Bible Contradictions (TiS Version)

Prepared by: Sumair Mirza

Primary Source: Rev. Tony Costa

Sumair Mirza

Agenda

• Basic overview of Bible

• Some concepts on how to approach Bible Study

• Alleged Contradictions

In order to grow, to share, to reason with others one must have an adequate comprehension of the Word.

Bible Background• 1600 years old

• 40 authors

• Three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic (e.g. Daniel 2-7, portions of Ezra,

Jeremiah 10:10, etc.), Greek

• 70% of NT are letters

• OT: Prophets, fire, clouds, glory of light in the temple– Hebrew scriptures = Masorectic Text (MT)

– Greek translation = Septuagint (Lxx)

• NT: Incarnate– Written in Greek + used Lxx because writing to Greek speaking

audience

God seems to yell louder as the Bible progresses

Bible Structure: OT = 593-5-593

Pre-Exile -> 586 BC -> Post-exile

5 – Basic Law 5 – Basic Prophecy

9 – Pre-exile History

5 – Inner life 9 – Pre-exile Prophecy

3 – Post-exile History

3 – Post-exile Prophecy

Bible Structure: NT = 4 1 13 8 1

First 5 “application” texts were to Jews like the Pentateuch

4 – Manifestation (Gospels)

1 – Proclamation (Acts)

13 – Explanation (Paul’s letters)

8 – Applications (Hebrews-Jude)

1 – Expectation (Revelation)

Bible Structure: NT = 4 1 13 8 1

First 5 “application” texts were to Jews like the Pentateuch

4 – Manifestation (Gospels)

1 – Proclamation (Acts)

13 – Explanation (Paul’s letters)

8 – Applications (Hebrews-Jude)

1 – Expectation (Revelation)

Fun Fact:66 Chapters in Isaiah, First 39 are Judgment theme and Next 27 are about atonement… Seem Familiar?

Biblical Interpretation

• Exegesis (Good): Draw meaning out of text

• Eisegesis (Bad): Read one’s ideas into the text

• GODISNOWHERE (example of what scribes had to manage with)– GOD IS NOW HERE = Meaning #1 = state God exists

theism

– GOD IS NOWHERE = Meaning #2 = state God does not exist atheism

– Scribes had to decipher no spaces (continuo scripto)• Oldest NT manuscripts

Be careful…

• Nehemiah 8:8: even prophets show interest in correct biblical understanding

• John 6:30-33: Jesus corrects wrong scriptural understanding

• Galatians 3:16: Paul careful interpreter (seed = one person = Jesus Christ)

Different Types of Writing• Narratives; mostly literal• Poetry; can contain metaphors (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Song of

Solomon, Ecclesiastes, etc.)

– In Hebrew meanings rhyme not the words (e.g. Heavens vs. Firmament – Psalm 19)

• Apocalyptic; highly symbolic (Daniel 2-7, some of Joel, some of Isaiah, etc.)

• Prophetic; deals with present conditions and also future ones (some of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, some of Daniel, Hosea, Joel, etc.)

– Propheme means “to speak” , not always future”

Metaphorsused to communicate on our level

• Anthropomorphism; applying human like qualities to God (e.g. hands, eyes, nose, arm, etc.)

• Zoomorphism; applying animal like qualities to God (e.g. lion (Hos. 13:8, Amos), she bear, wings, feathers, etc.)

• Anthropopathism; applying human emotions to God (laughter (Psalms 2:4, 37:13), anger (Exodus 4:14), grieving, etc.) – Distinct difference is God is not controlled by emotions like us

Audience is important…

• Scriptures were tailored to audience as any good presenter would do…

• In New Guinea the pig is sacred and liver is the centre of emotions

• Imagine…– Behold Jesus comes, the piglet of God….?!– My son Shechem has his liver set on your

daughter. Please give her to him as his wife….?!

Gospel Accounts and ThemesGospel Audience Focus

How was it tailored to audience?

Matthew Jews What did Jesus say?

• Frequently quotes OT to show Jesus fulfillment of the messianic prophecies

• Quotes reflect the Hebrew text and the rest are from the Greek version (Septuagint)

Mark Romans What did Jesus do?

• Power• “Movie-like” snapshots

(quick)

Luke Greeks Who followed Jesus?

• Like birth stories• Wisdom• Saviour of world

John Believers Who was Jesus? • Galilean mission to Judea*

Gospel Accounts and ThemesPropheticSymbol Meaning Gospel Reflection

Lion King Matthew* • Messiah King

Ox Servant Mark* • Suffering Servant Jesus

Man Humanity Luke* • Humanity, grew up 12 years old (b/c bar mitzvah age)

• He is the perfect and ideal human who comes to reconcile both Jews and Gentiles to God

• Emphasis on the Gentile outreach of Jesus

Eagle Deity John • All about God and God is all and all is from him and for him

* Synoptic gospels = “see through one eye”

Alleged Contradictions

• Days contradiction?– Matt 17:1, Mark 9:2, Luke 9:28

– Answer: Luke is approximate says “some”, not concerned with exact # of days

Alleged Contradictions…

• Who caused David to take a census of Israel?

• A. God (2 Sam. 24:1) or B. Satan (1 Chron. 21:1)

– Western thinking leads to disjunctive choice (e.g. A or B) (Aristotelian thinking)

– Eastern Jewish can be both (e.g. A+B)

– God permits Satan to act (Job 1-2) (Satan can’t do anything without God’s consent (Luke 22:31)

Alleged Contradictions…

• Muslim’s say Paul corrupted Christianity... Why?

• James 2:20,24 (Jesus’ bro says works + faith?) vs. Rom. 3:28, 4:4-5 (Paul seems to say faith alone?)– Seemingly contradicts Sola Fide? (Faith Alone)

– Response:• James is talking about works of faith (faith before men)

• Paul is talking about works of law (faith before God)

• How do we know? (James 2:14 – “to the brethren”, “that faith” should result in works (matches Eph. 2:8-10))

Alleged Contradictions…

• Do not judge, or you too will be judged. (Matt. 7:1)

• Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment." (John 7:24)

• What is going on here?– Read Context: It’s about hypocritical judgment

Alleged Contradictions…– “…Father is greater than I” (John 14:28), how? Is Jesus saying

the Father is better than himself?

– Answer: Does “greater” = “better”?• For example, is a parent greater than the child (e.g. Jesus

submitted to Joseph and Mary) or the Prime Minister of Canada greater than us? (office of authority)

• It is a reference to authority (hierarchy exists in the trinity)– Father elects for salvation

– Son purchases with blood

– Holy Spirit seals them

Alleged Contradictions…

• You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:14)

• Ask God and he will give you anything? (John 14:14)– Answer: Tota Scriptura (1 John 5:14-15)

– Paul rejoices in infirmities

– C.S. Lewis “God whispers to us in our joy but screams to us in our pain.”

Alleged Contradictions…

• Psalm 82:6 "I said, 'You are "gods"; you are all sons of the Most High.‘…”

• We are gods?!

• Answer: read context… read before and after…– “Provide justice”

– “Like mere men”

– Similar theme in Exodus 7:1 with Moses but merely talks about presiding justice/authority (Exodus 21:6; 22:8)

– God is the real judge (Psalm 50:6)

Alleged Contradictions

• Jonah was in a fish or whale?

• How if whale is not a type of fish?– Jonah 1:17

– Matt. 12:40

– Answer: Dag is Hebrew word for “fish”, no word for “whale” exists. Dag used in reference to sea animals

Alleged Contradictions

• Who killed Goliath?– 1 Sam. 17:50 says David OR 2 Sam. 21:19 says

Elhanan?

– Answer: 1 Chron. 20:5

– David, accidental/incidental scribal error resulted in dropped “brother”

Alleged Contradictions

• Deuteronomy 34:5-8– Who wrote about Moses’ death? Couldn’t be

Moses (author of Deuteronomy)?

– Answer: Likely Joshua, Moses’ successor (Epilogue flows into Joshua 1:1)

– Epilogue doesn’t take away from authorship of book (often when an author passes away prior to completion of book a close friend will write epilogue, doesn’t confuse authorship)

Alleged Contradictions• Sign above cross (why all say different things?)

– Matt. 27:37, Mark 15:26, Luke 23:38, John 19:19– Answer: Sign in different languages (John 19:20 - Many of

the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.)

– Matthew: Hebrew/Aramaic For Jews as their languages– Mark: Latin (Romans) Romans ruling (usually only

charge mentioned)– Luke: Greek common language– John: Roman form of sign (name of accused + charge)

(probably from Pilate himself)

To criticize God is the first step to gag God’s voice

To doubt God is the first step to muffle God’s voice

Remember…

thank you.

www.theologyinsneakers.comsumair@theologyinsneakers.com