If the Bible has errors or discrepancies how am I supposed to believe in Jesus?

[dreadnought]

Just citing the examples of the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of John, when the supper and day and hour of cruxificion is different, or, John in the gospel saying he was an eyewitness of the events, when scholars don't believe it was he who wrote ithe gospel, how am I supposed to believe in Jesus? I'm wavering on my belief.

If you follow Jesus - obey his commandments and pray constantly - you will find he solves all your problems for you. That ought to make you believe.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

If you follow Jesus - obey his commandments and pray constantly - you will find he solves all your problems for you. That ought to make you believe.

Where did you get this idea from?

 

[dreadnought]

Where did you get this idea from?

He solves all MY problems.

 

[Vicomte13]

What is your experience?

God healed my broken neck and paralysis to stop me from drowning alone in a lake.

 

[Paul of Eugene OR]

There is not a supposed discrepancy in the bible that some gifted, brilliant, learned scholar of the past has not already investigated and has completely put the issue to rest.

Well, the complete putting to rest of every cited discrepancy is often claimed but also often disputed.

 

[AFrazier]

They contradict each other. The view that they don't comes from closing your eyes and lying to yourself, because you've created a doctrine that if there's any contradiction at all, the Bible collapses, and because your faith is based on the Bible, your faith collapses.

What Jesus said and did can have authority just exactly like every other law, regulation, rule or custom does. There is authority out there, it's real and true. It's conveyed to us imperfectly, through imperfect people and imperfect writings, but we're all human and we're all made with the ability to discern what is and what is not.

Did the [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] crow once or three times? What exactly did Jesus say about the [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] crowing?

How many times did Jesus clear the temple of moneychangers, once, in his final week in Jerusalem (per some gospels), or at the beginning of his ministry (per another). Does that mean that he cleared it twice, or that somebody got a detail wrong.

It doesn't matter that the detail is wrong. Everybody remembered that Jesus foretold something regarding Peter and the rooster crowing, and it happened. It doesn't matter that it was one crow or three crowing - except that the discrepancy and contradiction shows us that we can't take the text strictly literally.

If we MUST take it literally - then we MUST make these contradictions square. And they don't. So then faith must collapse because the Bible contains contradictions and errors. Or we have to lie to ourselves and say that it doesn't when it clearly does, and then just keep repeating it over and over. Or we have to start making up fables and improbable stories that aren't in the text in order to "save" its perfection.

Really, the best thing to do is to accept that it is history, with the minor issues of any written text, and to do the same thing with regard to it that we do with regard to books of law and custom - focus on the meanings and not become obsessed with the typos.

I'm in agreement with you on this stuff.

Relative to the age of the Temple stated by the priests, I think John has the clearing of the Temple right, while the other gospels, which more or less start after John the Baptist's arrest, are forced to improvise the event that would otherwise be lost because of their starting point.

I think "before the [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] crows" and "before the [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] crows twice" are a difference between specific and general. If the [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] crows twice, it has "crowed."

But overall, there are errors in the text that can't be denied or reconciled, and if we are dependent upon the perfection of the text for our faith, then our faith is rendered imperfect and fallible.

Good post.

 

[Paul of Eugene OR]

I'm in agreement with you on this stuff.

Relative to the age of the Temple stated by the priests, I think John has the clearing of the Temple right, while the other gospels, which more or less start after John the Baptist's arrest, are forced to improvise the event that would otherwise be lost because of their starting point.

I think "before the [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] crows" and "before the [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] crows twice" are a difference between specific and general. If the [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] crows twice, it has "crowed."

Look at this verse:

Mark 14:68

68 But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are talking about." And he went out onto the porch, and a rooster crowed.
NASU

This crowing is described as occuring between denial number two and denial number three. It's not just that there were two crowings. It is that the rooster crowed BEFORE Peter denied his three times.

Compare with Matthew:

Matt 26:34
34 Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."
NASU

Mark's narrative contradicts Matthew's narrative of the prophecy. There was a crowing before all three denials had occurred, according to Mark.

The event is striking, but the descriptions are not, in detail, literally compatible.

 

[ChristianFromKazakhstan]

God healed my broken neck and paralysis to stop me from drowning alone in a lake.

Amazing! Could you describe the miracle in mote details, please? How do you know it was God who did it?

 

[AFrazier]

Look at this verse:

Mark 14:68

68 But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are talking about." And he went out onto the porch, and a rooster crowed.
NASU

This crowing is described as occuring between denial number two and denial number three. It's not just that there were two crowings. It is that the rooster crowed BEFORE Peter denied his three times.

Compare with Matthew:

Matt 26:34
34 Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."
NASU

Mark's narrative contradicts Matthew's narrative of the prophecy. There was a crowing before all three denials had occurred, according to Mark.

The event is striking, but the descriptions are not, in detail, literally compatible.

Except for the interpretation of the [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]'s crow. The Hebrew phrase being used there is most likely Keriath Ha Geber, which translates literally as the [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]'s crow, but is a figurative phrase referring to the sounding of the man. Just as there were horn blasts to announce the approach of sundown on the preparation day, there were also warning blasts announcing the approach of midnight, and at midnight, by which time the passover had to be consumed.

So before Keriath Ha Geber, which is loosely midnight, or specifically midnight and about fifteen minutes before, Peter would deny him three times. The final [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] crow was after Peter's third denial.

 

[Blade]

Just citing the examples of the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of John, when the supper and day and hour of cruxificion is different, or, John in the gospel saying he was an eyewitness of the events, when scholars don't believe it was he who wrote ithe gospel, how am I supposed to believe in Jesus? I'm wavering on my belief.

Ok.. so WHO are you asking? See look at what you hear as you asked this. WHICH one is true? SOME think man wrote the bible so it will be full of errors. A very true story.. a Muslim man.... to make this short.. JESUS shows up. The Muslim does not this Jesus.. asks who are you? Says.. I am the way the truth and the life. The Muslim man says.. that means nothing to me.

What got me was.. a saying a Christian knows SO well. From a BOOK that SOME people say.. a man wrote. See if you keep asking MAN.. you only see what they can see. So.. ask this YESHUA/JESUS about that bible. Jesus is real.. this not a game. NOT saying you think like that. But this is REAL. This is SO REAL that HE DOES TALK!

He goes to this town and all He could do was lay hands on a few and teach. See that bible more then once talks about DOUBT. IF you doubt..let not that man think he will get anything from God. And.. YES I can see how hard this is.. I was there many of us were. But JESUS IS REAL! Talk to Him.. tell HIM how you feel. And KNOW that He cares. HE will show you.

No.. JESUS IS REAL! HAHA.. HEs not like man. If you TALK TO HIM.. if you EXPECT Him to answer back.. may not be the MOMENT You want.. but Hes not like us.. He does not lie. So..if you reach out to HIM.. unlike man. HE WILL be there EVERY TIME! You DONT go by what so and so said. What so and so believes. That goes for me. You read that word.. you ask HIM to OPEN your eyes.. be like a child..if a child picked it up and read it.... they believe. He loves you so much..

This is just a open door.. I know you may feel as if your slipping.. but.. have faith.. HE NEVER LETS GO! No matter how you FEEL.. GOD has you IN HIS HANDS! You cant fall

 

[Paul of Eugene OR]

Except for the interpretation of the [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]'s crow. The Hebrew phrase being used there is most likely Keriath Ha Geber, which translates literally as the [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]'s crow, but is a figurative phrase referring to the sounding of the man. Just as there were horn blasts to announce the approach of sundown on the preparation day, there were also warning blasts announcing the approach of midnight, and at midnight, by which time the passover had to be consumed.

So before Keriath Ha Geber, which is loosely midnight, or specifically midnight and about fifteen minutes before, Peter would deny him three times. The final [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] crow was after Peter's third denial.

Uh . . . I hate to break it to you . . . but the new testament is written in Greek, not Hebrew. Arguments based on sheer guesses as to what words were used are inappropriate in this context anyway. Go to the text and actually check the word, don't just make lucky guesses!

The word for "crowed" in Mark is from the greek verb phoneo, meaning to make a sound. The subject of the verb, that which made the sound, is the rooster . . alektor. A male fowl. You have no case for your logic.

 

[Strong in Him]

Just citing the examples of the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of John, when the supper and day and hour of cruxificion is different, or, John in the gospel saying he was an eyewitness of the events, when scholars don't believe it was he who wrote ithe gospel, how am I supposed to believe in Jesus? I'm wavering on my belief.

All 4 Gospels state that Jesus lived, taught, died and was raised again.
All this was prophesied in the Old Testament, and also taught in the epistles. So the overwhelming teaching of the NT, and indeed Scripture, is that Jesus was the Son of God who came to show us, and teach us about, God, died for our sins and was raised again.

This is the Gospel and the most important thing to focus on. Jesus' question to his disciples, "who do you say that I am?" is the most important one you will have to answer.
How do you answer that question?

 

[jimmyjimmy]

He solves all MY problems.

Do you want to visit a children's cancer ward and say that?

 

[1gh2g3f4]

if you do indeed believe in the jesus.... and someone has tried to deceive you... know it as just that.. deception.. move on and give no weight to it when you get a little more confident in your god then i encourage you to go back and read the passages that gave you a hard time with a renewed mind. you can get over this.... this isnt even a big stumbling block there are ones much bigger than this waiting for you to test you and deceive you and get you outta the faith... this is your freewill its you being tempted and tested right now...no matter what anyone says here... at the end of the day it is you that has to first make this choice here... do i want to not believe in the one and only true god that brings salvation? if the answer to that question is yes then you are doing just fine... you are simply going through the trials and temptations... if you was on the right side of satan... you wouldn't be getting this kinda confusion...... this could be your spiritual attack seems like everyone has something like this where they have a moment of disbelief even thomas doubted that jesus was resurrected he said not untill i put my finger into the nails prints of his hand and thrust my hand in his side..... and indeed jesus did show up later on and appeared to him with everyone around him seeing this... jesus told him to do the very thing that he said he needed to do to believe... and at that point thomas answered to him "my lord and my god" then jesus said to him you see me so you believe.... how much more blessed are those that dont see me and believe... just get through this season... read the bible more.. and pray even more than that.. you will get through this... you can do this i know you can....

 

[Vicomte13]

I'm in agreement with you on this stuff.

Relative to the age of the Temple stated by the priests, I think John has the clearing of the Temple right, while the other gospels, which more or less start after John the Baptist's arrest, are forced to improvise the event that would otherwise be lost because of their starting point.

I think "before the [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] crows" and "before the [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] crows twice" are a difference between specific and general. If the [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] crows twice, it has "crowed."

But overall, there are errors in the text that can't be denied or reconciled, and if we are dependent upon the perfection of the text for our faith, then our faith is rendered imperfect and fallible.

Good post.

For example, in the land of the Gadarenes (or was it Gerasines?), did Jesus cast the demons into a herd of pigs out of one man or two? Was Legion one man, or was he two men? Or was it two different identical events in two different places with the same dialogue and everything, with a total of THREE men called Legion?

Matthew says there were two men. Mark and Luke say there was one. This is an example of a clear discrepancy in the Bible, and it isn't a little one - it's obvious.

MY approach is: personal miracles, so I know God exists, veridical external miracles (Shroud, Lanciano, Incorrupt bodies of Saints, Lourdes healings), so I know that Christ is divine. There's a Church that's been around for 2000 years that says what Christ said and did and wants of us, and that Church uses a book to tell the story. The book is neither a legal nor scientific text, and like any other thing written by a bunch of men, it has inconsistencies in it, contradictions, perhaps exaggerations and errors. None of that changes the fact that I know directly that God EXISTS, and none of that changes the uniquely Christian testimony of miracles that God has left for all to see. So, even though the book is imperfect and contains contradictions, and even though the Church has committed horrible sins and crimes over the centuries, those are nevertheless the only sources about Jesus we have, so - imperfect as they are - if we want to know about the real God, we have to listen and learn. We have to also acknowledge the errors and discrepancies and contradictions, so that we do not become fanatics and repeat the past errors of the Church.

 

[PeaceJoyLove]

Scripture comes from God. Revelation of it comes through the Holy Spirit. The Bible contains all that is necessary and nothing should be added or taken away, but we need to be able to see it as the living Word of God.

"We need to be able to 'see'..." It is all about perception. We 'see' from where we are in the process taking place within. Spirit and flesh...one is enmity to God. One gives us light and life. One is darkness, one brings light shedding (God's) love abroad in our heart. As "I" decrease and He increases, our perception of the Truth (Living Word) changes...which all goes (back) to the question God asked Adam, "Where art thou?"

The living Word of God does not go forth in vain, and if that seems to be the case it is our own mind, not His...Truth cast down becomes a serpent.

 

[dreadnought]

Do you want to visit a children's cancer ward and say that?

The Lord can even comfort those with cancer.

 

[miamited]

Do you want to visit a children's cancer ward and say that?

Hi jimmyjimmy,

I'm not sure that the point being made is that 'solving problems' is to mean that He necessarily fixes them or takes them away. I could be mistaken as to the quoted poster's intentions and understanding, but for me, 'solving' includes giving peace regarding one's circumstance.

Secondly, I believe the quoted poster is speaking of God solving his problems as a believer. Not all the children in the cancer ward are believers. I don't think the poster meant to infer that God solves, fixes, takes away, everyone's problems in the whole world. God is on record that for those who are faithful and righteous in His sight, that He watches over that specific person's way. That is not to say that He fixes every little problem that comes up in their life or even prevents them from suffering any disease or sickness. Just that He is there watching over them as they pass through the travails of this life.

Finally, many of our travails can be attributed to the things that we did before coming to understand and accept the truth of God. Trusting in Jesus as Lord doesn't mean that one is immediately absolved of the earthly consequences of their actions.

Yes, God can heal a person of the AIDs virus. Yes, God can remove all the cancerous growth in one's body. No, He isn't obligated to. Not for the unbeliever or the believer. When God, through Jesus, healed the blind man standing before His Son, there were still many, many people who were blind living in Israel. God healed that particular and specific blind man as a sign to us of the power and authority God had placed in His Son. God didn't just sweep His arm over all of Israel and heal every blind person.

Whether I die today or tomorrow of natural causes or some debilitating disease, the truth of God and who He is still reigns in my heart. I have peace that no matter what happens tomorrow or today, God is there with me. I have peace in my heart that however or whenever my death comes, the best part of my life is yet to come. I gladly and joyfully leave this life whenever my Lord so desires that I leave and in whatever circumstance He puts me in that takes my life, that the best is yet to come.

For any of those children in the cancer wards who have that same childlike faith, they too know that the best is yet to come.

God bless you,
In Christ, ted

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

It should be correctly discerned that the reason Jesus' nieghbours sought to kill Him was for pointing out that God supplied the widow outside of Israel. That was true OT times.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Just citing the examples of the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of John, when the supper and day and hour of cruxificion is different, or, John in the gospel saying he was an eyewitness of the events, when scholars don't believe it was he who wrote ithe gospel, how am I supposed to believe in Jesus? I'm wavering on my belief.

I do not believe there are any errors in the King James Bible.
I believe it is perfect and without error for many reasons biblically.
You have to first have faith.
The evidences or proofs will come later that God's Word is true.
Research heavily on Bible contradictions resolved by other Christians.
Do not give up searching until you get an answer that satisifies.
Pray about it.


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