How can you find the truth when biblically supported views contradict?

[St. SteVen]

Oh, you mean like:

Nope.
Like this:

1 Corinthians 14:3 NIV
But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.

[

 

[St. SteVen]

Perhaps that's why you would believe the Bible contradicts itself! It was not merely men to write the Word of God. It was inspired holy men of God who wrote under the inspiration of God in them! It's true translations are the product of men, and especially among the plethora of so-called modern version Bibles, men have allowed their biases to guide their particular translation. That's likely why some believe there are contradictions.

2 Peter 1:21 (KJV) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Timothy 3:15-17 (KJV) And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Are you claiming that God failed to keep all but the KJV pure?

[

 

[St. SteVen]

Difference in the wording and explanation yes, contradictions between them NO!

Was she dead, or dying when he spoke to Jesus?

[

 

[rwb]

Are you claiming that God failed to keep all but the KJV pure?

[

No!

 

[rwb]

Was she dead, or dying when he spoke to Jesus?

[

What difference does it make? Clearly there is no contradiction!

 

[Wynona]

We see it all the time on the forum.

Believers with conflicting views present their biblical evidence.
Then an argument ensues about which view is biblical. (they both are)

How can you find the truth when biblically supported views contradict?

Perhaps the problem lies in our insistence that there is only one right answer.

[

Personally, Ive only been able to clear things up by reading the Bible for myself with an open mind like a child.

 

[ScottA]

Nope.
Like this:

1 Corinthians 14:3 NIV
But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.

[

"Encourage" "hypocrites" and those who "reject, ridicule, kill...hinder...and quench the Spirit?"

No, that is not what is called for.

But do not misunderstand, my first post in this thread was to encourage those who have faith in God's word being truthful and without contradiction. And only after more than a few showed themselves, have I addressed them accordingly.

But also...since you presume to correct me regarding "prophesies"-- My greater message is both, as is the word of God--both a blessing and a curse, an encouragement and a warning--that these are the times foretold of the finish of the mystery of God, which is indeed justice for the just, but also justice for the wicked who remain against God.

 

[Lambano]

What difference does it make? Clearly there is no contradiction!

There's a big contradiction when one guy says a girl is dead and another guy says she's alive. Taking any other position is being in denial.

When you say the Bible is something that people can see that it's not, the Christian message loses all credibility.

 

[Jack]

There's a big contradiction when one guy says a girl is dead and another guy says she's alive. Taking any other position is being in denial.

When you say the Bible is something that people can see that it's not, the Christian message loses all credibility.

But YOU claim to be Christian!

 

[Jack]

And people often have a tendency to grasp what they first think or hear, and though they are mistaken, there is no moving them from their position. Pride is a killer!

Much love!

EXCELLENT point!

 

[HealthyShape]

Yes, I do so get my dander up when folks claim the Word of God contains contradiction! So I'll say again if your Bible seems to be contradictive, it could be a lack of understanding on your part, or perhaps failure of the particular translators translating with natural human biases.

Fanaticism and religious bias is also a natural human bias.

People who are biased for their view of the Bible are frequently denying the text and its meaning. And their fanaticism leads them to even fight against the Christians who accept the text and its meaning, with ad hominem, vocabulary like "lying doctrines", exaggeration, logical fallacies and similar.

People like that are actually quite easy to spot. The lack of rational arguments is substituted with dogmatic attacks and loaded words.

 

[HealthyShape]

Woe to the hypocrites who study the scriptures but do not see themselves repeating the folly of ages past when the words of God came by those sent and they rejected, ridiculed, and killed them; who have not learned, but continue to quench the Spirit with their practices, and things approved by men; who hinder those of their own generation; who have heard the warnings, but think better of themselves than those who fell by the same actions--for they shall receive the same.

Oh, if they had only taken to heart all that was given to them in greater measure than all who ever went before!

Amen.

If our eye is evil, we will see everything as evil. If we are filled with light and love, the darkness, fear and close mindedness leave.

 

[ProDeo]

1Chro 21:1 Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.
2Sam 24:1 Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.”

Read both chapters (same story) and tell me who incited David to number Israel.

 

[ScottA]

1Chro 21:1 Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.
2Sam 24:1 Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.”

Read both chapters (same story) and tell me who incited David to number Israel.

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things. Isaiah 45:7​

Whether Satan, or Pharaoh, or Cyrus, or the Samaritans, or Catholics, or Mormons...God forms the light and the darkness. Both passages are true, but He divides them.

 

[Muna]

1Chro 21:1 Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.
2Sam 24:1 Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.”

Read both chapters (same story) and tell me who incited David to number Israel.

That one always got me, and I thought, can the anger of the LORD signify Satan,H7854 or could the anger of the LORD signify an adversary,H7854 since Satan means adversary, its just the way its worded between them

For example here even

Numbers 22:22 And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary H7854 against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

2 Sam 24:1 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

1 Ch 21:1 And Satan H7854 stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

Can't say for sure though.

 

[ProDeo]

That one always got me, and I thought, can the anger of the LORD signify Satan,H7854 or could the anger of the LORD signify an adversary,H7854 since Satan means adversary, its just the way its worded between them

For example here even

Numbers 22:22 And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary H7854 against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

2 Sam 24:1 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

1 Ch 21:1 And Satan H7854 stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

Can't say for sure though.

I asked a well versed orthodox Jew and he said - Satan is just a servant of the Lord.

Imagine the depth of their blindness.

OTOH, it would explain.

However our Christian minds shiver with these kind of contradictions.

 

[ProDeo]

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things. Isaiah 45:7​

Whether Satan, or Pharaoh, or Cyrus, or the Samaritans, or Catholics, or Mormons...God forms the light and the darkness. Both passages are true, but He divides them.

Have you really read both chapters?

How can the Lord incite David to sin and then punish him severely for being obedient ?

 

[ProDeo]

It's an interesting story anyway, the question is, what was David's sin ?

 

[HealthyShape]

That one always got me, and I thought, can the anger of the LORD signify Satan,H7854 or could the anger of the LORD signify an adversary,H7854 since Satan means adversary, its just the way its worded between them

For example here even

Numbers 22:22 And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary H7854 against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

2 Sam 24:1 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

1 Ch 21:1 And Satan H7854 stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

Can't say for sure though.

You mean that Satan is not a literal being, but a personification of God's anger or God's judgement?

 

[Lambano]

I asked a well versed orthodox Jew and he said - Satan is just a servant of the Lord.

I have heard the same from a Reformed Christian author. One of the grounding principles of Reformed theology is that God is sovereign over EVERYTHING in Creation, including Satan, and God created everything for His own glory. The Bible is to be read with that principle in mind.

So, Satan is just God's lackey, created to serve a purpose in God's economy. Somebody has to do the dirty work of tempting and testing and accusing humankind. You see that in Genesis, you see it in Job, you see it in that disturbing 1 Kings 22 reference. Think about it. If God is not sovereign over Satan, then Satan is a loose cannon and we've really got something to worry about.