Does the Bible contradict itself? - Reader Poll (and discussion)

  • Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.

    You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Does the Bible contradicts itself?

  • The Bible could NEVER contradict itself.

    Votes: 15 44.1%
  • The Bible may SEEM to contradict itself at times.

    Votes: 12 35.3%
  • The Bible does contradict itself, which bothers me greatly.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • The Bible does contradict itself, which doesn't bother me at all.

    Votes: 7 20.6%
  • Not sure. The Bible might contradict itself. Worth looking into.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    34

marks

Well-Known Member
Oct 10, 2018
38,988
25,096
113
SoCal USA
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
When did the fig tree wither? (compare Matt 21/Mark 11)
Where do you see a contradiction? There is none.

Matthew 21:18-21 KJV
18) Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.
19) And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
20) And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!
21) Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

Mark 11:12-23 KJV
12) And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
13) And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
14) And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
15) And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
16) And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
17) And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
18) And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
19) And when even was come, he went out of the city.
20) And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
21) And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
22) And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
23) For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Both accounts are complementary, not contradictory. Again you needlessly cast doubt on the Bible.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rwb

marks

Well-Known Member
Oct 10, 2018
38,988
25,096
113
SoCal USA
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
is this a significant variation? Is it about a tenet? No.

Still, I should have been more specific.
There are Many contradictions between translations, and even some between ancient Biblical manuscripts / copies; they weren't / aren't inspired. But the Original writings were Inspired of Jehovah God. As Jesus said in prayer @ John 17:17. "Your Word is truth."
There is not actually any contradiction, only that Mark gives more detail than did Matthew, adding that it was the next morning that the disciples saw the withered tree. But it's not like Matthew said it was the day before, or a week later, or anything like that.

Only that some want to make it appear as though the Bible contradicts itself, and present this as though that were so. But it's not.

Much love!
 

Taken

Well-Known Member
Feb 6, 2018
29,998
15,758
113
United States
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
But that isn't the bible contradicting itself. The fact that it speaks of opposites like salvation and damnation isn't a contradiction (just to give one example from your pairings). It would be a contradiction if it said in one place that those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are saved, and in another place those who believe in Baal are saved, but of course it says no such thing.

I get your point and appreciate your point.

God Created … and Made man..imperfect.

God offers through Christ Jesus to Make man perfected.

In the interim … that same one individual is opposites and described in Scripture.

Kill them, kill them all.
…Do not murder.

Hate your parents.
…Love your neighbor.

God bless you.

Glory to God,
Taken
 
  • Haha
Reactions: soberxp

David Lamb

Well-Known Member
Feb 21, 2025
833
503
93
77
Paignton
Faith
Christian
Country
United Kingdom
I get your point and appreciate your point.

God Created … and Made man..imperfect.
I would say that when first created, everything that God made was pronounced "very good" by Him. That includes man. Man only became imperfect at the fall, and the bible tells us of that, so it is not a contradiction.
God offers through Christ Jesus to Make man perfected.
How is that a contradiction?
In the interim … that same one individual is opposites and described in Scripture.

Kill them, kill them all.
…Do not murder.
There is surely a difference between killing in war and murder.
Hate your parents.
…Love your neighbor.
That is a seeming contradiction, but not a real one, because the Jews used "hate" as an idiom for "love less." This is made clear in Matthew's account of the same saying of Jesus:

““He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” (Mt 10:37 NKJV)
God bless you.

Glory to God,
Taken
God bless you, too, and thanks for the reply.
 
  • Love
Reactions: Taken

Jack

Well-Known Member
May 3, 2022
15,812
5,949
113
Midwest
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
The Bible is coming to pass right under the noses of Bible attackers!
 

Taken

Well-Known Member
Feb 6, 2018
29,998
15,758
113
United States
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
I would say that when first created, everything that God made was pronounced "very good" by Him. That includes man. Man only became imperfect at the fall, and the bible tells us of that, so it is not a contradiction.

How is that a contradiction?

There is surely a difference between killing in war and murder.

That is a seeming contradiction, but not a real one, because the Jews used "hate" as an idiom for "love less." This is made clear in Matthew's account of the same saying of Jesus:

““He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” (Mt 10:37 NKJV)

God bless you, too, and thanks for the reply.

Hi David…

Backing up…
Contradiction meaning…
a combination of statements, ideas, or features of a situation that are opposed to one another.

My point…
From the get go… Scripture is a book of Knowledge.
The Knowledge IS all about “opposites” / “divisions” / “separations” / “consequences”.
Light…AND…Dark
Up…AND… Down
With…AND…Without
Good….AND….Evil.


And from there…the manKIND of Being, with his own natural FREEWILL to Choose to Think, Believe, Do as “he” desires.

And the phenomenal … (even edging on strange)… IS Gods OWN JUST WORKS…
meaning;
Whatever a man desires to believe, trust, do…(good or evil)…God is JUST and will empower that mans desire…
“All things are possible”…
* A mans heart desiring God…God shall open that mans heart to receive God.
* A mans heart set on rejecting God…God shall harden that mans heart to not receive God.

Without “opposing” options…mans True FREEWILL does NOT Exist.

It is not secret WHAT God desires a man TO Freely Choose “God”….and it is also not secret God IS JUST, that every man SHALL have his hearts Desire Fulfilled….be such desires complete “opposites”…

Eternal Consequence …WITH or WITHOUT God.

Glory to God,
Taken.
 

David Lamb

Well-Known Member
Feb 21, 2025
833
503
93
77
Paignton
Faith
Christian
Country
United Kingdom
Hi David…

Backing up…
Contradiction meaning…
a combination of statements, ideas, or features of a situation that are opposed to one another.

My point…
From the get go… Scripture is a book of Knowledge.
The Knowledge IS all about “opposites” / “divisions” / “separations” / “consequences”.
Light…AND…Dark
Up…AND… Down
With…AND…Without
Good….AND….Evil.


And from there…the manKIND of Being, with his own natural FREEWILL to Choose to Think, Believe, Do as “he” desires.

And the phenomenal … (even edging on strange)… IS Gods OWN JUST WORKS…
meaning;
Whatever a man desires to believe, trust, do…(good or evil)…God is JUST and will empower that mans desire…
“All things are possible”…
* A mans heart desiring God…God shall open that mans heart to receive God.
* A mans heart set on rejecting God…God shall harden that mans heart to not receive God.

Without “opposing” options…mans True FREEWILL does NOT Exist.

It is not secret WHAT God desires a man TO Freely Choose “God”….and it is also not secret God IS JUST, that every man SHALL have his hearts Desire Fulfilled….be such desires complete “opposites”…

Eternal Consequence …WITH or WITHOUT God.

Glory to God,
Taken.
"Contradict" comes from two Latin words, "contra", meaning "against", and "dicere" meaning "to speak." So to contradict means "deny the truth of (a statement) by asserting the opposite. "Light" does not contradict "dark" unless one person says, "It is dark in this castle," and a second person says, "No, it isn't. It is light." The fact that Scripture mentions opposites like light and darkness, with and without, up and down, and good and evil, does not mean that there are contradictions in Scripture.
 

Taken

Well-Known Member
Feb 6, 2018
29,998
15,758
113
United States
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
There is surely a difference between killing in war and murder.

To this point…

Properly…
Thou shalt not MURDER.
God did NOT Oppose KILLING.

MURDER is a KIND of KILLING.

MURDER and KILLING have the same EFFECT… but NOT the same “consequence”.

MURDER…is KILLING;
* The Truth.
* The Innocent.

KILLING…is making…
* The Truth a Lie.
* A Life to be Dead.

KILLING… IS Scripturally Sanctioned;
* For the Guilty (which applies to all humans, effected BY the Power of God, (All body’s of Man, it’s Life / Blood / Must, Shall Die).
* For Self-Defense (head protecting his own)
(Family, Clan, Nation)

And not to overlook the endless debate regarding Abortion.
Is Aborting a fetus, aborting a PERSON? No.
Is Aborting a fetus, Killing a Life? Yes.
Within weeks of fertilization, even before a female may know she is pregnant, the fetus has formed its own BLOOD ( body’s LIFE ).
Thus Aborting that fetus IS Killing a Life.
Is That Justified?
“The debate”.
Defense to preserve the Females Life?
Possibly.
A pregnancy of inconvenience justified?
No.
My POV.


Glory to God,
Taken
 

Taken

Well-Known Member
Feb 6, 2018
29,998
15,758
113
United States
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
"Contradict" comes from two Latin words, "contra", meaning "against", and "dicere" meaning "to speak." So to contradict means "deny the truth of (a statement) by asserting the opposite. "Light" does not contradict "dark" unless one person says, "It is dark in this castle," and a second person says, "No, it isn't. It is light." The fact that Scripture mentions opposites like light and darkness, with and without, up and down, and good and evil, does not mean that there are contradictions in Scripture.

My Point…
Scripture itself Establishes “Opposites”.
(a playbook of Sorts…) THIS or THAT… express opposites.

Gods Consequences…
FOR THIS / FOR THAT.

The conundrum… is THE individual “choosing”…THE individuals “consequence”…
* Lose Salvation ??
* Never Lose Salvation ??

Opposites… ^ established.
Opposites… ^ revealed IN the Biblical Text.

Is it TRUE One can Lose Salvation?
Absolutely.
Is it TRUE Another can NEVER Lose Salvation?
Absolutely.


Glory to God,
Taken
 

Hillsage

Well-Known Member
Feb 20, 2023
702
483
63
77
Western Kansas
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
I would say that when first created, everything that God made was pronounced "very good" by Him. That includes man. Man only became imperfect at the fall, and the bible tells us of that, so it is not a contradiction.
Only in the first account of creation was everything declared "very good" 1:31. In the second account of creation starting in Chapter 2:4 things changed with verse 2:18 because "the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone;


There is surely a difference between killing in war and murder.
That is not a 'totally' true statement. When I left Viet Nam in 1970 there were 12+ guys in my company on trial for murder.....in the military courts. Courts you never read or hear about as good war supporting citizens of this 'government' (back then).

This is a difficult topic for sure.
 

Jack

Well-Known Member
May 3, 2022
15,812
5,949
113
Midwest
Faith
Christian
Country
United States

Does the Bible contradict itself?​


I don't know of any Christian Bible that doesn't prove that Jesus is God and Hell Fire is EVERLASTING.

And Bible attackers will pay dearly in the Fire.
 

St. SteVen

Well-Known Member
Feb 5, 2023
18,269
6,823
113
71
Minneapolis
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
I don't know of any Christian Bible that doesn't prove that Jesus is God and Hell Fire is EVERLASTING.

And Bible attackers will pay dearly in the Fire.
The same Bible condemns "everyone who loves and practices falsehood."
Bad news for Jack.

Revelation 22:14-15 NIV
“Blessed are those who wash their robes,
that they may have the right to the tree of life
and may go through the gates into the city.
15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts,
the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters
and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

[
 

Jack

Well-Known Member
May 3, 2022
15,812
5,949
113
Midwest
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
The same Bible condemns "everyone who loves and practices falsehood."
Bad news for Jack.
What's the 'bad news'? I'm a Bible defender. You are obsessed with attacking God of the Bible, just like a messenger of Satan.
Revelation 22:14-15 NIV
“Blessed are those who wash their robes,
that they may have the right to the tree of life
and may go through the gates into the city.
15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts,
the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters
and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
You've admitted you're a Bible attacker! You prove it nearly every thread you start.
 

David Lamb

Well-Known Member
Feb 21, 2025
833
503
93
77
Paignton
Faith
Christian
Country
United Kingdom
Only in the first account of creation was everything declared "very good" 1:31. In the second account of creation starting in Chapter 2:4 things changed with verse 2:18 because "the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone;
I don't agree that Genesis 2:4 onwards is a second account of creation. But even if it were, God had already pronounced everything that He had created "very good." There is nothing to change that until Genesis 3.
That is not a 'totally' true statement. When I left Viet Nam in 1970 there were 12+ guys in my company on trial for murder.....in the military courts. Courts you never read or hear about as good war supporting citizens of this 'government' (back then).

This is a difficult topic for sure.
Yes, I am sure that there have been soldiers who have been guilty of murder during a war. I suppose we would say that they are guilty of war crimes. As you say, it is a very difficult topic.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rwb

Jack

Well-Known Member
May 3, 2022
15,812
5,949
113
Midwest
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Some people are dedicated to finding 'errors' in the Bible that are not there!

Satan has been busy!
 
  • Like
Reactions: David Lamb

rwb

Well-Known Member
Nov 11, 2022
5,722
2,482
113
74
Branson
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
When did the fig tree wither?
Immediately when Jesus cursed it, or over night?
  • Matthew 21:19
    Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.

  • Matthew 21:20
    When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.

  • Mark 11:20
    In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.

  • Mark 11:21
    Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”

[

How is this a contradiction? The disciples saw the fig tree wither immediately, then walking with Christ in the morning they saw not only had it already quickly withered, but that it had withered even from the roots as well. With even the roots of the tree withered the words Christ spoke "Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever" are of a certainty true.

Mark 11:22 (KJV) And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
 

rwb

Well-Known Member
Nov 11, 2022
5,722
2,482
113
74
Branson
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
It withered immdiately

in chapter 11. There is no response that the fig tree withered immediately or not. So we can not get front he text whether it did. Or even that they saw it (it said they heard him say it, it does nto see they saw it)

Matt 21 is another account of what happened. Only this time matthew gave more information that mark did nto give.

no contradiction. Only a perceived one..

Those who want to force contradiction must ignore the word ROOTS. A tree can appear to be withered looking at it from the outside, but when seeing even the roots of the tree withered gives greater confirmation to the words Christ spoke, not less. Withered roots assures the words Christ spoke would be fulfilled, this fig tree is DEAD inside and out forever!
 
Last edited:

Jericho

Well-Known Member
Aug 10, 2023
900
978
93
51
Texas
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
There are contradictions, and then there are apparent contradictions. A contradiction is a situation where the facts are unequivocally incompatible and can't be true at the same time. An apparent contradiction seems to conflict on the surface, but upon closer examination, it can be reconciled or is not actually contradictory. In my experience, the supposed Biblical contradictions are really just apparent contradictions. There is always a plausible resolution to be had, even if it's impossible to always know the definitive answer. There's not an apparent contradiction that hasn't been asked in the past two thousand years that someone else hasn't already answered to a satisfactory degree. Unfortunately, very few people bother to look. They would rather jump to conclusions and make assumptions based upon their self admitted ignorance.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: rwb and marks

Jack

Well-Known Member
May 3, 2022
15,812
5,949
113
Midwest
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Last edited: