Are you perfect?
a. Abraham – Gen. 12:10-19, 20:1-9
- John the Seventh-day Adventist doubted his message – Matt 11:2-6
- Peter walked contrary to the truth and was reproved for it – Gal. 2:11-14
- Paul got angry and separated the disciples for work – Acts 15:36-41
- David was a sinner and was used abundantly to prophesy – Psalms
Do you know of any prophets that have made mistakes?
- Nathan the prophet – 1 Chron. 17:1-4
- Jonah – 1-4
Are you always heard and heeded?
- Noah – 7 souls in 120 years – 1 Pet. 3:20, Gen. 6:3
- Jeremiah records, as I can see, only one person that listened – Jer. 1-52
- Elijah wanted to die because nobody listened to him and he was afraid – 1 Kgs 19:4
- Jesus Himself left the earth with only 120 souls who were in fear of persecution because they believed on Him – Acts 1:15
Did you contradict yourselves or each other?
- 3 or 3 ½ years? – 1 Kings 17:1, 18:1, and Luke 4:25, James 5:17
- Did they hear or not? – Acts 9:3-7, 22:6-9
- For how many years did Israel sojourn in Egypt? – Was it for 430 years? (Exo 12:40,41) – or was it 400 years? (Acts 7:6)
- How many demoniacs confronted Christ at Gergesa? – was it one man? (Mk 5:2,3; Lk 8:27,28) – or was it two? (Matt 8:25)
- How old was Jehoachin when he became king: – was he 18? (2 Ki 24:8) – or was he 8? (2 Chron 36:9)
- The exact wording of Pilate’s signboard on the cross: – was it “The King of the Jews”? (Mk 15:26) – or “This is the King of the Jews”? (Lk 23:38) – or “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews”? (Matt 27:37) – or “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews”? (Jn 19:19)
Biblical contradictions, discrepancies and anomalies are “apparent,” not actual when it comes to all major themes of truth… God is perfect, and has the ability, even through frail and faulty humans, to do a perfect work. May we continue, with unswerving faith, to trust in the infallible and holy word of God.
Ps. 105:15 – “Touch not Mine anointed, and do My prophets no harm.”
Following are notes that were sent to me to help clarify what seems to be a contradiction:
Harmony
1) 8 and 18
2 King 24:8
Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother’s name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 36:9
Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.
Theory:
Jehoiachin began his co-reign with his father Jehoiakim at the age of 8 and his sole reign at the age of 18 for 3 months and ten days.
Evidence:
Other kings of Judah have co-reigned with their sons. For example: Jehoshaphat and Jehoram.
And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign. {2 Kings 8:16}
In the third year of Jehoiakim’s reign, he was taken off to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar and became a servant for three years. No new governor was assigned by Nebuchadnezzar to the people of Judah. This suggest that Jehoiachin was reigning in the absence of his father. Eventually, Jehoiakim returned to Jerusalem to finish his 11 years of reign.
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. {Daniel 1:1-2}
In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him. {2 Kings 24:1}
Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God. {2 Chronicles 36:5}
The 11 years of reign by Jehoiachin’s father, Jehoiakim encompasses the 10 year discrepancy of Jehoiachin’s starting age when he began to reigned. (18-8 = 10)
Both Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin shared in the same sin.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done. {2 Kings 24:9}
The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him {Ezekiel 18:20}
2) brother and father’s brother
2 Kings 24:17
And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father’s brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
2 Chronicles 36:10
And when the year was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of the LORD, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.
Theory:
In the biblical language, sometimes the word “father” is omitted to mean the same thing when the context is clear. In this case, “brother” = “father’s brother”
Evidence:
Jacob’s father was Isaac, Jacob’s father’s father was Abraham. Yet the bible refers to Abraham as Jacob’s father.
And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed. {Genesis 28:13}
And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them. {Genesis 25:26}
3) 22 and 42
2 Kings 8:26
Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.
2 Chronicles 22:2
Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.
Theory:
Ahaziah began to reign at the age of 22.
Forty and two years old was Ahaziah’s father (Jehoram) when he (Ahaziah) began to reign.
Evidence:
Jehoram began to reign at the age of 32 for 8 years. Then he became crippling sick for 2 years before he finally died at the age of 42.
And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers. Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings. {2 Chronicles 21:19-20}
Just as the author of the book Chronicles omitted the word “father’s” in 2 Chronicles 36:10, it is omitted here again due to the clear context of the 3 preceding verses of 2 Chronicles 22:2 which reads: “And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers. Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned. Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.”
4) sin and sinner
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
Psalm 51:5
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
1 John 1:10
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Romans 5:19
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Theory:
ALL have sinned but NOT ALL are considered sinners. Just as to be considered righteous is a conscientious decision, so to be considered a sinner is also a conscientious decision.
Evidence:
Even though Abraham, Lot and Job have sinned, but all of them are considered righteous by God.
Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. {Galatians 3:6}
And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) {2 Peter 2:7-8}
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. {Job 1:1}
CONCLUSION:
The bible is the infallible word of God. It does not contradict itself. For it is written: “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” Proverbs 30:5.
The Review and Herald, November 25, 1884.
“To understand doctrine, bring all the scriptures together on the subject you wish to know, then let every word have its proper influence; and if you can form your theory without a contradiction, you cannot be in error.”
Thank you Eric, Christie, and Chad.
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