Below are a "list" of apparent contradictions presented to me, that I will address one at a time in an effort to show that in a book that contains over 31,173 verses, there may appear to be some that seem to contradict. When out in out ministry, we often-times come across people who claim that the bible has many contradictions, but usually these are from people who themselves have been "Told" that this is the case, and who have not spent the time reading the entire bible themselves.
A popular mistake too, is to take things out of context. It is easy to "create contradictions" when there are none by violating the context of the passage(s) in question. In the cases to follow, more often than not, this is the situation.
Also too, many times the implication of the contradiction is that the scriptures are giving a very direct Either/or response to a situation, rather than a both/and response. The context and the entirety of the scripture is what decides that. So as i respond, (which will be a bit exhaustive) I intend to show the meaning behind the scriptures themselves AND what they teach us about the fullness of Gods personality and the beauty of the Bible as a whole:
***
(For I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger forever. (Jeremiah 3:12)
Ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn forever. (Jeremiah 17:4)
@ The implied contradiction is that God is not consistant with how he displays his anger.
-- Problem: These two scriptures are referring to two different cases, and groups, and the evident contradictor fails to recognize that both scriptures emphasize the same point about Gods personality:
He DOES get angry, but he is slow to anger and merciful! (Exodus 34:6,7; Psalm 145:8)
His anger though, is never expressed without proper provocation, and NOT without sufficient time for the subjects to show a measure of repentance. As in here with the Israelites (northern tribe) and Judah, the covenant people. They both did enough to get Jehovah God angry, and they both received their punishment.
In chapter 3, Israel is already a "divorced" partner of God, who he is still holding out his hand to, if "she" were to repent of her sins and remember the consequences of such. This shows his mercy and that his anger (Justified as it was, and still is,) did not have to last forever IF THEY changed their course, which much of the chapter is a petition for them do just that!
In chapter 17- the very first verse points out that Judahs heart is corrupted to the point of having been written upon with an iron stylus- a permanent mark. They have sinned continuously, and were sinning when Jeremiah wrote it, so they were
"kindling Gods anger," and continued to do so because of their heart condition. For such, though they had benefited from his mercy for centuries prior, they faced the consequences of his anger. Remembering too that like Israel was at one time, Judah was in a covenant relationship with God, so they owed to him what was his due, and they were NOT paying their part. So long as they did not live up to their end, they would be kingling that fire, but as demonstrated by chapter 3 AND by what actually happened historically, once they repented, Jehovahs anger abated and he was able to express his mercy upon them.
Important to note too is that he is referring to the entire group of Judah <- Which Jeremiah who is writing this, was a part of, and he suffered too, though God clearly found him to be a righteous man (So suffering is not an expression of Gods anger with an individual, it is out lot due to sin... yet we find protection in God, as Jeremiah did)
Conclusion:
Gods anger is always justified when expressed, and he will allow his anger to prevail, if the conditions stay the same, But he is also ALWAYS available to express his mercy, if the cause for the anger dissappears.
***
If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. (John 5:31)
Jesus answered: Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid. (John 8:14)
@Implying that Jesus was using double talk- one minute he cant be his own witness, the next minute he can.
--- Problem: This is a blatant disregard for context of both scriptures, though at least he was speaking to the same group of people when he said this: the religious leaders.
In chapter 5 Jesus had healed a man who had been sick for 38 years, and the Pharasees were mad because he was carrying his cot on the Sabbath, RATHER than rejoicing that this once poor sick fellow, had just been healed. THEN they compounded the foolishness and began to accost Jesus as to why he HEALED A MAN on the Sabbath, and as he goes on to explain and point out that obviously he has been SENT and gains his power from God, they accuse him of blasphemy, which he then bashes with the clear argument of-
You know who I am. I'm not trying to bear witness about myself Alone! (in Jewish law, if you are the only witness, your case goes nowhere) John the baptizer did.. and you guys tolerated him for a while...
So he is making it clear that they were aware of who he was claiming to be- AND the miracle he just performed should have made that point ever more clearer!
In chapter 8 he is explaining to them and others, his role and they immediately began bashing him as having no authority to say what he is saying because well.. he ALONE is saying it... (these same people heard the argument and KNEW the argument as made above, before)
So Jesus says- EVEN IF I was the only person speaking about my commission, my commission is true, because I know who I am, (lets say in legal terms he was saying that he is SANE and able to speak for himself) and the Father who sent me, he bears witness about me too. <- when he said that they were LIVID and so they said, "Where is your father?"... obviously looking for a physical person (or maybe just trying to trip Jesus up) so they could shape their case against Jesus as being a fraud with no witnesses. Jesus frustration is palpable, as he tells them that they have no idea who his father, the only true God Jehovah, is! because they would have recognized, or rather, ACCEPTED all the teachings, signs and miracles he performed, as being the witness being born from Godd himself, that THIS was his Son, the beloved, the Messiah.
Point: Jesus teachings, actions and miracles, were all witness that he was from God, so whenever he spoke, he was his own witness, and by Gods spirits actions upon him, and through him, GOD too was bearing witness in his case.
If that alone did not satisfy the Pharasees, then they all could remember the plethora of scriptures that speak prophetically of what the Messiah would do, which he was fullfilling.
***
And Jesus coming, spoke to them, saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. (Matthew 28:18)
the whole world is under control of the evil one. (1 John 5:19)
And Jesus said, For judgement I am come into this world. (John 9:39)
I came not to judge the world (John 12:47)
--- MOre to come
No comments:
Post a Comment