Apparant conterdictions

Jerrysch · #1 15th May 2005, 03:18 AM

What do You do when you are confronted by what is known as an apparant conterdiction in Scripture? I'd like to make a poll...but I keep messing them up!!

constance · #2 17th May 2005, 07:49 PM

I pray!

You know, one of the best Bible study sites I ever saw was done by an athiest where they pointed out all of these "contradictions" - it was made suddenly apparent to me that the contradictions were false.

Also, it is important to realize that we have itty bitty brains, so we have to be as open-minded as possible. Putting limits on our understanding of God's ability to do things is going to make us very confused and sad. A sense of mysticism is not a bad thing.

Constance

BigNorsk · #3 17th May 2005, 09:25 PM

I work at it. Look at different translations, do a bit of looking at the original languages, read a few commentaries, usually it has been resolved by then. If not, I work at it a bit more, try to figure if it is a supposed contradiction in the Scriptures or if the contradiction is introduced by a man made system imposed on the Scriptures.

If I still haven't got it, I ask others, mostly those I trust and respect.

If that still doesn't resolve it for me, I usually just set it aside for awhile, knowing at some time the answer will come. I don't forget about it, I keep my eyes and ears open and ponder it occassionally, one by one the so called contradictions go away. Sometimes several go away through one bit one insight.

I have learned that just because I can see it, that doesn't mean I can always transmit it to the next person, nor are they always satisfied even when I do. I recognize that often others have their own different system and problems and sometimes my solution conflicts with something in their system.

Marv

Marv

Dispy · #4 20th May 2005, 05:40 AM

IMHO the seemingly contradictions in the Bible come from one not distinguishing between the two primary doctrines that the Bible teaches - Law vs Grace.

My early training and teaching was that all the Bible was God's instructions book for us to follow. Believing what I was taught, my daily Bible study lead me to believe that the Bible was a contradictory book. My teachers and pastors could only give me "church doctrine" answers to my questions which didn't answer my questions. When pressed, the stock answer was "Well, something have to be taken by faith."

For several years I went from one Chruch to another in hopes of finding answers; only to receive basically the same responses. This has caused me to give up on all churches, and to quit reading the Bible for fear of going crazy.

It was only when one Sunday morning the Lord lead me to a small church in South Chicago that my questions were answered without me even having to ask a question. I sat dumbfounded as the speaker showed me that all the Bible was FOR MEbut not all was TO ME.

The speaker was going to start a series of messages on the Book of the Acts. That particular Sunday he did an overview of the Book. I, like most people, have been taught that the book of the Acts was primarily the growth of the early Church, and there is some turth in that. But most of all, he explained how that book shows the transition from the dispensation of the Law to the dispensation of Grace. That these two doctrines are both good workable doctrines, but also they are conflicting doctrines. Also, they should never be mixed because they only cause confusion and denominations.

That Sunday I learned that the Law was God's instruction in righteousness for the children of Israel. The instructions were give by God to Moses. Further, I learned that God gave His instructions in righteousness for members of "the Body of Christ" to the Apostle Paul. Those instructions are found in "the gospel of the grace of God," based upon the "revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began."

Seeing the transition between the doctrines of LAW and GRACE have cleared up many of the seemingly contratictions that I once saw. I can now enjoy reading and studying the Bible again. There are many things that I don't understand completely, but the more I study the Bible, the clearer those misunderstanding become. The more I study; the more I see the wonderful Grace of God.

The Bible is no longer a contradictory book to me.

God Bless.
Live Well, Laugh Often and Love the Lord!

Jerrysch · #5 22nd May 2005, 06:49 AM

Originally Posted by Dispy

IMHO the seemingly contradictions in the Bible come from one not distinguishing between the two primary doctrines that the Bible teaches - Law vs Grace.

My early training and teaching was that all the Bible was God's instructions book for us to follow. Believing what I was taught, my daily Bible study lead me to believe that the Bible was a contradictory book. My teachers and pastors could only give me "church doctrine" answers to my questions which didn't answer my questions. When pressed, the stock answer was "Well, something have to be taken by faith."

For several years I went from one Chruch to another in hopes of finding answers; only to receive basically the same responses. This has caused me to give up on all churches, and to quit reading the Bible for fear of going crazy.

It was only when one Sunday morning the Lord lead me to a small church in South Chicago that my questions were answered without me even having to ask a question. I sat dumbfounded as the speaker showed me that all the Bible was FOR MEbut not all was TO ME.

The speaker was going to start a series of messages on the Book of the Acts. That particular Sunday he did an overview of the Book. I, like most people, have been taught that the book of the Acts was primarily the growth of the early Church, and there is some turth in that. But most of all, he explained how that book shows the transition from the dispensation of the Law to the dispensation of Grace. That these two doctrines are both good workable doctrines, but also they are conflicting doctrines. Also, they should never be mixed because they only cause confusion and denominations.

That Sunday I learned that the Law was God's instruction in righteousness for the children of Israel. The instructions were give by God to Moses. Further, I learned that God gave His instructions in righteousness for members of "the Body of Christ" to the Apostle Paul. Those instructions are found in "the gospel of the grace of God," based upon the "revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began."

Seeing the transition between the doctrines of LAW and GRACE have cleared up many of the seemingly contratictions that I once saw. I can now enjoy reading and studying the Bible again. There are many things that I don't understand completely, but the more I study the Bible, the clearer those misunderstanding become. The more I study; the more I see the wonderful Grace of God.

The Bible is no longer a contradictory book to me.

God Bless.
Live Well, Laugh Often and Love the Lord!

Indeed what you have posted is quite important. One thing for me which has been of help regarding apparant conterdiction is to keep Israel and the church distinct. Over the years, too, I have found that many of the issues which I viewed as being contradictiory actually cleared up when the complete context was considered. Another point which is important is to define consepts where the Scripture speaks at length and with clairity regarding any doctrine. No doctrine should be based upon one verse of scripture.

ChristianDude777 · #6 22nd May 2005, 08:00 AM

Originally Posted by constance

I pray!

You know, one of the best Bible study sites I ever saw was done by an athiest where they pointed out all of these "contradictions" - it was made suddenly apparent to me that the contradictions were false.

Constance

You're always one with wise words..

I've been going back and forth with one of the more vocal atheists on this site about Biblical false claims and contradictions and despite weeks of claims, he's yet to provide one single contradiction that couldn't be refuted within the words of the Scripture.

God's Word is True...

Tim L.

Dave Taylor · #7 22nd May 2005, 08:45 AM

Use a bible that does not have footnoted commentary.
(which is most of the modern bibles being published ...WITH PEOPLE'S NAMES ON THEM!!!!)

That is where contradictions are created; and where private interpretation is given heed over the written, sacred Word of God.

Use a Gideon Bible; or some other Bible that only contains the scriptures (Maps are probably OK)...and the whole Christian community would be much better off.

Just think how much better on-track, eschatologically speaking; America would be right now if this simple technique had been applied when the Scoffield Bible came out.

Instead of breeding a century worth of people who learned their eschatology form the commentaries and margins of the bible that were ficticious and born of private interpretation; a whole century's worth of American's wouldn't have been duped.

If you have a 'Tim Lahaye' or 'John Hagee' or 'Jack Van Imple' "Bible"....through it away; and get a real bible without their false teachings sanctimoniously embedded throughout it. It is a sacrilege anytime the Word of God is so blatantly discrespected and denegrated.

Jerrysch · #8 22nd May 2005, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by Dave Taylor

Use a bible that does not have footnoted commentary.
(which is most of the modern bibles being published ...WITH PEOPLE'S NAMES ON THEM!!!!)

That is where contradictions are created; and where private interpretation is given heed over the written, sacred Word of God.

Use a Gideon Bible; or some other Bible that only contains the scriptures (Maps are probably OK)...and the whole Christian community would be much better off.

Just think how much better on-track, eschatologically speaking; America would be right now if this simple technique had been applied when the Scoffield Bible came out.

Instead of breeding a century worth of people who learned their eschatology form the commentaries and margins of the bible that were ficticious and born of private interpretation; a whole century's worth of American's wouldn't have been duped.

If you have a 'Tim Lahaye' or 'John Hagee' or 'Jack Van Imple' "Bible"....through it away; and get a real bible without their false teachings sanctimoniously embedded throughout it. It is a sacrilege anytime the Word of God is so blatantly discrespected and denegrated.

I agree with part of what you are saying. I think far too often we are willing to just turn to the "experts" and just let them do the thinking for us. But I think sometimes noted Bibles are blamed for our own failures. Consulting notes can be not too different from asking one's pastor what a passage means. That person then inherits a bias (good or bad) from their own pastor. But overall notes can make us lazy, often times if a person would just read and think clearly about any passage and fight the temptation to read things into the text that are not there, a good understanding can be discovered. I think sometimes people give up too quickly.

constance · #9 22nd May 2005, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by ChristianDude777

You're always one with wise words..

I've been going back and forth with one of the more vocal atheists on this site about Biblical false claims and contradictions and despite weeks of claims, he's yet to provide one single contradiction that couldn't be refuted within the words of the Scripture.

God's Word is True...

Tim L.

I'm glad you like the suggestion, I have to admit it is very unorthodox!

Constance

mcfly1960 · #10 22nd May 2005, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by Dave Taylor

If you have a 'Tim Lahaye' or 'John Hagee' or 'Jack Van Imple' "Bible"....through it away; and get a real bible without their false teachings sanctimoniously embedded throughout it. It is a sacrilege anytime the Word of God is so blatantly discrespected and denegrated.

The rampant plagiarism among these authors is appalling, too. It's hard to keep up with who is copying from whom nowadays. Did Ryrie copy from Lindsey or Lindsey copy from Ryrie?