Bible contradiction? Should Christians pray in public?

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Did God command the Israelites to make him burnt offerings?

Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes shows a Bible contradiction:

Christians should not pray in public.

“5 “And when you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they will be seen by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6 But as for you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:5-6)

Christians should pray in public.

“So they removed the stone. And Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 But I knew that You always hear Me; nevertheless, because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.”” (John 11:41-42)

“Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger and dispute.” (1 Timothy 2:8)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:

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Bible contradiction? Did God command the Israelites to make him burnt offerings?

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Did God command the Israelites to make him burnt offerings?

Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes shows a Bible contradiction:

God commanded the Israelites to make him burnt offerings.

“We must go a three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God, just as He commands us.”” (Exodus 8:27)

“But Moses said, “You must also [a]let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, so that we may [b]sacrifice them to the Lord our God.” (Exodus 10:25)

“You shall make an altar of earth for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you.” (Exodus 20:24)

“and you shall slaughter the ram and take its blood and sprinkle it around on the altar. 17 Then you shall cut the ram into its pieces, and wash its entrails and its legs, and put them with its pieces and its head. 18 And you shall offer up in smoke the whole ram on the altar; it is a burnt offering to the Lord: it is a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the Lord.” (Exodus 29:16-18)

No

“This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: “Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices and eat flesh. 22 For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them on the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices.” (Jeremiah 7:21-22)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:

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The Geographical Details of Old Testament’s Messianic Prophecies

In a previous post “Revealed Apologetics Interview on The Old Testament & the Philosophy of Evidence” among the things talked about with the Old Testament as the worldview lens which we interpret the action of Jesus as being the Messiah is how environment/geography gives us clues that Jesus is the Messiah.

I want to give further details with that.

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Apologetics Sermon Illustration #81: Objections that Churches do not even recognize other churches and question of how many countries are there

GO TO PART 80

 

Point: What do you say when people say that Christianity can’t be true because churches cannot even agree what churches are legitimate and what churches are churches and what’s a church in the first place?  I do not think there’s much weight as it might seem initially.

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Bible contradiction? Does God prefer castrated men?

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Does God prefer castrated men?

Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes shows a Bible contradiction:

Yes

“For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by people; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who is able to accept this, let him accept it.”” (Matthew 19:12)

No

“No one who is emasculated or has his male organ cut off may enter the assembly of the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 23:1)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:

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Bible contradiction? How many did God kill for committing whoredom with the daughters of Moab?

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: How many did God kill for committing whoredom with the daughters of Moab?

Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes shows a Bible contradiction:

23,000

“Nor are we to commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.” (1 Corinthians 10:8)

24,000.

“But those who died from the plague were twenty-four thousand in number.” (Numbers 25:9)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:

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Bible Contradiction? Can God stop iron chariots?

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Can God stop iron chariots?

Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes shows a Bible contradiction:

Sure, he can do anything.

“Sisera summoned all his chariots, nine hundred iron chariots, and all the people who were with him, from Harosheth-hagoyim to the river Kishon. 14 Then Deborah said to Barak, “Arise! For this is the day on which the Lord has handed Sisera over to you; behold, the Lord has gone out before you.” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. 15 And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on foot. 16 But Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far as Harosheth-hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not even one was left.” (Judges 4:13-16)

No, iron chariots are too hard for him.

“Now the Lord was with Judah, and they took possession of the hill country; but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had iron chariots.” (Judges 1:19)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:

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Fact Sheet on Bible and Slavery

 

I do think looking at the Biblical data what is called slavery in the Bible most of the time refer to indentured servitude.

Below are five points to consider since sometimes people read into their idea of slavery into the Bible, or they think the Bible’s view of slavery is like some other slavery institutions in history.

Here’s my thoughts and observation:

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Bible Contradiction? How should adulterers be punished?

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: How should adulterers be punished?

Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes shows a Bible contradiction:

They should be executed.

“‘If there is a man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, one who commits adultery with his friend’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.” ( Leviticus 20:10)

They should not be punished.

“Now the scribes and the Pharisees *brought a woman caught in the act of adultery, and after placing her in the center of the courtyard, 4 they *said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” 6 Now they were saying this to test Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. 7 When they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.” (John 8:3-8)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:

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Bible Contradiction? Was Abiathar the father or the son of Ahimelech?

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Was Abiathar the father or the son of Ahimelech?

Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes shows a Bible contradiction:

Abiathar was the son of Ahimelech.

“But one son of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to David.” (1 Samuel 22:20)

“Now it came about, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.” (1 Samuel 23:6)

Abiathar was the father of Ahimelech.

“Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Seraiah was scribe.” (2 Samuel 8:17)

“and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Shavsha was secretary;” (1 Chronicles 18:16)

“Shemaiah, the son of Nethanel the scribe, from the Levites, recorded them in the presence of the king, the leaders, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and the Levites; one father’s household taken for Eleazar and one taken for Ithamar.” (1 Chronicles 24:6)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:

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Apologetics Session 14: The Old Testament is Philosophy of evidence interpreting Jesus as the Messiah

Purpose: We will consider three truths about the Old Testament as the lens to interpret Jesus as the Messiah.

1. Evidences is always interpreted by philosophy of evidence
2. There is progressive revelation
3. How does the old testament interpret the ministry of Jesus

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Apologetics Session 13: Jesus Existed in History

Establish the need: Did Jesus exist?

Purpose: We will consider four reasons why we know Jesus existed in history.

1. The New Testament itself as early witnesses to Jesus
2. The Roman witness of Pliny the Younger
3. The Roman witness of Tacitus
4. The Jewish witness of Josephus

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Bible Contradiction? Should we hate other people?

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Should we hate other people?

Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes shows a Bible contradiction:

Yes, we should hate some people.

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.” ( Luke 14:26)

No, we should never hate anyone.

“You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may certainly rebuke your neighbor, but you are not to incur sin because of him.” (Leviticus 19:17)

“You shall not take vengeance, nor hold any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:18)

“Everyone who hates his brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.” (1 John 3:15)

“If someone says, “I love God,” and yet he hates his brother or sister, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother and sister whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God must also love his brother and sister.” (1 John 4:20-21)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:

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Bible Contradiction? Who may offer sacrifices to God?

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Who may offer sacrifices to God?

Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes shows a Bible contradiction:

Only Levites in the tabernacle

Sacrifices are to be done only by Levites:“6 Behold, I Myself have taken your fellow Levites from among the sons of Israel; they are a gift to you, dedicated to the Lord, to perform the service for the tent of meeting. 7 But you and your sons with you shall attend to your priesthood for everything that concerns the altar and inside the veil, and you are to perform service. I am giving you the priesthood as a service that is a gift, and the unauthorized person who comes near shall be put to death.” 8 Then the Lord spoke to Aaron, “Now behold, I Myself have put you in charge of My offerings, all the holy gifts of the sons of Israel I have given to you as a portion and to your sons as a permanent allotment.” (Numbers 18:6-8)

In the tabernacle: “Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to Aaron and to his sons and to all the sons of Israel, and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord has commanded, saying, 3 “Anyone from the house of Israel who slaughters an ox, a lamb, or a goat in the camp, or slaughters it outside the camp, 4 and has not brought it to the doorway of the tent of meeting to present it as an offering to the Lord in front of the tabernacle of the Lord, bloodshed is to be counted against that person. He has shed blood, and that person shall be cut off from among his people. 5 This shall be done so that the sons of Israel will bring their sacrifices which they were sacrificing in the open field—so that they will bring them to the Lord at the doorway of the tent of meeting to the priest, and sacrifice them as sacrifices of peace offerings to the Lord.” (Leviticus 17:1-5)

Non-Levites may offer sacrifices away from the tabernacle.

Elkanah, Samuel’s father, was an Ephrathite (a member of the tribe of Judah), not a Levite: “Now there was a man from Ramathaim-zophim from the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah and the name of the [a]other Peninnah; and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children…It came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him of the Lord.”” (1 Samuel 1:1-2, 20)

And yet Samuel offered sacrifices to God at Mizpeh (away from the tabernacle in Jerusalem) and God didn’t seem to mind: “Now when the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the governors of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the sons of Israel heard about it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 So the sons of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that He will save us from the hand of the Philistines!” 9 Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord; and Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him.” (1 Samuel 7:7-9)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:

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Apologetics Session 12: Old Testament argument for the New Testament

Establish the need: If someone Jewish or others say they don’t think there is a need for the New Testament as long as you have the Old Testament, what do you say?

Purpose: We will consider six reasons based upon the Old Testament to argue for the need of the New Testament.

1. Deuteronomy 18 anticipate the Prophet like Moses who will give more Word of God
2. The Pattern of Redemption followed by Revelation
3. Isaiah anticipate the Messiah will give more Word of God
4. 1-2 Chronicles leaves us with a cliff hanger
5. Malachi leaves us with a cliff hanger
6. The Pattern of a New Covenant followed by Revelation

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