DOCSLIB.ORG

New Testament Contradictions Invalidated

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
New Testament Contradictions Invalidated New Testament Contradictions Invalidated Introduction For centuries the evangelical church and other orthodox Christian denominations positions regarding the inerrancy of the Bible have been challenged. Skeptics.org has chosen to call us fundamentalist idiots because we hold to the fact that the Bible is the word of God. Henry Burr in 1859 published this or a variation of the document that Skeptics.org is using to insult Christians and the Christian faith. To see the document and their comments click this link http://www.skeptically.org/bible/id6.html. I have taken their document and pasted it into this document and then carefully evaluated every single one of the 194 proposed contradictions. I have to admit I was shocked at the level of Biblical ignorance put forward and mortified that Skeptics.org would publish this document without even bothering to critically analyze these supposed contradictions. If it appears Skeptics.org was not seriously looking for real objections. When I saw this list for the first time, it shook me. I said to myself, are there 194 contradictions in the New Testament. My desire for the truth drove me into this document. If there were legitimate contradictions in the Bible I had to know. I have evaluated all 194 proposed contradictions and of the 194 there is perhaps 1 contradiction that I could not invalidate I used a blue highlighted title to illustrate that the contradiction has been invalidated. Green means I could not satisfy the contradiction to my standard of proof. Orange means I accept the argument but cannot prove it 100%. Below you will find the contradiction by number as published in skeptics.org document and below that, you will find my comments. Some comments are short and some are long, the answer depends on the complexity of the explanation. I have to thank skeptics.org, they forced me to dig in and look at the scriptures like never before. Thank you skeptics.org, you have caused my faith in the scriptures to grow exponentially. 1. Lineage Jesus' lineage was traced through David's son Solomon. Mt.1:6. Jesus' lineage was traced through David's son Nathan. Lk.3:31. Comments: This is an apparent contradiction that the skeptic put forward, that I could not solve 100%, For me, the most important factor regarding Jesus’s lineage is found In Jer 22:24-30 where we see that Jeremiah pronounces judgment against the line of Solomon when he said no descendant of Jehoiakim (Jer 36:30) would sit on the throne of David. So many argue that Jesus could not be the Messiah based on this curse. However this curse was reversed in Haggai 2:20-23 … O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and make you like signet ring for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of Host.” This proves the Messiah Jesus can indeed come from the direct lineage of Solomon to be the Messiah... 1. One theory regarding the differences in genealogies is that Luke genealogies are Mary’s lineage and Matthew genealogy is Joseph’s, I think contextually this could be possible based on Jewish law which is validated In 1 Chron 2:34-35 “ where it says 34Now Sheshan had no sons, only daughters, but Sheshan had an Egyptian slave whose name was Jarha.35So Sheshan gave his daughter in marriage to Jarha his slave, and she bore him Attai. 36Attai fathered Nathan, and Nathan fathered Zabad.”. Here we see the Hebrew lineage being carried forward from the daughter but the father is named in the lineage. 2. Another theory is the Matthew genealogy is the royal lineage of Jesus. This theory is put forward because we do see a list of Kings. It should also be pointed out that Matthew is using a Davidic formula when he gives three sets of 14. He uses 14 because the name David is 14 numerically in Hebrew. He even uses the same name twice to make this work. Matthew is simply trying to prove Jesus is a royal son of David. Both these theories lack credible evidence to say they are correct. Then how do we explain Joseph’s two fathers, in Matthew, his father is called Jacob and in Luke, he is called Heli. There are several proposed explanations like: 1. Mary did not have any brothers to carry on the father’s name so Heli adopted Joseph as his son, so he would have two genealogies. 2. In Dt 25:5 it says a brother must marry the widow of his brother and then carry on the brother's name and produce an heir for him. The first son would continue as the heir of the son who died. So if this is the case then Joseph and Heli were either full brothers or half-brothers. This would leave Joseph with two fathers a natural one and a legal one. From the text we have no idea which one was his natural and which one was his legal father. This does solve the problem with Matthew tracing one father and Luke tracing the other. In Num 27 & 36 we saw the law of inheritance showing when the daughter gets the inheritance. Both of these theories also lack credible evidence to say they are correct. There are also many other genealogical issues in Luke’s gospel coming from the 77 names that cannot be resolved. There is an extra Cainan, Arnic and Admin are untraceable, Joseph, Judah, Simeon, and Levi don’t fit as these names were not used during this period and no one knows who Neri and Rhesa are. A lot of questions and no answers. This was an issue for me, but not any longer. It appears to me we may be looking at this all wrong. Some scholars now believe the genealogies are theological and were never intended to be taken literally. In Matthew we see the repeat the history of Israel with Jesus as the new Israel. For example: Only Matthew says out of Egypt I call my son, showing Jesus as the new Israel. Jesus’s father is called Joseph who receives dreams. Joseph in the old covenant was the prophet associated with dreams. We also see the infancy of Christ as a retelling of the origin of Israel. Only in Matthew are we told the story of the massacre of infants by Herod the Great which is a retelling of the story associated with Moses. We see Jesus being baptized passing through the waters which are a retelling of Israel passing through the Red Sea. We see the Jews spent 40 years in the wilderness and in Matthew we Jesus spending 40 days and nights in the wilderness being tempted. The last comparison in Matthew is Jesus climbing the mountain and giving the Sermon on the Mount, giving the laws of the Kingdom and in the Old Covenant we see Moses coming from the mountain with the law of God. The parallels are too similar to be coincidental. I believe no one can resolve the genealogies because they are theological lessons and not actual genealogies. Luke likewise tries to make every 7th person in his list of 77 significant. Here is the list of every 7th person. Enoch, Selah, Abraham, Admin, David, Joseph, Jesus, Shealtiel, Mattathias, Joseph, Jesus. Much research is required, but I believe scholars are on to something. I no longer look at the genealogies like I did before. I believe we are on the verge of uncovering exciting things we never expected from the genealogies. I now look at the genealogies as a mystery and not as an unsolvable contradiction. 2. Conception The announcement of the special birth came before conception. Lk.1:26-31. 31You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. The announcement of the special birth came after conception. Mt.1:18-21. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, f because he will save his people from their sins.” Comments: This is not a valid contradiction, in Lk the announcement is made to Mary, and in Mt the announcement is to Joseph in a dream that validated his decision to take Mary as his wife. T 3. Potential Jesus' parents were told of their son's future greatness. Mt.1:18-21; Lk.1:28-35. Jesus' parents knew nothing of their son's potential. Lk.2:48-50. Comments: This is not a valid contradiction, Mt says he will save his people, Lk 1 says and Lk 2 discusses the parent’s astonishment at the way he treated them not at the teachings. This is eisegesis reading into the text to try to validate a point. 4. Angel Declarations of Birth The angel told Joseph. Mt.1:20. The angel told Mary. Lk.1:28. Comments: This is not a valid contradiction. It assumes that only one announcement was made and an angel could not talk to Mary and Joseph separately. 5. Generation Tally There were 28 generations from David to Jesus. Mt.1:17. There were 43 generations from David to Jesus. Lk.3:23-31. Comments: There are 42 generations listed in Mt 1:17, not 28 and in Lk 3 does have 43, not 42 but it is a different lineage, so this cannot be counted twice as a contradiction. Their statement 0f 28 is factually incorrect. Some think that Biblical lineage is an exact science but they are interpreting record-keeping through modern and western eyes.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Life of Jesus Christ Study Guide Lc3b
    MOUNT ZION BIBLE INSTITUTE THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST Course LC3b (complete) Name: _______________________________ Student ID: ________ Date: _________ Instructions for this course The reading material for this course consists of your own Bible; there is no ad- ditional reading text. All quotations in this study guide are from the King James Version, but you may use any version you choose. Before each lesson: pray for God to give a teachable heart and understanding. Begin the lesson by reading the related section in your Bible. 6 Answer the questions for the corresponding lesson in this study guide. Use the required answer sheet format, putting your name and course information on each sheet (sample after the Table of Contents). Use any standard note paper (or the answer booklets if provided). Skip a line between answers. Always use your own words in your answers. Try to be as clear and concise as possible. Please do not rush! Meditate on what God wants you to learn. Don’t go to the next question until completing the current one. If, and only if, you are taking the course as correspondence study (with written feedback from others): Write your name, course #, and lesson # at the top of each answer page. After completing lessons 1 to 6, send your answers to your course coordinator for feedback. Do so again after completing lessons 7 to 13. Only mail your answers, not this study guide. All sent answers are handled confidentially. Label the envelope’s lower left with: student ID, course, and lesson numbers. 6 We will send your next course immediately when we receive your answers for the last lesson of this course LC3b.
    [Show full text]
  • 'Feeding' the Multitude
    ‘Feeding’ the Multitude: Our Response The Feeding of the 5000 Matthew 14:13-21 Rev. Todd B. Freeman College Hill Presbyterian Church, Tulsa August 6, 2017 In our August church newsletter, emailed just last Thursday, my article reflected on the question, “What is progressive Christianity ?” That something we reflect on all the time. After mentioning that there is no one definition, I referred to the bullet point list found in our church brochure. The first two of seven points are particularly applicable and in play with today’s Gospel Reading, Matthew’s version of the story known as the Feeding of the 5000. Point one describes progressive Christianity: Willingness to question tradition, including orthodox understandings of church doctrine and biblical interpretation. Second point: Respect of intellectual integrity, including the use of the latest in biblical and scientific knowledge and understanding. These two points alone provide guidance for those who cannot accept the miracle stories in the Bible on a literal level . That includes many, if not most, here at College Hill. Progressive Christianity, however, does not give us permission to dismiss those stories outright, or ignore them. Even the most progressive of biblical scholars and interpreters would agree that just because something didn’t actually happen doesn’t mean it doesn’t contain elements of truth. In other words, any story can point beyond itself to reveal a deeper spiritual meaning and practical reality. So instead of getting bogged down in a pointless debate over whether 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish actually fed 5000 men, plus women and children, (this is according to Matthew’s version of this story, making the actual number over 15,000+ people), we can concentrate instead on the many themes presented in the text.
    [Show full text]
  • EL Matthew.Qxp
    Jesus Feeds the Multitude Matthew 14:13–21 LESSON GOAL Students will not only marvel at Jesus’ miracles, but also submit to His authority. LESSON OBJECTIVES The student will be able to: ■ Describe the scene and tell what happened after Jesus had the people sit down. ■ Explain why Jesus told the disciples to give the people food. ■ Analyze what this miracle reveals about Jesus and His authority. KEY VERSE “Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and Symbol Key looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multi- Craft tudes.” —Matthew 14:19 Memory Verse APPLICATION Object Lesson ■ Believe that Jesus is God because He fed the multitude. Game ■ Trust that only through Jesus’ power can man be saved Visual Aid from sin. ■ Activity Have compassion on those who need a Savior. Q & A NEXT WEEK Work Sheet Jesus Walks on Water Grade Level Matthew 14:22–34 2 © 2004 Grace Community Church. All Rights Reserved. Matt EL\14.1 Jesus Feeds the Multitude PREPARE WITH THE TRUTH “Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul… you shall teach them to your children.” —Deuteronomy 11:18–19 Please take time to prepare your mind and heart to accurately handle the truths of God’s Word (2 Tim. 2:15). Read through the Bible background and study the truths contained in this lesson. Crucial background information is included here that will aid you in understanding the Scripture.
    [Show full text]
  • St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church
    St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church 2414 Seventeenth Street, Gulfport, Mississippi 39501 Telephone (228) 864-2272 Fax (228) 864-2273 Email: [email protected] Staff: Rev. Joseph Uko, Pastor Deacon David Allen, Pastoral Associate Sr. Mary Kealy, PBVM, Pastoral Associate Teri Patton, Parish Secretary Masses: Saturday Vigil: 5:00 p.m. First Saturday Devotion: 9:00 a.m. Sunday: 8:00 & 10:30 a.m., 6:00 p.m. Daily Mass: Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m. Spanish Mass: Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Holy Days: 6:00 p.m., Vigil, 7:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. Confession: Saturday 4:00 – 4:45 p.m. and anytime on request Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time July 26, 2015 COMING ATTRACTIONS Today's Gospel inaugurates a five-week departure from the Gospel of Mark into the Gospel of John. The account of the feeding of the multitude is the introduction to what is known as the "Bread of Life" discourse, which we will hear during the coming month. We can get so carried away with the stupendous miracle recounted today that it's easy to over- look how artfully the evangelist John introduces the discourse. Like the people of Israel and Moses, Jesus passes through the waters and then ascends a mountain. The ascent of the mountain (as in Matthew's introduction to the discourse we know as the "Beatitudes") is particularly important. It is the trumpet blast announcing that something tremendous is about to happen; something central and crucial to the ministry of Jesus is about to be handed on.
    [Show full text]
  • 06 Huntsman.Indd
    ERIC D. HUNTSMAN The Bread of Life Sermon Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. (John 6:54–58) hese concluding statements in Jesus’s powerful and heavily symbolic Bread of Life discourse Tcaused confusion, consternation, and even anger among many of its original hearers, both among the Jews and among some of Jesus’s own disciples. The Eric D. Huntsman is an assistant professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University. 87 CELEBRATING EASTER discourse given in John 6:26–58 is the central of seven of Christ’s discourses in John’s Gospel that teach important truths about who Jesus is and what He does for mankind.¹ Thus, this sermon, along with the other discourses in John, focuses on Christology—understanding the person and the work of Jesus as the Messiah, or Anointed One. Biblical scholarship has, for the most part, interpreted the discourse along one of three lines. One approach tends to focus on the sacramental aspect of the discourse, using the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper to interpret it.
    [Show full text]
  • Feeding the Five Thousand” Matthew 14:13-21
    Final Exegesis Paper on “Feeding the Five Thousand” Matthew 14:13-21 Professor Dr. Linda Schearing Gonzaga University, RELI 501 Studies in the OT & NT Paul Pham, November 3, 2007 1 MATTHEW 14:13-21 [NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION] FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND: 13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15 When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” 18And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.20 And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full, 21 those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. 1. INTRODUCTION: The story of Jesus Feeding the Five Thousand with five loaves and two fish is the only miracle narrated in all four of the Gospels (Matt 14:13-21, Mark 6:32-4, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:1-16) attributed to its unusual importance and popularity of Jesus' miracles.
    [Show full text]
  • Teacher Guide Sample
    CONTENTS Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................iv Teaching Guidelines .......................................................................................................................................................v UNIT 1 Lesson 1: Zacharias | Angel Visits Mary | Birth of Jesus ...................................................................................... 8 Lesson 2: Wise Men | Flight into Egypt | Among the Teachers ......................................................................... 10 Lesson 3: Baptism and Temptation of Jesus | Jesus in Galilee............................................................................ 12 Lesson 4: Marriage in Cana | Jesus Heals the Sick ............................................................................................... 14 Lesson 5: Twelve Apostles | Sermon on the Mount ............................................................................................. 16 Unit 1 Review ............................................................................................................................................................ 18 UNIT 2 Lesson 6: Ministry Continues | Jesus on Forgiveness.......................................................................................... 26 Lesson 7: Jesus Preaches in Parables ......................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Lecture 29, Feeding the Multitude, 6:1-15 (Aland § 146)
    Gospel of John, Chapter 6, Page 1 of 11 Lecture 29, Feeding the Multitude, 6:1-15 (Aland § 146) Translation of the Greek (Raymond Brown, Anchor Bible) Most reported “miracle” in the Gospels Feeding of 5,000 occurs in all 4 Gospels Feeding of 4,000 occurs in Mark and Matthew Most scholars consider this a variant of the feeding of the 5,000. The disciples in this story have no clue how to feed a large number of people. Location(s) of the feeding of the multitude in the Synoptics Ironically, the location of the most-reported “miracle” is uncertain. Luke locates it at Bethsaida, on the northeast shore of the lake. Disciples withdraw in a boat to a “desert place” (Mark 6: 31 || Matt 14:13) So Mark locates it near the Sea of Galilee (Matthew follows Mark closely here) But where they withdraw from in Mark is uncertain. The last mentioned location is Mark 6:6 “teaching in cities & villages round about [Nazareth]”. The green grass (Mark 6:39) does not mean it was not a “desert.” Location of the feeding in John John locates it “on the other side” (6:1). But the “other side” from where? Chapter 5 is located in Jerusalem, 60 miles to the south! In V. 17 we learn they are across from Capernaum (which is on the north central shore) Some mss. of 6:1 read “across the Sea of Galilee to the vicinity of Tiberias” This puts the multiplication near to Tiberias, on the southwest side of the lake. Post Lecture addition: 6:23 reads “other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord gave thanks.” This is what most mss.
    [Show full text]
  • CHRIST FEEDING the MULTITUDE This Painting by Hendrik De Clerck
    CHRIST FEEDING THE MULTITUDE This painting by Hendrik de Clerck (1570-1629) depicts the disciples’ astonishment after Jesus delivered his teaching on the Eucharist at the Bread of Life Discourse which is excerpted in today’s gospel. Your active participation in the Mass is encouraged. Please silence your cell phone. Thank you. Deus in adiutórium meum inténde: O God, come to my assistance; Dómine ad adiuvándum me festína: O Lord, make haste to help me; confundántur et revereántur inimíci mei, let them be put to confusion and shame, qui quaerunt ánimam meam. my enemies who seek my life. 2 3 The whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “Would that we had died at the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt, as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread! But you had to lead us into this desert to make the whole community die of famine!” Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will now rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion; thus will I test them, to see whether they follow my instructions or not. “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them: In the evening twilight you shall eat flesh, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread, so that you may know that I, the LORD, am your God.” In the evening quail came up and covered the camp. In the morning a dew lay all about the camp, and when the dew evaporated, there on the surface of the desert 4 were fine flakes like hoarfrost on the ground.
    [Show full text]
  • The Miracles in John New Testament Survey – Lesson 12 (Part 4)
    The Gospel of John – The Miracles in John New Testament Survey – Lesson 12 (Part 4) This past week I had a chance to speak to a local Christian middle and high school on their spiritual renewal day. My assigned topic was finding our Christian roots in the Old Testament, and I gave the presentation three times – to middle schoolers, to 11th and 12th graders, and then to 9th and 10th graders. Because we have been teaching John, and because some of those students make their way to our class, I decided to use John 8:56 as my introductory text. That verse comes in the midst of certain Jewish leaders challenging Jesus and his qualifications. Jesus told them, Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad. I quizzed the students about when that happened in the Old Testament. When did Abraham see the day of Jesus and was made glad by it? It is not hard for a father to figure out, but I thought the students might have trouble. I spoke to the youngest group, the middle schoolers, first. I was amazed when a young man raised his hand in response to my question and said, “The lamb in the bush thing?” Wow! I was thrilled to hear someone in each of the three groups I spoke to eventually find the same answer. Of course as a father, there can be no doubt about the day of Abraham’s life that made him most “glad” and “rejoicing.” It surely was the day he found out that he did not have to sacrifice his son, Isaac.
    [Show full text]
  • Living the Lectionary a Weekly Study Of
    Page 1 of 8 Living the Lectionary – a weekly study of the Scriptures assigned for the coming Sunday. An opportunity to make the rhythms of the readings become a part of the rhythms of your life. July 31/ Aug. 2, 2014 Bethlehem Lutheran Church Thursdays at 10:00 AM, Saturday at 7:00 pm Readings for 8th Sunday after Pentecost, August 3, 2014 Although the entire Psalm 136 is not listed for this week, it is included so that you can see, mark, (and “inwardly digest”) the structure as it is described in this footnote from the NIV Study Bible, 1985 edition. “A liturgy of praise to the Lord as Creator and as Israel’s Redeemer. Its theme and many of its verses parallel much of Ps 135. Most likely a Levitical song leader led the recital, while the Levitical choir (1Ch 16:41; 2Ch 5:13; Ezr 3:11) or the worshipers (2 Ch 7:3,6; 20:21) responded with the refrain (see 106:1; 107:1, 118:1-4,29). This liturgy concludes the Great Hallel. Following the initial call to praise (vv. 1-3), the recital devotes six verses to God’s creation acts (vv. 4-9), six to his deliverance of Israel out of Egypt (vv. 10-15), one to the desert journey (v 16) and six to the conquest (vv. 17-22). The four concluding verses return to the same basic themes in reverse order: God’s action in history in behalf of his people (vv. 23-24), God’s action in the creation order (v 25) and a closing call to praise (26).” Page 2 of 8 8th Sunday after Pentecost August 3, 2014 Green (7th Sunday after Trinity, Proper 13 [18]) Hymn of the Day LSB 642 (TLH 316) “O living Bread from Heaven” Catherine Winkworth returns as translator for this week’s hymn.
    [Show full text]
  • The Fourth Sign: Feeding the Multitude, John 6:1-15, 22-36
    The Fourth Sign: Feeding the Multitude, John 6:1-15, 22-36 1. In this passage, Jesus produces bread in the wilderness. At another, earlier time, Jesus chose not to produce bread in the wilderness, when tempted to by Satan (Luke 4). What’s different here? What other parallels are there between these two passages? 2. The word “work” (ergon) appears repeatedly as Jesus explains to the synagogue crowd what the miraculous feeding meant: • Do not work for food that perishes [Jesus] (27) • What must we do to perform the works of God? [the crowd] (28) • This is the work of God, that you believe in him [Jesus] (28) • What sign are you performing, so that we may see it and believe in you? What work are you performing? [the crowd] (30) Here “work” goes from meaning career, to religious observance (i.e., salvation by “works”), to faith, and finally, a (further) miracle to convince the skeptics. “Work” has come up before in John, at the Samaritan well (“my food is to do the will of him who sent me and complete his work”, 4:34), in the healing of the lame man and the ensuing Sabbath controversy (“my Father is still working, and I also am working”, 5:17). In these passages, it referred to Jesus’ ministry, paralleled with the Father’s ongoing provision. A central message of this passage is that we must not try to fill the emptiness inside ourselves with anything but Jesus. What does the spectrum of uses of “work” in John tell us about how we should regard our work, and our search for meaning? 3.
    [Show full text]