Time once again to revisit the topic of the so-called “Biblical contradictions.”
MORE: Biblical Contradictions?
These are the constructs erected by those who cannot understand God’s Word.
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
–1CORINTHIANS 2:14
As previously explained:
A good many of the so-called “contradictions” are not contradictions at all, but are merely the differences between the Old Covenant and the New. Others are caused by word selections of the translators, such as “tempt” and/or “try” (which have more than one meaning). Still others confuse what a person in a Bible verse says with what God Himself says.
Most of the “contradictions” would have been reconciled with a few minutes of research or study–something the compilers of such lists (of contradictions) naturally appear to avoid.
—Biblical Contradictions?
In this edition will be presented three more samples included on “lists of Bible contradictions.”
As before, a reconciliation between the two “contradictions” will then be offered.
1- Exodus 20:8 vs Romans 14:5
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”
–Exodus 20:8
“One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”
–Romans 14:5
RECONCILIATION: This is one of the differences between the Old Covenant and the New.
God made the first (Old) Covenant with the Hebrews. He made the improved (New) Covenant with all men who are believers in Christ.
“In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.”
–Hebrews 8:13
The Old Covenant observed the feast days and fasts of the Jews.
The New Covenant does not.
Like the dietary laws of the Old Covenant, these observances were a “shadow” of what God would require in the New Covenant.
These two verses are only “contradictions” to those who do not understand the differences between the Old Covenant–which God made with the Jews–and the New Covenant–which God made with ALL men.
2- Genesis 32:30 vs John 1:18
“And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”
–Genesis 32:29-30
This thought is amplified by what God Himself told Moses in Exodus 33:20.
“And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.”
“No man hath seen God at any time;”
–John 1:18
RECONCILIATION: In the Genesis account (Chapter 32), Jacob (Israel) wrestled with an angel. Jacob, while naming the place where this struggle occurred, erroneously confused a messenger of God (the angel) with God Himself.
This is made perfectly clear in Hosea 12:3-4 (which refers to Jacob and his struggle).
“He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us”
God’s Word is clear: no man may see God face-to-face and live. This is a primary reason that believers are changed to incorruption before entering into God’s presence after one exits this life.
“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.”
–1CORINTHIANS 15:50
3- Ezekiel 18:20 vs Exodus 20:5
“The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.”
–Ezekiel 18:20
“Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me”
–Exodus 20:5
RECONCILIATION: It should be noted that Exodus 20:5 does not state that God visits JUDGMENT or PUNISHMENT upon the children of the wicked, but visits the INIQUITY of the fathers upon the children.
God DOES NOT punish the children for the sins of the fathers.
HOWEVER, the children may suffer BECAUSE OF the sins of the fathers.
The British Family Bible is succinct in its explanation of Exodus 20:5:
It cannot consist with the justice of God, to punish one person for the sin of another; neither does God threaten any such thing. But God, who is the great Lord of the whole world, may so punish a man for his sins, that the temporal evil of it may reach, not to himself alone, but to his posterity also. As in the case of high treason, the father, by forfeiting his honor and estate, brings the ill consequence of his crime upon his family, as well as upon himself; and the prince, by enacting the penalty of the law, may justly be said to visit the children, for the offence which the father committed. The meaning of this part of the commandment is this: God had, in general, promised to the Jews temporal blessings, to encourage their obedience; and had denounced present evils against them, to keep them from sinning. But to set a particular mark of His indignation on the sin of idolatry, He thought fit to declare, that if they offended in this matter, He would not only severely punish them Himself, but would deliver them up into the hands of their enemies, who should oppress both them and their children after them; whereas if they continued firm to His worship, though otherwise they should be guilty of many lesser crimes, yet He would not cast them off from His favor, but on the contrary would bless both them and their posterity with plenty and prosperity all their days.
In this manner does the iniquity of the father’s sins follow the children. God does not punish the children for the sins of the father; however, the children may suffer the ill effects of their father’s sin.
This suffering from the effects of their father’s sin may extend to the third and fourth generation.
NOTE #1 to those who compile their lists of “Bible contradictions“: As the natural (worldly) man cannot discern the things of God (including the Word of God), these natural men place themselves at great disadvantage by trying to comprehend something beyond their powers of comprehension.
NOTE #2: Because deception is a SPIRITUAL condition, no amount of information, facts, logic, figures or supporting Bible verses will change the mind of the list-makers. Their unbelief is not an INFORMATIONAL problem: it is a SPIRITUAL problem.
No amount of information–no matter how compelling–will alter their views.
HOWEVER, a change of SPIRITUAL condition IS able to bring about this alteration.
(At some point in the future, more “contradictions” will be addressed.)
MORE: Biblical Contradictions?
DOES the reader believe that God’s Word is only a collection of words by fallible men?
It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.
DOES the reader believe he is saved?
Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival
DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: Making a Choice
- The Gospel of Jesus Christ
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The Power of God Unto Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The End Times Power of God Unleashed
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: October 9, 2019.]
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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
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