JCSM Shareware Collection 1993 November/JCSM Shareware Collection - 1993-11.iso/cl040/study21j.lzh/CONTRA.TXT

Text File | 1989-08-16 | 8KB | 133 lines

               DOES THE BIBLE CONTRADICT ITSELF?

"IT IS impossible for God to lie," declares the Bible.(Hebrews
6:18)   So how could his book be filled with glaring
inconsistencies and significant discrepancies and still be called
the Word of God?  It could not. 'Why, though, the discrepancies?'
you ask.
     As might be expected, in a book that for centuries was
laboriously copied by hand and that needed to be translated into
the popular languages of the day, some scribal variations crept in.
But none are of such scope and weight as to cast doubt on the
inspiration and authority of the Bible as a whole.  By careful
examination, seeming contradictions can be shown to have an honest
solution.  All too often, people who claim that the Bible
contradicts itself have not made a thorough investigation
themselves, but they merely accept this opinion that is thrust upon
them by those who do not wish to believe the Bible or be governed
by it.  "He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is a
folly and shame to him," cautions the Bible at Proverbs 18:13.
     At times, some object to the fact that Bible writers do not
always seem to agree on matters relating to figures, order of
events, wording of quotations, and so forth.  But consider:  If you
were to ask several eyewitnesses of an event to write down what
they saw, would all accounts coincide entirely in wording and
detail?  If they did, would you not be suspicious of collusion
among the writers?  So, too, Bible writers were allowed by God to
retain their own particular style and language, while he saw to it
that his ideas and pertinent facts were conveyed accurately.
     Quotations from earlier writings might be altered slightly
from the original statements to meet the needs and purpose of the
new writer, while still retaining the basic sense and thought.  The
same could be said about groupings of events.  One writer may
follow a strict chronological order, while another may list the
events according to the writer's viewpoint and his condensation of
the account.  Hence, Matthew spoke of two blind men being healed
by Jesus, while Mark and Luke only mention one.  (Matthew 20:29-34;
Mark 10:46;Luke 18:35) Matthew's account is not contradictory.  He
is simply being more specific as to the number, while Mark and Luke
focus on the one man to whom Jesus directed his conversation.
     There were also different methods of computing time.  The
Jewish nation used two calendars--the sacred calendar and the
secular, or agricultural, calendar--each starting at a different
time of the year.  Writers who differ in month and day when
referring to the same event might merely be using different
calendars.  As Oriental writers seldom used fractions, parts of a
year were counted as whole years.  They were rounded off to the
nearest whole number.  Note this, for instance, in the genealogical
records found in Genesis chapter 5.

HARMONIZING "CONTRADICTIONS"

     But are there not texts in the Bible that say just the
opposite of other texts?  Let us consider a few that have been
cited by critics of the Bible.
     At John 3:22 we read that Jesus "did baptizing," while just
a little  further on, at John 4:2, the record states that "Jesus
himself did no baptizing."  But as the rest of the text indicates,
it was Jesus' disciples  who performed the actual baptisms in his
name and under his direction.  This is similar to the case in which
a businessman and his secretary both can lay claim to writing a
particular letter.
     Surprisingly it can seem that Luke, the writer of the Bible
book of Acts contradicted himself between the verses at Acts 9:7
and Acts 22:9.  Actually the verse in Acts 22:9 in the Greek gives
the meaning of hearing "understandably".  Many times we will reply
that we didn't hear a person,  when actually we heard but didn't
hear well enough to understand what was said.  Then there is the
text at Genesis 2:2 that records that God rested "from all his
work."  Contrasting with this is Jesus' statement at John 5:17
where he says that God "has kept working until now."  But as the
context shows, the record in Genesis is speaking specifically of
God's works of material creation, while Jesus was referring to
God's works concerning his divine guidance and care for mankind.
     Another seeming contradiction is found by comparing Exodus
34:7 with Ezekiel 18:20.  The first text states that God would
bring "punishment for the error of fathers upon sons and upon
grandsons," while the latter states that a "son himself will bear
nothing because of the error of the father."  Why do these texts
appear to be contradictory?  Because they are taken out of context.
Examine the surrounding material and setting.  It then becomes
obvious that when God mentioned punishment as coming upon not only
fathers but also sons and grandsons, he was speaking of what would
result to the Israelites as a 'nation' if they sinned against him
and were taken into captivity.  On the other hand, when mentioning
that a son would not be liable for the error of his father, he was
speaking of 'personal' accountability.
     Differences can be found, such as in the accounts of Jesus'
birth as recorded at Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-38.  But do they
indicate contradiction?
     Have you ever read two biographies about the same famous
person? If so, have you noticed that these biographies will differ
without being necessarily contradictory?  Often, it is because of
the writer's personal impressions or the sources he has used.  It
also depends on what the author feels is important to relate in
his presentation, the angle he is developing, and having the
audience in mind for whom the work is intended.  Thus, accounts
written with Gentile readers in mind would differ from those for
Jewish readers, who already understood and accepted certain facts.
     These are just a few examples of passages in the Bible that,
without careful analysis, appear to contradict one another.  But
when carefully examined, keeping in mind the writer's viewpoint
and the context, they are not contradictions at all but simply
passages that require additional research.  Most people fail to
put forth this necessary effort; however, finding it so much easier
just to say: "The Bible contradicts itself."



DESERVING OF OUR CONFIDENCE

     God's holy spirit allowed Bible writers much leeway in writing
their reports.(Acts 3:21)  Thus, they were able to produce a
colorful and graphic picture of what they saw.  Their
dissimilarities, however, actually establish their credibility and
veracity, allowing no charge of deceit and collusion.(2 Peter
1:16-21)  While writers differed in their method of presentation,
all pointed in the same direction and had the same purpose: to show
people what Jehovah God will do to make mankind happy and what
humans for their part must do to receive God's approval.(Pro 2:3-9)
     The Bible is a book that appeals to our power of reason.  It
is harmonious throughout.  It does not contradict itself.  All 66
books (1,189 chapters or 31,173 verses according to the King James
Version) deserve our complete confidence.  Yes you can trust the
Bible!

IF YOU FIND A BIBLE "CONTRADICTION," COULD IT BE THAT:

> You are unaware of certain historical facts or ancient customs?
> You have failed to take the context into consideration?
> You have overlooked the writer's viewpoint?
> You are trying to reconcile mistaken religious ideas with what
  the Bible really says?
> You are using an inexact or outdated Bible translation?