Does the Bible contradict itself?

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snowbird285

Guest
#1
#1
In some parts of the Bible, you read that God is merciful to all ~The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
Psalm 145:9 and some parts you read that God is warlike and unmerciful ~I will smash them one against the other, parents and children alike, declares the Lord. I will allow no pity or mercy or compassion to keep me from destroying them. Jeremiah 13:14 how can this be? I really want to believe God is real, but how can i believe if there are two opposite accounts of what God is like? I dont believe that in Genesis 1 & 2 God fixed thing up as he went (ie Adam being lonely with the aninals and no Eve). I believe God wanted to show Adam what it was like to be lonely and God wanted Adam to be totally dependant on him. I just dont get how there can be two opposite accounts of what God is like.
 
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Chuckt

Guest
#2
#2
Snowbird, if you look at all the human beings on the earth, do you find anything disgusting about any of them?
 
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kaylagrl

Guest
#3
#3
snowbird285 said:
In some parts of the Bible, you read that God is merciful to all ~The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
Psalm 145:9 and some parts you read that God is warlike and unmerciful ~I will smash them one against the other, parents and children alike, declares the Lord. I will allow no pity or mercy or compassion to keep me from destroying them. Jeremiah 13:14 how can this be? I really want to believe God is real, but how can i believe if there are two opposite accounts of what God is like? I dont believe that in Genesis 1 & 2 God fixed thing up as he went (ie Adam being lonely with the aninals and no Eve). I believe God wanted to show Adam what it was like to be lonely and God wanted Adam to be totally dependant on him. I just dont get how there can be two opposite accounts of what God is like.
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God is merciful to all. His mercy is deeper and greater than we can ever imagine. As is His forgiveness. But He has a limit.When we choose to go our own way and refuse to bend then we give God no choice. That is our choice,we can't blame God for our choice.
 
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John146

Senior Member
#4
Jan 13, 2016
16,682
3,545
113
#4
There's only "apparent contradictions" in Scripture. There is reconciliation to be found in all so called contradictions.
 
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Chuckt

Guest
#5
#5
snowbird285 said:
In some parts of the Bible, you read that God is merciful to all ~The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
Psalm 145:9 and some parts you read that God is warlike and unmerciful ~I will smash them one against the other, parents and children alike, declares the Lord. I will allow no pity or mercy or compassion to keep me from destroying them. Jeremiah 13:14 how can this be? I really want to believe God is real, but how can i believe if there are two opposite accounts of what God is like? I dont believe that in Genesis 1 & 2 God fixed thing up as he went (ie Adam being lonely with the aninals and no Eve). I believe God wanted to show Adam what it was like to be lonely and God wanted Adam to be totally dependant on him. I just dont get how there can be two opposite accounts of what God is like.
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Snowbird,

Are there any flavors of ice cream that you like more than others?

God is merciful but sometimes He has to push reset. When love doesn't protect, love ceases to be love and sometimes God would have to let some people on earth die for others to live.
 
HeRoseFromTheDead

HeRoseFromTheDead

Senior Member
#6
Sep 4, 2012
14,424
689
113
#6
GOD is merciful to all in some senses, but not in every sense. He gives rain to the wicked, for example, but he's also unmerciful to them when necessary.
 
K

KenAllan

Banned
#7
Sep 16, 2014
1,278
23
0
#7
No.

The reason we believe there are contradictions in the Scriptures is because we want the Scriptures to say what we want them to say. Many people approach the Scriptures with the attitude of looking for Scriptures that support what we want, not what God says. A good example is the Catholic Church. Many of their Doctrines are based on what they want the Scriptures to say, not on what God actually says.
 
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Cruisyazz

Guest
#8
#8
Yeah it does I think. But I think we have limited understandings of the bible in black and white. The God I knew was a God of love. some scriptures don't portray that so what I didn't understand I just left it at that and focused on a God of love.
 
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Chuckt

Guest
#9
#9
Cruisyazz said:
Yeah it does I think. But I think we have limited understandings of the bible in black and white. The God I knew was a God of love. some scriptures don't portray that so what I didn't understand I just left it at that and focused on a God of love.
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Sure it portrays God as a God of love. God gave His son and His son had his arms open wide nailed to a cross to die for your sins so that you would have a chance to go to heaven. He died for you so it means that He must have loved you.
 
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PilgrimPassingThru

Senior Member
#10
Feb 11, 2016
2,501
40
0
#10
HeRoseFromTheDead said:
GOD is merciful to all in some senses, but not in every sense. He gives rain to the wicked, for example, but he's also unmerciful to them when necessary.
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Jame shows the same thing also

James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy;
and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

Even as it shows the same somewhat in the cruel man versus the merciful man

Prov 11:17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul:
but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.




 
C

Chuckt

Guest
#11
#11
snowbird285 said:
In some parts of the Bible, you read that God is merciful to all ~The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
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If someone broke in your house, would you be compassionate towards the burglar or would you do something?

Amanda Blackburn murder investigation - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Amanda Blackburn was murdered in a Robbery. Love ceases to be love when you don't protect but since God can see the end from the beginning, He is righteous in all of his judgments.

Suppose you could see Amanda Blackburn's killer before he killed her? What would you do? Would you kill the murderer or would you be merciful in not doing anything? The answer tells a lot about you.

There are officers who wouldn't get someone out of a ticket for riding with a child in the front seat so why should I expect an officer to get me out of a ticket if it is not something they would do? In the same way, God has the ability to know everything and because He has more facts than you, why would you say an officer shouldn't give someone a ticket before the crime in order to prevent an accident when a child is not buckled into a car seat? It is the compassion of the officer towards the child not in a mandated car seat to give the driver a ticket before the accident in order to protect the child.
 
Grace777x70

Grace777x70

Banned
#12
Nov 22, 2015
20,436
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#12
James 2:13 (NASB)
[SUP]13 [/SUP] For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
 
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PilgrimPassingThru

Senior Member
#13
Feb 11, 2016
2,501
40
0
#13
Grace777x70 said:
James 2:13 (NASB)
[SUP]13 [/SUP] For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
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I like the way that verse is put actually. An example of that could also be shown in Amalek, who showed no mercy to the weaker in Isreal and the LORD would be at war against him for that doing. Whereas Isreal would execute his wrath (which was to be so through Saul) and yet where we might see Saul showing mercy there (more or less) in the execution of his wrath toward such is expressed as shown without it who did similar (this was taken up by Samuel the prophet) and this time just in King Agag. But also David was the man in Nathan's story and David having judged his own self to be deserving of death for not showing pity (David could see this better in a plank in his eye type of story) and that also for not showing mercy (as one in charge) as a King is having subjects and doing what he did having Uriah killed (through others) even the sword of the children of Ammon for Uriah's wife. There David is as one who despised the LORD even though he is known to be a man after Gods own heart. That was the one thing David did that he held out as the only thing David majorly screwed up in.
 
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JesusIsAll

Guest
#14
#14
Instrumental to the Christian faith, as well as Judaism, is to have humility towards God and not trust in our human understandings where mysteries of God are concerned, certainly to never, ever judge God, be the creature, of a short lifetime, uppity in the face of our Eternal Creator, which is evil hubris on our part. I mention this, because it is the essence of authentic faith to believe and trust the Lord when you can't understand, like Job was admonished to fear God. Is the Lord seeking fair weather friends? It's easy to believe in and trust what you understand, another thing to absolutely trust when it's difficult, and only absolute trust is absolute faith. In scripture, regardless what you think, the Lord has spoken, "praise His Holy Name" the end of the matter, this faith. And this is not difficult, when you spiritually see the glory and beauty of God's holiness, when you ask, like David, Psalms 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Otherwise, to a person who truly understands the word of God, there are no contradictions, just man's lack of understanding that makes it seem so. As a matter of fact, the Bible is remarkably harmonious, to a proof of the deep mind of God behind it. We must approach scripture with an open mind, with no preconceived notions, prayerfully seeking just the truth, whatever that truth is, and whether you initially like it or not. By the Spirit, though, you will eventually understand everything you need to, God willing will learn what Christians down the ages have come to see, that the Lord, He alone, is worthy.
 
Grace777x70

Grace777x70

Banned
#15
Nov 22, 2015
20,436
1,430
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#15
Amen..thank God we have the New Covenant to find mercy and grace now because of our Lord..

Hebrews 4:16 (NASB)
[SUP]16 [/SUP] Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.


PilgrimPassingThru said:
I like the way that verse is put actually. An example of that could also be shown in Amalek, who showed no mercy to the weaker in Isreal and the LORD would be at war against him for that doing. Whereas Isreal would execute his wrath (which was to be so through Saul) and yet where we might see Saul showing mercy there (more or less) in the execution of his wrath toward such is expressed as shown without it who did similar (this was taken up by Samuel the prophet) and this time just in King Agag. But also David was the man in Nathan's story and David having judged his own self to be deserving of death for not showing pity (David could see this better in a plank in his eye type of story) and that also for not showing mercy (as one in charge) as a King is having subjects and doing what he did having Uriah killed (through others) even the sword of the children of Ammon for Uriah's wife. There David is as one who despised the LORD even though he is known to be a man after Gods own heart. That was the one thing David did that he held out as the only thing David majorly screwed up in.
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JesusIsAll

Guest
#16
#16
PilgrimPassingThru said:
There David is as one who despised the LORD even though he is known to be a man after Gods own heart. That was the one thing David did that he held out as the only thing David majorly screwed up in.
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Is there any scripture showing that David, as terrible as his sin was, did so, because he ever despised the Lord? What his sin ever to spite God? Again, horrible sins of betrayal, murder and adultery, but I've never had any notion David's motivation was defiance of the Lord, but would be happy to be shown David ever despised the Lord. I have great difficulty that a man after God's own heart harbored hatred of God.
 
Angela53510

Angela53510

Senior Member
#17
Jan 24, 2011
11,782
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#17
There are no contradictions in the Bible. What you have posited here in the OP, is based on a lack of understanding of the character of God.

God is loving and merciful. He sent his son Jesus to take our place on the cross. What could be more merciful than that? Jesus did not sin, yet he took our punishment.

Yet why did there have to be punishment at all? Because God is also just and righteous. That means, he cannot tolerate sin. Sin is against God. So there has to be consequences for sin. Those consequences include punishment and in the OT even death.

But God had a better way to reconcile his righteousness and his love. And that better way was Jesus. Jesus satisfied the justice needed to pay for sin. And God's love was so immense for humanity in providing that love.

"For God so love the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved by him." John 3:16-17

"But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." Romans 3:21:26

"The word propitiation carries the basic idea of appeasement, or satisfaction, specifically towards God. Propitiation is a two-part act that involves appeasing the wrath of an offended person and being reconciled to them." Propitiation is that "by which it becomes consistent with his character and government to pardon and bless the sinner. The propitiation does not procure his love or make him loving; it only renders it consistent for him to exercise his love towards sinners."
Propitiation | Theopedia
 
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BeyondET

Guest
#18
#18
snowbird285 said:
In some parts of the Bible, you read that God is merciful to all ~The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
Psalm 145:9 and some parts you read that God is warlike and unmerciful ~I will smash them one against the other, parents and children alike, declares the Lord. I will allow no pity or mercy or compassion to keep me from destroying them. Jeremiah 13:14 how can this be? I really want to believe God is real, but how can i believe if there are two opposite accounts of what God is like? I dont believe that in Genesis 1 & 2 God fixed thing up as he went (ie Adam being lonely with the aninals and no Eve). I believe God wanted to show Adam what it was like to be lonely and God wanted Adam to be totally dependant on him. I just dont get how there can be two opposite accounts of what God is like.
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The prodigal Son parable 'Luke 15:11-32' is fitting to 'Jeremiah 13:10-17' complete meaning and why the two go hand and hand. He keeps out of it same as in the prodigal what happen to him ate slop.. Compassion n wicked don't fit together

…10'This wicked people, who refuse to listen to My words, who walk in the stubbornness of their hearts and have gone after other gods to serve them and to bow down to them, let them be just like this waistband which is totally worthless. 11'For as the waistband clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole household of Israel and the whole household of Judah cling to Me,' declares the LORD, 'that they might be for Me a people, for renown, for praise and for glory; but they did not listen.'12"Therefore you are to speak this word to them, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, "Every jug is to be filled with wine."' And when they say to you, 'Do we not very well know that every jug is to be filled with wine?' 13then say to them, 'Thus says the LORD, "Behold I am about to fill all the inhabitants of this land-- the kings that sit for David on his throne, the priests, the prophets and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem-- with drunkenness!…
14"I will dash them against each other, both the fathers and the sons together," declares the LORD. "I will not show pity nor be sorry nor have compassion so as not to destroy them."'"15Listen and give heed, do not be haughty, For the LORD has spoken. 16Give glory to the LORD your God, Before He brings darkness And before your feet stumble On the dusky mountains, And while you are hoping for light He makes it into deep darkness, And turns it into gloom... 17but if you will not listen to it, My soul will sob in secret for such pride; And my eyes will bitterly weep And flow down with tears, Because the flock of the LORD has been taken captive.
 
resurrection33

resurrection33

Banned
#19
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
128
0
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#19
snowbird285 said:
In some parts of the Bible, you read that God is merciful to all ~The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
Psalm 145:9 and some parts you read that God is warlike and unmerciful ~I will smash them one against the other, parents and children alike, declares the Lord. I will allow no pity or mercy or compassion to keep me from destroying them. Jeremiah 13:14 how can this be? I really want to believe God is real, but how can i believe if there are two opposite accounts of what God is like? I dont believe that in Genesis 1 & 2 God fixed thing up as he went (ie Adam being lonely with the aninals and no Eve). I believe God wanted to show Adam what it was like to be lonely and God wanted Adam to be totally dependant on him. I just dont get how there can be two opposite accounts of what God is like.
Click to expand...
People get hung up on whether or not the Bible contradicts itself. What matters is whether or not the Lord contradicts himself.
 
Zmouth

Zmouth

Senior Member
#20
Nov 21, 2012
3,391
134
63
#20
snowbird285 said:
In some parts of the Bible, you read that God is merciful to all ~The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
Psalm 145:9 and some parts you read that God is warlike and unmerciful ~I will smash them one against the other, parents and children alike, declares the Lord. I will allow no pity or mercy or compassion to keep me from destroying them. Jeremiah 13:14 how can this be? I really want to believe God is real, but how can i believe if there are two opposite accounts of what God is like? I dont believe that in Genesis 1 & 2 God fixed thing up as he went (ie Adam being lonely with the aninals and no Eve). I believe God wanted to show Adam what it was like to be lonely and God wanted Adam to be totally dependant on him. I just dont get how there can be two opposite accounts of what God is like.
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So does Nature contradict itself, it gives you life only to die?
 
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