In its original form the Holy Bible contains no
contradiction, but it is a fact that in the Bibles we use today, there are seeming
contradictions and inconsistencies.
- The Holy Bible is a collection of 66 books.
The Old Testament contain 39 books originally written in
Hebrew, with few chapters written in Aramaic. The New Testament contain 27 books and
letters originally written in Greek.
- The Holy Bible has undergone
numerous translation through the centuries from it's original form in
Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek to the old English language, and to the
present Bibles we use today.
- These contradictions and
inconsistencies came about because translators are not completely
free of bias or are theologically neutral.
- This has resulted not only in
differences in shades of meaning in some portions of the verse, but
also in differences in interpretation of the entire passage.
In
the book Accuracy of Translation, this is written:
"All
translation involves interpretation. Interpretation, of course,
involves the influence of theology; and as all translation involves
interpretation, so all translation involves theology. --- Translators
cannot avoid totally the necessity of making the interpretative
decisions, nor can they avoid completely the influence of personal views
of truth on their work. Translation is not hermeneutically neutral
and translators are not theologically neutral." (Accuracy of
Translation, p.41)
C.1
What are
the biblical ways to determine if contradiction or inconsistency exist
in a verse?
These Two Biblical Ways are
based on the
Five Biblical Rules in studying the Bible.
First - is to compare the questionable verse to clear passages or
verses dealing on the same subject. If the questionable verse
contradicts the clear verse or verses dealing on the same subject, then
you will know that the questionable verse is wrong.
Second
-
is to compare the questionable verse to the Biblical Truth- which
is the teaching of the Bible as a whole. If the questionable
verse or teaching contradicts the teaching of the Bible as a whole, then
you will know that the questionable verse or teaching is wrong.
This is the unique way the Holy Spirit teaches, "we
compare spiritual things with spiritual" (I Cor. 2:13, NKJV)
___________________
C.2
What is the
consequence of failing to determine such contradictions and
inconsistencies?
-
If a Bible user is unable to
determine such contradiction, it is
possible that he will
come to believe such contradiction as the truth.
-
Unknowingly, he will be
misled from the Biblical Truth, which in effect will make him
believe what is false.
C.3
Why should everyone be aware of such contradictions or inconsistencies?
In 2
Thes.2:9-10, Apostle Paul gave this warning:
But the coming of
the wicked One will be marked by Satan being at work in all kinds of
counterfeit miracles and signs and wonders, and every wicked deception aimed at those who are on the way to
destruction because they would not accept the love of the truth and so
be saved. (II Thes2:9-10, New Jerusalem Bible)
Everyone
should be aware of such contradictions or inconsistencies because it
might be a wicked deception aimed at anyone by the wicked One. Knowing
this, he/she will not be deceived into believing what is false. He/she will
then come
to know and accept the truth so as to be saved.
C.4
What will God do to those who will not accept and love the truth so as
to be saved?
The answer is
given in the following verses:
so God will allow them to believe lies with all their hearts, and all of them will be justly judged for believing falsehood,
refusing the Truth, and enjoying their sins.
(II Thes2:11-12, LVB)
Death and Hades were emptied of
the dead that were in them; and every one was judged as his deeds
deserved. Then Death and Hades were hurled into the burning lake. This
burning lake is the second death; (Revelation 20:14, NJB)
So God will allow them to
believe lies with all their hearts and
they will be justly judged. They
will be condemned to die the second death in the the lake of fire or
hell as it is popularly called today.
______________________________________________________________