Answers to Alleged Bible Contradictions

QUESTION: Are there good answers to alleged Bible contradictions?

ANSWER:

If a person reads the Bible, without being on a mission to find contradictions, he/she will find the Bible to be understandable, consistent, and in harmony. Admittedly, yes, there are some passages that are difficult to explain. Yes, there are some passages of Scripture that seem to contradict other passages of Scripture. Why is this? The Bible was written by approximately 40 different authors over a period of around 1500 years. The Bible covers many different topics. The literature in the Bible is in different forms, i.e. poetry, history, teaching, prophecy. Each writer of a book of the Bible wrote their book(s) to a different audience, from a different perspective, and for a different purpose. As a result of all of these facts, we should expect some differences!

However, a difference is not the same thing as a contradiction. It is only a contradiction if there is conclusively no possible answer for how the verses or passages can be in agreement. Even if the answer has not yet been discovered, that does not mean an answer does not exist. Many skeptics and critics of the Bible have promoted a supposed contradiction in the Bible in relation to history or geography only to later be proven wrong once further archaeological evidence is discovered.

So, how can we answer supposed Bible contradictions?

• First, prayerfully study the problem and see if there is a clear and adequate solution.
  
  
• Engage in research using some of the fine Bible resources that are available, including commentaries, Bible defense books, and biblical research websites.
  
  
• Speak to your pastor or a teacher in your church.

If there is still no clear solution to the apparent contradiction after these steps are followed, we have to trust in God that His Word is truth and that there is a solution that just simply has not been realized yet (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17).