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BIBLE... Does it contradict itself?
Taken from
BibleInfo.Com |
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Concerning Biblical numbers,
genealogies, and dates it would be wise if both the casual and the
analytical reader would consider them interesting, even fascinating
events rather than crucial events requiring a higher level of
precision than is evident in the Scriptures themselves. Leaving it
at that, they could live at peace with their respective conclusions.
Yes, there are variations in scripture such as in specific numbers,
in facts within stories, and in the words of Jesus. Let’s take a
look at those. |
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SPECIFIC VARIATIONS IN NUMBERS
Many question the number variations listed in Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7.
There is a slight difference in what was supposed to be two
identical lists. Nehemiah’s list was used nearly a century later to
guide him in the resettlement of Jerusalem. Of the 42 numbers given
by Ezra (v. 3-60), 18 differ from the corresponding numbers in
Nehemiah 7. The differences are small, and can be explained by
assuming that the lists were drawn up at different times, and that
during the interval the population figures varied, owing to deaths
and births, or for other reasons. There are also varying forms
between the two lists that refer to certain individuals but that
occurs throughout the Bible. This is particularly true in the New
Testament when there are references to names in the Old Testament.
VARIATION - DEMON POSSESSED MEN
The question of the 2 demon possessed men of Matthew 8:28-34 versus
the one man in Mark 5:1-20 is often disturbing to people. One Bible
commentary tries to explain it in this fashion: "Matthew speaks of
two men. Apparently, however, one was outstandingly fierce.
Similarly, Matthew speaks of two blind men at Jericho (ch. 20:30),
where Mark (ch. 10:46) and Luke (ch. 18:35) speak of but one,
probably for some similar reason. It is worthy of note that Matthew,
no doubt an eyewitness to both events, mentions two men in each
instance."
VARIATIONS - CHRIST’S WORDS
In various places in the Gospels the writers report differently the
words of Christ. They also give different accounts of certain
matters, for example, the inscription on the cross. These variations
have been seized upon by skeptics as proof that the Gospel writers
are unreliable, even false, and thus certainly not inspired. A
careful examination proves the opposite. Those who wrote the
Gospels, along with the other followers of Christ, considered
themselves witnesses of the events of our Lord’s life. They staked
everything on truthfulness of their witness.
These VARIATIONS indicate the TRUTH of the
BIBLE
In a court today, if witnesses all testify precisely the same
regarding an incident, the conclusion is, not that they are
truthful, but that they are perjurers. Why? Because experience
teaches us that no two people see an event exactly alike. One point
impresses one witness; another point impresses another. Again, they
may all have heard exactly the same words spoken in connection with
the event, but each reports the words a little differently. One
witness may even report certain parts of a conversation that the
other witnesses do not report. But so long as there is no clear
contradiction in the thought or meaning of the variant statements,
the witnesses may be considered to have told the truth. Indeed,
apparently contradictory statements may often prove to be not
contradictory at all, but actually complementary.
All experience, and especially the experience of the courts through
the long years, leads to the conclusion that truthful witnessing
need not be - indeed, should not be - equated with carbon-copy
identity of testimony of the different witnesses to an event,
including their testimony as to what was said at the particular
event. |
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