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Contradictions in the BibleBelow are some of the more glaring contradictions in the bible. For anyone who claims that the bible is the literal and infallible word of God, any contradiction is a problem. It is possible to claim that many contradictions result from incomplete reporting. For instance, consider Judas' end: Matt 27:5 says that Judas threw the betrayal money into the temple and the chief priests used it to buy a field. Then Judas hanged himself. Acts 1:16-19 says that Judas used the betrayal money to buy a field where he fell headlong, his body burst open, and his intestines spilled out.
Some apologists will claim that what actually happened was that Judas threw the money into the temple, thereby paying for the field. He then hanged himself from a tree on the edge of a cliff. The rope broke causing him to fall into a sharp rock and spill his guts. Some other contradictions are harder to explain away, however, e.g. 1 Sam 31:4-6: Saul killed himself by falling on his sword. 2 Sam 1:2-10: Saul, at his own request, was slain by an Amalekite. 2 Sam 21:12: Saul was killed by the Philistines on Gilboa. 1 Chron 10:13-14: Saul was slain by God. and Prov 30:5: Every word of God is flawless. Jer 8:8: The lying pen of the scribes had handled the law of God falsely. Note also that in many of the cases listed, some translations use words which stretch the meaning in order to disguise the contradictions. |
Gen 1:3: On the first day, God created light. Gen 1:14-18: On the fourth day he created the sun and the stars. Gen 1:11-12, 27: God created man after the animals and birds. Gen 2:18-19: He created man before the trees, birds and animals. Gen 2:17: Adam would die in the day that he ate the forbidden fruit. Gen 5:5: Adam lived another 930 years. Gen 4:26: God was known as 'YHWH' in the days of Adam, well before the time of Moses. Ex 6:2-3: God was first known as 'YHWH' at the time of Moses. Gen 6:6, 1 Sam 15:35: God changes his mind. Num 23:19, 1 Sam 15:29: God does not change his mind. Gen 7:1, Job 1:1: Noah and Job were righteous. James 5:16: The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Rom 3:10: There is no one righteous, not even one. Gen 12:7, 17:1, 18:1, 26:2, 32:30, Ex 3:16, 24:9-11, Num 12:7-8, Job 42:5, Amos 9:1: Various people saw God. Ex 33:20, John 1:18, 1 John 4:12: No one has ever seen God. No one can see God’s face and live. Gen 17:7, 10-11: The covenant of circumcision is to be everlasting. 1 Cor 7:18: Christians don't need to be circumcised. Gen 36:11: The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. Gen 36:15-16: The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, Korah, Gatam and Amalek. Ex 9:2-6: God kills all the livestock belonging to the Egyptians. Ex 14:9: Shortly afterwards, the Egyptians pursue the Israelites on horseback. Ex 20:4: God prohibits the making of any graven images. Ex 25:18: God orders the making of two graven images. Ex 20:5, 34:7, Num 14:18, Deut 5:9, Isa 14:21-22: Children will be punished for their parent’s sins. Eze 18:19-20: Children will not be punished for their parent’s sins. Rom 5:12: Death is passed to all men by the sin of Adam. Ex 20:8-11, 31:16-17: No work is to be done on the Sabbath, on pain of death. The commandment is perpetual. Mark 2:23-28: Jesus broke the Sabbath and defended his actions. Rom 14:5: Paul says sabbath observance is optional. John 13:35: By this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. Luke 14:26: If anyone . . . does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, . . . he cannot be my disciple. Lev 3:17: Eating blood and fat is prohibited perpetually. Col 2:20-22: Such rules don’t matter. They are based just on human commands and teachings. Deut 6:15, 9:7-8, 32:21: God gets angry. Matt 5:22: Anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Judges 1:19: Although God was with Judah, together they could not defeat the plainsmen because the latter had iron chariots. Luke 1:37: God is omnipotent. Nothing is impossible with (or for) God. 1 Sam 17:50: David killed Goliath. 2 Sam 21:19: Elhanan, son of Jaare-Oregim, killed Goliath. 1 Sam 31:4-6: Saul killed himself by falling on his sword. 2 Sam 1:2-10: Saul, at his own request, was slain by an Amalekite. 2 Sam 21:12: Saul was killed by the Philistines on Gilboa. 1 Chron 10:13-14: Saul was slain by God. 2 Sam 24:1: The Lord inspired David to take the census. 1 Chron 21:1: Satan inspired the census. 1 Kings 7:23: Solomon made a circular sea of cast metal, 10 cubits across and 30 cubits around. (Note pi = 3.14) 1 Kings 7:26: Solomon’s sea held 2000 baths. 2 Chron 4:5: Solomon’s sea held 3000 baths. 1 Kings 16:6-8: Baasha died in the 26th year of Asa’s reign. 2 Chron 16:1: Baasha attacked Judah in the 36th year of Asa’s reign. 1 Kings 16:23: In the 31st year of Asa's reign, Omri became king and reigned for a 12 years. 1 Kings 16:28-29: In the 38th year of Asa's reign, Omri died, and his son Ahab became king. 2 Kings 2:11: Elijah went up to heaven. John 3:13: No one has ever gone into heaven except the Son of Man. 2 Kings 8:26: Ahaziah was 22 years old when he became king. 2 Chron 22:2: Ahaziah was 42 years old when he became king. (Changed to 22 in recent translations) Ps 78:69, Eccles 1:4, 3:14: The earth was established for ever. Ps 102:25-26, Matt 24:35, Heb 1:10-11: The earth will not last for ever. Prov 14:15: The simple man believes anything. Luke 18:17: Anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. John 6:44: No one can come to Me unless the Father draws him. 1 Tim 2:3-4, 2 Pet 3:9: God wants all men to be saved. Prov 26:4: Do not answer a fool according to his folly. Prov 26:5: Answer a fool according to his folly. Prov 30:5: Every word of God is flawless. Jer 8:8: The lying pen of the scribes had handled the law of God falsely. Jer 12:13: They will sow wheat but reap thorns. Gal 6:7: A man reaps what he sows. Jer 34:4-5: Zedekiah was to die in peace. Jer 52:10-11: Zedekaih’s eyes are then put out, then he is taken to Babylon and left in prison to die. Matt 1:16: Jacob was Joseph’s father. Luke 3:23: Heli was Joseph’s father. Matt 1:20-23, Luke 1:26-33: Angels tell Joseph and Mary that their child (Jesus) will be great and called 'the Son of the Most High'. Mark 3:21: Yet, when a crowd gathers around Jesus, his family go to take charge of him, saying 'He is out of his mind'. Matt 2:13-16: Following the birth of Jesus, Joseph and Mary fled to Egypt and stayed there until after Herod’s death. This avoided the slaughter of all children under two by Herod. Luke 2:22-40: Following the birth of Jesus, Joseph and Mary remain in the area of Jerusalem for the presentation and then return to Nazareth without ever going to Egypt. There is no slaughter of infants. Matt 3:12, 13:42: Hell is a firey furnace (and therefore light). Matt 8:12, 22:13, 25:30: Hell is an “outer darkness” (and therefore dark). Matt 3:17: A voice from heaven said: 'This is my Son . . .' Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22: A voice from heaven said: 'You are my Son . . .' Matt 4:18-20, John 1:35-42: Two contradictory stories about the calling of Peter. Matt 5:17-19, Luke 16:17: Jesus emphasises the permanence of the law. Lev 11, Deut 14:3-21: The law declares many foods unclean. Mark 7:18-19, 1 Tim 4:3-4: All foods are clean. Matt 5:17-19: Jesus did not come to abolish the law. Eph 2:14-15, Heb 7:18-19: Jesus abolished the law. Matt 5:22: Anyone who says 'You fool' will be in danger of the fires of hell. Matt 7:26, Matt 23:17-19, Matt 25:2: Jesus calls various people fools. 1 Pet 1:3-4: Christians have an inheritance in heaven that can never perish. Matt 24:35, Mark 13:31, Luke 21:33: Heaven and Earth will pass away. Matt 6:13: The Lord's prayer implies that God might lead us into temptation. James 1:13: God tempts no one. Matt 6:25-34, Luke 12:22-31: Do not plan for tomorrow: God will look after you. 1 Tim 5:8: If anyone does not provide for his family, he has denied the faith. Matt 7:1-2: Do not judge. Matt 7:15-20: How to judge if someone is a false prophet. Eph 2:8-9, Gal 2:16, John 3:16, Rom 3:20-26: We are justified by faith, not by works. James 2:24, Matt 7:21, Rom 2:6-13: We are justified by works, not by faith alone. Matt 10:2, Mark 3:16-19: Thaddaeus is one of the 12 apostles; Judas, son of James isn't. Luke 6:13-16: Judas, son of James is one of the 12 apostles; Thaddaeus isn't. Matt 10:10: Jesus tells the disciples not take sandals or staffs. Mark 6:8-9: Jesus tells the disciples to take sandals and staffs. Acts 2:39: All whom God calls will be saved. Acts 2:21, Rom 10:13: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Matt 7:21: Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven. Acts 16:31: Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. Mark 16:16: Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. Rom 10:9: If you confess with his mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in his heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Matt 10:22, 24:13, Mark 13:13: He that stands firm to the end will be saved. 1 John 4:7: Everyone who loves has been born of God (and is presumably saved.) Matt 11:25: Jesus praises the father for hiding some things from the wise and learned. Mark 4:22: Jesus says that what is hidden is meant to be disclosed. Matt 13:34, Mark 4:34: In Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus addresses the crowds only in parables and explains the meaning only to his disciples. John 16:29 "Then Jesus' disciples said, 'Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech'."
Matt 12:39, Mark 8:12, Luke 11:29: Jesus says no miraculous sign will be given except the sign of Jonah. John 3:2, 20:30, Acts 2:22: Jesus gave many miraculous signs. Matt 17:20, Mark 9:23, Luke 17:6: Jesus says that anything is possible to him who has faith. Matt 13:58, Mark 6:5: In spite of his faith, Jesus is not able to perform many miracles. Matt 20:20-21: The mother of James and John asks Jesus a favor for her sons. Mark 10:35-37: James and John ask for themselves. Matt 21:7: Jesus rides a donkey and a colt during his triumphal entry. Mark 11:7, Luke 19:35: No donkey, just a colt. John 12:14: No colt, just a donkey. Matt 26:20-29, Mark 14:17-28: Jesus forecasts his betrayal prior to the communion portion of the supper. Luke 22:14-23: After the communion portion. Matt 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25: The order of the communion was: bread, then wine. Luke 22:17-20: It was: wine, then bread. Matt 26:49-50, Mark 14:44-46: Judas identifies Jesus with a kiss. John 18:2-9: Jesus voluntarily steps forward to identify himself. John 18:28, 19:14, 19:31, Matt 27:62 Mark 15:42 Luke 23:54 John 19:42: Jesus' arrest, trial and crucifixion were on the Day of Preparation, the day before Passover. Matt 26:18, Mark 14:16: The Last Supper was a celebration of Passover. (Passover goes from sunset to sunset.) So the arrest, trial and crucifixion would have been on Passover. [Though it can be argued that Jesus ate the Passover meal a day early.] Matt 26:63, Luke 22:70: The high priest asks Jesus if he is the Son of God and Jesus answers 'You have said so'. Mark 14:61: The high priest asks Jesus if he is the Son of the Blessed One and Jesus answers 'I am'. Mark 14:69-70: Peter’s first and second denials were to the same girl. Matt 26:71-72: Peter’s first and second denials were to different girls. Luke 22:58: Peter’s second denial was to a man. Matt 27:5: Judas threw the betrayal money into the temple and the chief priests used it to buy a field. Judas then hanged himself. Acts 1:16-19: Judas used the betrayal money to buy a field where he fell headlong, his body burst open, and his intestines spilled out. Matt 27:28: A scarlet robe is put on Jesus. Mark 15:17, John 19:2: A purple robe is put on Jesus. Matt 27:32, MK 15:21, LK 23:26: Simon of Cyrene is made to carry Jesus’ cross. John 19:17: Jesus carries his own cross. Matt 27:37: The notice on the cross said: 'This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.' Mark 15:26: 'The King of the Jews.' Luke 23:38: 'This is the King of the Jews.' John 19:19: 'Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.' Matt 27:44: The robbers crucified with Jesus taunt him. Luke 23:39-42: One of the robbers taunts Jesus and is rebuked by the other for doing so. Luke 23:46: Jesus’ last words were 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.' John 19:30: Jesus’ last words were 'It is finished.' Mark 15:23: Before he died, Jesus was given wine mixed with myrrh, but he didn't drink it. John 19:29-30: He was given vinegar and he drank it. Matt 27:54: The centurion says: 'Truly this was the son of God.' Mark 15:39: He says: 'Truly this man was the son of God!' Luke 23:47: He says: 'Surely this was a righteous man.' Matt 27:62-66: The day after the burial, a seal was put on the tomb and a guard was placed there. Mark 15:46–16:5, Luke 23:50-24:3, John 19:38-20:1: There was no guard there when the women went to the tomb, found the stone rolled away and went inside. Matt 28:1: The first visitors to the tomb were Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. Mark 16:1: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome. John 20:1: Mary Magdalene only. Matt 28:1: The women arrived at the tomb at dawn. Mark 16:2: After sunrise. Luke 24:1: Very early in the morning. John 20:1: While it was still dark. Matt 28:2: An angel arrived during an earthquake, rolled back the stone, and sat on it. Mark 16:5: When the women arrived, there was a young man sitting inside the tomb. Luke 24:2-4: Two men suddenly appeared in the tomb after the women had entered it. John 20:12: Mary looked into the tomb and saw two angels sitting in there. Matt 28:8: The women ran from the tomb to tell the disciples. Mark 16:8: The women fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone because they were afraid. Luke 24:9: They told the eleven and all the rest. John 20:1-2: Mary Magdalene ran and told Peter and the disciple Jesus loved. Matt 28:8-9: Jesus’ first Resurrection appearance was near the tomb. Luke 24:13-31: It was on the road to Emmaus. John 20:14-16: It was right at the tomb. Matt 28:9: On his first appearance to them, Jesus lets Mary Magdalene and the other Mary hold him by his feet. John 20:17: On his first appearance to Mary, Jesus says to her 'Do not hold on to me for I have not yet returned to the Father.' Matt 28:1-18: The order of appearances after the resurrection was: Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, then the eleven. Mark 16:9-14: Mary Magdalene, then two others, then the eleven. Luke 24:15-36: Two, then Simon, then the eleven. John 20:14 – 21:1: Mary Magdalene, then the disciples without Thomas, then the disciples with Thomas, then the eleven disciples again. 1 Cor 15:5-8: Peter, then the twelve, then more than 500. Mark 1:14: Jesus began his ministry after John the Baptist was imprisoned. John 3:22-24: Before he was imprisoned. Mark 3:29: Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. Acts 13:39, Col 2:13, 1 John 1:9: All sins can be forgiven. Mark 6:16: Herod said that John had been raised from the dead. Luke 9:7: Herod was perplexed because others said that John had been raised from the dead. Mark 15:25: It was the third hour when Jesus was crucified. John 19:14-15: At the sixth hour, Jesus was still being questioned by Pilate. Luke 24:50-51: Jesus ascended from near Bethany. Acts 1:9-12: Jesus ascended from Mt. Olivet. John 7:39, 16:7: The Holy Spirit cannot come into the world until after Jesus has departed. Luke 1:15, 1:41, 1:67, 2:25: John the Baptist, Elizabeth, Zechariah Simeon had the Holy Spirit well before Jesus had departed. Luke 14:26: No one can be a disciple of Jesus unless he hates his brother. 1 John 4:20: If anyone says 'I love God' but hates his brother, he is a liar. 1 John 3:15: Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer and no murderer has eternal life in him. John 5:22: God does not judge. Rom 2:2-5, 2 Thess 1:5, 1 Pet 1:17: God does judge. John 13:36: Peter asks Jesus where he is going. John 16:5: Jesus says that none of the disciples has asked him where he is going. John 17:12: Jesus said that none of those God gave him has been lost except Judas. John 18:9: The prophesy was fulfilled that said 'I have not lost one of those you gave me.' John 20:22: The resurrected Jesus gives the disciples the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:5, Acts 2:1-4: The disciples had to wait till Pentecost to receive the Holy Spirit. John 21:25: The world probably could not contain the books if all that Jesus did were to be written. Acts 1:1: The author of Acts has already written about all that Jesus did. Rom 13:1, 1 Pet 2:13-15: Submit to the governing authorities because all have been established by God. It is God's will. Acts 5:40-42: The disciples disobey the Council and continue to teach and preach Jesus. Acts 5:19, 12:6-11: The disciples escape lawful custody, aided by angels. Acts 5:29: Peter says 'We must obey God rather than men.' Acts 9:7: Those present at Paul’s conversion heard the voice but saw no one. Acts 22:9: They saw a light but did not hear a voice. Rom 2:13: Those who obey the law will be declared righteous. Rom 3:20, Gal 3:11: No one will be declared righteous by observing the law. 1 Cor 8:4: There is only one God. 2 Cor 4:4: The god of this age (Satan) has blinded the minds of unbelievers. 1 Cor 10:33: Paul says that he tries to please men (so they might be saved). Gal 1:10: Paul says that, if he tried to please men, he would not be a servant of Christ. Gal 6:2: Bear one another’s burdens. Gal 6:5: Every man shall bear his own burden. 1 Tim 1:15: Paul says that he is the chief sinner. 1 John 3:9: He who commits sin is of the Devil. Whoever is born of God does not commit sin, he cannot sin. Rev 8:7: All of the green grass is burned up. Rev 9:4: Shortly afterwards locusts descend upon the earth, but they were told not to harm the grass. |
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