Contradictions in the Bible

[DbDShowbread42]

I won't claim to be a Bible expert, but it seems that there are many contradictions in the Bible. The example that resonates the most with me is the apparent dichotomy between Romans 14:22 and verses like Matthew 28:19. I like the way the message translates Romans 14:22, "Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don't impose it on others." To me, that seems contradictory to the idea of evangelism. I'm wondering how these verses can be reconciled. I may be missing the idea, but that's how I see it. My broader question is how inconsistencies within the Bible can be reconciled, justified, and comprehended. How can the Bible be perfect when these apparent flaws exist?

 

[Elizabeth619]

Romans is talking about particular ceremonies and the strong and the weak.

These two passages are rather unrealted.
We are to preach the gospel to all, but when it comes to ones personal relationship with God we are not to condemn the weak if they choose not to participate in certain things out of fear they will fall.

 

[jandian]

There are some arguments in the bible that has no bearing on your salvation. Those are the things that Paul was referring to when he made the comments in Romans. But there are truths that are pertinent to our Christianity. Those are unchangeable. Knowing the difference ?! The Spirit of God shall lead us into all truth.

Cheers

 

[PopClick]

Romans 14 is talking about not judging other Christians if they decide to be vegetarians, or if they decide to worship on a certain day, etc. "Whatever you think about these things, keep it between yourself and God."

Even though it's not talking about evangelism, it is certainly wrong to impose your faith on someone else:

im·pose [ im pṓz ]
levy or enforce something: to lay down something compulsory such as a tax or a punishment
insist on something: to make people agree to something or comply with something by having superior strength or authority
inconvenience somebody: to demand somebody's attention or time in an unreasonable manner

Jesus told His disciples to witness to people, but if they did not accept the Message, to shake the dust off their clothes as they left. He didn't tell them to impose their beliefs on anyone.

To your broader question, feel free to post the other things that bother you about the bible. I can't really comment on how inconsistencies within the Bible can be reconciled, justified, and comprehended if I'm not sure to what you're referring.

 

[Nancyer]

I like the expression that goes something like "preach the Gospel. When necessary, use words." I agree we shouldn't impose our beliefs on others but should always be available to offer guidance of the Word when it is appropriate.

 

[jandian]

I think i need help understanding what imposing is

 

[Laodicea]

I won't claim to be a Bible expert, but it seems that there are many contradictions in the Bible. The example that resonates the most with me is the apparent dichotomy between Romans 14:22 and verses like Matthew 28:19. I like the way the message translates Romans 14:22, "Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don't impose it on others." To me, that seems contradictory to the idea of evangelism. I'm wondering how these verses can be reconciled. I may be missing the idea, but that's how I see it. My broader question is how inconsistencies within the Bible can be reconciled, justified, and comprehended. How can the Bible be perfect when these apparent flaws exist?

Romans 14:22
(22) Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
Romans 14:1
(1) Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

Verse 22 is not talking about evangelism, it is talking about not boasting so that those who are weak in the faith would be offended. The whole chapter needs to be read to get the context.
Romans 14:4
(4) Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Romans 14:10
(10) But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

There are no contradictions in the Bible only misunderstandings.

 

[Avinu]

I won't claim to be a Bible expert, but it seems that there are many contradictions in the Bible. The example that resonates the most with me is the apparent dichotomy between Romans 14:22 and verses like Matthew 28:19. I like the way the message translates Romans 14:22, "Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don't impose it on others." To me, that seems contradictory to the idea of evangelism. I'm wondering how these verses can be reconciled. I may be missing the idea, but that's how I see it. My broader question is how inconsistencies within the Bible can be reconciled, justified, and comprehended. How can the Bible be perfect when these apparent flaws exist?

Like my brother Lao said, there are no contradictions in the Bible, only misunderstandings.

People have tried to prove contradictions for 100's of yrs. and have failed. The problem is when someone looks at the Bible for error, then they are blocked from understanding.
You can't just take two scriptures that you don't understand and declare a discrepancy. You have to read all the text around them as well.
There is not a single flaw in the Holy Scriptures, there is only flaws in our reading of them.

Shalom

 

[DbDShowbread42]

I see how I was misinterpreting the Romans verse. But how can you say that 2 Kings 2:11 and John 3:13 don't contradict each other?

 

[Avinu]

I see how I was misinterpreting the Romans verse. But how can you say that 2 Kings 2:11 and John 3:13 don't contradict each other?

• Like

I'll answer you, but first I would like to ask what you think it means?

 

[Laodicea]

2 Kings 2:11
(11) And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
John 3:13
(13) And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

One thing is that Elijah was taken to heaven, he did not ascend to heaven on his own accord.
2 Kings 2:9
(9) And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.


2). Is that John 3:13 is talking about understanding heavenly things read the previous verses. Read the context of John 3.
John 3:11-13
(11) Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
(12) If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
(13) And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

 

[Avinu]

I see how I was misinterpreting the Romans verse. But how can you say that 2 Kings 2:11 and John 3:13 don't contradict each other?

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First of all, you always want context . . .
Who was speaking, to whom was He speaking, and

what was the subject about which He was speaking ?
We know for a fact that others have entered into 'the heaven' and

Yeshua and John and Nicodemus would have all known and had
access to that info . . . So it is not reasonable to believe that Yeshua
would be making a statement that would be blatantly contrary to

Scripture and history, and Nicodemus would be aware of this 'contradiction' . . .
Also, what was the subject of their discussion ? Was it not about being
born from above ? . . . see where this takes you as you study it out . .

 

[Wesley]

Like my brother Lao said, there are no contradictions in the Bible, only misunderstandings.

Why are there two creation tales in Genesis which detail different orders of Creation? How is that a "misunderstanding"?

 

[Consumed]

bro,
dont force anyone to believe when sharing your love for Jesus, no contradiction. In doing so your evangelizing and not forcing anything upon anyone less you get offened they dont recieve then you would be trying to impose it on others.

 

[Laodicea]

Why are there two creation tales in Genesis which detail different orders of Creation? How is that a "misunderstanding"?

what are you talking about?

 

[loveme1]

Why are there two creation tales in Genesis which detail different orders of Creation? How is that a "misunderstanding"?

This is a misunderstanding, some believe that Adam was not the male and female that were told to replenish the earth.


27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

29And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

30And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

31And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

The Male and female were made and sent to repleish the Earth... Yahvah God blessed them.


1Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

2And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

3And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

4These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,

5And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.

6But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.

7And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

8And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

9And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

10And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.


Some people take this as an elaboration of the male and female Yahvah God blessed, and some see that Adam came after that creation.



Genesis is only a brief account of what happened.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

I won't claim to be a Bible expert, but it seems that there are many contradictions in the Bible. The example that resonates the most with me is the apparent dichotomy between Romans 14:22 and verses like Matthew 28:19. I like the way the message translates Romans 14:22, "Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don't impose it on others." To me, that seems contradictory to the idea of evangelism. I'm wondering how these verses can be reconciled. I may be missing the idea, but that's how I see it. My broader question is how inconsistencies within the Bible can be reconciled, justified, and comprehended. How can the Bible be perfect when these apparent flaws exist?

Matt 28 speaks of telling the gospel. Not imposing the gospel. You don't try to force people to believe the way you do. He is saying tell them so they have the ability to have their own convictions, God also told the disciples if the people they talk to do not recieve their message to walk away.

Romans is talking about judging others for sins which are really not sins. and how we should have our own convictions. These are people who already heard the gospel.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

I see how I was misinterpreting the Romans verse. But how can you say that 2 Kings 2:11 and John 3:13 don't contradict each other?

jesus ascended to heaven of his owm power. No one else has done that. Elijah was taken to heaven by means of an external force (God) If we are looking for contradictions we will find them. Only when we open up will we see they do not contradict at all, just our belief of what they say are contradictory

 

[Avinu]

Why are there two creation tales in Genesis which detail different orders of Creation? How is that a "misunderstanding"?

• Like

What are you talking about?!

 

[Bornfromabove]

What are you talking about?!

I think they may be talking about this. In Genesis chapter one it says that animals were made first, then man was made, but in chapter 2 it says man was made first, then animals.

Gen 1:24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
Gen 1:25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Gen 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
Gen 2:19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

In Genesis 2:19, the bible is just simply reiterating what God did in Genesis Chapter 1