The Bible is full of contradictions.
The Devotional Answer
The devotional answer is that the Bible is the inspired, authoritative, and trustworthy Word of God, and it is ultimately cohesive and true.
When you encounter a passage that appears to contradict another, your first response should be one of humble inquiry, not doubt. You should assume the fault lies in your current understanding of the text, not in the text itself.
The Bible invites scrutiny; studying apparent contradictions is an opportunity to dig deeper into context and history, which invariably strengthens your faith in the unified truth of Scripture.
The Simple Answer
The Bible is not full of contradictions; rather, it contains many apparent discrepancies that are usually resolved through careful study of the context, literary style, and historical setting.
A true contradiction occurs when two statements are both true at the same time and in the same sense (e.g., "Jesus is alive" and "Jesus is not alive"). Such contradictions cannot be sustained by the biblical text.
Most alleged contradictions fall into one of three categories:
Differences in Perspective: Two accounts giving true but different details (like two witnesses describing the same car accident from different angles).
Rounds vs. Estimates: One passage gives an estimated number while another gives a precise number.
Literary Genre: Misinterpreting poetry, parable, or hyperbole as literal historical statements.
The Deeper Dive
Understanding how to read the Bible is the key to resolving apparent conflicts.
1. Differences in Perspective and Detail
The four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are often cited for contradictions because they tell the same story with different details. For example, some accounts of the resurrection mention two angels, others mention only one.
This isn't a contradiction, but a difference in emphasis. If four friends recount the same event, they will focus on different details, but all of their accounts can be completely true. The Gospel writers were doing the same, focusing on the details most relevant to their unique audiences.
2. Copyist and Translation Issues
The Bible was copied by hand for millennia, leading to occasional, minor copyist errors (scribal mistakes in spelling or numbers). However, these errors are few, easily identifiable by comparing thousands of manuscripts, and never affect any core doctrine of the Christian faith. Modern translations generally correct these issues through careful scholarship.
3. Resolving Theological Tension
Some "contradictions" are actually theological tensions that require us to hold two truths at once (like God’s Sovereignty and Human Free Will, as discussed in Question 48). For example:
Faith vs. Works: James says faith without works is dead, while Paul says salvation is by faith alone. This is resolved by understanding that works do not save you (Paul), but they evidence that you are saved (James). Both statements are true in their proper context.
God’s Assurance
God assures you that His Word is reliable, true, and a perfect source of light for your path.
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." — 2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)
You are assured that if the Bible were truly full of contradictions, it could not teach, correct, or train you. It is reliable because its origin is God Himself.
Your Takeaway Thought
Do not let the accusation of contradiction cause you to fear the Bible. Instead, be an honest and diligent student.
When you encounter a passage that doesn't make sense, pause and research the historical context, literary genre, and intended audience.
The more you study, the more you will find that supposed contradictions are actually invitations to deeper, richer understanding of God's unchanging truth.
