Questions tagged [textual-discrepancies]
Apparent contradictions between or within passages of the Bible
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Rules behind resolving alleged Biblical discrepancies
One of the charges that is consistently leveled against Biblical reliability is that the Bible is "full of contradictions". This is certainly not a new charge, and the field of Apologetics, with its ...
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How could Jesus be born during the reign of Herod, and when Quirinius was governor of Syria, if those periods were not contemporary?
In Matthew 2, it makes it clear that Jesus was conceived during the reign of Herod and was a young child when Herod died.
After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in ...
user247
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How do Calvinists explain God's wanting no one to perish and electing some to judgement?
I have two ideas that have support in the bible, but seem to contradict! Please help! I am looking for a Calvinist/Evangelical answer.
These two verses have the general effect that God does not want ...
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Who was St. Joseph's Father? The New Testament seems to give two answers
Matthew 1:16 (NASB)
16 Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.
Luke 3:23 (ESV)
23 Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about ...
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If we are saved by grace, then why does Jesus say we must be baptized in both spirit and water?
Ephesians 2:4-9 says:
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He
loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive
together with Christ (by grace ...
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How did Judas die?
Judas Iscariot committed suicide when he realized the evil that he had done.
Matthew 27:3-5 (KJV)
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and ...
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Who bought the Field of Blood, Judas or the Priests?
This is similar to another question "How did Judas Die", but is specifically addressing another aspect of the story.
In Matthew we have the priests purchasing the field:
Matthew 27:5-7 (...
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1 John Chapter 1 & 3 - Is there an apparent contradiction?
I have often wondered why the author of 1 John, in the beginning of his letter, seems to claim that even though people have accepted Christ they will continue to sin, but two chapters later he seems ...
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What evidence does the LDS Church offer regarding claims of degradation of Biblical texts?
Based upon answers and comments to this question it appears that the LDS Church teaches that the Bible translations in use by all other Christian traditions have suffered some unspecified level of ...
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Was the cave of Abraham in Shechem or Hebron?
Genesis 23:17–20 says:
So Ephron’s field in Machpelah near Mamre—both the field and the cave in it, and all the trees within the borders of the field—was deeded to Abraham as his property in the ...
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Are there two different creation accounts in the bible? [closed]
There are two seemingly contradictory accounts of creation in the Bible.
The first is in Genesis 1:1-2:3.
The second is in Genesis 2:4-25.
Why are there differences in the accounts?
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Do we answer the arguments of fools or not? How are Proverbs 26:4-5 to be understood?
Proverbs 26:4-5 (NLT)
4 Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools,
or you will become as foolish as they are.
5 Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of ...
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How do adherents to the maxim "clearer passages interpret less clear ones" handle cases where two sets of "clear" passages contradict each other?
Many times I've heard suggestions to the effect that "clearer passages should guide our interpretation of less clear ones". This is related to the principle that "Scripture interprets ...
user50422
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How do the Jehovah's witnesses reconcile Isaiah 44:24 with their belief that Jesus is the only direct creation of God?
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus is God's only direct creation, and that it was Jesus who created all other things:
Since all created things had a beginning, there was a time when God was ...
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Does any of the LDS extra-biblical holy books ever clearly contradict the Bible? [closed]
I ask as I am only familiar with the Bible. I am asking those familiar with both the Bible and the LDS extra-biblical holy books, i.e. the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great ...
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Who killed Goliath?
These two passages appear to be contradictory:
So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. (1 Samuel 17:...
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According to proponents of Sola Scriptura, what are examples of logical contradictions between doctrines from the Bible and LDS sacred books?
For proponents of Sola Scriptura, only the Bible is inspired and authoritative.
For Latter-day Saints, three additional books are inspired and authoritative too: the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and ...
user50422
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How could Jacob wrestle with God if no one can see God and live?
Is this a contradiction? Or am I missing something. It seems strange to think one can "wrestle" with God.
Genesis 32:30 (NIV):
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God ...
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What does it mean that Jesus fulfilled the law but did not abolish it?
We hear that we are no longer under the law. It even says so in Galatians:
Galatians 3:23-25
Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith ...
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Did Jonah fail the test of a prophet?
I came across an article on the FAIR Mormon wiki that discusses the prophetic test (Deut. 18). It applies the test on some Biblical prophets, and shows how someone could claim these prophets fail the ...
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If God doesn't tempt us, why does the Lord's Prayer petition Him to "lead us not into temptation"?
Matthew 6:9-13 Jesus instructs us:
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today ...
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Where did the idea of the Trinity come from? [duplicate]
As noted here about 1 John:
The passage is called the Johannine Comma and is not found in the
majority of Greek manuscripts.
Which implies that this has been recently added to scripture. It is ...
user1054
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How can Luke 9:49–50 be reconciled with the idea that Christ is the only way?
I have been under the impression that Christ's teaching is very much along the way of "Christ is the only path." If so, what's going on in this passage?
Luke 9:49–50 (KJV)
49 And John ...
user1694
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John 1:18 - "No one has ever seen God" - How do Trinitarians reconcile this scripture with the belief that the Lord Jesus Christ is God?
In John 1:18, it states
θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε
"No one has ever seen God."
Trinitarians believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is God [the Son], the second person of the Trinity. That being said,...
user900
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We will judge angels? But we are lower than the angels
Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 1 Cor 6:3 (KJV)
This verse says that we will judge angels, but this verse
6 But one in a certain place ...
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Is Israel still God's Chosen Nation according to Catholic doctrine?
I encountered an opinion that the Old Covenant is still valid and that Israel is still the Chosen Nation of God. I haven't checked the accuracy of the source, but I read on the Internet that St. John ...
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Can you help me solve this theological puzzle over John 1:14?
John 1:14 is generally used to say that "God" became "flesh" based on the understanding that "the Word" addressed in John 1:1 refers to God. However, several other texts ...
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In what ways do Christian denominations reconcile the discrepancy between Hebrews 9:27 and its Biblical counter-examples?
Hebrews 9:27 King James Version
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Background:
Hebrews 9:27 is used literally to refute the concept of reincarnation and ...
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How do LDS reconcile Ephesians 3:17 and D&C 130:3?
In several passages Christ says that he will dwell in his followers. Ephesians 3:17 is one of the clearest:
Ephesians 3:16-17a: I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power ...
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How do Latter-day Saints respond to the claim that Alma 7:10 contradicts Micah 5:2 regarding the place of Jesus' birth?
Regarding Jesus' birth, the Book of Mormon prophet Alma prophesies:
And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers (Alma 7:10)
Micah 5:2 refers not to ...
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Did Jesus or any of the New Testament authors ever quote a textual variant?
Among many (good) arguments against KJV-onlyism, I have heard the following argument:
The idea that “preservation” requires us to have 100% accurate knowledge of the original words of scripture is ...
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2 Chronicles 28:3 vs Genesis 22:2
How is the contradiction explained between 2 Chronicles 28:3 and Genesis 22:2 in the protestant tradition?
Genesis 22:2 NIV
Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you
love—Isaac—and ...
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Did the Passover Crucifixion Involve a Double Sabbath?
In Regards to S.E. Answer: The Consummate Refutation of Christianity—if the Last Supper was a Passover Feast.
Since any day of the week that Passover falls on is considered a Sabbath, doesn't it make ...
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What are the responses to the "Radical's Critics" argument concerning Genesis 1 and 2?
The Radical's Critics argue that there is a discrepancy between the Genesis 1 account of creation and the Genesis 2 account, and thus proving that the doctrine of inerrancy is false.
Has this been ...
user8844