Do you believe these seemingly contradictory passages can all be fully harmonized if correctly understood?
Much love!
Of course, marks, but that's never been my point. The OP addressed the invariable confusion that ensues between many Bible students, and he had posited certain reasons why he thinks that that is. I agree with his predicate, and was just offering my point of view as to why,
in certain cases, I think that it is. But again, only in regard to where the inherent controversy lies. I think that in some areas, it exists by design. Not everywhere that there's a difficult passage, do I think that it's God being discreet or obscure. But, there are cases where He deliberately is.
We see through a glass darkly.
Matthew 11:25-25
11:25. At that time Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants.
Mark 4:10-12
4:10. As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. 11. And He was saying to them, "To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, 12. so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN."
Proverbs 23:9-9
23:9. Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.
Proverbs 1:7-7
1:7. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.