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.
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Did Hezekiah pay the tribute to Sennacherib?
2 Kings 18:14-16 (NIV)
14 So Hezekiah king of Judah sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish: “I have done wrong. Withdraw from me, and I will pay whatever you demand of me.” The king of ...
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Is there a contradiction between 1 Corinthians 12:29 and 1 Corinthians 14:31,39?
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? (1 Corinthians 12:29-30 ESV)
30 If a ...
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Will everyone who calls on the Lord be saved or Not?
English Standard Version
MT 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
AC 2:21, RO 10:13 And it ...
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Does MT 5:22 contradict other passages regarding Anger & Fool? [duplicate]
Is calling someone a fool subject to the hell fire & being angry a sin – when Jesus was angry & called others a Fool.
All passages from English Standard Version
But I say to you that everyone ...
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Was Moses a thief in stealing the gold of the Egyptians before fleeing?
Moses broke the Commandment 'Thou shalt not steal' (Ex 20:15) - why? He also broke the Commandment 'Thou shalt not kill' (Ex 20:13). What is the Bible telling us here?
Ex 3:21, 22 - And I will grant ...
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How do we reconcile John 15:15 with Romans 6:22?
Compare:
“No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know
what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all
things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you....
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Is there a contradiction between Hebrews 1:1-3 and Acts 21:8-11?
Note: this question is inspired by this answer.
Some cite Hebrews 1:1-3 to argue that Jesus Christ was the ultimate special revelation from God, and that the office of prophet was thus rendered ...
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How does Hebrews 11:27 say Moses was not afraid?
Hebrews 11:27 ESV
By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.
But in the original narrative the author clearly states that ...
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is there a contradiction between Matthew 28:18-20 & Acts 2:38?
Matthew 28:18-20 - implies baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ...
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If God gives us enough grace so that we don't have to sin (1 Corinthians 10:13), then why do we still sin (1 John 1:8-10, 2:1-2)?
God is faithful - He always gives us enough grace so that we don't have to sin:
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted ...
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Using the word: father. Is Exodus 20:12 contradicting Matthew 23:9? (or vice-versa)?
I wonder if the ten commandments, specifically the fifth commandment.
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the
land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Exodus 20:12
is ...
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Peace and Jesus [duplicate]
One of the names of Jesus is Prince of Peace as per Isa 9:6 -
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the
government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful
...
Vahid Afsaneh
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How can we reconcile Revelation 13:8 with Psalms 69:28?
We compare:
“All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name
has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of
life of the Lamb who has been slain.” Revelation ...
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How do we reconcile Luke 11:42 with Romans 8:8?
We compare:
Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees make the outside of
the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and
wickedness.
Foolish ones! Did not He who made the ...
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Why does Jesus say he came not to abolish the law while Paul in Ephesians 2:14-15 say that Christ abolished the law? [duplicate]
These two passages seem to be a pretty solid contradiction:
14 For he himself is our peace who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing ...
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Is there a contradiction between 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and Acts 16:6-10?
I've heard cessationist arguments quoting Paul's teaching in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, to the effect that we have everything we need in the Bible, and that nothing beyond the Bible is required, given that ...
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Does the election of Matthias as an apostle via casting of lots (Acts 1:21-26) contradict 1 Corinthians 12?
21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of ...
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Who distributes spiritual gifts? God or the Holy Spirit? 1 Corinthians 12
11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. (1 Cor 12:11 ESV)
28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, ...
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Does faith precede miracles or do miracles precede faith? [closed]
Several passages seem to present faith as a precondition for miracles:
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 He said to them, “Because of your ...
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Why are the Israelites told to stay home until morning if they were meant to leave Egypt at midnight?
The context in Exodus 12 makes it abundantly clear that the Israelites left Egypt in the middle of the night:
At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt... During
the night Pharaoh ...
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Would it be correct to say that Bible's Philemon makes a case for abrogation/abolishing of slavery?( or is that a stretch?)
In United States Of America, slavery( and also racial segregation) was
a painful part of history. Therefore, Would it be correct to say that Bible's Philemon makes a case for abrogation/abolishing of ...
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Is there a contradiction between John 6:44 and Matthew 22:14?
John 6:44 (ESV)
44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
Matthew 22:8-14 (ESV)
8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast ...
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Can Matthew 21:21-22 be understood by itself or is its meaning only perceptible in context?
Would it be correct to say that the Bible reader would be mistakenly taking Matthew 21:21-22 out of context if she/he read and understood Matthew 21:21-22 by and in itself?
In other words, the bible ...
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Does Esther 4:16 contradict Esther 5:1-5?
In Esther 4:16, when Esther is about to risk her life to save the Jews, she first tells the Jews in Shushan to fast for three days, night and day, and that she would do the same. However, in 5:1-5, we'...
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Is there a contradiction between John 20:29 and 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 & 2 Timothy 4:6-8? Belief without seeing vs. Paul's supernatural experiences
John 20:29 (ESV)
29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Jesus appears to be saying that those who believe ...
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Is Genesis 22:1 in contradiction with James 1:13?
In Genesis 22:1, we see that God tempts Abraham.
Genesis 22:1
And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
God ...
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Does Luke 6:37 mean we cannot judge?
Does Luke 6:37 mean that we can't judge? The Bible states throughout the scriptures that we can judge but in a righteous way, so does the book of Luke condemn the act of judgement? Luke 6:37 - New ...
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How to resolve "He has uttered blasphemy" with "they hated me without a cause"? [closed]
Matthew 26:65.
"Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has uttered blasphemy. "What further witnesses do we need? You have heard his blasphemy." (ESV)
John 15:25
&...
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The "legion" possessed one man, or two? [duplicate]
The story of the "legion" of demons is described as possessing two men in Matthew 8:28-34, but only one man in Mark 5:1-20 and Luke 8:26-39.
Was there one man, or two, or am I missing ...
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Why would God create vessels of wrath prepared for destruction (Romans 9:21-22) if He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11)?
Ezekiel 33:11
11 Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways,...
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How could they have been baptized and not have received the Spirit?
In Acts 8:12–17 one reads (emphasis mine)
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 ...
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Did Paul contradict Jesus' admonition not to call anyone father in Galatians 4:19 and 1 Corinthians 4:14-17?
Jesus warned against calling anyone other than God father on earth:
8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And call no man your father on earth, ...
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Can men kill/take away our ψυχὴν (psychēn) or not? Matthew 10:28 vs. other passages (word study)
A.
And be not afraid of those killing the body, and are not able to kill the soul [psychēn], but fear rather Him who is able both soul [psychēn] and body to destroy in gehenna
[Matthew 10:28 YLT]
vs....
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Can the departed spirits / Rephaim rise (Isaiah 14:9) or not (Psalm 88:10, Isaiah 26:14)?
According to Isaiah 14:9, they can:
Sheol below is excited about you, to meet you when you come;
It stirs the spirits of the dead (Or shades (Heb Repha’im)) for you, all the leaders of the earth;
It ...
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Is eternal fire quenchable (Jude 1:6-7) or unquenchable (Mark 9:47-49)?
Jude 1:6-7 (ESV)
6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of ...
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When does eternal life begin? When we believe in the Son (1 John 5:11-12, John 3:36, 5:24) or on Judgement Day (Matthew 25:31-46)?
According to the Apostle John, eternal life begins when we believe in the Son:
36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God ...
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Is there a contradiction between Isaiah 38:17-19 & Luke 23:43?
Isaiah 38:17-19 (ESV):
17 Behold, it was for my welfare
that I had great bitterness;
but in love you have delivered my life
from the pit of destruction,
for you have cast all my sins
behind your back....
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Is there a contradiction between Job's and Jesus' understanding of Sheol? Job 10:21-22, 14:10-12, 17:13-16 vs. Luke 16:19-31
Job
18 “Why did you bring me out from the womb?
Would that I had died before any eye had seen me
19 and were as though I had not been,
carried from the womb to the grave.
20 Are not my days few?
Then ...
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Who is "King of kings and Lord of lords"? God or Jesus? 1 Timothy 6:13-16 vs. Revelation 17:14
1 Timothy 6:13-16 (YLT):
13 I charge thee, before God, who is making all things alive, and of Christ Jesus, who did testify before Pontius Pilate the right profession,
14 that thou keep the command ...
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Reconciling between Ecclesiastes 11:9 & 11:10?
Ecclesiastes 11:9 seems to be encouraging sin in terms of doing whatever you want, but Ecclesiastes 11:10 seems to make it clear that sin/evil is forbidden. This “seems” like a contradiction in the ...
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Where did the feeding of the 5000 occur?
The feeding of the 5000 is recorded in all 4 Gospels:
Matthew 14:13-22
Mark 6:32-46
Luke 9:10-17
John 6:1-15
In Matthew & Mark they leave town and are in a desert place:
When Jesus heard of it, ...
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Is doing good deeds for others of no ultimate use or not? 1 Corinthians 13:3 vs. Matthew 25:41-46
1 Corinthians 13:3 (ESV):
3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Matthew 25:41-46 (ESV):
41 “Then he will say to those on his left,...
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Is salvation easy or hard? Revelation 22:17 vs. Matthew 7:13-14
Revelation 22:17 makes it look easy:
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life ...
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Isaiah 25:6-9 “feast” vs Romans 14:17
We read that God is preparing a banquet for His people in the future, wine is mentioned for example:
“And in this mountain The Lord of hosts will make for all people A
feast of choice pieces, A feast ...
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Do we go to Heaven (because God is in Heaven) or to Sheol when we die? Ecclesiastes 12:5-7 vs. Ecclesiastes 9:10
Ecclesiastes 12:5-7 (ESV):
5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to ...
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2 Timothy 2:17-19 and God’s Foundation
I have my conviction of the doctrine of perseverance of the saints, yet, this passage seems to indicate that Hymenaeus & Philetus were never saved due to the contrast Paul gives about “God’s solid ...
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Reconciling Deuteronomy 32:5-9 with 2 Peter 2:1
We seem to have another theme of being "bought" in Deuteronomy 32 as opposed to being bought by the blood of Jesus. I am aware of the other question on this site for 2 Peter 2:1, yet this ...
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Is to die gain or not? Paul (Philippians 1:21-24, 2 Corinthians 5:8) vs. David (Psalm 6:4-5, 30:9)
According to Paul, it is:
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard ...
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Is there a contradiction between Ecclesiastes 9:5-10 & 1 Samuel 28?
The Passages
Ecclesiastes 9:5-10 (ESV):
5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Their love and their ...
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How can we reconcile God's not tempting anyone (James 1:13) with God's sending evil spirits to torment and deceive people?
God tempts no one:
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.
[James 1:13 ESV]
Yet God has sent evil spirits ...