if they do not repent
[…] Who gave the law to Moses? […]
[…] Who gave the law to Moses? […]