Answering Bible Contradictions: Part 5

Back to Bible contradiction answers! As usual the "contradictions" will be posted in bold and the responses in regular type.

CRUEL, UNMERCIFUL, DESTRUCTIVE, and FEROCIOUS or KIND, MERCIFUL, and GOOD:
"I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy." (Jer. 13:14) "Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not, but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling."

"The Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy." (James 5:11)
"For his mercy endureth forever." (1 Chron. 16:34)
"The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works." (Ps. 145:9)
"God is love." (1 John 4:16)

What happens if someone says to you, "I hate you! You are so bad and mean!" Does this account for your every action? God is both. He is sore at sinners and kind for righteous. What's your point?

Tempts?
"And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham." (Gen 22:1)

"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man." (James 1:13)

You take the two scriptures out of context. In James 1:13-15, it is apparent that the context deals with being tempted to sin. No man is tempted to sin by God, "...for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man..."

--James 1:13

This is the work of the tempter.

The text in Genesis 22, from the King James Version, does say that the Lord tempted Abraham, which, in other translations, means to "prove," "test," or "try." God wanted Abraham to learn through his trial. However, the Lord does not tempt Abraham "with evil". Jacob, if you can show me one scripture where the Lord tempted someone with evil, then you've got a contradiction, my friend.

Ascend to heaven
"And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven." (2 Kings 2:11)

"No man hath ascended up to heaven but he that came down from heaven, ... the Son of Man." (John 3:13)

Again, you take the scriptures out of context. In John 3, Jesus is talking with Nicodemus. After speaking with Nicodemus about the need to be born again, Jesus said,

"Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven."

--John 3:9-13

Of course there had been a few times before Christ where men had entered heaven and returned. The only one who has come from heaven, and is able to speak authoritatively regarding the heavenly things is the Lord (Jesus). These scriptures do not say no one has ever ascended to heaven, but that none are liked the Lord, who has come down from heaven to reveal heavenly things to us.

What was Jesus' prediction regarding Peter's denial?
Before the cock crow - Matthew 26:34
Before the cock crow twice - Mark 14:30

I can't see the contradiction. If I were to predict, "Jacob will die before 'I' the church clock chimes." Then suddenly, a driver loses control, running his car over Jacob, killing him just before the clock chimes twice. Did my prediction fail just because it chimed TWICE? Certainly not. In fact, some might make the case that I was psychic!

How many times did the cock crow?
MAR 14:72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

MAT 26:74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
MAT 26:75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
LUK 22:60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
LUK 22:61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
JOH 13:38 Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, still thou hast denied me thrice.
JOH 18:27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.

It probably crowed more than twice (if it was anything like a typical rooster). These scriptures may not record the second one, but they certainly don't preclude it. Just because these certain gospels don't mention the second crowing of the cock doesn't mean it didn't crow again!

Who killed Saul
SA1 31:4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
SA1 31:5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
SA1 31:6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.
SA2 1:15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.

If you would read the Bible, you might understand. The record of Saul's death in I Samuel is the inspired writer's account of Saul's death. This is the actual way in which Saul died, taking his own life by falling onto a sword.

II Samuel is the Amalekite's account of what happened. Quite simply, the Amalekite lied, thinking he might bring honour upon himself by killing the enemy of David. However, the man's falsehood cost him his own life, as David did not delight in the death of Saul.

So far as the Amalekite's story being similar in some respects to the actual event, perhaps he was nearby and witnessed it, or it may be that upon coming to the spot, he perceived what had taken place. Regardless, he twisted the truth, eventually to his own destruction.

How many beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount
MAT 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
MAT 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
MAT 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
MAT 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
MAT 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
MAT 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
MAT 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
MAT 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
MAT 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

LUK 6:20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
LUK 6:21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
LUK 6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
LUK 6:23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Just as I said before, "Jesus was an itinerant preacher who no doubt gave this message many times as He traveled about."

These two scriptures were probably different occasions which Jesus spoke. All the gospels have some extra in them that the others did or did not have. This doesn't mean they contradict.

Does every man sin?
KI1 8:46 If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near;

CH2 6:36 If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;
PRO 20:9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
ECC 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
JO1 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
JO1 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
JO1 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
JO1 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

In I John 3:6 it says, "...whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him not known Him."

Those who are born again do not sin lightly. This doesn't mean that people who are born again never sin again, but that it isn't part of their lifestyle. The same is with I John 3:9.