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Here are ten commonly cited examples of apparent contradictions in the Bible. Whether they are actual contradictions or reconcilable differences is debated among scholars and religious believers.



Topic Passage 1 Passage 2 Apparent Contradiction

1. How did Judas die? Gospel of Matthew 27:5 – Judas hanged himself. Acts of the Apostles 1:18 – Judas fell and his body burst open. Different descriptions of Judas's death.


2. Who bought the field? Matthew 27:7 – The priests bought the field. Acts 1:18 – Judas acquired the field. Different accounts of ownership.


3. How many animals entered the ark? Book of Genesis 6:19–20 – Two of every kind. Genesis 7:2–3 – Seven pairs of clean animals and one pair of unclean animals. Different numbers given.


4. Can God be seen? Genesis 32:30 – Jacob says he saw God face to face. Gospel of John 1:18 – No one has ever seen God. Seemingly conflicting statements.


5. Does God tempt people? Genesis 22:1 – God tested (tempted, in some older translations) Abraham. Epistle of James 1:13 – God tempts no one. Different descriptions of God's actions.


6. Is God the author of evil? Book of Isaiah 45:7 (KJV) – God creates evil. First Epistle of John 1:5 – In God there is no darkness at all. Raises questions about God's relation to evil.


7. How many horsemen did David capture? Second Book of Samuel 8:4 – 1,700 horsemen. First Book of Chronicles 18:4 – 7,000 horsemen. Different numbers reported.


8. Who incited David to take a census? 2 Samuel 24:1 – God incited David. 1 Chronicles 21:1 – Satan incited David. Different agents named.


9. How many stalls did Solomon have? First Book of Kings 4:26 – 40,000 stalls. Second Book of Chronicles 9:25 – 4,000 stalls. Different figures reported.


10. What was the genealogy of Jesus? Gospel of Matthew 1:1–16. Gospel of Luke 3:23–38. The genealogies differ significantly.


Important Note

Many Christian theologians argue that these passages can be harmonized through context, translation, textual transmission, or differing perspectives. Critics argue that some of these differences are genuine contradictions. Whether one views them as contradictions often depends on one's interpretive approach to the Bible.

brownwindow:
Here are ten commonly cited examples of apparent contradictions in the Bible. Whether they are actual contradictions or reconcilable differences is debated among scholars and religious believers.



Topic Passage 1 Passage 2 Apparent Contradiction

1. How did Judas die? Gospel of Matthew 27:5 – Judas hanged himself. Acts of the Apostles 1:18 – Judas fell and his body burst open. Different descriptions of Judas's death.


2. Who bought the field? Matthew 27:7 – The priests bought the field. Acts 1:18 – Judas acquired the field. Different accounts of ownership.


3. How many animals entered the ark? Book of Genesis 6:19–20 – Two of every kind. Genesis 7:2–3 – Seven pairs of clean animals and one pair of unclean animals. Different numbers given.


4. Can God be seen? Genesis 32:30 – Jacob says he saw God face to face. Gospel of John 1:18 – No one has ever seen God. Seemingly conflicting statements.


5. Does God tempt people? Genesis 22:1 – God tested (tempted, in some older translations) Abraham. Epistle of James 1:13 – God tempts no one. Different descriptions of God's actions.


6. Is God the author of evil? Book of Isaiah 45:7 (KJV) – God creates evil. First Epistle of John 1:5 – In God there is no darkness at all. Raises questions about God's relation to evil.


7. How many horsemen did David capture? Second Book of Samuel 8:4 – 1,700 horsemen. First Book of Chronicles 18:4 – 7,000 horsemen. Different numbers reported.

How do these affect core Christian theology and practice?
What is your motive of showing these?


8. Who incited David to take a census? 2 Samuel 24:1 – God incited David. 1 Chronicles 21:1 – Satan incited David. Different agents named.


9. How many stalls did Solomon have? First Book of Kings 4:26 – 40,000 stalls. Second Book of Chronicles 9:25 – 4,000 stalls. Different figures reported.


10. What was the genealogy of Jesus? Gospel of Matthew 1:1–16. Gospel of Luke 3:23–38. The genealogies differ significantly.


Important Note

Many Christian theologians argue that these passages can be harmonized through context, translation, textual transmission, or differing perspectives. Critics argue that some of these differences are genuine contradictions. Whether one views them as contradictions often depends on one's interpretive approach to the Bible.

How do these affect core Christian theology and Christian practice?

MightySparrow:
How do these affect core Christian theology and Christian practice?

That shows to you that the Bible has been corrupted for it to have contradictions in it!





Is it a Word of God or a Word of Man?












And a new question for you, where in the Bible were your guys told to worship on Sunday or go to Church on Sunday?

brownwindow:
That shows to you that the Bible has been corrupted for it to have contradictions in it!
Is it a Word of God or a Word of Man? And a new question for you, where in the Bible were your guys told to worship on Sunday or go to Church on Sunday?

Have you read a book written by Woke Soyinka before?

Now think of what will happen if the man wrote the book in his own mother tongue then people claiming scholars from different countries wants to scam their neighbors using the book.

Will you conclude that the book is of no use?

Note that different interpreters will use the same book in different ways which will make it's interpretation contradictory!🙂

brownwindow:
That shows to you that the Bible has been corrupted for it to have contradictions in it!





Is it a Word of God or a Word of Man?












And a new question for you, where in the Bible were your guys told to worship on Sunday or go to Church on Sunday?

1. Are you a Bible scholar?
2. What is the meaning of 'Bible?
3. What is canonization of the Bible.

Let's start from here.

brownwindow:
➜Here are ten commonly cited examples of apparent contradictions in the Bible. Whether they are actual contradictions or reconcilable differences is debated among scholars and religious believers.
1. How did Judas die? Gospel of Matthew 27:5 – Judas hanged himself. Acts of the Apostles 1:18 – Judas fell and his body burst open. Different descriptions of Judas's death. .

This isn't necessarily a contradiction. If we instead combine the accounts in Matthew and then in Acts, we can see that it is possible Judas hung himself as indicated in Matthew, and his bloated body, probably after many days, fell and burst open.

Why do I say this is quite possibly the case? This is because chapter 1 of the book of Acts accounts for the events that took place more than 40 days after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ of Israel, which is the period right after the ascension of Jesus Christ of Israel.

brownwindow:
2. Who bought the field? Matthew 27:7 – The priests bought the field. Acts 1:18 – Judas acquired the field.
➜ Different accounts of ownership.

You are wrong here in your assertions regarding Acts 1:18. The verse does not state that Judas bought the field.
Try to follow the events that took place as recorded. This, as opposed to trying to pick and choose.
A. In Matthew, we read that Judas did return the money that he took back to the Jewish leaders who had given it to him.

3. Judas saw that they had decided to kill Jesus. He was the one who had handed him over. When he saw what happened, he was very sorry for what he had done. So he took the 30 silver coins back to the priests and the older leaders.
4. Judas said, “I sinned. I handed over to you an innocent man to be killed.” The Jewish leaders answered, “We don’t care! That’s a problem for you, not us.”
5 So Judas threw the money into the Temple. Then he went out from there and hanged himself. - Matthew 27 vs 3 - 5

As you can see, Matthew already reported that the money was returned by Judas to the Jewish leaders.

B. Afterwards, the same Jewish Leaders to whom the money was returned decided to buy the field.

6 The leading priests picked up the silver coins in the Temple. They said, “Our law does not allow us to keep this money with the Temple money, because this money has paid for a man’s death.”
7 So they decided to use the money to buy a field called Potter’s Field. This field would be a place to bury people who died while visiting in Jerusalem.
8 That is why that field is still called the Field of Blood.
9 This showed the full meaning of what Jeremiah the prophet said:
“They took 30 silver coins. That was how much the people of Israel decided to pay for his life. 10 They used those 30 silver coins to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.” - Matthew 27 vs 6 - 9

C. Now when you closely examine what is in fact written in Acts, which reports events after Matthew accounts, you see that it does not state that he (Judas) bought the land but rather that his money(see Matthew 27 vs 6-7) was instead used to purchase the field.

18 (Judas was paid money for doing this. His money was used to buy him a field. But he fell on his head, his body broke open, and all his intestines poured out.
19 And all the people of Jerusalem learned about this. That is why they named that field Akeldama, which in their language means “field of blood.”) - Acts 1 vs 18 - 19

2. As you can see from the above, what is presented isn't a difference but a continuation which you missed.

brownwindow:
3. How many animals entered the ark? Book of Genesis 6:19–20 – Two of every kind. Genesis 7:2–3 – Seven pairs of clean animals and one pair of unclean animals. Different numbers given.

This is also not a contradiction. And I have previously explained how this is a matter of paying close attention to the accounts to better understand what is, in fact, written from that which is imagined.

A. In chapter 6, the first instruction regarding animals states that Noah was to take 2 of every kind of animal(male and female) into the boat with him and his family.

17 “Understand what I am telling you. I will bring a great flood of water on the earth. I will destroy all living things that live under heaven. Everything on the earth will die.
18 I will make a special agreement with you. You, your wife, your sons, and their wives will all go into the boat.
19 Also, you will take two of every living thing on the earth with you into the boat. Take a male and female of every kind of animal so that they might survive with you.
20 Two of every kind of bird, animal, and creeping thing will come to you so that you might keep them alive.
21 Also bring every kind of food into the boat, for you and for the animals.”
22 Noah did everything God commanded him. - Genesis 6 vs 17 - 22

B. After Noah had completed the first set of tasks that had been given him from chapter 6, a second set of tasks was given to him from YHWH to him as recorded in chapter 7.

1. Then the Lord said to Noah, “I have seen that you are a good man, even among the evil people of this time. So gather your family, and all of you go into the boat.
2 Get seven pairs (seven males and seven females) of every kind of clean animal. And get one pair (one male and one female) of every other animal on the earth. Lead all these animals into the boat with you.
3 Get seven pairs (seven males and seven females) of all the birds. This will allow all these animals to continue living on the earth after the other animals are destroyed.
4 Seven days from now, I will send much rain on the earth. It will rain for 40 days and 40 nights, and I will wipe everything off the face of the earth. I will destroy everything I made.”
5 Noah did everything the Lord told him to do. - Genesis 7 vs 1 - 5.

Basically, the first set of instructions had Noah loading a pair(1 male and 1 female) of every animal on the earth. Then a second set of instructions had Noah loading up an additional 7 pairs(Seven males and seven females) of every kind of clean animal, and one pair(one male and one female) of unclean animals. And then seven pairs(seven males and seven females) of all the birds. So, contrary to the typical narrative out there that claims only two of every kind were put in the Ark, the book instead records that a total of 8 pairs(1 male and 1 female per pair) of clean animals, 2 pairs(1 male and 1 female per pair) of unclean animals, and 8 pairs of every kind of bird, animal, and creeping thing. were taken into the ark

As you can see, this is not a case of different numbers, but rather a case of you not correctly reading and comprehending exactly what is instead written.

brownwindow:
5. Does God tempt people? Genesis 22:1 – God tested (tempted, in some older translations) Abraham. Epistle of James 1:13 – God tempts no one. Different descriptions of God's actions.

I think this here is a problem with vocabulary. You should probably use a dictionary to help you better understand these terms you have a problem with.

A test is a critical examination, trial, or evaluation designed to determine the presence, quality, condition, or validity of something. It can refer to a set of questions to measure knowledge, a diagnostic medical procedure, or a trial to evaluate if a product functions correctly.

...

To tempt means to entice or persuade someone to do something—often something considered unwise, immoral, or against their better judgment—by offering a reward, pleasure, or advantage. It can also mean to strongly attract or appeal to someone's desires.

As you can see, both terms do not have the same meaning or use.

brownwindow:
6. Is God the author of evil? Book of Isaiah 45:7 (KJV) – God creates evil. First Epistle of John 1:5 – In God there is no darkness at all. Raises questions about God's relation to evil.

This is another situation where language comprehension is clearly the problem here.

The books of Israelite Scriptures clearly explain that all things were created by YHWH, God of Israel, implying that He not only created Evil but has supreme power over it. However, being that He created it DOES NOT imply that Evil is within His being. In the same way, the earth was created by Him, but it would be erroneous to claim that the earth is inside of Him.

brownwindow:
➜7. How many horsemen did David capture? Second Book of Samuel 8:4 – 1,700 horsemen. First Book of Chronicles 18:4 – 7,000 horsemen. Different numbers reported.

This case is most likely the only case that would come close to a contradiction. It clearly suggests a clerical error of some sort.

brownwindow:
➜That shows to you that the Bible has been corrupted for it to have contradictions in it!
➜ Is it a Word of God or a Word of Man?
➜ And a new question for you, where in the Bible were your guys told to worship on Sunday or go to Church on Sunday?

1. Corrupted when?

2. The Books clearly contain both the Word of God and the words of men, including the words of Satan, all written down by the hands of men. So, what exactly were you expecting it to be, and why?

3. Oh, that is definitely not in any of the books of Israelite Scripture, the same way that all the contents of the Quran are also found nowhere in there, too.

brownwindow:
➜8. Who incited David to take a census? 2 Samuel 24:1 – God incited David. 1 Chronicles 21:1 – Satan incited David. Different agents named.

If you read the books well, you would find that Satan is actually a servant of YHWH.(Yes, contrary to the fairy tales of religion, Satan can instead be likened to YHWH's quality assurance officer who handles all the tempting needs necessary for sifting the chaff out of YHWH's herd. This is evidenced by reports in reports on Satan in Isaiah 45, Job 1, and Zechariah 3

2 Samuel 24 reports that the anger of the Lord against David caused David to command a census be taken. Whereas 1 Chronicles 21 outright states that the anger resulted in Satan taking over to tempt David.

brownwindow:
9. How many stalls did Solomon have? First Book of Kings 4:26 – 40,000 stalls. Second Book of Chronicles 9:25 – 4,000 stalls. Different figures reported.

This is another case of clerical error.

brownwindow:
10. What was the genealogy of Jesus? Gospel of Matthew 1:1–16. Gospel of Luke 3:23–38. The genealogies differ significantly.

This one is an interesting question, and if you read the presented details carefully, you would immediately note which of the two is the correct one.

Matthew 1 vs 1 - 16 presents the genealogy of Jesus Christ, of Israel's adoptive father, who is not a biological parent, so clearly, he could not be in Joseph's genealogy. The correct answer would be the genealogy that traces through his biological parent(mother in this case) back to the line of David, and that is presented in the gospel of Luke 3:23–38.

brownwindow:
➜ Important Note
Many Christian theologians argue that these passages can be harmonized through context, translation, textual transmission, or differing perspectives.
➜ Critics argue that some of these differences are genuine contradictions. Whether one views them as contradictions often depends on one's interpretive approach to the Bible.

More important than any of what your religious scholars claim should be the exact details presented in the book and the contextual message intended by the individual authors of each book.

2. Genuine in what sense? Clerical errors found in, say, records of how many horses one man rode or had do not impact the underlying message of either the Torah or the Injeel(the Word of God). So, to claim the particular errors are genuine, you would need to provide some foundation for the claim.

I noticed that you kept quiet ever since you started the thread so i decided to enlighten you on one of the numerous verses that's confusing you!

brownwindow:
Is God the author of evil? Book of Isaiah 45:7 (KJV) – God creates evil. First Epistle of John 1:5 – In God there is no darkness at all. Raises questions about God's relation to evil.

When Isaiah was sent to go and deliver a message to the Jews the man was not comfortable with the idea because the Jews are stiff-necked and wicked so God told Isaiah not to fear them because all the things they can think of to harm Isaiah were created by God Himself. That is the import of the verse you quoted.
For instance FIRE is a mixture of gasses but when mixed together it becomes a tool for destruction yet Nebuchadnezzar (King of Babylon) got scared when God redirected the gasses to work as air-conditioner for His own worshipers whereas the same fire killed all the strong men who threw Shadrach Meshak and Abednego into the fire!🙂