Building Christians Up From The Foundation & Unto Perfection

Hebrews 6:1-3

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Contradictions In The Bible Answered…No 31 – 45

Contradictions 1 – 15 | Contradictions 16 – 30 | Contradictions 31 – 45 | Contradictions 46 – 60 | Contradictions 61 – 75 | Contradictions 76 – 90 | Contradictions 91 – 105 | Contradictions 106 – 120 | Contradictions 121 – 135 | Contradictions 136 – 150 | Contradictions 151 – 165 | (MORE SOON TO COME…this is a slow work in progress)

Bible Contradictions Answered 31 – 45

31. Should you answer a fool according to his folly? Proverbs 26:5 says yes but Proverbs 26:4 says no.

32. What were the names of the apostles? Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:14-16, and Acts 1:13 all list agree on Peter, James, and Judas Iscariot. But they disagree on the names and ranks of the others.

33. Where did Jesus first appear to the eleven disciples after the resurrection? Matthew 28:16 says a mountain top in Galilee but Mark 16:14, Luke 24:33-37, and John 20:19 says a room in Jerusalem.

34. How many of Arah’s offspring returned from Babylon? Ezra 2:5 says 775 but Nehemiah 7:10 says 652.

35. What was in the Ark of the Covenant? 1 Kings 8:9, and 12 Chronicles 5:10 says there was only the two tablets but Hebrews 9:4 says there was the two tablets, Aaron‘s rod, and a golden pot of manna.

36. Was Asa perfect? 1 Kings 15:14 and 2 Chronicles 15:17 says yes, but 2 Chronicles 16:7, 16:10, and 16:12 says no.

37. Did Asa remove the high places? 2 Chronicles 14:3-5 says yes, but 1 Kings 15:14 and 2 Chronicles 15:7 says no.

38. How many of Asaph’s offspring returned from Babylon? Ezra 2:41 says 128 but Nehemiah 7:44 says 148.

39. When did Jesus ascend into heaven? Luke 24:1-51 and Mark 16:9-19 says it was the day of His resurrection, but John 20:26, Acts 13:31, and Acts 1:2-3 and 9 says many days (at least 8 days, and Acts 1 says 40 days).

40. Did Peter ask Jesus where he was going? John 13:36 says yes, but John 16:5 says no one asked.

41. On what did Jesus ride into Jerusalem? Matthew 21:5-7 says an ass and a colt, Mark 11:7 and Luke 19:35 says a colt, and John 12:14 says a young ass.

42. Is the day of the Lord at hand? 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 and 5:23 says yes, but 2 Thessalonians 2:2-3 says no.

43. How many of Azgad’s offspring returned from Babylon? Ezra 2:12 says 1,222, but Nehemiah 7:17 says 2,322.

44. When did Baasha die? 1 Kings 16:6-8 says it was in the 26th year of Asa’s reign because that is when Elah (his son) began to reign. But 2 Chronicles 16:1 says it was sometime after the 36th year because it says Baasha went to war against Judah. If these are both true then Baasha went to war 10 years after his death.

45. How many languages were there before the Tower of Babel was built? Genesis 11:1-9 says one, but Genesis 10:5-31 says multiple.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Should you answer a fool according to his folly? Proverbs 26:5 says yes but Proverbs 26:4 says no. Is this a contradiction in the Bible?

No. If only those who claim this to be a contradiction had read a little bit further to see what verses 7 and 9. Maybe they would see why they have trouble with the Bible and words of wisdom.

Proverbs 26:4-5 is a parable and a word of wisdom. Going down the chapter to verse 12 you will find a tip to know the meaning of this. It says that there is more hope for a fool who is not wise in his own conceit than for a fool who thinks he is wise.

So the Bible gives us instruction on when to answer and when not to. A fool who is wise in his own eyes will not listen to another who tries to impart wisdom. This is because they believe they already have it figured out. Not only are they foolish, but they are not willing to admit when they are wrong.

In the case of a fool who IS wise in his own conceit we are told not to answer them. This is much like how Jesus taught that we should not cast our pearls before the swine. They have no desire to learn and therefore engaging with them is foolish.

I have personally had to learn this lesson and there have been many times I have had to walk away from people rather than answer them simply because they were wise in their own eyes and would not listen anyway. Often they taunt you (like a fool will do) to continue speaking with them and when you (wisely) ignore them they believe and claim that it is proof they are right.

Of course only a fool would believe someone is right simply because the other person doesn’t want to engage in an endless debate with someone who will reject wise answers anyway. Move along my dear brother and sister, God has the last word…not you nor them.

At the same time we are told to answer a fool lest he BECOME wise in his own eyes. This fool is different. This is not a fool who already thinks he knows it all and he can be taught. So to save him from becoming so headstrong in his foolish thinking it is good to challenge him and teach him.

Our first instinct should be to attempt teaching the fool. But once we discover the fool is not actually interested in learning then we are to leave them to themselves.

Titus 3:9-11

9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

You may be asking “Why are you answering these things then?” That’s a good question. There are indeed some people I would not spend time going through this with. They ask “foolish questions” because they do not want the answer. So it is foolish for them to even ask. But there are some who ask these questions in the desire to learn. It is for those people that I am answering these things.

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What were the names of the apostles? Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:14-16, and Acts 1:13 all list agree on Peter, James, and Judas Iscariot. But they disagree on the names and ranks of the others. Is this a contradiction in the Bible?

No. First let me just say that there was no ranking system in the first place. Jesus made this clear in many places where they fought among themselves wondering which was the greatest. Jesus basically told them that it didn’t work like that for them.

Now as for the names, here is a complete list:

1. Simon (also called Peter)

2. James (son of Zebedee)

3. John

4. Andrew

5. Philip

6. Bartholomew

7. Thomas

8. Matthew

9. James (son of Alphaeus)

10. Judas Iscariot

11. Simon the Canaanite (who also went by the name Zeolotes)

12. Thaddeus (who also went by the names Lebbaeus, and Judas)

The reason some people have a hard time with this is that they often do not consider surnames, nicknames (such as calling Michael Mike) and name changes from when people sometimes went from one nation to another and therefore had it changed.

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Where did Jesus first appear to the eleven disciples after the resurrection? Matthew 28:16 says a mountain top in Galilee but Mark 16:14, Luke 24:33-37, and John 20:19 says a room in Jerusalem. Is this a contradiction in the Bible?

No. In fact, if you read the passages they do not include the words or even the implication that Jesus FIRST appeared to them in Jerusalem. 1 Corinthians 15:4–7 actually lists the order of events step by step.

1 Corinthians 15:4–7

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

So the order of His appearance to them was first when He appeared to two of them in Emmaus, then when He appeared to the 12 (Matthias having already been numbered with them) in Jerusalem, going on from there we eventually end up in Galilee.

The reason this is considered a contradiction by some is the assumption they make that the Bible speaks of these appearances in some kind of chronological order when the text does not actually indicate that.

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How many of Arah’s offspring returned from Babylon? Ezra 2:5 says 775 but Nehemiah 7:10 says 652. Is this a contradiction in the Bible?

No. The two accounts actually give different lists, most probably written at different times. Ezra 2:2 says that his list is of the people who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mizpar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:

Nehemiah 7:7 says that he is listing the people who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say, of the men of the people of Israel was this;

When you read over this you will see that there are 11 people listed in Ezra but 12 in Nehemiah. Of those people not all of them are the same either. So you have two lists with several different groups of people being talked about.

So if there is a different number of people listed between either book it can be attributed to this. If the number of people in Ezra was higher or lower than in Nehemiah it is because some of the people listed in Nehemiah came with different people than the ones listed in Ezra.

Here is an example: There were 400 people who followed Joshua, Sam, and Jason. This is on one list. But another list may say there were 302 people who followed Joshua, Sam, and Robert. If we just look at the numbers then we miss the point that 98 of them could have been with Jason while only 2 were with Robert.

This is why we may see different numbers. It’s because it is from two different lists giving accounts of different groups of travelers.

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What was in the Ark of the Covenant? 1 Kings 8:9, and 2 Chronicles 5:10 says there was only the two tablets but Hebrews 9:4 says there was the two tablets, Aaron‘s rod, and a golden pot of manna. Is this a contradiction in the Bible?

Inside the Ark of the Covenant was only the two tablets. In Hebrews 9 Paul is speaking of the tabernacle. In verse 2 he speaks of the first room. In verse 3 he speaks of the second. The mistake people make with this is believing that Paul switches his focus from the temple itself to the Ark in verse 4.

What Paul was actually doing is speaking of the tabernacle as a whole in verse 4. He mentions the golden censor, the manna, Aaron’s rod, and the cherubim. The pot was not inside the Ark (Exodus 16:33-34). Aarons rod was also not inside the Ark (Numbers 17:10).

It is also important to note that the altar of incense is different from the golden censor. The censor was used to take the hot coals from the altar and bring them into the 2nd room where the priest would let the cloud of smoke fill the air.

So when Paul says “Which had the” he is not saying the ARK had these things (especially since he mentions the ark in the list of things which were IN whatever he was speaking of. So what was he speaking of? He was speaking of the tabernacle itself which had all of these things.

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Was Asa perfect? 1 Kings 15:14 and 2 Chronicles 15:17 says yes, but 2 Chronicles 16:7, 16:10, and 16:12 says no. Is this a contradiction in the Bible?

No. What we have here is a misunderstanding of what it means to have a perfect heart. The scriptures listed never actually say his heart was not perfect before God all of his days. All they say is that he failed many times, yet his heart was perfect before God. This is only assumed to be a contradiction because of not understanding what a perfect heart is.

All through the Bible you will find that God said certain people were perfect before Him. These include Asa, David, Job, and so on. Yet each one was human and thus they had weaknesses and failures. So the question is what MAKES a person’s heart perfect? Is it their own righteousness?

2 Samuel 22:22

22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

2 Samuel 22:33

33 God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.

2 Chronicles 15:17 Partial

…whose heart is perfect toward him

Hebrews 10:14

14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

This is the answer to the question. Having a perfect heart is not about being perfect in your own ability. If a person was perfect in this sense then there would be no need for Jesus. But our best is not good enough. So God doesn’t say a person is perfect because of their own goodness.

Instead, God says a person is perfect because of the forgiveness of their sins through His mercy and by their desire to follow Him. All imperfection is done away with through the forgiveness which wipes the slate clean.

Even in the Old Testament perfection came through the forgiveness of God which He granted to those who believed and obeyed Him. And by the way, obedience doesn’t just mean not falling into sin. It means coming back to God if you do sin. Thus a man‘s heart is perfect by the grace and mercy God grants him.

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Did Asa remove the high places? 2 Chronicles 14:3-5 says yes, but 1 Kings 15:14 and 2 Chronicles 15:7 says no. Is this a contradiction in the Bible?

No. Asa was king over Judah. The nation was not united at the time and was split into two. One nation called Judah and the other one called Israel. When you read the accounts it is easy to see that Asa removed all of the high places IN JUDAH. But, he did not remove all the high places in Israel. So both are correct and there is no contradiction since the high places mentioned were in two different kingdoms, and he removed them from HIS kingdom.

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How many of Asaph’s offspring returned from Babylon? Ezra 2:41 says 128 but Nehemiah 7:44 says 148. Is this a contradiction in the Bible?

No. The two accounts actually give different lists, most probably written at different times. Ezra 2:2 says that his list is of the people who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mizpar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:

Nehemiah 7:7 says that he is listing the people who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say, of the men of the people of Israel was this;

When you read over this you will see that there are 11 people listed in Ezra but 12 in Nehemiah. Of those people not all of them are the same either. So you have two lists with several different groups of people being talked about.

So if there is a different number of people listed between either book it can be attributed to this. If the number of people in Ezra was higher or lower than in Nehemiah it is because some of the people listed in Nehemiah came with different people than the ones listed in Ezra.

Here is an example: There were 400 people who followed Joshua, Sam, and Jason. This is on one list. But another list may say there were 302 people who followed Joshua, Sam, and Robert. If we just look at the numbers then we miss the point that 98 of them could have been with Jason while only 2 were with Robert.

This is why we may see different numbers. It’s because it is from two different lists giving accounts of different groups of travelers.

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When did Jesus ascend into heaven? Luke 24:1-51 and Mark 16:9-19 says it was the day of His resurrection, but John 20:26, Acts 13:31, and Acts 1:2-3 and 9 says many days (at least 8 days, and Acts 1 says 40 days). Is this a contradiction in the Bible?

No. The events in Luke 24 do not all take place the same day. They take place over a period of time. This can be seen in how they asked Jesus to stay with them when on the road to Emmaus because the day was almost over in verses 29 and 30. We even see Jesus having a meal with them as He stayed there for an unknown amount of time. Mark 16 also takes this into account and does not say it was on the same day.

John 20:26 says nothing about Jesus ascending into heaven. It only speaks of Him appearing in the room with them. This was 8 days after the resurrection but there were more events that took place after this according to John in the same chapter.

Acts 13 simply says He was with them many days, and Acts 1 says it was 40 days after the resurrection. So none of these verses contradict the 40 days of Acts 1.

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Did Peter ask Jesus where he was going? John 13:36 says yes, but John 16:5 says no one asked. Is this a contradiction in the Bible?

No. In John 13 Peter asks Him where He is going. John 16 takes place after this when He once again tells them He is going away, but this time no one asked where He was going. This is probably because Peter already did a while back! No need to ask the same question twice!

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On what did Jesus ride into Jerusalem? Matthew 21:5-7 says an ass and a colt, Mark 11:7 and Luke 19:35 says a colt, and John 12:14 says a young ass. Is this a contradiction in the Bible?

No. Matthew says there was a colt and a foal. A mother and her child. They brought both to Him and He sat on the young colt. Matthew does not actually say He rode on the adult donkey. Verse 5 says Jesus is coming riding a colt, and the foal is coming with them.

The fact that the other writers didn’t mention the colt doesn’t mean it wasn’t there. It only means it wasn’t as significant as the colt.

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Is the day of the Lord at hand? 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 and 5:23 says yes, but 2 Thessalonians 2:2-3 says no. Is this a contradiction in the Bible?

No.Both passages in 1st and 2nd Thessalonians only says that Jesus is going to return. Neither of them say it is “at hand.” 2 Thessalonians 2:2-3 tells us what happens before that day. So I am not sure how anyone could imagine this is a contradiction. It is more likely that someone listed this to fool others who have never read these verses with a bold faced lie that there is some kind of contradiction.

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How many of Azgad’s offspring returned from Babylon? Ezra 2:12 says 1,222, but Nehemiah 7:17 says 2,322. Is this a contradiction in the Bible?

No. The two accounts actually give different lists, most probably written at different times. Ezra 2:2 says that his list is of the people who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mizpar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:

Nehemiah 7:7 says that he is listing the people who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say, of the men of the people of Israel was this;

When you read over this you will see that there are 11 people listed in Ezra but 12 in Nehemiah. Of those people not all of them are the same either. So you have two lists with several different groups of people being talked about.

So if there is a different number of people listed between either book it can be attributed to this. If the number of people in Ezra was higher or lower than in Nehemiah it is because some of the people listed in Nehemiah came with different people than the ones listed in Ezra.

Here is an example: There were 400 people who followed Joshua, Sam, and Jason. This is on one list. But another list may say there were 302 people who followed Joshua, Sam, and Robert. If we just look at the numbers then we miss the point that 98 of them could have been with Jason while only 2 were with Robert.

This is why we may see different numbers. It’s because it is from two different lists giving accounts of different groups of travelers.

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When did Baasha die? 1 Kings 16:6-8 says it was in the 26th year of Asa’s reign because that is when Elah (his son) began to reign. But 2 Chronicles 16:1 says it was sometime after the 36th year because it says Baasha went to war against Juda. If these are both true then Baasha went to war 10 years after his death. Is this a contradiction in the Bible?

No. The problem in understanding this is that when we think of someone beginning to reign we tend to think they are the only ones doing so. There is a term called coregency (or co-principality) which is a term used when more than one ruler is in charge.

So what we have happening here is a situation where Baasha let his son Elah become a coregent with him. So in the 26th year of Asa, Elah began to reign with his father. Ten years later Baasha went to war with Judah because he was not dead at the time Elah began to reign.

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How many languages were there before the Tower of Babel was built? Genesis 11:1-9 says one, but Genesis 10:5-31 says multiple. Is this a contradiction in the Bible?

No. Genesis 10 is giving an overview of the descendants of Noah and his children. Chapter 10 leaves off speaking of the descendants of Shem. In verse 32 it says that all of the nations and languages were divided into the different family lines. But if you notice, the list of descendants goes past the time of Babel.

This is why Genesis 10 lists the multiple languages. It isn’t because they were before the tower of Babel. It is because the people of each family line had their own language after Babel.

Going on into chapter 11 we see what exactly happened to cause the nations to be divided. So the early people in the list of Genesis 10 had one language, then after Babel the people in the list had different languages.

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Giving Praise

I want to thank God for saving me and making me his own. God is an amazing God.

Dale


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