Lesson 5: Bible Contradictions

I.          People use the following verses to prove error in the Bible;

A.        The argument used here is this:

B.        Basically what is being said here is the devil could not show Christ all the kingdoms of the world at one time.

1.        The problem with this argument is the Bible does not say the devil showed the kingdoms of the world at one time.

C.        Also the word circle in Isaiah 40.22 literally means the compass.

1.        This clearly shows God’s omnipresence.

D.        There is no error!

II.        Who incited David to count the fighting men or Israel?

A.        I’m not sure where the contradiction or error is here.

1.        There are two explanations here.

1.        The LORD and Satan did the same thing for different reasons.

A.        The LORD moved David to do this because of His anger and Satan provoked David to get him in trouble.

2.        The LORD used Satan like the puppet he is.

B.        There is no contradiction or error.

III.       Now this next one can really get people messed up at a casual glance.

A.        The difference in the number are as follows:

2 Samuel 24 shows 1.3 million people.

1 Chronicles 21 shows 1.57 million people.

B.        The answer is in 1 Chronicles 21:6.

C.        It obvious Levi and Benjamin numbered 270,000 people that Joab did not include in the final tabulation given to David.

D.        Once again, no contradiction.

1.        The answer was found in the Bible.

IV.       Now this one is very good.

A.        How many fighting men were in Judah?

1.        For this we must refer back to the previous point.

B.        In 2 Samuel 24 it says there were 500,000 men in Judah.

C.        1 Chronicles 21 says there were 470,000 men in Judah.

D.        The answer for this one is found in:

E.         The sons of Aaron were Levites.

1.        Levites were not included in the final tabulation given to David.

2.        It is obvious there were 30,000 Levites in Judah.

F.         Once again, no contradiction.

V.        The chief of the mighty men of David lifted up his spear and killed how many at one time?

A.        At first glance I thought these verses might be speaking of different people at different times.

1.        That, however, was not the case.

B.        Here is what is happening in the verses that have brought confusion to some.

3.                                            These verses are speaking of the same man.

4.                                            It is definite this Chief of the mighty men slew 300 with his own hand.

5.                                            Since it was customary to attribute all kills to the leader, the rest of the men with him killed the other 500 and this leader got the credit.

C.        The substantiation for this claim of the leader of the battle getting the credit for all the kills is this.

1.        David slew Goliath.

2.        When David stepped onto the battlefield accepting the giants challenge…he became the leader of the battle.

3.        When the armies of Israel returned to Jerusalem, the women sang the song that moved Saul to jealousy.

Saul hath slain his thousands.

David hath slain his ten thousands.

                        D.        So, once again there is no contradiction but continuity in the scripture.

VI.       Solomon built the laver of water.

A.        So, the supposed contradiction here is the amount of liquid measurement used.

B.        Did it have 2000 baths or 3000 baths?

1.        A bath is about 9 gallons.

C.        1 Kings tells us it contained 2000 baths.

D.        2 Chron tells us it received and held 3000 baths.

E.         There really is no contradiction.

1.        The laver was filled with 2000 baths.

2.        It had the capacity of 3000 baths.

F.         One verse is telling us how much of the capacity they continually used.

G.        The other verse tells us what the actual capacity was.

VII.      This next one is relatively famous.

A.        When Saul of Tarsus was on his way to Damascus, did those with him hear the voice or not.

B.        It is the quirks of the Greek language that have caused confusion in these passages.

1.        In Acts 9:7 everyone heard a noise.

2.        It is recorded they heard A voice.

3.        There was no understanding or distinction to this noise.

C.        Acts 22:9 Paul is relaying how those around him did not hear THE voice.

1.        In other words, everyone heard something, but only Paul heard and understood the distinctive message from God.

D.        No contradiction!

VIII.    Those with Saul, did they stand or lay on the ground?

A.        At first glance, this seems like a contradiction.

B.        There are two explanations.

6.                                            Everyone fell prostrate, then those with Saul stood while God spoke with Saul.

7.                                            Or, it was customary in those days for the wealthy and those of status to ride animals.  The light shone, they all fell off their animals and got up and stood around while God spoke with Saul.

C.        Either way, there is no contradiction.

IX.       Did God lie to Adam?

A.        It appears Adam did not die the very day he ate the fruit.

B.        Now, I realize this is a perfect opening for the teaching of a 7,000 year creative day, but that is for another time.

C.        The Bible tells us the wages of sin is death.

1.        The Bible also mentions how being cast into the lake of fire is the second death.

D.        Jesus said He wants to give us life and that much more abundantly.

1.        This was said to those already breathing and moving about.

E.         So, death and life have more to do than just the cessation of breathing and moving about.

F.         When Adam ate of the fruit, he disobeyed the Word of the Lord.

1.        From this we know that all disobedience of the Word is sin.

G.        As soon as he ate it, he became mortal and subject to the cessation of natural life.

1.        He also became susceptible to everything involved with mortality.

2.        Bodily aches and pains, sickness, depression, etc…

H.        Not only that, he was separated from the one who gave him life.

I.          Any separation from God is death.

1.        That is why the Bible says;

J.         Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost.

1.        What was lost?

2.        The fellowship and life found in God!!

K.        So, the next question is, how can we escape from the judgement of spiritual death?

1.        I’m glad you asked.

L.         There were those on the day of Pentecost who asked this same question:

1.        The answer is so simple:

M.       So you see, there really is no contradiction about Adam dying.

1.        He did die.

2.        God in His infinite wisdom and care laid the foundation of our salvation in Adam’s failure.

3.        Adam failed because of sin.

4.        This sinful nature was passed to every person from that point forward.

5.        Because of this, God wrapped Himself in flesh and provided a way to have eternal life.

N.        No contradiction!

X.        Now, all this brings us to our last supposed contradiction for the evening.

A.        Are we to be baptized the way Matthew 28:19 says?

1.        Or according to what Acts 2:38 says?

B.        Grammatically, Matthew 28:19 is telling us to be baptized in the singular name.

1.        Of is a preposition stating, “Belonging to”.

2.        So, we have, “baptizing them in the name, (singular), of, (belonging to), the Father, and of, (belonging to), the Son, and of, (belonging to), the Holy Ghost.”

C.        So what is the singular name belonging to these titles?

D.        With many other scriptures I can prove the singular name belonging to the Father, Son and Holy Ghost is Jesus.

E.         There is no contradiction…only clarity.

XI.       Thank God His Word makes sense!!

A.        If we take away all the arguing about genealogies, numbering of people, names used in one place and changed in another, the omission of information in one text with the addition of information in another…

B.        We still come up with the only true method of being saved.

C.        We learn the Bible has everything we need to be saved and successful in our walk with God.

D.        Ladies and gentlemen, you can trust the book you hold in your hands titled, Holy Bible, more than any other book on the face of this earth!!!!!