8 Bible "Contradictions" Refuted
By Joel Settecase / March 17, 2021
This will be short and sweet. Let’s look at eight supposed contradictions in the Bible, and how to address them. These were proffered by a viewer on YouTube, which piqued my curiosity and sent me on a research wild goose hunt. Here are the objections and responses, along with links to sites where I found the answers.
“Contradiction” 1: Does Jesus Know What Stars Are?
Objection: Matthew 24:29 Jesus says the stars will fall from heavens, it's obvious he thought the stars were just points in the sky and didn't actually know what they are.
Answer: This isn’t really a contradiction—even if Jesus did think this, it would only be an “error”—but we’ll let it slide. Jesus was speaking apocalyptically, not literalistically. He was referring to a radical change in earthly, national powers, in the same vein as the Old Testament prophets used to do. When apocalyptic prophets speak of stars falling from the heavens, they were talking about momentous shakeups on the earth.
Benson's commentary on this passage is helpful here (accessed at Biblehub.com):
The Prophet Isaiah speaks in the same manner of the destruction of Babylon, Isaiah 13:10, The stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. The Prophet Ezekiel describes in similar terms the destruction coming on Egypt, Ezekiel 32:7-8. When I shall put thee out I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light. The Prophet Daniel also uses similar language, when speaking of the slaughter of the Jews by the little horn, meaning probably Antiochus Epiphanes: And it waxed great even unto the host of heaven; and cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. And lastly, God, by Joel, foretelling this very same destruction of Jerusalem, Joel 2:30-31, says, I will show wonders in heaven and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood. So that great commotions and revolutions upon earth are often represented by commotions and changes in the heavens.
“Contradiction” 2: Does Jesus Know How Big Mustard Seeds Are?
Objection: Mark 4:30-32 Jesus says the mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds, that's not true, the poppyseed which they had back then is smaller then a mustard seed, you'd figure that if Jesus was god in the flesh, he know that the mustard seed is not the smallest seed
Answer: (This also wouldn’t be a “contradiction” but rather an “error,” as it neither presents an apparent violation of the laws of logic nor asserts two contradictory propositions. Again, we’ll let it slide). Jesus was speaking parabolically, not necessarily literally. Also, due to 2,000 years of speciation since he said that, the mustard seed could have been the smallest seed at the time—at least the smallest seed to be sown in a garden, at least the smallest such seed that the Jewish audience would have been familiar with.
For more: https://answersingenesis.org/bible-questions/are-mustard-seeds-the-smallest-or-was-jesus-wrong/
“Contradiction” 3: When Did Ahaziah Become King?
Objection: 2 kings 8:25 Ahaziah become king in the 12th year; 2 kings 9:29 Ahaziah become king in the 11th year
Answer: it has to do with how years were counted for royal reigns. Specifically, the answer is found in the difference between accession year counting vs. non-accession year counting.
https://www.defendinginerrancy.com/bible-solutions/2_Kings_8.25.php
“Contradiction” 4: Ahaziah Again. How Old Was He?
Objection: 2 kings 8:26 Ahaziah was 22 when he became king; 2 chronicles 22:2 Ahaziah was 42 when he became king
Answer: copyist error: https://defendinginerrancy.com/bible-solutions/2_Kings_8.26.php
“Contradiction” 5: How Old Was Jehoiachin?
Objection: 2 kings 24:8 Jehoiachin was 18 years old when he began to reign as king; 2 chronicles 36:9 Jehoiachin was 8 years old when he began to reign as king
Answer: Probably a copyist error: https://defendinginerrancy.com/bible-solutions/2_Kings_24.8.php
“Contradiction” 6: Was It The Midianites or Ishmaelites?
Objection: Genesis 37:36 it was the Midianites who sold Joseph to Potiphar; Genesis 39:1 it was the Ishmeelites (sic) who sold Joseph to Potiphar.
Answer: These terms were used interchangeably for extremely similar tribes: https://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=6&article=748
“Contradiction” 7: How Did Judas Die?
Objection: Matthew 27:5 Judas dies by hanging himself; Acts 1:18 Judas dies because he jumped off a cliff
Answer: No, he fell off the cliff after he hung himself. His body fell from the tree, down the cliff.
“Contradiction” 8: When Was Jesus Crucified?
Objection: Mark 15:25 Jesus was crucified the 3rd hour; John 19:14 Jesus was crucified the 6th hour
Answer: "The difficulty is answered when we realize that each Gospel writer used a different time system. John follows the Roman time system while Mark follows the Jewish time system."
https://defendinginerrancy.com/bible-solutions/Mark_15.25_(cf._John_19.14).php
Conclusion: We Can Trust The Bible
Skeptics, and even Christians, will raise many purported contradictions in the Bible. And we need to be ready to answer them—and our own questions and doubts—by knowing what the Bible actually says. The Bible is the word of God, and God is the foundation of logic. There couldn’t be any logical errors (contradictions) in His holy word, and there aren’t. Sometimes, though, we have to do a little digging and research to see that for ourselves. Happy digging!
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