The Bible’s Paradoxes: A Look into the Most Perplexing Contradictions in Scripture
The Bible is a text that has shaped the course of human history and inspired countless individuals across the world. However, despite its revered status, the Bible is not without its contradictions. These apparent inconsistencies have puzzled scholars, theologians, and laypeople alike for centuries.
Biblical contradictions arise when different parts of scripture appear to contradict each other. They can occur within a single book, between different books, or even between the Old and New Testaments. Despite their frequency, biblical contradictions are not merely intellectual curiosities. Understanding these apparent inconsistencies can provide a deeper understanding of the Bible’s meaning and message.
Paradoxes of the Old Testament
The Old Testament is full of stories that have captivated and inspired generations of readers. However, it is also rife with contradictions that have puzzled scholars for centuries.
The Creation Story
The creation story in Genesis 1 and 2 is one of the most well-known stories in the Bible. However, there are apparent contradictions in the order of creation and the age of the Earth.
The contradiction of the order of creation: In Genesis 1, the order of creation is as follows: light, sky, land and vegetation, sun and moon, fish and birds, and finally land animals and humans. In Genesis 2, however, the order is different. Adam is created first, then the Garden of Eden, followed by the animals, and finally Eve. These two different accounts of creation seem to be in conflict with each other.
The contradiction of the age of the Earth: The Bible does not provide a specific age for the Earth, but based on the genealogies and other passages in the Old Testament, some scholars have estimated that the Earth is around 6,000 to 10,000 years old. However, modern science has shown that the Earth is billions of years old. This discrepancy between biblical and scientific accounts of the age of the Earth has caused much debate among Christians.
The Story of Noah’s Ark
The story of Noah’s Ark is one of the most well-known stories in the Old Testament. However, there are apparent contradictions in the number of animals on the Ark and the duration of the flood.
The contradiction of the number of animals on the Ark: In Genesis 6:19–20, God commands Noah to bring two of every kind of animal onto the Ark. However, in Genesis 7:2–3, God commands Noah to bring seven pairs of every kind of clean animal and one pair of every kind of unclean animal. This apparent contradiction has puzzled many readers.
The contradiction of the duration of the flood: In Genesis 7:4–12, God tells Noah that the flood will last for 40 days and 40 nights. However, in Genesis 8:6–14, the flood lasts for over a year. This discrepancy has also puzzled many readers.
The Contradiction of Abraham’s Genealogy
In Genesis 11:26, it is stated that Terah was 70 years old when he became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. However, in Genesis 11:32, it is said that Terah was 205 years old when he died, and that Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran. This means that Terah would have been 130 years old when Abram was born, which contradicts the earlier statement.
The Contradiction of the Exodus Story
The story of the Israelites’ escape from Egypt is a central narrative in the Old Testament. However, there are several contradictions within this story. For example, in Exodus 12:37–38, it is stated that there were 600,000 men who left Egypt, not including women and children. However, this number seems implausible given the population size of Egypt at the time. Additionally, there is no historical evidence to support the idea that such a large group of people left Egypt en masse. These contradictions have led some scholars to question the historical accuracy of the Exodus story.
The Contradiction of David’s Census
In 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21, there are two accounts of King David conducting a census of the Israelites. However, the two accounts differ in the reason for the census and the number of men counted. In 2 Samuel, God incites David to take a census as a punishment for his pride, while in 1 Chronicles, Satan incites David to take a census. Additionally, in 2 Samuel, the number of men counted is 800,000, while in 1 Chronicles, the number is 1,100,000.
The Contradiction of God’s Omniscience
The Bible presents God as an omniscient being, meaning that he knows everything. However, there are several instances in the Old Testament where God appears to change his mind or express surprise. For example, in Genesis 18:20–33, God tells Abraham that he plans to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of their wickedness. However, when Abraham asks God to spare the cities if he can find just ten righteous people, God agrees to spare the cities if Abraham can find that many. This exchange suggests that God did not originally plan to spare the cities, but changed his mind based on Abraham’s request. Similarly, in Exodus 32:9–14, God expresses surprise and anger at the Israelites’ worship of the golden calf, even though he would have known that they would turn to idolatry before it happened. These apparent contradictions raise questions about God’s omniscience and his relationship with humanity.
Paradoxes of the New Testament
The Birth of Jesus
The New Testament offers two different genealogies of Jesus, one in Matthew and one in Luke. While both genealogies trace Jesus’ lineage back to King David, they differ significantly beyond that point. For example, Matthew lists 28 generations between David and Jesus, while Luke lists 43. Some scholars have attempted to reconcile the two genealogies by suggesting that one traces Joseph’s lineage and the other traces Mary’s, but this theory remains contentious.
Another paradox related to the birth of Jesus is the contradiction between the Nativity accounts in Matthew and Luke. For example, Matthew states that Jesus was born in Bethlehem during the reign of King Herod, while Luke suggests that he was born in Nazareth and only traveled to Bethlehem with his parents for the census. Additionally, while Matthew includes the story of the Magi bringing gifts to the infant Jesus, Luke instead features shepherds who receive a visit from an angel announcing Jesus’ birth.
The Resurrection of Jesus
The resurrection of Jesus is a central event in Christian theology, but the New Testament accounts of this event also contain several contradictions. One paradox concerns the resurrection appearances of Jesus. For example, in Matthew, Jesus appears to his disciples on a mountain in Galilee, while in Luke, he appears to them in Jerusalem. Similarly, while Mark describes the appearance of Jesus to two disciples on the road to Emmaus, this event is not mentioned in the other Gospels.
Another paradox related to the resurrection is the contradiction of the events leading up to the crucifixion. For example, Matthew, Mark, and Luke suggest that Jesus’ last meal with his disciples was a Passover meal, while John suggests that it was the day before Passover. Additionally, the Gospel accounts differ in their descriptions of Jesus’ arrest and trial, with some emphasizing his submission to the authorities and others highlighting his prophetic role as the Messiah.
The Bible’s paradoxes have been a topic of discussion and debate for centuries. While some may argue that these apparent contradictions are simply the result of mistranslation or misinterpretation, others see them as evidence of the fallibility of human authorship. Despite the disagreements, it is important to approach these paradoxes with an open mind and a willingness to engage with the text in a critical and thoughtful way. By doing so, we can gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of the Bible and the stories it contains.
It is also important to remember that while the Bible may contain paradoxes, it is still a source of inspiration and guidance for millions of people around the world. Ultimately, the paradoxes of the Bible serve as a reminder that our understanding of the divine is always evolving and that there is still much to learn and discover.
As we continue to explore the contradictions within the Bible, we can also strive to deepen our own understanding of faith, spirituality, and the complexities of the human experience.
I kindly invite you to follow me — If you don’t feel such a need, then leave something behind you — a comment or some claps, perhaps. Thank you!
