Dec 18, 20 self contradictions of the bible william henry burr on. What is incredible about the bible is not its divine authorship. In fact, some of these so called contradictions come about because the bible is not just one book, but 66 different books written over a period of 1,600 years. Since scripture brilliantly interprets scripture, consulting all the texts on any disputed subject will clarify ones questions. This book also includes translation problems, additions and subtractions that have been made to the bible, and problems with themorality of the book in general. Christianitys critics cast doubt on the new testaments reliability by pointing out disparities in the gospels. Apologetics press the myth of factual bible contradictions. The first is below, which addresses the question does god lie. The story of jesus stands or falls on the trustworthiness of the gospels. If we read the bible at face value, without a preconceived bias for finding errors, we will find it to be a coherent, consistent, and relatively easytounderstand book. Introduction this booklet is a response to the pamphlet 6 bible contradictions printed by crusade publications of redmond, washington. If written by a perfect being, then it must not contradict itself, as a collection of books written by different men at different times over many centuries would be expected to contradict each other. They teach this conclusion by reasoning that god cannot be the author of false meaning and he cannot lie. Here are all solutions to difficult bible passages from genesis to revelation.
Supposed contradictions in gods word are widely advertised by mormons, muslims, modernists, bible skeptics and atheists in an attempt to trash the bible as gods word. In the 18th century, thomas paine in the age of reason compiled many of the bible s self contradictions. The defenders study bible, pg 1177 the reign of jehoiachim. The disciples asked him why do you speak to them in parables. Contradictions in the bible identified verse by verse and. Biblical contradictions exemplify internal errors something that contradicts the bible s own message as opposed to external errors something that the bible gets wrong about the external world. Biblical contradictions occur when two or more verses, approached from a literalist perspective, state two or more things that cannot simultaneously be true. Overall a very informative and useful book with an author who is well versed on the subject and has solid credentials. Latorre spent many hours in libraries and bookstores sifting through more than 200 books and hundreds of articles on science, bible textual criticism, and theology. Contradictions in the bible identified verse by verse and explained using the most uptodate scholarly information about the bible, its texts, and the men who wrote them by dr. Watch to the end so that you dont miss the big picture and the main point behind supposed contradictions.
Alleged bible contradictions explained dehoff publications. See also a complete harmony of the four gospels see also. Genesis god creates light and separates light from darkness, and day from night, on the first day. I dont know how else to respect the bible and what i read there but by arriving at a conclusion like this. Many through the years have tried to prove that the bible does contradict itself but. Dec 30, 20 im fascinated by contradictions in the bible. But understand after years of being told the bible is inerrant and true from cover to cover with no mistakes, this great men have done a wonderful thing by showing these flaws. When you hold the bible, you might think of it as one book. They do this primarily to try to discredit the word of god. For many people, the belief that the bible contains contradictions and inaccuracies is an excuse for not believing. The sabbath day remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. The book of luke says that jesus healed a blind man as jesus was getting near to jericho, while the parallel account in matthew mentions two blind men and says that the incident occurred when jesus was going out of jericho. Many times skeptics will present a list of socall contradictions such as whether god repents, the time of jesus death, and when peter denied him.
Bible contradictions explained come reason ministries. Keep in mind, however, that what constitutes a valid problem is to some extent a matter of opinion. There is no shortage of skeptic websites out there claiming lists of bible contradictions. You may disagree that these are, in fact, genuine biblical problems, but it is the authors opinion that a perfect and omnipotent god.
Jesus and the hidden contradictions of the gospels. In studying creation accounts, many skeptics will claim that the bible holds two different creations accounts the six days of genesis 1 and a different version in genesis 2. Contradictions, errors, mistakes, fictions by diogenes the cynic. In the 17th century, spinoza considered the bible to be. Does the bible contain errors, contradictions, or discrepancies. Its no different from any other human book with the usual errors and mistakes.
An incredible interactive chart of biblical contradictions. Another point is related to the one above, namely, the alleged contradictions are often a function of a particular interpretation. So, for example, if a verse in the new testament referred back to a verse in the old testament, there was an arc drawn between the two chapters they were in the vertical lines at the bottom represent the number of verses in that chapter. So what is one to make of claims of clear contradictions in scripture. The opponents of christianity often use them in their attempts to discredit christianity. In chapter 2, the animals are created after people. Yet he did not personally build it, for the article adds that more than 20,000 workers were employed in its construction. We must not stop believing all the bible just because something particular in it puzzles us. This booklet is a response to the pamphlet 6 bible contradictions printed by crusade publications of redmond, washington. He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything mark 4. The contradictions in the bible arent contradictions, for the bible does not reflect the perfectly consistent mind of god, but the diversity of time and place of the writers. Aug 30, 2018 when you hold the bible, you might think of it as one book.
The world, by surviving, makes the above passages contradictions. This writer begins with two presuppositions 1 god exists 2 god reveals. Biblical contradictions it is a central dogma of all fundamental christians that the bible is without error. The objective of this little booklet is to present to my readers 101 contradictions in the bible. Since the bible is actually many books of different genres by several different authors, the critics assumption leads her astray if it is used to create contradictions. This article was taken, with slight modification, from the new answers book 2. More of the perceived contradictions are explained in greater detail in this video published by world video bible school. Yet when they are challenged to cite such contradictions, critics will usually generalize by suggesting, oh, there are many of them. One bible antagonist cited a rather easytoexplain alleged discrepancy and then. Introduction to bible difficulties and bible contradictions. Bible contradictions the alleged inaccuracies and errors that fill todays bible translations are a major intellectual barrier for many skeptics. If i can show you 101 contradictions in the bible will you listen to what i have to say. The significance of contradictions in the hebrew bible and. One of the ways each book does this is by recounting jesus genealogy.
Sometimes these attacks undermine the faith of christians who either dont understand the issues or dont have the resources to deal. Demolishing supposed bible contradictions volume 1. Jesus and the hidden contradictions of the gospels the new testament contains multiple versions of the life and teachings of jesus. Aug 30, 20 the chart also lists bible passages we find uncomfortable today, such as texts that seem antihomosexual or antiwomen. Walter kaiser, peter davids, manfred brauch, and f. There are many more contradictions regarding whether or not god lies. Because of that ive decided to create a subsection on this blog titled bible contradictions. If in the holy bible there are contradictions that cannot. Properly read, the bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived. This book was in turn replying to the 144 biblical contradictions found in the following book and many of these same ones are answered below.
Ham wrote in the foreword, many people today buy into the assertion that the bible is full of contradictions, but they havent bothered to look into the claim for themselves. Each of these mens positions on these contradictions is that any book for which the claim is made that it is a perfect and infallible writing given to us by god, cannot have these disparaging contradictions. In chapter 1, man and woman are created at the same time after the creation of the animals. This section will provide answers to common contradiction claims, and other bible. Sometimes these attacks undermine the faith of christians who either dont understand the issues or dont have the resources to deal with them. Critics of the bible have raised a variety of questions about apparent contradictions and errors in the bible, ethical issues slavery, the destruction of the canaanites, etc. All of the rest of your verses can be explained also.
He said, to you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given matthew. Answer book, the 165 pages over 60 of the most commonly asked questions about bible versions are answered in an easily understood style. I still believe the essence of the bible is true but now know that god is not limited by it. In the continuation, i will give only one example of contradiction of what.
And the 12 false contradictions from king james version are easily explained. I personally believe the bible is true, and that all contradictions can be explained, but a friend asked me about this one and i was stumped. Contradictions between the book of mormon and the bible. Aug 19, 20 a few years ago, computer science whiz chris harrison created a beautiful visualization linking up every cross reference in the bible.
Yet he didnt make the light producing objects the sun and the stars until the fourth day 1. When people criticize the bible, they often point to contradictions. A list of over 700 inconsistencies in the bible from. For many people, the belief that the bible contains contradictions and. Bible difficulties, or apparent bible contradictions, exist. Contradictions in the bible identified verse by verse. Bible verses explained bible study tools online lessons.
An examination of alleged contradictions in the gospels by f. A lot of people think that the bible has contradictions in it and, therefore, it cannot be trusted. This is one of the most important questions about the bible. There are no contradictions in the bible angelfire. If its any indication of how complex this image is, the highresolution version is more than 100mb large in 2009, graphic designer andy marlow used harrisons work as his inspiration to created a similar visual for sam harris reason project.
Addresses over 40 issues of contention in the old and new testaments including genesis, exodus, deuteronomy, matthew, john, acts, and revelation contains vital and relevant context by steve fazekas, bodie hodge, roger patterson, stacia mckeever, gary vaterlaus, dr. Self contradictions of the bible forgotten books 2007, or prometheus books 1997, originally 1860. However, it is actually 66 books that were written over a period of about 1600 and by at least 40 different men. It was written to answer and explain questions asked by scholars and students concerning alleged bible contradictions. The companion volume to this book is demolishing supposed bible contradictions volume 2. Isaac asimov all scripture is given by inspiration of god, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. Bible contradictions answered biblical errors mistakes. The biggest contradiction in the bible christianity. Here, lenny responds to several objecions and shows why the approach of these skeptics fails. The study of inconsistencies in the bible has a long history. Unfortunately for the skeptics, the bible is a supremely solid book, and its words are trustworthy and true.
Even though accepted and common definitions of the two terms often make them synonymous, inconsistencies do not necessarily equate to contradictions. Ken ham answered every question concerning does the bible contradict itself. The importance of the problem the problem raised concerning alleged contradictions in the gospels, or for that matter, anywhere within the bible, is a most serious one and deserves careful consideration. Of course, if the bible does contain inaccuracies, it. Dealing with nearly 500 different religious subjects, this invaluable reference work represents a herculean task of careful research. God has revealed himself and his truth through his creation general revelation and through his writing, in the written word of god, the bible. If in the holy bible there are contradictions that cannot be. The infamous book that illustrates the contradictory nature of the bible, fully backed with reference points. Bruce pen an 800page book in an attempt to answer numerous alleged bible contradictions and to defend the integrity of the bible, and yet davids has the audacity to say that the apostle paul cited an example from memory and got a detail wrong. How to understand some difficult bible passages gracelife ministries. Lds church members are taught that the book of mormon bom is scripture, as well as a true record of the inhabitants of the americas from about 2200 bc to 420 ad.
The chart also lists bible passages we find uncomfortable today, such as texts that seem antihomosexual or antiwomen. And in 1860, william henry burr produced a list of 144 self contradictions in the bible. But the bible is replete with contradictions and inconsistencies. Contradictions in the bible will vanish as we continue to study it. Dealing fairly with alleged bible contradictions part i. The influence of genesis in scripture is demonstrated by its being quoted over 35 times in the new testament and hundreds of allusions appearing in both testaments. These lists are meant to identify possible problems in the bible, especially those that are inherent in a literalist or fundamentalist interpretation. The bible is filled with mistakes and contradictions.
Apologists have many criticisms about identifying contradictions, and in many cases they go out of their way to add things to the bible in order to explain them away. Turns out there are 63,779 cross references in the bible and that many arcs in the image. Contradictions archives what do the scriptures say. Genesis serves to introduce the pentateuch the first 5 books of the old testament, and the entire bible. You said youd be happy to answer bible contradiction questions, and i have one. The contradictions between the book of mormon and the bible constitute a most serious obstacle to accepting the book of mormon as latterday scripture that is supplemental to the bible. There are many contradictions within the torah the 5 books of moses, the hebrew bible and the talmudic literature.
Alleged bible contradictions explained by george w. Bible difficulties solutions to alleged errors and. Bible difficulties and seeming contradictions concordia. Yes, there are verses that appear to contradict each other. Thats why skeptics pay so much attention to the gospels apparent contradictions. Do or should such lists leave religious bible believers speechless. Encyclopedia of alleged bible contradictions answered and. If in the holy bible there are contradictions that cannot be explained, what are they, and why are their explanations invalid. Below are some helpful articles, books, and dvds that seek to provide intellectually satisfying answers to their questions. For a reply to this article, see defending the gospels by john mcclymont. Please read the bible with your heart, it will explain to you the only way to be saved and go to heaven.
In fairness to those who believe in the bible, i make no assumptions that any of these contradictions are true. This puts wellmeaningbut often unpreparedchristians in a difficult position of trying to reconcile these potential inconsistencies. The claim goes that there are two creation accounts. With this in mind, let us have a look at the bible on several subjects. Every analyst of the bible should realize that the book is a veritable miasma of contradictions. An inconsistency involves a lack of harmonious uniformity, regularity, steady continuity, or agreement.