There are a lot of people out there who claim that the Bible has contradictions. Now, I'm not going to harp on how they often don't actually know what those contradictions are, and that they are typically just mouthing an argument that they think holds water. But I do want to acknowledge that there are statements that often seem to be at odds with each other, especially when you pull them out of the context and simply compare one verse to another, especially when they both come out of the mouth of the same person.
Now, I've already given away part of my thought in that previous paragraph. One thing that many "contradictions theory" people hold is that Jesus says different things, or that the Bible says different things. I will readily acknowledge that. For example, in one story, Jesus tells a person caught in sin that He doesn't condemn that person, and then, in another, He pretty much seems to blast what seems to be a fairly minor thing. Or, in once case, He says that those who aren't against Him are for Him, and yet, in another instance, He says that those who aren't for Him are against Him.
So we might want to say, Jesus, You seem to be speaking out both sides of your mouth. But here's the rub. We have to look at the story in which these different statements are offered to understand why the Bible says the thing it does. In one case, Jesus is speaking to someone who seems to have been set up merely to try to prove a point to Jesus. In another case, Jesus is talking to people who take great care to count their tithes, but forget things like God's mercy and forgiveness. In one case, Jesus is speaking to those who want to stop someone who is acting in Jesus' name, and in another case, Jesus is speaking to those who are actively working against Him.
In other words, context actually serves to clear up most "contradictions" in the Bible. We could simply ask the question, Who ya talking to? If Jesus was talking to someone who was convinced that they were right with God on their own, He's going to answer very differently than He would to someone who recognized their sin and asked for forgiveness. If Jesus was talking with someone who was content with their sin, He would say something far different than He would to the person who felt great remorse over his sin.
To whom is this statement directed? That's a great question to ask when supposed "contradictions" are brought to our attention. And honestly, I think it should fall on the shoulders of the person who brings up these contradictions. In that sense, it's obvious that they need to do their homework. They need to point out the specific incidents that they are talking about. And then, they need to examine those to see why the statement is made at that time, in that place, to that particular person or group of people.
You might notice that this requires them and us to have a decent working knowledge of what the Bible actually says, and to go even further in knowing the context in which these things are found. Yes, a pretty tall task, but I honestly don't recall God or Jesus ever saying that the life of faith would be easy.
Now, I've already given away part of my thought in that previous paragraph. One thing that many "contradictions theory" people hold is that Jesus says different things, or that the Bible says different things. I will readily acknowledge that. For example, in one story, Jesus tells a person caught in sin that He doesn't condemn that person, and then, in another, He pretty much seems to blast what seems to be a fairly minor thing. Or, in once case, He says that those who aren't against Him are for Him, and yet, in another instance, He says that those who aren't for Him are against Him.
So we might want to say, Jesus, You seem to be speaking out both sides of your mouth. But here's the rub. We have to look at the story in which these different statements are offered to understand why the Bible says the thing it does. In one case, Jesus is speaking to someone who seems to have been set up merely to try to prove a point to Jesus. In another case, Jesus is talking to people who take great care to count their tithes, but forget things like God's mercy and forgiveness. In one case, Jesus is speaking to those who want to stop someone who is acting in Jesus' name, and in another case, Jesus is speaking to those who are actively working against Him.
In other words, context actually serves to clear up most "contradictions" in the Bible. We could simply ask the question, Who ya talking to? If Jesus was talking to someone who was convinced that they were right with God on their own, He's going to answer very differently than He would to someone who recognized their sin and asked for forgiveness. If Jesus was talking with someone who was content with their sin, He would say something far different than He would to the person who felt great remorse over his sin.
To whom is this statement directed? That's a great question to ask when supposed "contradictions" are brought to our attention. And honestly, I think it should fall on the shoulders of the person who brings up these contradictions. In that sense, it's obvious that they need to do their homework. They need to point out the specific incidents that they are talking about. And then, they need to examine those to see why the statement is made at that time, in that place, to that particular person or group of people.
You might notice that this requires them and us to have a decent working knowledge of what the Bible actually says, and to go even further in knowing the context in which these things are found. Yes, a pretty tall task, but I honestly don't recall God or Jesus ever saying that the life of faith would be easy.
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