Questions tagged [contradiction]
At points the Bible seems to display contradictions in parallel accounts or the understanding of a given concept. Questions with this tag are (usually) seeking a resolution to the (apparent) contradiction.
422
questions
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3answers
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Who is in charge of rulers and governing authorities: God or Satan?
Romans 13:1-7 (NASB):
Every person is to be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists ...
1
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4answers
84 views
John 12:27 vs Luke 22:42 Contradiction?
In John 12:27 Jesus says
“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from
this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour"
But in Luke 22:42 he says
“...
2
votes
2answers
25 views
How should we interpret Ecclesiastes 9:5 in the case of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?
Ecclesiastes 9:5 (NASB):
5 For the living know that they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor do they have a reward any longer, for their memory is forgotten.
Mark 12:26-27 (NASB):
26 ...
2
votes
1answer
25 views
Swear or not swear?
In Deuteronomy 10:20 (NASB)
You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him, and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name.
In Matthew 5:34-37
34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; ...
2
votes
3answers
53 views
Who sends the Holy Spirit? The Son or the Father?
7 But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I am leaving; for if I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. (John 16:7 NASB)
vs.
26 But the ...
4
votes
4answers
148 views
Were Satan and his evil forces cast out of heaven or not? Revelation 12:7-9 vs Ephesians 6:12
Revelation 12:7-9 (NASB) says:
7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they did not prevail, and there was no ...
3
votes
2answers
103 views
Where do demons spend most of their time: in humans or in the heavenly places?
Matthew 12:43-45 gives me the impression that demons are constantly in the lookout for humans with "open doors" to inhabit. They find no comfort in living anywhere other than a human.
43 “...
0
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2answers
67 views
Can salvation be lost or not? [duplicate]
Hebrews 10:26-31 seems to suggest that salvation can be lost, as it mentions that someone who was previously sanctified by the blood of the covenant (i.e. saved) may end up receiving punishment (i.e. ...
4
votes
4answers
274 views
If no one has ever seen God, how come Moses was allowed to see His back?
John 1:18 claims that no one has ever seen God, except Jesus:
18 God no one hath ever seen; the only begotten Son, who is on the bosom of the Father -- he did declare.
However, Moses was apparently ...
3
votes
2answers
78 views
How can Jesus inherit David's throne since he's a descendent of Jehoiakim?
Based on Luke Jesus will inherit David's throne, however, Jehoiakim descendants can Not sit on David's throne as he is cursed by God.
Jeremiah 36:30 Therefore this is what the LORD says about ...
4
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2answers
56 views
What did Mary Magdalene tell the Disciples in John 20 vs Luke 24?
Why does Mary Magdalene in John 20:2 tell the John and Peter, "we do not know where they have laid him", if she and the other women were already told by the angels that Jesus had risen (Luke ...
2
votes
2answers
51 views
Is slaughter allowed or not?
In Leviticus 17:3-4 (NASB)
3 What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp,
4 And bringeth it not unto the ...
4
votes
4answers
807 views
Israelite covenant: everlasting or obsolete?
1 Chronicles 16:6-7,14-18 (NIV) says that the Israelite covenant is everlasting:
6 and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God. 7 Then ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
Does the worship of the Lamb in Revelation 5 contradict the first commandment (Exodus 20:2-4)?
The Lamb is worshipped in Revelation 5 (ESV):
Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a
scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And
I saw a mighty ...
3
votes
1answer
40 views
Sprinkle blood 7 times in front of the veil
In Leviticus 4:5-7 (NASB)
5 Then the anointed priest is to take some of the blood of the bull and bring it to the tent of meeting, 6 and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some ...
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5answers
130 views
Is Leviticus 24 13-23 in contradiction with new testament?
I hope you can help me out with this dilemma.
In Leviticus 24 (https://www.catholic.org/bible/book.php?id=3...)
God says to Moses the following (V16):
Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD must ...
1
vote
1answer
32 views
Same punishment or different punishments? Luke 12:42-48 vs Luke 13:1-5
Luke 12:42-48 (NIV) seems to support different degrees of punishment:
42 The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them ...
3
votes
2answers
346 views
How many people left Egypt?
In Exodus 12:37 (NASB)
Now the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, aside from children.
then in Numbers 1:46 (NASB)
So all the numbered men of ...
3
votes
3answers
412 views
How did the first disciples of Jesus come to be?
In John 1:35-42, 2 of John’s disciples followed Jesus after John announced the Christ’s presence.
“Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus....
4
votes
5answers
173 views
Does God show favoritism?
Acts 10:34
Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism
Genesis 18
1The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was ...
5
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7answers
594 views
Jesus says mustard seeds are the smallest but they are not actually
“It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth,”
Mark 4:31
The mustard seed is not the smallest seed on the earth today, so how ...
3
votes
1answer
89 views
Does God want everyone to be saved or not?
2 Peter 3:9 (ESV) says:
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
...
2
votes
1answer
49 views
Contradictory Dietary Laws in Deuteronomy Ch. 12 & 14
As brought up in the Skeptics Annotated Bible, there seems to be contradicting dietary laws given within Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy 12:15-18 seems to suggest that when they get to the promised land they ...
0
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0answers
17 views
Abraham have 2 sons or only one? [duplicate]
The question is clear.
Genesis 16:15. And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.
Genesis 21:1-3. And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord ...
4
votes
2answers
50 views
Did Solomon have 40k or 4k horses/stallls?
Did Solomon have 4k or 40k horses (or stalls for horses)?
2 Chronicles 9:25. And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen; whom he bestowed in the
...
0
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0answers
20 views
24k or 23k died in the plague? [duplicate]
Did 23 000 or 24 000 died in the plague?
Numbers 25:9. And those that died in the plague were twenty and four
thousand.
1 Corinthians 10:8. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them
...
5
votes
0answers
91 views
Michal childless or have 5 sons? [duplicate]
Was Michal childless or did Michal have 5 sons? I am getting different answers from
2 Samuel 6:23
2 Samuel 21:8
2 Samuel 6:23. Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto
the day of her ...
2
votes
1answer
56 views
Were the pillars 18 or 35 cubits high?
I don't know if this this is the correct place to ask so please do whatever is necessary.
1 Kings 7:15 says that the pillars are eighteen cubits high.
2 Chronicles 3:15 says a different number.
Who is ...
2
votes
4answers
303 views
In 1 Corinthians 7:8, is Paul intentionally undoing Genesis 2:18?
1 Corinthians 7:8 (NIV): Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.
Genesis 2:18 (NIV): The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I ...
3
votes
1answer
28 views
How would a single author theory of the Pentateuch reconcile the different time of release of the Hebrew slave?
The law regarding the time of release of a Hebrew slave, and whether the slave should be let free empty handed or not, is treated differently in Exodus, Deuteronomy, and Leviticus:
Exodus 21:2: ...
1
vote
1answer
112 views
Any language literary devices explaining how God's repent in 1 Samuel 15:35, but also God's Never Repenting characteristic 1 Sam 15:29 & Num 23:19?
Sorry, I know bible scriptures that mention God repenting, and other verses about God Never repenting has been brought up a number of times on this site in order to harmonize/reason how the said ...
3
votes
2answers
61 views
What is the meaning of “fulfill” in John 17:12 and Matthew 26:54?
I think my main concern is more of a philosophical tone, but I think I need some hermeneutical advice before.
OK, these are the verses:
While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name: ...
1
vote
1answer
59 views
Is Paul contradicting himself about the observance of special days in Romans 14:5-6 and Galatians 4:8-11?
On the one hand, Paul seems to support both the observance and non-observance of special days as equally valid options in Romans 14:5-6 (NIV):
5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; ...
1
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0answers
53 views
Is the resurrected body of Jesus fleshly?
“Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:”
1 John 4:2 KJV
Not addressing whether this is translated correctly in the ...
6
votes
5answers
2k views
Has anyone seen God or not?
In Exodus 33:11
So the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks
to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua,
the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart ...
2
votes
2answers
83 views
Does Isaiah 56 mean gentile christians have to keep sabbath?
Isaiah 56:6 (NET):
As for foreigners who become followers of the Lord and serve him,
who love the name of the Lord and want to be his servants —
all who observe the Sabbath and do not defile it,
and ...
5
votes
4answers
191 views
Time of Jesus' crucifixion in relation to the Passover
John 19:14 seems to indicate that Jesus had been arrested, and brought before the priests, and then Pilate, and was then being sent for crucifixion on the day of preparation for the Passover.
Now it ...
3
votes
2answers
110 views
What is the meaning and significance of the name Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14)?
This name is repeated many times in chapter 7 and 8 of Isaiah. What is the significance of this name, and what is Isaiah's trying to convey with it? Also how can Isaiah predict deliverance and doom at ...
18
votes
5answers
4k views
Should we put God to test or not?
Moses says "don't put God to test" (Deut. 6:16), but Malachi say "put God to test" (Mal. 3:10).
You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah." ...
2
votes
2answers
104 views
God Leaves Judgement to Others?
In the great eschatological (Matt 10:15, 11:22, 24, 12:36, 12:41, 42, 19;28, Luke 11:31, 32, 22:30, John 12:48, Acts 17:31, 24:25, Rom 2:16, 2 Peter 3:9, Jude 6) judgement by God (Acts 7:7, 17:31, Rom ...
2
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3answers
220 views
What does “He who is unjust, let him be unjust still” mean? Revelation 22:11
Revelation 22:11 "He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be be holy still.&...
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11answers
4k views
Does Jesus Judge or Not?
There are many passages that appear to directly contradict each other. Here is a sample on the subject of judgement.
Jesus Judges no one:
John 3:17, 18 - For God did not send the Son into the world ...
10
votes
2answers
2k views
How could King Herod have killed John the baptist in Matthew 14?
According to Matthew's narrative King Herod is said to have died whilst Christ was still a child in Egypt with his parents.It is said King Herod had been succeeded by his son Archelaus when Joseph ...
1
vote
1answer
111 views
Is there a conflict between these 3 verses - Galatians 1:18-20 & 2:1-2 & Acts 9:26-32?
background
Paul asserts Galatians 1:18-20 that he saw none of the apostles except Cephas and James the Lord's brother. Acts 9:26-30 (27) But Barnabas brings Paul to the apostles and brought to the ...
2
votes
2answers
41 views
Why does 1 Chronicles say that Saul didn't inquire of God before consulting the medium?
1 Chronicles 10:13-14 records that Saul did not inquire of the Lord before seeing the medium:
Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted ...
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3answers
84 views
How could 'Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob' be living eternally in Heaven if they never believed the requirement in 1 John 5:5-13 to receive eternal life?
We read three statements in 1 John 5:5-13 that appear to contradict the teachings of Jesus the Messiah from Matthew 8:10-11 & Matthew 22:30-22 regarding requirements of receiving eternal life.
In ...
8
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6answers
377 views
Do Ephesians 1:13 and Acts 8:14-17; 19:1-7 contradict each other?
On the one hand Ephesians 1:13 appears to state that Christians receive the Holy Spirit upon the moment of conversion:
Ephesians 1:13 (NIV)
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the ...
0
votes
1answer
50 views
Did Mark 5:2 put the author of Mark “in danger of eternal damnation”?
In Mark 3:29-30 [KJV], we learn that calling someone's spirit "unclean" is unforgivable :
[29] "But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger ...
2
votes
1answer
213 views
Who made the request to sit at Jesus side?
In Matthew 20:20-28 we read
20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her
sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he
said to her, “What do you want?” She ...
2
votes
1answer
188 views
Did Jesus first appear to the 11 disciples in Jerusalem or Galilee?
There seems to be a disagreement between the gospels of Luke and Matthew regarding the location of the first appearance of the resurrected Jesus to the eleven disciples.
The author of Luke states, ...
