The Bible Is Full of Contradictions!
That’s the frank assertion made by a highly intelligent young man and self-proclaimed atheist/agnostic who showed up one day at our Thursday morning Bible study.
If you had been the leader of this group, how would you have handled this challenge?
Here’s how I initially responded. “Really? I didn’t know that. Can you show me one or two?”
“Next week I’ll bring you a list of twenty,” he confidently replied.
The following week he returned with his list of twenty documented Bible contradictions.
But I showed up with my list of 143 purported contradictions.
How do you think our conversation proceeded from there?
No, I did not systematically go through either list addressing, countering, and resolving each alleged contradiction.
Rather, I approached him, more philosophically.
First, I acknowledged that such lists are quite common and have been around for decades if not centuries.
Secondly , I admitted that these lists have a psychological and intimidating power due to their length and multitude of claims. And the average Christian simply does not have the time, know how, or have enough biblical knowledge to effectively respond to all or even some of them —including yours truly.
Thirdly, while some contradiction claims are obviously bogus, others are quite challenging and have been responded to in books by reputable Bible scholars (see references below).
Fourthly, it is not possible for me or anyone to prove that something is NOT a contradiction. Instead, all that is required of us is to come up with plausible or reasonable explanations, which show that the point of contention is not necessarily a contradiction.
Fifthly, contradiction claims can be classified according to the erroneous assumptions or methodologies that they employ.
Perhaps, the most popular mistake it to take something out of context.
Then I gave this argument-by-analogy example. Joe says Sam is not his son. But then he says that Sam is his son. An apparent contradiction, right? Not so, if Sam is Joe’s adopted son, right? But by ignoring the context, one perceives contradictions where there may be none.
Other common errors are supposed contradictions related to doctrines, beliefs, and/or paradoxes about the nature or attributes of God—such as pitting a God of love vs. a God of wrath, Trinity arguments, as well as forms of hyperbole and metaphor, or engaging in black and white either/or thinking when a both/and approach is called for.
Basically, that’s all I said. His objection was addressed, the issue defused, and we continued on with our Bible study.
What are your thoughts?
References:
Haley, John W. Alleged Discrepancies of the Bible (Baker Book House, reprinted 1977, originally 1874, and in reply to 144 “biblical contradictions.”
Burr, William Henry. Self-Contradictions of the Bible (Forgotten Books, 2007, or Prometheus Books, 1997, originally 1860).