Supposed Bible Contradictions


A response to accusations of contradictions in the bible.

Not long ago I was confronted by a 16 year old girl in a chat room. She gave out a web link and said if I didn't address every charge on it right then and there, she wasn't going to listen to a word I had to say.

You can imagine my amazement when I saw that web site. It was the most fanciful science fiction I had ever seen.

People are standing on this?

Gosh, I hope people really don't think like this. That being mistaken is somehow a forceful accusation against God when in some cases all they had to do was read the surrounding verses.

Each section in my response is titled with the same headings they used, and quotes the same pair of verses (verse fragments is more like it) they quoted.

As you read what's ahead, keep in mind the question: Were they seeking anything other then trying to justifying themselves when they read their bible?

Trying so desperately to justify; one has to wonder what they're into in the first place to feel guilt like this.

It's evidence that the Lord is convicting them, but instead of being convicted they choose to run, grasp at straws, and cling to faulty arguments. This points rather to their desperation and profound misunderstanding then to any perceived flaws they think they've found in God.

I didn't even want to answer these charges because they are so flawed and so demented that they could only have come from reprobate mind, but:

I Peter 3:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:


So here goes...

Should We Kill

Ex. 20:13Thou shalt not commit murder.
Ex. 32:27Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, put every man his sword by his side...and slay every man his brother...companion..neighbor.
Exodus 32:25-28
And when Moses saw that the people were broken loose (for Aaron had let them loose for a derision among their enemies), then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Whoso is on Jehovah's side, let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. And he said unto them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Put ye every man his sword upon his thigh, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor. And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.

This was in response to an insurrection, a judgement for open rebellion. Moses had come down from the mountain to see the Israelites engaged in idolatry.

The Levites came out from among them and they were told by God to slay these people because they had rebelled. They happened to be their own kin, which is unfortunate. But this scripture is not a commandment for US to murder. That's taking it pretty far out of context.

You might as well say "Thou shall not kill" is a commandment against war, but that would have left Israel defenseless, and pretty much left America a British Colony.

(NIV) Numbers 35:16-21
"`If a man strikes someone with an iron object so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death.

Or if anyone has a stone in his hand that could kill, and he strikes someone so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death.

Or if anyone has a wooden object in his hand that could kill, and he hits someone so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death.

The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death.

If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at him intentionally so that he dies

or if in hostility he hits him with his fist so that he dies, that person shall be put to death; he is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.

Works of the flesh

Ex.20:5"...for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God..."
Gal 5:19-20"Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are...jealousy..."
Exodus 20:4-5
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 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;

Galations 5:19-21
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

A certain kind of jealousy is right. Like the jealousy a husband has over his wife when she runs off on him.

(NAB) Hosea 4:12
They consult their piece of wood, and their wand makes pronouncements for them, For the spirit of harlotry has led them astray; they commit harlotry, forsaking their God.

(NAB) Hosea 2:13-17
I will punish her for the days of the Baals, for whom she burnt incense While she decked herself out with her rings and her jewels, and, in going after her lovers, forgot me, says the LORD. So I will allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak to her heart.

From there I will give her the vineyards she had, and the valley of Achor as a door of hope. She shall respond there as in the days of her youth, when she came up from the land of Egypt. On that day, says the LORD, She shall call me "My husband," and never again "My baal." Then will I remove from her mouth the names of the Baals, so that they shall no longer be invoked.

(NAB) Isaiah 54:4-8
Fear not, you shall not be put to shame; you need not blush, for you shall not be disgraced. The shame of your youth you shall forget, the reproach of your widowhood no longer remember. For he who has become your husband is your Maker; his name is the LORD of hosts; Your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, called God of all the earth.

 The LORD calls you back, like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, A wife married in youth and then cast off, says your God. For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great tenderness I will take you back. In an outburst of wrath, for a moment I hid my face from you; But with enduring love I take pity on you, says the LORD, your redeemer.

And another kind of jealously is wrong. The coveting kind. That kind can lead to theft, murder, hatred, gossip, and a whole host of other things. Thus the last commandment, which is the key to keeping them all.

Deuteronomy 5:21
Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's.

God's jealousy is not the evil kind, it's that of a husband jealous over his wife.

So this apparent contradiction is no contradiction at all and it's made by someone who's not seeking God nor has any intention to.

Should we tell lies

Ex. 20:16Thou shalt not bear false witness.
1 Kings 22:23The Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee.
I Kings 22:20-23
And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him , and prevail also: go forth, and do so. Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.


This is a vision, or a parable as it were to explain spiritual truths. It's not about what God initiates, it's more about what God allows. Ahab didn't want to hear the truth and so God allowed his false prophets to be filled with false lying spirits and not the holy spirit. It was God's judgement on Ahab for despising the truth.

There are parallels:

(Twenty) Romans 1:23-24
And they transformed the Glory of the immortal God into the likeness of mortal man, and of birds, and beasts, and reptiles. Therefore God abandoned them to impurity, letting them follow the cravings of their hearts, till they dishonored their own bodies;

(Twenty) 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12
...because they have never received and loved the Truth to their own Salvation. That is why God places them under the influence of a delusion, to cause them to believe a lie; So that sentence may be passed on all those who refuse to believe the Truth, but delight in wickedness.

Far from a lying God, it's more like a God who leaves you to your own devices after you have rejected the truth.

(JPS) Proverbs 1:30-31
They would none of my counsel, they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.


Should we steal

Ex. 20:15Thou shalt not steal.
Ex. 3:22And ye shall spoil the Egyptians.

Look's pretty convincing don't it? but let's shed a little more light on it.

(JPS) Exodus 3:21-22
And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. And it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty; but every woman shall ask of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment; and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.'

(JPS) Exodus 12:35-36
And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they asked of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment. And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. And they despoiled the Egyptians.

Where's the theft? I sure don't see any here. I see a lot of asking for things.

Egypt may be giving up it's spoils, but they are doing it willingly. Payment I suppose for all the years they enslaved the Israelites.

Shall we keep the Sabbath

Ex. 20:8Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
Is. 1:13The new moons and the Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity.
Isaiah 1:10-15
Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them . And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

God was disgusted with the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. They sacrificed in vain to him. They were carrying out the forgiveness rituals in the law, but not living in obedience to it. They were doing the pick and choose thing, obeying what suited them. And so God's heart wasn't in it any more. They had made a mockery of the law.

Shall we make graven images

Ex. 20:4Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven...earth...water.
Ex. 25:18And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them.
Exodus 25: 17-22
And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee. And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

The cherubims are attached to the Ark. This is a place where God is going to appear. No one is bowing down to the cherubims. They are not being worshipped and are thus not a graven image. Only God will be worshipped when he appears between the cherubims.

Are we "saved" through works

Eph. 2:8,9For by grace are ye saved through faith...not of works.
James 2:24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Before James 2:24 there is:

James 2:18
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Works is evidence of faith. If you claim you are saved and then do all the same things you did before you got saved, you haven't changed at all.

Should good works be seen

Matt. 5:16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works.
Matt. 6:1-4Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them...that thine alms may be in secret.

In Matthew he is talking about living your life as an example for others to follow.

Matthew 5:14-16
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Here he is talking about hypocrites who do things only to be seen of men and really aren't true in their faith.

Matthew 6:1-8
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are : for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do : for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Matthew 6:16-18
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Should we own slaves

Lev. 25:45-46Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy...and they shall be your posession...they shall be your bondmen forever.
Is. 58:6Undo the heavy burdens...break every yoke.

Gee, they sure are selective in judging things.

(NAB) Leviticus 25:35-37
"When one of your fellow countrymen is reduced to poverty and is unable to hold out beside you, extend to him the privileges of an alien or a tenant, so that he may continue to live with you. Do not exact interest from your countryman either in money or in kind, but out of fear of God let him live with you. You are to lend him neither money at interest nor food at a profit.

You don't hear them trumpeting this part of the law, do you? They'd slice off their right arm before obeying this one.

Let's look at Leviticus 25 with a little more context:

(JPS) Leviticus 25:45-46
Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them may ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they have begotten in your land; and they may be your possession. And ye may make them an inheritance for your children after you, to hold for a possession: of them may ye take your bondmen for ever; but over your brethren the children of Israel ye shall not rule, one over another, with rigour.


I gotta admit, after looking at various translations, it took me a while before I was able to read the contradictory translation and see the same meaning. Some translations are hard to grapple with, but in context, this is the wording that I think gives the meaning best.

What it's saying is: The Israelites can't buy slaves of their own people, but they can buy slaves of the people's among them and even from foreign nations. They can even will their slaves to their children. In essence, they may buy slaves of the non-Israelites till the end of time, but they must not enslave their own people.

God had just liberated Israel from Egyptian bondage, he wasn't going to allow them to become slaves all over again.

Slavery was permitted in Biblical days as a way of paying ones debts. If you were a thief you were "sold for your theft". You could be sold from owner to owner the whole time you were working your debt off. You could also sell yourself or family members into slavery voluntarily if you were really poor and could only support yourself through begging.

We see that happening in the third world today. However, if an Israelite sold himself to an alien, he could be redeemed by a relative, and if he weren't, he could only be held until the next Jubilee (they occurred every 7 years) and then he was free again. God never intended anyone to be a slave all their life, but he liberated the Israelites first.

The other type of slavery was the spoils of war. The enemy that had been conquered, that could have been put to death or slaughtered was instead enslaved. These were prisoners of war, these people had been captured in battle, if set free they would have caused havoc.

The Israelites were so bad, they were enslaving each other, and you're gonna fault God for reforming this? I mean, how on Earth is he ever gonna get them to the point where they won't enslave anybody, if he doesn't stop them from enslaving themselves first. He's trying to get them to show mercy towards each other. He's in effect cleaning his own house, so it will be a shining example to others. Just as Christians today are supposed to lives of example.

God's way is that of gradually revealing a truth. He starts out with what he's got to work with. He doesn't change things overnight.

As far as:

Isaiah 58:6
Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

I think this is in perfect keeping with God's continued revelation of truth, he's just trying to clean his house first:

(NIV) Isaiah 58:3,6-7,9-10
`Why have we fasted,' they say, `and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?' "Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers.

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

Don't get mad at God for having been lenient by permitting slavery when he was first introducing his law. He was trying to teach the Israelites to at least be decent to each other first. Before one can walk, one must learn to crawl.

(NAB) Hosea 11:1-4
When Israel was a child I loved him, out of Egypt I called my son. The more I called them, the farther they went from me, Sacrificing to the Baals and burning incense to idols. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, who took them in my arms;

I drew them with human cords, with bands of love; I fostered them like one who raises an infant to his cheeks; Yet, though I stooped to feed my child, they did not know that I was their healer.

Trying to use verses from the past to show that God approves of something when in fact his real feelings are just the opposite is in error:

(NIV) Matthew 19:7-9
"Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?"

Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.

I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery."

Does God change his mind

Mal. 3:6For I am the Lord; I change not.
Num. 23:19God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent.
Ex. 32:14And the Lord repented of the evil which he had thought to do unto his people.

God changes not, this is true, he will always be good. Malachi is a reference to God's character and is way out of context in this comparison.

Numbers 23:19-20
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it ? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.

This verse is more about empty threats i.e. God doesn't make them. Context, context, context!

(NAB) Exodus 32:7-8
And the LORD spoke unto Moses: 'Go, get thee down; for thy people, that thou broughtest up out of the land of Egypt, have dealt corruptly; they have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed unto it, and said: This is thy god, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.'

(NAB) Exodus 32:9-10
And the LORD said unto Moses: 'I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people. Now therefore let Me alone, that My wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them; and I will make of thee a great nation.'

(NAB) Exodus 32:11-14
But Moses implored the LORD...Let your blazing wrath die down; relent in punishing your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, and how you swore to them by your own self, saying, 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky; and all this land that I promised, I will give your descendants as their perpetual heritage.'" So the LORD relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people.


God was about to destroy them all, but Moses begged for mercy on their behalf, and God showed mercy. Of course our little scholar is so busy finding contradictions, that he doesn't even seem to notice that he's now condemning God for being merciful. Now who's being contradictory?

Psalms 103:8
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

Are we punished for our parent's sins

Ex. 20:5For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generations.
Ezek. 18:20The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father.

Before the quoted verse you'll find:

Ezekial 18:2-3
What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.

God is changing a statute. He is being merciful. God has changed statutes before. There was a time when their was no law at all. People used to be able to marry within their own family. People used to be forbidden to eat meat. Now a man's sins rest on his own head.

Ezek 18:20
The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father.

Is God good or evil

Psa. 145:9The Lord is good to all.
Is. 45:7I make peace and create evil. I the Lord do all these things.

Perhaps another translation will help

(NIV) Isaiah 45:7
I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.

He's just reiterating that he's in control of all of life's circumstances. Read further:

(NAB) Isaiah 45:9-12
Woe to him who contends with his Maker; a potsherd among potsherds of the earth! Dare the clay say to its modeler, "What are you doing?" or, "What you are making has no hands"? Woe to him who asks a father, "What are you begetting?" or a woman, "What are you giving birth to?"

Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, his maker: You question me about my children, or prescribe the work of my hands for me! It was I who made the earth and created mankind upon it; It was my hands that stretched out the heavens; I gave the order to all their host.


The Lord is indeed good to all. He wants to lead all to salvation:

Matthew 5:45
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others ? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

But that doesn't mean he withholds judgement:

Jeremiah 15:6-7
Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting. And I will fan them with a fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, I will destroy my people, since they return not from their ways.

That judgement has a purpose:

(RSV) Psalm 94:7-12
and they say, "The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive." Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise? He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see? He who chastens the nations, does he not chastise?

He who teaches men knowledge, the LORD, knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath. Blessed is the man whom thou dost chasten, O LORD, and whom thou dost teach out of thy law

(NASB) Psalm 119:75
I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

(NASB) Proverbs 3:12
For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

He gives people and nations all the time in the world to repent. He is good to all. But once that time is up, then comes judgement; to the good, rewards; to the wicked, destruction. Not always permanent though, sometimes judgements are chastisements. The Lord is just expressing that he is sovereign.

Is God peaceable

John 14:27Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.
Matt. 10:34Think not that I am come to send peace on earth, I came not to send peace, but a sword.

He gives inner peace to those who trust in him.

Isaiah 26:3
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee : because he trusteth in thee.

But just read the Old Testament. Light and Darkness war with each other constantly. Even Jesus said:

Luke 21:17
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.

Matthew 5:10-12
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you , and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

There is no outer peace:

John 15:18-19
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Was Jesus Trustworthy

John 8:14Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true.
John 5:31If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
John 5:31- 37
If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me.

The verse highlighted in red below is why. In Jewish law you must have at least 2 witnesses to back up a claim. One witness is not sufficient even though he may be telling the truth. John is Jesus' 2nd witness and if that is not enough, his works are a witness for him as well.

John 8:13-18
The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true. Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. "It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true" . I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

In other words, even though he is telling the truth he doesn't except you to just take his word for it. The Father has to bear witness also by giving him miracles and works to perform to prove the truth of what he is saying. There has to be more then one witness, it's in Jewish law.

Shall we call people names

Matt. 5:22Whosoever shall say Thou fool, shall be in danger of hellfire.
Matt. 23:17(Jesus said) Ye fools and blind.

The bible calls many people fools.

(Twenty) Matthew 5:21-22
The fool hath said in his heart: 'There is no God'; they have dealt corruptly, they have done abominably; there is none that doeth good.

(JPS) Psalms 10:18
He that hideth hatred is of lying lips; and he that uttereth a slander is a fool.

(JPS) Proverbs 15:5
A fool despiseth his father's correction; but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

(JPS) Proverbs 18:6
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

(JPS) Proverbs 28:26
He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool; but whoso walketh wisely, he shall escape.

(Twenty) Matthew 5:21-22
You have heard that to our ancestors it was said--'Thou shalt not commit murder,' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to answer for it to the Court.' I, however, say to you that any one who cherishes anger against his brother shall be liable to answer for it to the Court; and whoever pours contempt upon his brother shall be liable to answer for it to the High Council, while whoever calls down curses upon him shall be liable to answer for it in the fiery Pit.


Jesus condemned calling someone a fool out of unjustified anger. If words are motivated by sinful hate, then they're wrong. This passage is mostly about extending "Thou shalt not kill" into "Thou shalt not hate". Jesus is trying to show how to stop sin. This verse is telling us not to hate our brother.

(NASB) Matthew 23:16-17
"Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated.' "You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold?

This verse is more consistent with the Old Testament. Jesus is stating fact; he's not hating anybody. Also notice that's he addressing a group and not individuals. Much like "Thou shalt not kill" applies to individuals, but not armies.

Two totally different verses in two entirely different contexts.

Has anyone seen God

John 1:18No man hath seen God at anytime.
Gen. 32:30For I have seen God face to face.
Exodus 33:8-11
And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle. And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses. And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door. And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.

The Lord was engulfed in a cloud so Moses could not see his face, but he spoke in the same manner as if they were face to face as the verse says.

Later in the same passage:

Exodus 33:18,20
And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory...And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.


So as you can see, no man has really seen God's face. He won't dissipate the cloud for anyone. You could be face to face with him, but he is behind a veil of mist or something so that you will live.

How many Gods are there

Deut. 6:4The Lord or God is one Lord.
Gen. 1:26And God said, let us make man in our image.

In Genesis it's just a figure of speech, much like when you say to yourself: "Let's see what I'm going to have for lunch today". "Let us see what I'm going to have for lunch today"? Don't put too much stock in that, it's just a Jewish figure of speech.

People say things like that when they are alone. Even the Catholics have admitted this and look elsewhere for proof of the Trinity doctrine.

Are we all sinners

Rom. 3:23For all have sinned.
Job 1:1There was a man... whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright.

That's referring to Job's attitude. He was perfect in his heart as he knew how to be. He did all he could do to be a just man. Look to:

I Kings 15:14
But the high places were not taken away: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect with Jehovah all his days.

I Kings 22:43
And he walked in all the way of Asa his father; He turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah: howbeit the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.

Clearly these men were guilty of not taking down the high places. Yet God did not fault them for it. If we don't know we're sinning and yet we're really trying to please God, if we're seeking him with an earnest heart, and wanting to know all his ways, God takes that into account, hence his comment about Job, but as we draw nearer to God he will reveal our shortcomings to us.

Take an example from Isaiah, he was one of God's greatest prophets. Surely he was upright, and yet when he got a glimpse of God:

(JPS) Isaiah 6:5
Then said I: Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

So when the bible describes a man as upright, it's more referring to their attitude; not to their true condition.

When was Jesus Crucified

Mark 15:25and it was the third hour, and they crucified him.
John 19:14-15And about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out...crucify him!"

Woo whee, you got me there, NOT!.

It's been posed that John and Mark were using two different methods of keeping time.

That John, living in Asia Minor many years after the crucifixion was writing to his audience, giving references in Roman time (hours from Midnight) and that Mark was still using Jewish time (hours from sunrise) .

If you look over the gospel accounts I think you will find this bears out.

John 18:40 Barabbas released
John 19:02 Crown of thorns
John 19:14 6th hour
John 19:17 Skull
John 19:19 King of the Jews poster
John 19:24 casting lots
John 19:29 sponge vinegar
John 19:30 Jesus dies
Luke 28:18 Barabbas released
Luke 23:26 Simon Cyrene
Luke 22:33 Skull
Luke 23:34 casting lots
Luke 23:35 vinegar
Luke 23:38 King of the Jews poster
Luke 23:44 6th to 9th hour darkness
Luke 23:46 Jesus dies
Mark 15:15 Barabbas released
Mark 15:17 Crown of thorns
Mark 15:21 Simon Cyrene
Mark 15:22 Skull
Mark 15:24 casting lots
Mark 15:25 3rd hour
Mark 15:26 King of the Jews poster
Mark 15:33 6th to 9th hour darkness
Mark 15:34 Jesus cries out
Mark 15:36 sponge vinegar
Mark 15:37 Jesus dies
Matthew 27:26 Barabbas released
Matthew 27:29 Crown of thorns
Matthew 27:32 Simon Cyrene
Matthew 27:33 Skull
Matthew 27:35 casting lots
Matthew 27:37 King of the Jews poster
Matthew 27:45 6th to 9th hour darkness
Matthew 27:46 Jesus cries out
Matthew 27:48 sponge vinegar
Matthew 27:50 Jesus dies

You can clearly see that John's 6th hour (6:00AM) comes before Mark's 3rd hour (9:00AM).

Considering the fact that they had arrested Jesus the night before, they would have brought him before Pilate at daybreak. So John's 6th hour being 6:00AM is probably dead on.

Now as to the sequence of events. The gospels were aiming more for completeness rather then chronology.

Any discrepancies you may note must be weighed by the fact that if the Gospels were identical they wouldn't be reliable. People would accuse them all of having been copied from the same sources. No one believes testimony in a trial if all the accounts are too similar. They would suspect collusion.

People tend to pay attention to different things. One watches the clock and another doesn't. One tries to drive home a certain point while another notices details.

These gospels are not identical and that lends to their credibility. As far as time, one man's "hour" (Roman) is not another mans "hour" (Jewish).

Shall we obey the law

I Peter 2:13Submit yourself to every ordinance of man.
Acts 5:29We ought to obey God rather than men.
(NAB) 1 Peter 2:12-15
Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles, so that if they speak of you as evildoers, they may observe your good works and glorify God on the day of visitation. Be subject to every human institution for the Lord's sake, whether it be to the king as supreme or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the approval of those who do good. For it is the will of God that by doing good you may silence the ignorance of foolish people.

This verse is about setting a good example. How could Christians claim to be living a Godly life and obeying God's law if they weren't even keeping man's law? Christians are supposed to love law and order. Running around lawless wouldn't help.

(ASV) Acts 5:27-30
And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, We strictly charged you not to teach in this name: and behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree.

Where's the law involved here? This is no ordinance. This is not about lawlessness. This was a command from a priest to stop teaching about Jesus. That's the context of this verse. The Pharisees were trying to silence the Gospel. This same Gospel which was commanded by Jesus to be preached to the entire world. Peter was standing against these men, not against institutions or law.

Conclusion

I hope you see how dishonest this scholar has been, how he's going out of his way to find contradictions that aren't really there. How he's doing the most shallow reading he could possibly do. He's no friend, that's for sure.

At the end of time, when he's standing before the Lord, the Lord's words to him might be: "If you would have looked for me, you would have found me. If you had read my word, in it I would have revealed myself."

Dumbfounded because all his excuses just melted away in the first minute, he runs and hides. He is ashamed, for he sees himself as he is. One that didn't love the light but rather sought after darkness instead.

Turn to God with repentance, not excuses.



Index