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You must resolve every apparent discrepancy in scripture
Greg Hershberg
Yep – Greg again.
I intimated in my first post on this site, that Greg had pointed to 3 simple principles that I have found to be imminently powerful tools in my studies – and so I continue to point back to them… because they’re good and true. This is the last of the three.
A good example of this principle would be the topic of the term “slave” as discussed in Part Four, but is far from the only instance of issues requiring us to inspect more closely. While I have heard the scriptures decried, not infrequently mind you, on the basis of these so-called contradictions, it’s been my experience that each and every one amounts to us not paying close enough information to or imposing a flawed reasoning upon the text .
In effort to prove my point, I have taken the liberty of lifting the following examples straight from the “mouths” of atheists. You can find the relevant article by clicking here.
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” — Exodus 20:8
“One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” — Romans 14:5
The obvious intention in citing these passages back to back is to illustrate that the precepts contradict one another… except that they don’t. The presentation of this as an issue in fact, illustrates a profound ignorance of the scriptures and the – wait for it – CONTEXT in which they’re presented.
The Sabbath day is one of God’s appointed times. Paul, on the other hand, is addressing issues pertaining to new believers coming from pagan, gentile cultures. You think these folks caught any static from their peers for some radical life changes, like maybe… going to the Synagogue on the Sabbath?
“… the earth abideth for ever.” — Ecclesiastes 1:4
“… the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” — 2Peter 3:10
Okay – are you ready for this?
Both statements are true!
Thing is, Peter is pointing to a principle that may seem elusive, but isn’t all that difficult to grasp conceptually. Consider first that John tell us in Revelation that there are coming a “New Heaven” and a “New Earth”. He literally describes them in terms of dying or passing away. Now, we could take this evidence that there is a scriptural contradiction, but that would overlook some fundamental issues – like resurrection.
Think about it – you and I will pass away, yet when Messiah returns we will be resurrected into perfect, new bodies. Will we still be us – or will there be some newly created, perfect version of “us” that isn’t actually us?
You said we’ll be us right? Good.
You think Heaven & Earth will be any different? I mean, the Earth didn’t sin in the first place, and scripture tells us that creation groans under the curse (Romans 8:22) ~ why, because it understands our fallen state. Much like ourselves, all creation longs for the redemption and restoration of all things… consider what the King says in verse 5 of Revelation Ch 21.
“… I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” — Genesis 32:30
“No man hath seen God at any time…”– John 1:18
This one… this one makes me chuckle.
Jacob wrestled God who appeared to him in human form… Jacob did NOT look upon God as He is, but only upon Him as a man.
Seriously, you get this right? The “logic” being put forth in this argument would have required Jesus to have been invisible.
“… with God all things are possible.” — Matthew 19:26
“…The LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.” — Judges 1:19
With God all things are possible – the failures lie with us. Let’s put the context back on the second passage so you can see what a wet-noodle of an “argument” this is:
The Lord was with Judah. Check.
And he – Judah – drove the inhabitants out of the mountains. Stop a second – you ever noticed that anytime the pronoun “He” is used in reference to God, it’s always capitalized? That’s on purpose and serves as your first clue that the referent of the latter portion of the passage is JUDAH.
What, you thought iron-rimmed chariots could stop God?
Undoubtedly, what we’re being told here is that Judah stalled out because the enemy was able to field and redeploy troops much more rapidly due to a serious technological advantage. The fact that people stopped shy of completing the task in now way indemnifies God or indicates His lack of ability.
I could go on, but it’s not really my purpose to go through an exhaustive list of so-called “contradictions” in scripture; only to illustrate that their aren’t any – it’s our flawed and/ or failed understanding of what’s being put forth that creates the friction. My hope is that you – as ardent students of the word – will look into any such issues you encounter and allow the Spirit to teach you.
The examples I’ve provided are only a smattering of criticisms one could easily find in a search, but I’m willing to bet you have questions of your own. Now the question is – do you have the wherewithal to go find the answers?
In summary, rest assured that Scripture is authoritative but know also, that the impetus for seeking real understanding is upon each one of us as individual believers… it’s your faith ~ time to take responsibility for it.
This being my last intended entry in this series, I feel it prudent to provide a recap of the fundamental principles we’ve covered throughout the discussion on this topic:
- To understand the “New Testament”, you must first understand the “Old”.
- If it’s true it’s not new and it it’s new, it’s not true.
- Text without context is pretext for proof-text.
Put another way:
- The bible presents one cohesive narrative from beginning to end – study it all.
- Everything that was and will be has already been foretold. If it doesn’t align with this, it’s false.
- Read the scriptures in context – else we wind up making them appear to say whatever we want them to.
Soldier on oh fortunate favored of the King.
Until next time,
שלום עליכם – Shalom Aleichem – Peace Be Upon You