Contradictions in the bible?

Question

On a recently asked question, I noticed that alot of people were saying that the bible often contradicts itself. Is it true? Where does it do this?

Answer 1

how many pages has it again...the number should be about the same.

Answer 2

just try reading it and you will see.

in genesis chapter one and two contradict each other for a start.

Answer 3

Those who keep saying that are usually the ones who are clueless as to what the bible says...The bible is the most authenticated book in history and has be shown to be reliable by thousnds of scholars for centuries....you can trust it complteely ....

don't listen or be deceived by the internet morons who say otherwise....theose who say such things are usually the most uneducated who take afew verses out of context and try to start arguements with it....

Answer 4

People who use supposed contradictions fail to recognize the context in which the verses were taken from.  There are a few minor historical contradictions BUT the Bible NEVER contradicts itself theologically.  

They use this Bible known as the Skeptics Annotated Bible (SAB). this Bible has been proven over and over again not be a credible resource on Yahoo Answers.  

Answer 5

They just say that. But the truth is, they dont have enough patience to be able to understand clearly what's in the Bible. It takes a lot of time to study it while reading it.

Answer 6

They do not contradict.

I have been able to sink any 'contradiction' that was presented to me.

There are some that are hard to solve.

Yet most of them are solved with a simple reading of the text in context.

http://groups.myspace.com/BibleContradic...

Answer 7

There are over 300+ contradictions in the Bible.

Of course, those that believe in the Bible have a myriad of excuses to cover the alleged contradictions.

However, a simple reading of the Bible will show you how often it contradicts itself. The Gospels do not even agree on the birthplace of Jesus.

How does one take this out of context: How many languages were in existence after creation?

Genesis 11:1

    And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

Genesis 11:6-9

And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language.... Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.... Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth:  (according to those passages, one language existed.)

Genesis 10:5

    By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands, every one after his tongue.

Genesis 10:20

    These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues.

Genesis 10:31

    These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues. (according to these passages, which are from the chapter PRIOR to the last entries, claim that there were many languages.)

Answer 8

the works vs. grace debate - a couple verses are interpreted to mean that works are nothing- that grace is it. while there are other verses that say grace without works is dead or in other words almost worthless.



the trinity debate: the bible chock full of these debates based on interpretation. nothing comes out and says- we are 3 people in one- some verses elude to this possiblity and some verses dispeal this as a possibility. conclusions are based purely on interpretation.

these are the big ones that i can think of off the top of my head.

Answer 9

People that say these things are wrong. They think the bible contradicts itself because they don't know the word of God fully

Answer 10

There are no contradictions in the bible. No errors, no lies, no opinions of man.

66 books, 40 writers, 1 author.

so-crates is full of c*#%p: show us all, 1 contradiction, 1 that actually is a contradiction.

Chapter 10 speaks of the nations & there individual attributes & languages, chapter 11 reveals where they came from.

Every society has the same Noah story give or take some finer details, this must be a coincidence. The Bible has never been revised, or  refuted with regards to archaeological, historical, or scientific accuracy.

It is unique in all the world & is the only book EVER written which says what will happen in the future. Much has already come to pass with impeccable accuracy. There are no errors or mistakes in any of the pure translations (KJV, NKJV, NAS)

& some others.

Try to come up with a real contradiction.

Envy comes from a covetous heart of evil, jealousies has love at it's core. God does not sin.

Answer 11

It only contradicts itself when someone who does'nt know the Bible trys to take verses out of context to try and prove a meaningless point.

Answer 12

yes, all through out the Bible, that is why I don't believe the Bible, I do however believe the moral of the stories, and I try to live by them everyday.

Answer 13

We often receive questions along the lines of “Explain how these verses do not contradict!” or “Look, here is an error in the Bible!” Admittedly, some of the things people bring up are difficult to answer. However, there are viable and intellectually plausible answers to every supposed Bible contradiction and error. There are books and websites available that list “all the errors in the Bible.” Most people simply get their ammunition from these places – they do not find supposed errors on their own. There are also books and websites available that refute each and every last one of these supposed errors. The saddest thing is that most people who attack the Bible are not truly interested in an answer – all they want to do is attack. Many "Bible attackers" are even aware of the answers, but they continue to use the same old shallow attacks again and again.

If you read the Bible, at face value, without a preconceived bias for finding errors – you will find it to be a coherent, consistent, and relatively easy-to-understand book. Yes, there are difficult passages. Yes, there are verses that appear to contradict each other. We must remember that the Bible was written by approximately 40 different authors over a period of around 1500 years. Each writer wrote from a different perspective, to a different audience, for a different purpose. We should expect some differences! However, a difference is not a contradiction or an error. It is only an error if there is absolutely no conceivable manner in which the verses or passages can be reconciled. Even if we do not have the answer right now, that does not mean the answer does not exist. Many have found a supposed error in the Bible in relation to history or geography only to find out that the Bible is correct once further archaeological evidence is discovered.

So, what are we to do when someone approaches us with an alleged Bible error? (1) Prayerfully study the problem and see if there is a simple solution. 2) Do some research using some of the fine Bible commentaries, "Bible defense" books, and Biblical research websites that are available. (3) Ask the helpful servants at www.gotquestions.org or your pastor to see if they can find a solution. (4) If there is still no clear answer after steps (1), (2), and (3) are followed - trust God that His Word is truth and that there is a solution that just simply has not been realized yet (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17).

Answer 14

Just the first couple examples that spring to mind:

The creation story contradicts itself. There are 2 different version of it in Genesis.

Envy is a sin, but God is jealous.

Then the Gospels of the NT contradict like mad. They quote what Jesus says differently from each other, the chronology of events, who was at his crucifixion, who was at his resurrection, etc. There is very little the Gospels agree on. Especially John.

Many people try to claim there are no contradictions in the bible, that it is only a person's misinterpretation of the text. But it is pretty difficult to misinterpret Chronology isn't it?

If God truly was the direct author of the scriptures than there would be no contradictions and there would be far less anger.

Plus if God is the one and only true author as some claim, than the church is in a whole heap of trouble for throwing out many of his scriptures!

Answer 15

I think explaining the OT and NT would help.  For me, I didn't understand why it said it is necessary to circumsize.  Then it said it is not necessary.  I understand it more now.  But that's what I would call a contradiction if I didn't understand the Bible.