Contradictions in the Bible?
Thanks to A Hermit for posing these questions:
Did God create the animals first , and then Man:
Genesis 1:25-27 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let us make man in our image.... So God created man in his own image.
Or vice versa?
Genesis 2:18-19 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
Here's a good one; Does God ever lie?
1 Kings 22:23
Now, therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee.
2 Chronicles 18:22
Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets.
Jeremiah 4:10
Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people.
Jeremiah 20:7
O Lord, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived.
Ezekiel 14:9
And if a prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet.
2 Thessalonians 2:11
For this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.
Or not?
Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent.
1 Samuel 15:29
The Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent.
Titus 1:2
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.
Hebrews 6:18
It was impossible for God to lie.
Will I answer these questions? Yes! But first (now I am acting like a serial novelist or one of those History Channel hour-long programs where they tease you with an answer you don't get 'til right at the end) lets talk a bit about understanding the Bible. Because many questions like this will not even be questions to those who have applied certain principles to Bible reading and understanding. It is also very difficult to get full meaning and understanding from the Bible unless you are a believer able to be led by the Holy Spirit. But I mentioned that in an earlier thread, so let us drop that for now and move on.
The Bible was written progressively and is, in part, a series of legal documents.
Part of the Bible is a recording of covenants between God and man. A covenant is like a legal contract. God had an agreement in place with Adam and Eve and they broke it. That agreement was replaced by a covenant that was more or less in the form of a legal punishment, like a sentencing in court. Some call this the Adamic covenant. There was also the Noahic covenant, the Abrahmic covenant, the Mosaic covenant and of course the covenant you may wish to call the Messianic covenant. This New Covenant between God and man involves the redemption of mankind and the solution for the sin problem through the blood of Christ, by His death, burial and resurrection and the redemption of man through faith in that same Christ.
When you read the Bible, you need to remember which covenant was in place between God and man during the writing of the covenant. Just as an example, during the making of the Mosaic covenant, God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses to present to the people and they were to decide whether they would agree to follow them and follow the Law that God would give them. They agreed. During the time this covenant was in place that Law ruled and had to be followed to be part of God's people. But most of the Law that was in place during the time of this covenant was done away once Christ was risen, for a new covenant was in place.
Often people will quote verses from the Law which were part of the Mosaic covenant, not applicable today, and then ask questions about that verse as if it were directed to today's Christians.
The Bible is an historical document
There is much in the Bible that is, like a good news article, an accurate account of events that took place. In cases like this, people may make assertions that are not from God and may be in total disagreement with God, but they are recorded in the Bible as history rather than the teaching of God. For instance, in John 19:15 the Chief Priests are recorded as saying, "We have no king but Caesar!" Was God teaching that Caesar was king and to be revered? No. The writer simply recorded what was said by the priests, who were far more concerned about their political power and position than they were the will of God.
Context
By whom was the book written? When was it written? To whom was it written? When reading the Bible you need to consider these things in order to understand what God wants you to get from the passages. Knowing that Esther is a book centered in Persia then causes you to bring what understanding of Persian law and custom of the times into the understanding of the scripture in order to get the greatest insight into the various actions of the characters. In addition, understanding that the entire Bible is based in the Middle East/Asia/Mediterranean region helps you understand the teachings and the people even better. Example: Romans 12:20 -
"Therefore“ If your enemy is hungry, feed him;If he is thirsty, give him a drink;For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” "
As a young Christian, I thought that meant that by helping my enemy it would burn him emotionally, being conflicted by my actions and causing him guilt. That is how I first read this. I then supposed that the guilt and concern would bring him to Christ. Later, I learned that in that time and place the women would have a piece of pottery designed to hold hot coals. The family fire was a necessity, used to prepare the food in in certain times of the year heat the home as well. If you awoke in the morning and your coals had all gone out, this was an emergency! No one had matches and lighers and lighter fluid. So you would take the pot and go to a neighbor and ask for a few of their coals to be able to re-stoke your fire. They would, out of kindness, give you some of the coals. The woman of the house would then take the pot and balance it on her head and then carry the coals home to cook food for her family. So actually in this verse God is telling me that doing good in exchange for evil is like providing a necessity to my enemy. Is the other meaning a secondary meaning? I leave that to you to decide.
Prophetic passages and books
God uses a great deal of lyrical and symbolic language in the parts of the Bible that are prophetic. A careful study shows us the powerful and symbolic imagery in such passages are not to be taken literally. Otherwise the stars would already have fallen from the skies! It is God's style to use such language to express the power and importance of the prophetic utterances.
Poetic books like Psalms and Proverbs make use of imagery that is not literal as well. Few people have difficulty understanding this but it is worth mentioning.
The Bible is composed of sixty-six books, but it is one complete work
The Bible points to Jesus Christ and his sacrifice and propitiation and resurrection. In Genesis, for example, we see Abel making a blood sacrifice, for without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. This is a type of Christ. Later Abraham is to sacrifice his son but God stops him and substitutes a ram caught by his horns.
Genesis 22:12-14 - "And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided.” "
(That phrase is, by interpretation, YHWH Yireh or as we would say, Jehovah Jireh.)
I love that part, since horns are a symbol of power, of kingly power, and/or of kingdoms in the Bible. The ram was a type of Christ and being caught by his horns, prefiguring the Prince of Peace and our King becoming our sacrifice and propitiation for sins. Kinda neat, I think.
In any event, the teachings and phrasing of the Old Testament help us understand the New, and vice versa, because it is all one work in total. You interpret the Bible by the Bible. Since much of the New Testament includes quotes, partial, quotes and paraphrases from the Old it is often easier than first thought.
Whereas the Bible was written progressively over time, it was planned and known by God from the beginning. It is written by several authors but in fact authored by God with men the willing scribes writing down the Word of God for Him. This is why this collection of sixy-six books, some written hundreds of years after the previous book, all form one cohesive whole.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, there were a few preliminary thoughts concerning understanding the Bible. Now let us endeavor to answer A Hermit's two questions.
#1 - The Bible lays out the order of creation in Genesis chapter one and the first three verses of chapter two. In chapter two there is a man-centric review that is not concerned about the order of creation. In fact, in Genesis 2:18-19 is likely more a review of the way God thought of the situation and of course God did form the animals and birds out of the ground before He presented them to Adam. God knew there would be an Adam before He made Adam. Indeed, I am quite sure that God knew the animals would not be good as a life-partner or helpmeet for him. This was likely done to allow Adam to come to that conclusion as well and desire the partner who was to come, Eve. Obviously the writer of Genesis knew quite well what he had written in chapter one and was not suddenly confused during the writing of chapter two. For that matter, the original text is not broken down into chapters and the part we know as 2:18-19 was written at the same time as what we know as chapter one.
#2 - I first have to address Ezekial 14:9, for your translation is wrong. (God induces the prophet to speak but not the content of the speech. If you read the entire chapter you see that, in context, this is about those among the people who were ungodly idol worshippers.)
Also, remember, if a man is saying that God has deceived, it is true that the man said it but it does not mean that God has done it.
Jeremiah 4:10 is part of a dialogue between Jeremiah and God where Jeremiah is addressing God as a complaint. Jeremiah is almost, if you will, negotiating with God. He makes the accusation but it is untrue.
Both Kings and Chronicles refer to a spirit and not God himself.
The language of II Thessalonians 2:11 is actually that God helped strengthen their delusion once they chose it, much as He helped harden Pharoah's neck after Pharoah himself had chosen to harden it a few times before. It is like God decides to seal their rebellion or delusion but not as if He causes it. In no instance is God found to be lying. But if there is a lying spirit God may encourage it or amplify it in order to perhaps make the sides clear to all. As mentioned, God does this with rebellion as well, per Proverbs 29:1 -
"He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck,
Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy."
It is a statement of fact and it is also and indication that God may "seal" one that is habitually rebellious or ungodly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I did go to seminary and I have studied the Bible for many years. But I am not the fount of all wisdom and knowledge and will be glad for additions and/or corrections from other Bible students out there as well as the general flow of comments that may well result from this post.
One more note, I do read the Bible prayerfully and always hope for God to enlighten me about the passage I am reading for insights applicable to my life. If you seek truth, may God greatly bless your journey and particularly guide you to the best available final destination!
Did God create the animals first , and then Man:
Genesis 1:25-27 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let us make man in our image.... So God created man in his own image.
Or vice versa?
Genesis 2:18-19 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
Here's a good one; Does God ever lie?
1 Kings 22:23
Now, therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee.
2 Chronicles 18:22
Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets.
Jeremiah 4:10
Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people.
Jeremiah 20:7
O Lord, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived.
Ezekiel 14:9
And if a prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet.
2 Thessalonians 2:11
For this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.
Or not?
Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent.
1 Samuel 15:29
The Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent.
Titus 1:2
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.
Hebrews 6:18
It was impossible for God to lie.
Will I answer these questions? Yes! But first (now I am acting like a serial novelist or one of those History Channel hour-long programs where they tease you with an answer you don't get 'til right at the end) lets talk a bit about understanding the Bible. Because many questions like this will not even be questions to those who have applied certain principles to Bible reading and understanding. It is also very difficult to get full meaning and understanding from the Bible unless you are a believer able to be led by the Holy Spirit. But I mentioned that in an earlier thread, so let us drop that for now and move on.
The Bible was written progressively and is, in part, a series of legal documents.
Part of the Bible is a recording of covenants between God and man. A covenant is like a legal contract. God had an agreement in place with Adam and Eve and they broke it. That agreement was replaced by a covenant that was more or less in the form of a legal punishment, like a sentencing in court. Some call this the Adamic covenant. There was also the Noahic covenant, the Abrahmic covenant, the Mosaic covenant and of course the covenant you may wish to call the Messianic covenant. This New Covenant between God and man involves the redemption of mankind and the solution for the sin problem through the blood of Christ, by His death, burial and resurrection and the redemption of man through faith in that same Christ.
When you read the Bible, you need to remember which covenant was in place between God and man during the writing of the covenant. Just as an example, during the making of the Mosaic covenant, God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses to present to the people and they were to decide whether they would agree to follow them and follow the Law that God would give them. They agreed. During the time this covenant was in place that Law ruled and had to be followed to be part of God's people. But most of the Law that was in place during the time of this covenant was done away once Christ was risen, for a new covenant was in place.
Often people will quote verses from the Law which were part of the Mosaic covenant, not applicable today, and then ask questions about that verse as if it were directed to today's Christians.
The Bible is an historical document
There is much in the Bible that is, like a good news article, an accurate account of events that took place. In cases like this, people may make assertions that are not from God and may be in total disagreement with God, but they are recorded in the Bible as history rather than the teaching of God. For instance, in John 19:15 the Chief Priests are recorded as saying, "We have no king but Caesar!" Was God teaching that Caesar was king and to be revered? No. The writer simply recorded what was said by the priests, who were far more concerned about their political power and position than they were the will of God.
Context
By whom was the book written? When was it written? To whom was it written? When reading the Bible you need to consider these things in order to understand what God wants you to get from the passages. Knowing that Esther is a book centered in Persia then causes you to bring what understanding of Persian law and custom of the times into the understanding of the scripture in order to get the greatest insight into the various actions of the characters. In addition, understanding that the entire Bible is based in the Middle East/Asia/Mediterranean region helps you understand the teachings and the people even better. Example: Romans 12:20 -
"Therefore“ If your enemy is hungry, feed him;If he is thirsty, give him a drink;For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” "
As a young Christian, I thought that meant that by helping my enemy it would burn him emotionally, being conflicted by my actions and causing him guilt. That is how I first read this. I then supposed that the guilt and concern would bring him to Christ. Later, I learned that in that time and place the women would have a piece of pottery designed to hold hot coals. The family fire was a necessity, used to prepare the food in in certain times of the year heat the home as well. If you awoke in the morning and your coals had all gone out, this was an emergency! No one had matches and lighers and lighter fluid. So you would take the pot and go to a neighbor and ask for a few of their coals to be able to re-stoke your fire. They would, out of kindness, give you some of the coals. The woman of the house would then take the pot and balance it on her head and then carry the coals home to cook food for her family. So actually in this verse God is telling me that doing good in exchange for evil is like providing a necessity to my enemy. Is the other meaning a secondary meaning? I leave that to you to decide.
Prophetic passages and books
God uses a great deal of lyrical and symbolic language in the parts of the Bible that are prophetic. A careful study shows us the powerful and symbolic imagery in such passages are not to be taken literally. Otherwise the stars would already have fallen from the skies! It is God's style to use such language to express the power and importance of the prophetic utterances.
Poetic books like Psalms and Proverbs make use of imagery that is not literal as well. Few people have difficulty understanding this but it is worth mentioning.
The Bible is composed of sixty-six books, but it is one complete work
The Bible points to Jesus Christ and his sacrifice and propitiation and resurrection. In Genesis, for example, we see Abel making a blood sacrifice, for without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. This is a type of Christ. Later Abraham is to sacrifice his son but God stops him and substitutes a ram caught by his horns.
Genesis 22:12-14 - "And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided.” "
(That phrase is, by interpretation, YHWH Yireh or as we would say, Jehovah Jireh.)
I love that part, since horns are a symbol of power, of kingly power, and/or of kingdoms in the Bible. The ram was a type of Christ and being caught by his horns, prefiguring the Prince of Peace and our King becoming our sacrifice and propitiation for sins. Kinda neat, I think.
In any event, the teachings and phrasing of the Old Testament help us understand the New, and vice versa, because it is all one work in total. You interpret the Bible by the Bible. Since much of the New Testament includes quotes, partial, quotes and paraphrases from the Old it is often easier than first thought.
Whereas the Bible was written progressively over time, it was planned and known by God from the beginning. It is written by several authors but in fact authored by God with men the willing scribes writing down the Word of God for Him. This is why this collection of sixy-six books, some written hundreds of years after the previous book, all form one cohesive whole.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, there were a few preliminary thoughts concerning understanding the Bible. Now let us endeavor to answer A Hermit's two questions.
#1 - The Bible lays out the order of creation in Genesis chapter one and the first three verses of chapter two. In chapter two there is a man-centric review that is not concerned about the order of creation. In fact, in Genesis 2:18-19 is likely more a review of the way God thought of the situation and of course God did form the animals and birds out of the ground before He presented them to Adam. God knew there would be an Adam before He made Adam. Indeed, I am quite sure that God knew the animals would not be good as a life-partner or helpmeet for him. This was likely done to allow Adam to come to that conclusion as well and desire the partner who was to come, Eve. Obviously the writer of Genesis knew quite well what he had written in chapter one and was not suddenly confused during the writing of chapter two. For that matter, the original text is not broken down into chapters and the part we know as 2:18-19 was written at the same time as what we know as chapter one.
#2 - I first have to address Ezekial 14:9, for your translation is wrong. (God induces the prophet to speak but not the content of the speech. If you read the entire chapter you see that, in context, this is about those among the people who were ungodly idol worshippers.)
Also, remember, if a man is saying that God has deceived, it is true that the man said it but it does not mean that God has done it.
Jeremiah 4:10 is part of a dialogue between Jeremiah and God where Jeremiah is addressing God as a complaint. Jeremiah is almost, if you will, negotiating with God. He makes the accusation but it is untrue.
Both Kings and Chronicles refer to a spirit and not God himself.
The language of II Thessalonians 2:11 is actually that God helped strengthen their delusion once they chose it, much as He helped harden Pharoah's neck after Pharoah himself had chosen to harden it a few times before. It is like God decides to seal their rebellion or delusion but not as if He causes it. In no instance is God found to be lying. But if there is a lying spirit God may encourage it or amplify it in order to perhaps make the sides clear to all. As mentioned, God does this with rebellion as well, per Proverbs 29:1 -
"He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck,
Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy."
It is a statement of fact and it is also and indication that God may "seal" one that is habitually rebellious or ungodly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I did go to seminary and I have studied the Bible for many years. But I am not the fount of all wisdom and knowledge and will be glad for additions and/or corrections from other Bible students out there as well as the general flow of comments that may well result from this post.
One more note, I do read the Bible prayerfully and always hope for God to enlighten me about the passage I am reading for insights applicable to my life. If you seek truth, may God greatly bless your journey and particularly guide you to the best available final destination!