The Randy White Guide to Hermeneutics

Session 12 | Dealing With Contradictions, Part 1

The Lesson, In a Nutshell

Contradictions in the Bible

For years the Christian expositor has been taught that there are no contradictions in the Bible. This all-encompassing statement was given based on a high view of Scripture and a confidence in its message. Preachers, being taught this mantra in their seminary courses, went to their pulpits talking of seeming contradictions since they were convinced that there are no contradictions in the Bible.

The mantra is really a half-truth, however. There certainly are places in which even a cursory reading will reveal contradictions. Since all of these contradictions harmonize with the whole of Scripture when used according to the principles of good hermeneutics (as we have been studying), the Bible never makes contradictory conclusions, but it regularly has passages which contradict one another. Because these passages are well-publicized by the Bible's enemies and easily recognized by both doubters and the faithful, it would be wise if the Christian community would quit proclaiming that the Bible does not have contradictions and start teaching responsible methods of harmonizing Scripture.

The student of the Word should be armed with the tools that provide a clear path to understanding when contradictions arise. Being armed with these methods will “this seems to contradict, but farther along God will reveal how these things go perfectly together" are shallow and unsatisfying.

What To Do With A Contradiction

When contradictions arise in Scripture, work through these six questions to make resolution.

Is it a Textual Issue?

As we previously discussed, the two families of Greek texts have some major differences. While contradictions created by textual differences are rare, this is also an area that is so easy to compare that I've put it first on the list. When two passages contradict, simply compare your King James Bible to one of the modern translations to see if there is an underlying textual issue.

In doing so, you will find that the King James often does not have the conflict. Since many readers of this book are King James users to begin with, why would we bring up contradictions that only arise in the modern versions? Chiefly because the majority of“contradictions" that others will be struggling with.

Is It A Contextual Issue?

Many times, clear contradictions go away when the immediate context of both passages is considered. It is easy for passages that are talking about different things to contradict in their content. Consider, for example, Exodus 20:5, which states that, I am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me. But Ezekiel 18:20 states that, The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father. A quick glance at context, however, shows that the Exodus passage is speaking about what God is doing in that time, while the Ezekiel passage is clearly talking about a coming day far in the future.

Is It A Translational Issue?

Translating from one language to another is always difficult. Add to this the difficulty arising from changes in word usage over time, and the situation becomes a breeding ground for contradiction. Just a little work on the student's part can clear up these issues.

Since I have become a King James user, I have not found a single instance in which, after research, I believed the translators to have chosen the wrong word. But there are many times in which a word chosen by the King James translators has changed in meaning over time. For example, in Romans 1:28 Paul says that God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient. The word convenient is a translation of καθήκω [katheko], where kat is an intensifying prefix and heko is "to come." With the negative qualifier, "things which will never come [to pass]." So, metaphorically, "to do things which are not based in reality." Why does the KJV use the word convenient when this word means accessible or close? In 1611 the word convenient had the same meaning as the Greek katheko*, from the Latin con *(with) and venire "to come." It is so much better to use an English word that matches the meaning of the Greek word than to ditch the original meaning for what the translator considers the intended meaning“God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done." But the Greek says nothing about what should or should not be done. The Greek speaks of that which cannot be attained. Thus, when analyzed closely, convenient is absolutely the best word.

It is unknown how many contradictions arise from these types of translational issues, but when confronted with a contradiction, one would be wise to check for such issues.

Is It A Dispensational Issue?

This is the most common type of contradiction in the Bible. Passages from different dispensations will often contradict. Such is inherent in any situation in which the base fundamentals have changed. Exodus 20:8 “swept under the rug" by those who have not placed the beginning of our dispensation with Paul rather than with the day of Pentecost, or they have not seen the overlap of the kingdom message and the grace message that is displayed in passages like Galatians 2:7.