{"id":63802,"date":"2022-04-11T11:05:07","date_gmt":"2022-04-11T15:05:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/?p=63802"},"modified":"2022-04-11T11:31:28","modified_gmt":"2022-04-11T15:31:28","slug":"refutation-of-194-biblical-contradictions-151-175","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/04\/refutation-of-194-biblical-contradictions-151-175.html","title":{"rendered":"Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#151-175)"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><head><meta http-equiv=\"content-type\" content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\"><meta http-equiv=\"content-type\" content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\"><\/head><body><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/572\/2022\/04\/HeadDesk-scaled.jpg\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-63682\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/572\/2022\/04\/HeadDesk-300x185.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"185\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I will be resolving\u00a0<em>all<\/em>\u00a0of the alleged \u201ccontradictions\u201d from the web page entitled\u00a0<a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.skeptically.org\/bible\/id6.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">\u201c194 CONTRADICTIONS, New Testament.\u201d<\/a>\u00a0It\u2019s perpetually striking to observe how many of these are\u00a0<em>obviously<\/em>\u00a0not logical contradictions, and how very<em>\u00a0easy<\/em>\u00a0they are to refute (many being patently and evidently absurd). A\u00a0<em>few<\/em>\u00a0here and there do seem to be genuinely perplexing (at first glance) and require at least\u00a0<em>some<\/em>\u00a0thought and study and serious examination (they save my patience). But all are ultimately able to be (in my humble opinion) decisively resolved. Readers can decide whether I succeed in my task or not, in any given case. My biblical citations are from RSV. The words from the web page above will be in\u00a0blue.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">See further installments:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/04\/refutation-of-194-biblical-contradictions-1-25.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#1-25)<\/a>\u00a0[4-5-22]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/04\/refutation-of-194-biblical-contradictions-26-50.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#26-50)<\/a>\u00a0[4-6-22]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/04\/refutation-of-194-biblical-contradictions-51-75.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#51-75)<\/a>\u00a0[4-7-22]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/04\/refutation-of-194-biblical-contradictions-76-100.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#76-100)<\/a>\u00a0[4-8-22]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/04\/refutation-of-194-biblical-contradictions-101-125.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#101-125)<\/a>\u00a0[4-8-22]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/04\/refutation-of-194-biblical-contradictions-126-150.html\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\">Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#126-150)<\/a> [4-9-22]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/04\/refutation-of-194-biblical-contradictions-176-194.html\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\">Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#176-194)<\/a> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">[4-11-22]<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">*****<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">151) All who have sinned without the law will perish without the law. Rom.2:12.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Where there is no law there is no sin or transgression. Rom.4:15.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Taking the second first, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/biblehub.com\/commentaries\/barnes\/romans\/4.htm\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Barnes\u2019 Notes on the Bible<\/a> <\/em>stated:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>This is a general principle; a maxim of common justice and of common sense. Law is a rule of conduct. If no such rule is given and known, there can be no crime. Law expresses what may be done, and what may not be done. If there is no command to pursue a certain course, no injunction to forbid certain conduct, actions will be innocent. The connection in which this declaration is made here, seems to imply that as the Jews had a multitude of clear laws, and as the Gentiles had the laws of nature, there could be no hope of escape from the charge of their violation.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Romans 2:12 is addressing something different: our consciences and consciousness of right and wrong regardless of whether laws exist or not. It has to be understood in the context of the next four verses:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Romans 2:13-16<\/strong> For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. [14] When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. [15] They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them [16] on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Since it is two distinct, separate concepts addressed in the two passages, they aren\u2019t contradictory. Paul\u2019s teaching is completely self-consistent. His teaching \u2014 especially regarding the relationship of law and grace \u2013, is extremely complex and subtle and sophisticated. It takes years to properly understand. With the persistent manifest ignorance of even the simplest principles of biblical theology (not to mention the laws of logic) that the skeptic has exhibited again and again, there is little or no chance that he or she could grasp the fine points of Paul\u2019s theology:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>1 Corinthians 2:14<\/strong> The unspiritual man does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>But I have provided a broad reply regarding these two passages, for the sake of others more open-minded and familiar with New Testament soteriology, and to overcome yet another bogus pseudo-\u201ccontradiction.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">152) Doers of the law will be justified. Rom.2:13.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Doers of the law will not be justified. Rom.3:20; Gal.3:11.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Romans 2:13 is talking about good works in a general sense, which are certainly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2015\/10\/final-judgment-works-not-faith-50-passages.html\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\">necessary for salvation in the overall equation<\/a> (being the proof of authentic faith), though always ultimately enabled by God\u2019s grace.\u00a0 Romans 3:20 and Galatians 3:11 (see the context of 3:10) are both talking about \u201cworks of the law\u201d: which has a distinct meaning of its own. My friend and radio talk show host and author Al Kresta explained this in a section of my first book, <em>A Biblical Defense of Catholicism<\/em> (2003):<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Paul\u2019s arguments against works of the law are not fundamentally arguments against human participation in or human cooperation with the saving purposes of God, but arguments against Judaistic pride that sought to define membership in the covenant community by reference to Jewish marks of identity, such as circumcision, Sabbath-keeping, etc. and not fundamentally faith in Jesus as Messiah. (p. 42)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>This outlook is known as \u201cThe new perspective on Paul.\u201d It was \u201cnew\u201d for the Protestants who developed this understanding in the 1970s (Anglican Bishop N. T. Wright being prominent among them); not so much for Catholics and Orthodox Christians. <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/New_Perspective_on_Paul\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">The Wikipedia article<\/a> on it explains further:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Paul\u2019s letters contain a substantial amount of criticism regarding the \u201c<a title=\"Law and Gospel\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Law_and_Gospel\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">works of the Law<\/a>\u201c.\u00a0The radical difference in these two interpretations of what Paul meant by \u201cworks of the Law\u201d is the most consistent distinguishing feature between the two perspectives. The historic Protestant perspectives interpret this phrase as referring to human effort to do good works in order to meet God\u2019s standards (<a title=\"Legalism (theology)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Legalism_(theology)\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Works Righteousness<\/a>).\u00a0In this view, Paul is arguing against the idea that humans can merit salvation from God by their good works alone (note that the \u201cnew\u201d perspective agrees that we cannot merit salvation; the issue is what exactly Paul is addressing).<\/p>\n<p>By contrast, new-perspective scholars see Paul as talking about \u201cbadges of covenant membership\u201d or criticizing Gentile believers who had begun to rely on the Torah to reckon Jewish kinship.\u00a0It is argued that in Paul\u2019s time, Israelites were being faced with a choice of whether to continue to follow their ancestral customs, the\u00a0Torah, or to follow the Roman Empire\u2019s trend to adopt Greek customs (<a title=\"Hellenization\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hellenization\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Hellenization<\/a>, see also <a title=\"Antinomianism\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Antinomianism\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Antinomianism<\/a>,\u00a0<a title=\"Hellenistic Judaism\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hellenistic_Judaism\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Hellenistic Judaism<\/a>, and\u00a0<a title=\"Circumcision controversy in early Christianity\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Circumcision_controversy_in_early_Christianity\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Circumcision controversy in early Christianity<\/a>). The new-perspective view is that Paul\u2019s writings discuss the comparative merits of following\u00a0ancient Israelite\u00a0or\u00a0ancient Greek customs. Paul is interpreted as being critical of a common Jewish view that following traditional Israelite customs makes a person better off before God, pointing out that Abraham was righteous before the Torah was given. Paul identifies customs he is concerned about as\u00a0<a title=\"Circumcision controversy in early Christianity\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Circumcision_controversy_in_early_Christianity\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">circumcision<\/a>,\u00a0<a class=\"mw-redirect decorated-link\" title=\"Taboo food\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Taboo_food#Blood\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">dietary laws<\/a>, and\u00a0<a title=\"Sabbath in Christianity\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sabbath_in_Christianity\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">observance of special days<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Again, these are very deep theological waters, debated among equally sincere and theologically educated Christians. The skeptic almost certainly won\u2019t grasp these fine distinctions, but I trust that Christian readers will, or else will be motivated to study the issue more in-depth. In any event, this understanding easily overcomes the supposed \u201ccontradiction.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">153) The law has dominion. Rom.7:1.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">The law does not have dominion. Rom.6:14.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">154) The law was the result of sin. Gal.3:19.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Sin is the result of breaking the law. 1 Jn.3:4.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>These both have to do with the deep waters of Paul\u2019s teaching on law and grace. Rather than delve into it again like I did in #151 and #152, I\u2019ll simply link to a good, relevant, in-depth treatment of what is brought up here: whether Christians are still under \u201cthe law\u201d or not. See: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.catholic.com\/magazine\/print-edition\/the-law-of-god\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">\u201cThe Law of God\u201d<\/a> (Jimmy Akin, <em>Catholic Answers<\/em>, 1 October 2000).<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">155) Those of \u201cGod\u201d cannot sin. 1 Jn.3:9.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Those of \u201cGod\u201d can sin. 1 Jn.1:7 8.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>I John habitually uses proverbial language, meaning that that it utilizes statements of general truths that nevertheless sometimes admit of exceptions. I explained this about 1 John in greater detail in my reply to #29 in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/04\/refutation-of-194-biblical-contradictions-26-50.html\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\">my second installment<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">156) The anointing of Jesus teaches right from wrong. 1 Jn.2:27.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">The law written on the heart and conscience teaches right from wrong. Rom.2:15.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>Both<\/em> do. They complement each other. It\u2019s self-evident to say that we can learn the same thing from more than one source.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">157) Abraham was justified by faith. Heb.11:8.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Abraham was justified by works. Jms.2:21.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Abraham was not justified by works. Rom.4:2.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>See my paper, <a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2015\/12\/justification-not-by-faith-alone-ongoing.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Justification:\u00a0<em>Not<\/em>\u00a0by Faith Alone, &amp; Ongoing<\/a>\u00a0<a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2015\/12\/justification-not-by-faith-alone-ongoing.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">(Romans 4, James 2, and Abraham\u2019s Multiple Justifications)<\/a> [10-15-11].<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">158) It is not good to eat or drink anything that might cause your brother to stumble or be offended. Rom.14:21.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Let no one pass judgment on you in matters of food or drink. Col.2:16.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Both things are true, in opposite ways. In the first, we should try not to offend others by what we eat or drink. It\u2019s true that they are probably weak in their understanding, but charity understands that and still is considerate of their state. The second is talking about folks judging <em>us<\/em> for what <em>we<\/em> eat. Since the New Testament teaches that all foods are now \u201cclean\u201d they have no basis to do so. Apples and oranges . . .<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">159) It is better that widows should not remarry. 1 Cor.7:8.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">It is better that young widows should remarry. 1 Tim.5:11-14.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Both passages in context say that it is well and good for widows to remarry:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>1 Corinthians 7:9<\/strong> But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion.<\/p>\n<p><strong>1 Timothy 5:14<\/strong> So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, rule their households, and give the enemy no occasion to revile us.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Both of these are consistent. Widows can remarry; young widows are a sub-group of these widows (who can remarry). So far so good. The supposed \u201ccontradiction\u201d comes from 1 Corinthians 7:8: \u201cTo the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain single as I do.\u201d To say that singleness is a <em>preferable<\/em> state to being married is not to <em>forbid<\/em> marriage or say that it is a bad thing. In the larger section, Paul teaches that singleness is better <em>in the following sense<\/em>:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>1 Corinthians 7:28<\/strong> But if you marry, you do not sin, and if a girl marries she does not sin. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that.<\/p>\n<p><strong>1 Corinthians 7:32-35<\/strong>\u00a0I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord;[33] but the married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please his wife, [34] and his interests are divided. And the unmarried woman or girl is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please her husband. [35] I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Paul is also very pro-marriage:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>1 Corinthians 7:2<\/strong> But because of the temptation to immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Bottom line: Paul in this chapter teaches that everyone should live as God has <em>called<\/em> them to live:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>1 Corinthians 7:7<\/strong> I wish that all were as I myself am [i.e., unmarried]. But each has his own special gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.<\/p>\n<p><strong>1 Corinthians 7:17<\/strong> Only, let every one lead the life which the Lord has assigned to him, and in which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.<\/p>\n<p><strong>1 Corinthians 7:24<\/strong> So, brethren, in whatever state each was called, there let him remain with God.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>That could be either single or married. No contradictions at all, once Paul\u2019s teaching is fully understood.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">160) The god of this world blinds people to the gospel. 2 Cor.4:4.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">There is only one god. 1 Cor.8:4.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/biblehub.com\/commentaries\/barnes\/2_corinthians\/4.htm\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><em>Barnes\u2019 Notes on the Bible<\/em><\/a> comments on the first passage:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>In John 12:31, he is called \u201cthe prince of this world.\u201d In\u00a0Ephesians 2:2, he is called \u201cthe prince of the power of the air.\u201d And in\u00a0Ephesians 6:12, the same bad influence is referred to under the names of \u201cprincipalities, and powers,\u201d \u201cthe rulers of the darkness of this world,\u201d and \u201cspiritual wickedness in high places.\u201d The name \u201cgod\u201d is here given to him, not because he has any divine attributes, but because he actually has the homage of the people of this world as their god, as the being who is really worshipped, or who has the affections of their hearts in the same way as it is given to idols. By \u201cthis world\u201d is meant the wicked world; or the mass of people. He has dominion over the world. They obey his will; they execute his plans; they further his purposes, and they are his obedient subjects. He has subdued the world to himself, and was really adored in the place of the true God; . . .<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>In other words, it\u2019s a metaphorical, sarcastic attribution of the word \u201cgod\u201d to the devil. In fact, the Bible makes it clear that there are no other Gods (or gods) besides the one true God:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Deuteronomy 32:17, 21<\/strong>\u00a0They sacrificed to\u00a0demons which were no gods, . . .\u00a0They have stirred me to jealousy with\u00a0what is no god;\u00a0they have provoked me with\u00a0their<b>\u00a0<\/b>idols. . . .<\/p>\n<p><strong>Deuteronomy 32:39<\/strong>\u00a0See now that I, even I, am he,\u00a0and\u00a0there is no god beside me;\u00a0I kill and I make alive;\u00a0I wound and I heal;\u00a0and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2 Chronicles 13:9<\/strong>\u00a0. . .\u00a0Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull or seven rams becomes\u00a0a priest of what are<b>\u00a0<\/b>no gods.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Jeremiah 2:11<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Has a nation changed its gods,\u00a0even though they are<b>\u00a0<\/b>no gods?\u00a0. . .<\/p>\n<p><strong>Jeremiah 5:7<\/strong>\u00a0. . .\u00a0Your children have forsaken me,\u00a0and have sworn by\u00a0those who are<b>\u00a0<\/b>no gods. . . . (cf. 10:14)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Jeremiah 16:20\u00a0<\/strong>Can man\u00a0make for himself gods?\u00a0Such are no gods!\u00a0(cf. 51:17)<\/p>\n<p><strong>1 Corinthians 8:4-6<\/strong>\u00a0Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that \u201can idol has no real existence,\u201d and that \u201cthere is no God but one.\u201d\u00a0[5] For although there may be\u00a0so-called gods\u00a0in heaven or on earth \u2014 as indeed there are many \u201cgods\u201d and many \u201clords\u201d \u2014\u00a0[6]\u00a0yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Galatians 4:8<\/strong>\u00a0Formerly, when you did not know God, you were\u00a0in bondage to\u00a0beings that by nature are no gods;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">161) The powers of this world are wicked, so fight against them. Eph.6:11-13.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">All powers are ordained of God and, if you resist, you are damned. Rom.13:1,2.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Variation of #148-149: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/04\/refutation-of-194-biblical-contradictions-126-150.html\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\">answered last time<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">162) Bear one another\u2019s burdens. Gal.6:2.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Bear your own burdens. Gal.6:5.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>RSV has \u201cburdens\u201d for 6:2 and \u201cload\u201d for 6:5; and it does because it is two different Greek words. Eric Lyons of <em>Apologetics Press<\/em> explains:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>In verse 2, \u201cburdens\u201d is translated from\u00a0<em>baros<\/em>, meaning \u201cweight,\u201d or figuratively, an \u201cexperience of someth[ing] that is particularly oppressive\u201d [Danker, Frederick William, William Arndt, and F.W. Gingrich, (2000),\u00a0<em>Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament<\/em> (Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press), p. 167]. In verse 5, \u201cburden\u201d is from <em>fortion<\/em>, meaning \u201cthat which constitutes a\u00a0<strong>load<\/strong>\u00a0for transport,\u201d or \u201cthat which is carried and constitutes a burden\u201d (Danker, p. 1064, emp. added).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>We see, then, that the meaning of the two taken together, is \u201cbear <em>particularly oppressive<\/em> burdens of others, and your own ordinary load.\u201d Lyons continues:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Galatians 6:2 and 6:5 do not represent an either\/or command. If it is possible for the Christian both to (1) bear his own burden\/load, while at the same time (2) help bear another\u2019s burden, then both commands must be followed, without assuming that one command must be obeyed to the exclusion of the other. . . . Are we to work to take care of our families and ourselves? Yes. Are we to help others who are genuinely in need (i.e., who have burdens that they are unable to bear alone)? Yes. (<a href=\"https:\/\/apologeticspress.org\/bear-one-anothers-burdens-or-just-bear-your-own-1273\/\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">\u201cBear One Another\u2019s Burdens, or Just Bear Your Own?\u201d<\/a>, 22 March 2015)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">163) Anyone who even greets a non-believer shares his wicked work. 2 Jn.10,11.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Always be ready to answer any man concerning your faith. 1 Pet.3:15.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>1 Peter 3:15 is one of the classic biblical rationales for apologetics. We are to be ready to explain and make a \u201cdefense\u201d (Greek, <em>apologia<\/em>) to anyone who \u201ccalls\u201d us \u201cto account\u201d for the hope that is in us, and the Christian faith. I\u2019m doing that very thing right now by showing how these objections to the Bible fail.<\/p>\n<p>Norman Geisler gives an excellent explanation of the meaning of 2 John 10-11:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p lang=\"en-US\">The passage in 2 John is not talking about someone who simply comes to visit. Rather, John is talking about false teachers who are deceivers (v.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?version=NKJV&amp;search=2Jn7\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">7<\/a>) and who come to present their doctrines.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\">First, John is instructing the local church, and the individuals of the local church, not to extend hospitality to these persons, because that would imply that the church accepted or approved of their teaching. The people of the local church were directed not even to give a Christian greeting to them, lest this be misconstrued as an attitude of tolerance of their false doctrines. This was by no means a command not to love one\u2019s enemy. In fact, following John\u2019s directives would be the supreme act of love for one\u2019s enemy. By clearly demonstrating an intolerance for false doctrine, it would be possible to communicate to false teachers that they needed to repent. On the contrary, if the church or individual were to extend hospitality to a false teacher, he would be encouraged in his position and take this action as an acceptance of his doctrine, or as a covering of his unrighteousness.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\">Second, it must be remembered that, in the early church, the evangelistic and pastoral ministry of the church was conducted primarily by individuals who traveled from location to location. These itinerant pastors depended on the hospitality of the people of a local congregation. John is directing the church not to extend this kind of hospitality to teachers of false doctrine. This is not contradictory to Jesus\u2019 teaching. We are to love our enemies, but not encourage them in their evil deeds. We are to do good to them that hate us, but not to condone their wickedness. As Jesus said, we are to show ourselves to be children of our Father. In the very same Sermon on the Mount, Jesus went on to warn His disciples to beware of false prophets \u201cwho\u00a0come\u00a0\u2026 in sheep\u2019s clothing\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?version=NKJV&amp;search=Mt7.15\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Matt. 7:15<\/a>). John gave practical application to this warning, and thereby encouraged the local church to maintain its purity and devotion to Christ. (<a href=\"https:\/\/defendinginerrancy.com\/bible-solutions\/2_John_10.php\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">\u201c2 John 10 \u2014 Why Does This Verse Tell Us Not to receive Certain People When Jesus Told Us to Love Our Enemies?\u201d<\/a>, <em>Defending Inerrancy<\/em>, 2014, from a 1992 book)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">164) All of the grass on the earth is burned up. Rev.8:7.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">The army of locusts are instructed not to harm the grass. Rev.9:4.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Perennial grass varieties have the ability to withstand fire\u2019s damaging effects. The top growth of the grass will suffer damage or death, but the growing points of the plant reach deep below the soil. Fire usually impacts only the top 25 percent of the soil, according to the University of Nebraska. The well-established roots of the perennial grass remain untouched by the fire\u2019s intensity. The grass quickly grows back after a fire and often produces more abundant growth. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hunker.com\/12575225\/will-grass-grow-back-that-has-been-burned\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">\u201cWill Grass Grow Back That Has Been Burned?\u201d<\/a>, Kimberly Sharpe, <em>Hunker<\/em>)<\/p>\n<p>The lush, green lawn that you see outside your window every spring is largely composed of perennial grass. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hunker.com\/13404886\/the-difference-between-annual-perennial-grass\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">\u201cThe Difference Between Annual and Perennial Grass\u201d<\/a>, Lisa Dingman, <em>Hunker<\/em>, 3-6-22)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>There is an undisclosed timespan between the two verses. It\u2019s entirely possible and plausible that the burnt grass simply grew back: Based on the horticultural information above.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">165) Only \u201cThe Father\u201d knows. Mk.13:32.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cJesus\u201d and \u201cThe Father\u201d are one. Jn.10:30; 17:11,21,22.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Cornelius a Lapide (1567-1637), the great Jesuit exegete, explains this:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>[T]he Son, both as God and as man, by infused knowledge, knows the Day of Judgment and of the end of the world, for it pertains for Him to know this, inasmuch as He has been appointed the Judge of the world. But Christ denies that He knoweth this as man, and as He is God\u2019s messenger to us, because He did not know it so that He could reveal it to us, or because He had not been commissioned by the Father to reveal it to us. As an ambassador who was questioned concerning the secrets of his prince would reply that he did not know them, although he did know them, because he did not know them as an ambassador. For an ambassador declares only those things which he has a commission to declare.<\/p>\n<p>Christ\u2019s meaning then is, \u201cGod only knows what year and day and hour the end of the world and the Judgment shall be. And although God has caused Me, Christ,\u00a0as I am man, to know the same, as I am that one man who is united to the <em>Word<\/em>; yet as I am the Father\u2019s ambassador to men, He has not willed Me to make known that day, but to keep it secret, and to stir them up continually to prepare themselves for it.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">166) Jesus said that he would judge. Jn.5:22,27-30; Jn.9:39.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Jesus said that he would not judge. Jn.8:15; Jn.12:47.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Jesus said that The Father judges. Jn.12:48,49.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Jesus said that The Father does not judge. Jn.5:22.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Jesus said that his disciples would judge. Lk.22:30.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s another passage about judgment:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>John 3:17-19<\/strong> For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. [18] He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. [19] And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The article, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.contradictingbiblecontradictions.com\/?p=2762\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">\u201cDoes Jesus Judge People?\u201d<\/a> (<em>Contradicting Bible Contradictions<\/em>, 8-29-13) comments on this passage: \u201cThe overlooked principle is: Jesus doesn\u2019t need to judge. Whoever does not believe, is judging himself.\u201d It continues its analysis of the issue:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>The first coming<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The first coming of Jesus had a very special purpose as we read in verse 17: to save the world and not to judge the world. Remarkably this is not against God\u2019s general divine judgement concerning all evil. Jesus being the Light was always more in his spiritual and moral standards. He didn\u2019t need to say what people did wrong; in his appearance people experienced that He was more, His divine light entered into the innermost recesses of the heart.<\/p>\n<p><strong>References of the critic that Jesus don\u2019t judge are related to the first coming:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. <\/em>John 8:15<br>\n<em>If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. <\/em>John 12:47<\/p>\n<p><strong>The second coming<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In Matthew 25:31-32 Jesus states:\u00a0<em>\u201cBut when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; \u2026\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 In the second coming Jesus will take place on his glorious throne to judge. And so it is said about Him: \u201c\u2026\u00a0<em>this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.\u201d (Acts 10:42)<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>References of the critic that Jesus will judge are related to the second coming:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For not even the Father judges anyone,<em>\u00a0but He has given all judgment to the Son,<\/em><strong> \u2026 <\/strong>John 5:22<br>\n\u2026\u00a0<em>and He gave Him authority to execute judgment,\u00a0<\/em>because He is the Son of Man. John 5:27<br>\nAnd Jesus said,\u00a0<em>\u201cFor judgment I came into this world,<\/em> \u2026 John 9:39 . . .<\/p>\n<p><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The critic failed to see that there are two different moments\/situations concerning the question of Jesus\u2019 judgement. The texts that He will not judge are related to the first coming and the texts about his judgement are related to his second coming.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>As to portions not addressed in the above article:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Luke 22:30<\/strong> that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>This is a specific judgment (related to the twelve tribes) rather than universal, and so is a separate subject matter (therefore not contradictory).<\/p>\n<p>In John 12:48 the judge isn\u2019t the Father but Jesus\u2019 own words: \u201cHe who rejects me and does not receive my sayings has a judge; the word that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day.\u201d This is consistent with Jesus being the judge on the Last Day, having been assigned that role by the Father, as this objection notes (John 5:22).<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">167) He that does not believe is damned. Mk.16:16.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Thomas did not believe and was not damned. Jn.20:27-29.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Mark 16:16 in context is belief in the Gospel and the saving redemption of Jesus Christ. But John 20 was about whether Thomas believed the risen Christ was really Him or not. That\u2019s a separate issue altogether, and in any event, Thomas believed as soon as He felt Jesus\u2019 wounds, and exclaimed: \u201cMy Lord and my God!\u201d: one of the most explicit indications in the NT that Jesus was God (since He accepted this address without rebuke).<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">168) \u201cWhen his branch is yet tender\u201d. Mt.24:32.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cWhen her branch is yet tender\u201d. Mk.13:28.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>Really<\/em>? Talk about scraping the bottom of the barrel . . . This is about the fig tree. My RSV has \u201cits\u201d for the \u201chis\u201d and \u201cher\u201d above in an undisclosed translation. \u201cHis\u201d is used for Matthew 24:32 in only <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/verse\/en\/Matthew%2024:32\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">6 out of 61 translations<\/a> (KJV being one). But \u201cso what?\u201d in the first place. It\u2019s simply use of personification. We call ships and countries \u201cshe\u201d and \u201cher\u201d sometimes, and currently we call hurricanes by both male and female names.<\/p>\n<p>Jesus did the same; that is, <strong><em>if<\/em> <\/strong>this is not from older, outdated manuscripts (as it appears to be), so arguably, the \u201chim\u201d and \u201cher\u201d are not even in the original copies and hence not in the Bible. Either way (legitimate manuscript or no), there is no difficulty here, because poetic, non-literal expression is common in all languages.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">169) Jesus is God. Jn.10:30.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Jesus is the \u201cimage\u201d of God. 2 Cor.4:4.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Jesus was a man approved by God. Acts 2:22.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">170) Jesus and God are one in the same. Jn.1:1.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Jesus is beside himself. Mk.16:19; Acts 2:32,33; 7:55; Rom.8:34; etc.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201cGod\u201d in the second and third examples of #169 and the second line of #170 means \u201cGod the Father\u201d as often happens in Scripture: usually understood by context. Jesus, because He was a man, is the \u201cimage\u201d of the invisible Father, Who has no body. And Jesus is a man, whereas the Father is not. It\u2019s all standard trinitarian biblical theology.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">171) Jesus is the Son of God. Jn.6:69; Jn.20:31.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Jesus is the Son of Man. Mt.18:11; Lk.21:27.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Two titles: both true. The first emphasizes His Divine Nature and the second His incarnation and Messiahship (the phrase comes from a famous messianic OT passage: Daniel 7).<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">172) Paul states that he does not lie. Rom.9:1; 2 Cor.11:31; Gal.1:20; 1 Tim.2:7.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Paul states that he does lie. Rom.3:7.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>This ridiculous and desperate \u201cproblem\u201d was dealt with here: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2021\/02\/pearces-potshots-16-does-st-paul-justify-lying.html\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\">Pearce\u2019s Potshots #16: Does St. Paul Justify Lying?<\/a> [2-12-21].<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">173) Paul said that he does not use trickery. 1 Thes.2:3.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Paul admits to using trickery. 2 Cor.12:16.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>Paul does no such thing<\/em> in 2 Corinthians, and here we go again with sloppy and indefensible \u201cexegesis\u201d [choke]. He was <em>falsely accused<\/em> of same by the Corinthians (\u201cI was crafty, <strong><em>you say<\/em><\/strong>, and got the better of you by guile\u201d). He defends himself from the false charge in the next three verses.\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/biblehub.com\/commentaries\/egt\/2_corinthians\/12.htm\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Expositor\u2019s Greek Testament<\/a><\/em> discusses this false accusation:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>[H]is adversaries hinted that, although he did not accept maintenance directly, yet the collection made for the Jud\u00e6an Christians was under his hand, and that he was not above suspicion in his disposal of it. To this he returns an indignant denial, and appeals directly to their own observation of the messengers whom he had sent, of whom Titus (at least) had met him in Macedonia with a report (<a title=\"Nevertheless God, that comforts those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;\" href=\"https:\/\/biblehub.com\/2_corinthians\/7-6.htm\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">2 Corinthians 7:6<\/a>) and was sent back to Corinth with two companions to complete the business, carrying this letter (<a title=\"So that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.\" href=\"https:\/\/biblehub.com\/2_corinthians\/8-6.htm\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">2 Corinthians 8:6<\/a>;\u00a0<a title=\"And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;\" href=\"https:\/\/biblehub.com\/2_corinthians\/8-18.htm\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">2 Corinthians 8:18<\/a>\u00a0ff.).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>My patience with this nonsense and folly hangs by a thread. But only 21 to go, so I\u2019ll survive and live to tell the tale. Enduring these \u201cobjections\u201d is surely a proof of God\u2019s grace and strength during trials (the trial being an enduring of <em>patience<\/em> and not any particular difficulty refuting any of these).<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">174) Paul says that circumcision is nothing. 1 Cor.7:19.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Paul says that circumcision is profitable. Rom.2:25; Rom.3:1,2.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>In Romans 2:25 he qualifies his statement by saying \u201cif you obey the law\u201d so he\u2019s simply saying, \u201cthose who keep the law get circumcised as part of that law.\u201d 3:1-2 is a variation of that: referring to Jews and Judaism, and the requirement of circumcision. Thus, \u201capples and oranges\u201d and no contradiction.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">175) Do not covet. Rom.7:7; Rom.13:9.<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Paul says covet. 1 Cor.12:31; 1 Cor.14:39.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Clearly, different senses of the word \u201ccovet\u201d are in play here. The Romans passages reiterate one of the Ten Commandments, where \u201ccovet\u201d means \u201csinful desire for\u201d or \u201cjealousy\u201d, \u201cenvy\u201d etc. The Greek word used in both is <em>epithume\u00f3<\/em> (<a href=\"https:\/\/biblehub.com\/greek\/1937.htm\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Strong\u2019s Greek word #1937<\/a>). It\u2019s used mostly in this negative sense, but not always. For these two verses, <a href=\"https:\/\/biblehub.com\/greek\/1937.htm\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><em>Thayer\u2019s Greek Lexicon<\/em><\/a> gives the meaning of \u201c<span class=\"accented\">to lust after, covet,<\/span> of those who seek things forbidden.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>1 Corinthians 12:31, on the other hand,\u00a0 in RSV reads \u201cearnestly desire.\u201d The antiquated language of \u201ccovet\u201d in the verse appears in only <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/verse\/en\/1%20Corinthians%2012:31\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">6 out of 61 English translations<\/a>. The Greek word in both passages in 1 Corinthians (also 14:1 in the same sense) is <em>z\u00e9lo\u00f3<\/em> (<a href=\"https:\/\/biblehub.com\/greek\/2206.htm\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Strong\u2019s Greek word #2206<\/a>). It can be used in both senses: in a <em>bad<\/em> sense (envy, jealousy): see Acts 7:9; 17:5; 1 Cor 13:4) and a good one, as in these two passages, alongside 1 Corinthians 14:1): defined by <a href=\"https:\/\/biblehub.com\/greek\/2206.htm\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><em>Thayer\u2019s Greek Lexicon<\/em><\/a> for these verses as \u201cto desire earnestly, pursue.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The usage of the word \u201ccovert\u201d is exactly the same in English. It has a \u201cbad behavior\u201d definition and a \u201cgood \/ neutral\u201d one. Hence, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dictionary.com\/browse\/covet\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Dictionary.com<\/a> for \u201cCovet\u201d:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<div class=\"css-69s207 e1hk9ate3\"><span class=\"css-1b1gas3 e1hk9ate2\"><span class=\"luna-pos\">verb (used with object)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"css-10n3ydx e1hk9ate0\">\n<blockquote>\n<div class=\"css-10ul8x e1q3nk1v2\"><span class=\"one-click-content css-nnyc96 e1q3nk1v1\" data-term=\"inordinately\" data-linkid=\"nn1ov4\">to desire wrongfully, inordinately, or without due regard for the rights of others: <\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-10ul8x e1q3nk1v2\"><em><span class=\"one-click-content css-nnyc96 e1q3nk1v1\" data-term=\"inordinately\" data-linkid=\"nn1ov4\"><span class=\"luna-example italic\" data-term=\"covet\" data-linkid=\"nn1ov4\">to covet another\u2019s property.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1o7vb91 e1q3nk1v2\"><span class=\"one-click-content css-nnyc96 e1q3nk1v1\" data-term=\"for\" data-linkid=\"nn1ov4\">to wish for, especially eagerly: <\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1o7vb91 e1q3nk1v2\"><em><span class=\"one-click-content css-nnyc96 e1q3nk1v1\" data-term=\"for\" data-linkid=\"nn1ov4\"><span class=\"luna-example italic\" data-term=\"coveted\" data-linkid=\"nn1ov4\">He won the prize they all coveted.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p><em>Merriam-Webster <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/covet\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">offers a similar dual definition as well<\/a>, but reverses the order, with the \u201cgood one\u201d first (which probably suggests that the \u201cgood\u201d usage is a bit more common today).<\/p>\n<p>***<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Practical Matters<\/em><\/strong>: Perhaps some of my 4,000+ free online articles (the most comprehensive \u201cone-stop\u201d Catholic apologetics site) or\u00a0<a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2009\/06\/dave-armstrongs-catholic-apologetics-bookstore-49-books-paperback-e-pub-mobi-nook-book-amazon-kindle-itunes-pdf-rock-bottom-regular-prices-67-savings-for-e-books-2.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fifty books<\/a>\u00a0have helped you (by God\u2019s grace) to decide to\u00a0<a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2006\/11\/feedback-comments-on-my-writing-from.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">become Catholic<\/a>\u00a0or to\u00a0<a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2014\/01\/feedback-comments-on-my-writing-from-2.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">return to the Church<\/a>,\u00a0or better understand some doctrines and\u00a0<a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2021\/02\/the-biblical-basis-of-apologetics-defense-of-christianity.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>why<\/em>\u00a0we believe them<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Or you may believe my work is worthy to support for the purpose of apologetics and evangelism in general. If so, please seriously consider a much-needed financial contribution. I\u2019m always in need of more funds: especially\u00a0<em>monthly<\/em>\u00a0support. \u201cThe laborer is worthy of his wages\u201d (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV). 1 December 2021 was my 20th anniversary as a\u00a0<a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2006\/07\/my-literary-resume.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">full-time Catholic apologist<\/a>,\u00a0and February 2022 marked the 25th anniversary of my blog.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/us\/webapps\/mpp\/sem\/account-selection-signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">PayPal donations<\/a>\u00a0are the easiest: just send to my email address: apologistdave@gmail.com. You\u2019ll see the term \u201cCatholic Used Book Service\u201d, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing, including 100% tax deduction, etc., see my page:\u00a0<a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2015\/08\/about-dave-armstrong-2.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong \/ Donation Information<\/a>.\u00a0<strong><em>Thanks a million<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0from the bottom of my heart!<\/p>\n<p>***<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>Photo credit:<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<a class=\"profile-link decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/pxhere.com\/en\/photographer\/767067\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">mohamed hassan<\/a>\u00a0(2-22-21)\u00a0[public domain \/\u00a0<a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/pxhere.com\/en\/photo\/1638940\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Pxhere.com<\/a>]<\/p>\n<p>***<\/p>\n<p><em>Summary<\/em>: A Bible skeptic has come up with 194 alleged biblical \u201ccontradictions\u201d (usually recycled from old lists). I am systematically going through the list and refuting each one.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I will be resolving\u00a0all\u00a0of the alleged \u201ccontradictions\u201d from the web page entitled\u00a0\u201c194 CONTRADICTIONS, New Testament.\u201d\u00a0It\u2019s perpetually striking to observe how many of these are\u00a0obviously\u00a0not logical contradictions, and how very\u00a0easy\u00a0they are to refute (many being patently and evidently absurd). A\u00a0few\u00a0here and there do seem to be genuinely perplexing (at first glance) and require at least\u00a0some\u00a0thought and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2331,"featured_media":63682,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[1043,258,522,1472,1473,525,524,16008,3979,2637,1879,1633,1878,535,4068,140],"class_list":["post-63802","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bible-and-tradition","tag-anti-theism","tag-atheism","tag-atheist-biblical-exegesis","tag-atheists-the-bible","tag-atheists-theology","tag-bible-contradictions","tag-bible-difficulties","tag-biblical-contradictions-resolved","tag-biblical-contradictions","tag-biblical-inspiration","tag-biblical-prooftexts","tag-biblical-skeptics","tag-biblical-theology","tag-holy-bible","tag-inerrancy","tag-infallibility"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#151-175) Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#151-175)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I will be resolving\u00a0all\u00a0of the alleged \u201ccontradictions\u201d from the web page entitled\u00a0\u201c194 CONTRADICTIONS, New Testament.\u201d\u00a0It\u2019s perpetually striking to A Bible skeptic has come up with 194 alleged biblical \u201ccontradictions\u201d (usually recycled from old lists). I am systematically going through the list and refuting each one.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/04\/refutation-of-194-biblical-contradictions-151-175.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#151-175) Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#151-175)\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I will be resolving\u00a0all\u00a0of the alleged \u201ccontradictions\u201d from the web page entitled\u00a0\u201c194 CONTRADICTIONS, New Testament.\u201d\u00a0It\u2019s perpetually striking to A Bible skeptic has come up with 194 alleged biblical \u201ccontradictions\u201d (usually recycled from old lists). I am systematically going through the list and refuting each one.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/04\/refutation-of-194-biblical-contradictions-151-175.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dave.armstrong.798\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-04-11T15:05:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-04-11T15:31:28+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/572\/2022\/04\/HeadDesk-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"768\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"474\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Dave Armstrong\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Dave Armstrong\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"24 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/04\/refutation-of-194-biblical-contradictions-151-175.html\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/04\/refutation-of-194-biblical-contradictions-151-175.html\",\"name\":\"Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#151-175) Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#151-175)\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2022-04-11T15:05:07+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-04-11T15:31:28+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#\/schema\/person\/471eaa20e441eca4bb1ea50393cf632e\"},\"description\":\"I will be resolving\u00a0all\u00a0of the alleged \u201ccontradictions\u201d from the web page entitled\u00a0\u201c194 CONTRADICTIONS, New Testament.\u201d\u00a0It\u2019s perpetually striking to A Bible skeptic has come up with 194 alleged biblical \u201ccontradictions\u201d (usually recycled from old lists). I am systematically going through the list and refuting each one.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/04\/refutation-of-194-biblical-contradictions-151-175.html#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/04\/refutation-of-194-biblical-contradictions-151-175.html\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/04\/refutation-of-194-biblical-contradictions-151-175.html#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#151-175)\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/\",\"name\":\"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism\",\"description\":\"Catholic biblical apologetics\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#\/schema\/person\/471eaa20e441eca4bb1ea50393cf632e\",\"name\":\"Dave Armstrong\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/820e6db89734ae7a9e5dac8d498f5ac7?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/820e6db89734ae7a9e5dac8d498f5ac7?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Dave Armstrong\"},\"description\":\"Dave Armstrong is a Catholic author and apologist, who has been actively proclaiming and defending Christianity since 1981, and Catholicism in particular since 1991 (full-time since December 2001). Formerly a campus missionary, as a Protestant, Dave was received into the Catholic Church in February 1991, by the late, well-known catechist and theologian, Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave\u2019s articles have appeared in many influential Catholic periodicals, including \\\"This Rock\\\" (now called \\\"Catholic Answers Magazine\\\"), \\\"Envoy Magazine\\\" (Patrick Madrid), \\\"The Catholic Answer,\\\" \\\"The Coming Home Journal,\\\" \\\"Gilbert Magazine\\\" (American Chesterton Society), and \\\"The Latin Mass.\\\" He also writes a featured column for every issue of \\\"The Michigan Catholic\\\": published by the archdiocese of Detroit, and was editor for most of the apologetics tracts published by the St. Paul Street Evangelization apostolate. Dave\u2019s apologetics and writing apostolate was the subject of a feature article in the May 2002 issue of \\\"Envoy Magazine.\\\" He served as the staff moderator at the Internet discussion forum for The Coming Home Network, from 2007-2010. Dave has been interviewed on many nationally syndicated Catholic radio shows, including \\\"Catholic Answers Live\\\" (twice), \\\"Faith and Family Live\\\" (Steve Wood), \\\"Kresta in the Afternoon,\\\" \\\"Son Rise Morning Show,\\\" \\\"Catholic Connection\\\" (Teresa Tomeo), and \\\"The Catholics Next Door.\\\" His large and popular website, \\\"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism,\\\" was online from March 1997 to March 2007, and received the 1998 Catholic Website of the Year award from \\\"Envoy Magazine.\\\" His blog of the same name (now transferred to Patheos), begun in February 2004, contains more than 1,500 papers, at least 500 debates or dialogues, and over 50 distinct \\\"index\\\" web pages. Unsolicited correspondence has indicated many hundreds of conversions (or returns) to the Catholic faith as a result, by God's grace, of these writings. Dave's conversion story was published in the bestselling book \\\"Surprised by Truth\\\" (edited by Patrick Madrid; San Diego: Basilica Press, 1994). Sophia Institute Press has published six of his books: \\\"A Biblical Defense of Catholicism\\\" (Foreword by Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J., 1996 \/ 2003), \\\"The Catholic Verses\\\" (2004), \\\"The One-Minute Apologist\\\" (2007), \\\"Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths\\\" (2009), \\\"The Quotable Newman\\\" (editor: 2012), and \\\"Proving the Catholic Faith is Biblical\\\" (2015). He is co-author (with Dr. Paul Thigpen) of the inserts for \\\"The New Catholic Answer Bible\\\" (Our Sunday Visitor: 2005), and editor for \\\"The Wisdom of Mr. Chesterton: The Very Best Quotes, Quips, and Cracks from the Pen of G. K. Chesterton\\\" (Saint Benedict Press \/ TAN Books: 2009). \\\"100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura\\\" was published by Catholic Answers in May 2012. His \\\"Quotable Wesley\\\" compilation was published by (Protestant \/ Wesleyan publisher) Beacon Hill Press in April 2014. Several of his 49 books are bestsellers in their field. Dave maintains a popular personal Facebook page, a Facebook author page, and has a Twitter account as well. He offers almost all of his books in e-book form on his own Biblical Catholicism site (http:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/), at a permanent deep discount: only $2.99 for ePub, mobi, and AZW, and $1.99 for PDF. His writing has been enthusiastically endorsed or recommended by many leading Catholic apologists, authors, and priests, including Dr. Scott Hahn, Fr. Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Marcus Grodi, Patrick Madrid, Steve Ray, Tim Staples, Devin Rose, Mike Aquilina, Al Kresta, Karl Keating, Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Brandon Vogt, Marcellino D'Ambrosio, and Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave has been happily married to his wife Judy since October 1984. They have three sons and a daughter, and reside in southeast Michigan (metro Detroit).\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/\",\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dave.armstrong.798\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@LuxVeritatisApologetics\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/author\/davearmstrong\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#151-175) Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#151-175)","description":"I will be resolving\u00a0all\u00a0of the alleged \u201ccontradictions\u201d from the web page entitled\u00a0\u201c194 CONTRADICTIONS, New Testament.\u201d\u00a0It\u2019s perpetually striking to A Bible skeptic has come up with 194 alleged biblical \u201ccontradictions\u201d (usually recycled from old lists). I am systematically going through the list and refuting each one.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/04\/refutation-of-194-biblical-contradictions-151-175.html","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#151-175) Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#151-175)","og_description":"I will be resolving\u00a0all\u00a0of the alleged \u201ccontradictions\u201d from the web page entitled\u00a0\u201c194 CONTRADICTIONS, New Testament.\u201d\u00a0It\u2019s perpetually striking to A Bible skeptic has come up with 194 alleged biblical \u201ccontradictions\u201d (usually recycled from old lists). I am systematically going through the list and refuting each one.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/04\/refutation-of-194-biblical-contradictions-151-175.html","og_site_name":"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dave.armstrong.798","article_published_time":"2022-04-11T15:05:07+00:00","article_modified_time":"2022-04-11T15:31:28+00:00","og_image":[{"width":768,"height":474,"url":"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/572\/2022\/04\/HeadDesk-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Dave Armstrong","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Dave Armstrong","Est. reading time":"24 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/04\/refutation-of-194-biblical-contradictions-151-175.html","url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/04\/refutation-of-194-biblical-contradictions-151-175.html","name":"Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#151-175) Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#151-175)","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#website"},"datePublished":"2022-04-11T15:05:07+00:00","dateModified":"2022-04-11T15:31:28+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#\/schema\/person\/471eaa20e441eca4bb1ea50393cf632e"},"description":"I will be resolving\u00a0all\u00a0of the alleged \u201ccontradictions\u201d from the web page entitled\u00a0\u201c194 CONTRADICTIONS, New Testament.\u201d\u00a0It\u2019s perpetually striking to A Bible skeptic has come up with 194 alleged biblical \u201ccontradictions\u201d (usually recycled from old lists). I am systematically going through the list and refuting each one.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/04\/refutation-of-194-biblical-contradictions-151-175.html#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/04\/refutation-of-194-biblical-contradictions-151-175.html"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/04\/refutation-of-194-biblical-contradictions-151-175.html#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#151-175)"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/","name":"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism","description":"Catholic biblical apologetics","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#\/schema\/person\/471eaa20e441eca4bb1ea50393cf632e","name":"Dave Armstrong","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/820e6db89734ae7a9e5dac8d498f5ac7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/820e6db89734ae7a9e5dac8d498f5ac7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Dave Armstrong"},"description":"Dave Armstrong is a Catholic author and apologist, who has been actively proclaiming and defending Christianity since 1981, and Catholicism in particular since 1991 (full-time since December 2001). Formerly a campus missionary, as a Protestant, Dave was received into the Catholic Church in February 1991, by the late, well-known catechist and theologian, Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave\u2019s articles have appeared in many influential Catholic periodicals, including \"This Rock\" (now called \"Catholic Answers Magazine\"), \"Envoy Magazine\" (Patrick Madrid), \"The Catholic Answer,\" \"The Coming Home Journal,\" \"Gilbert Magazine\" (American Chesterton Society), and \"The Latin Mass.\" He also writes a featured column for every issue of \"The Michigan Catholic\": published by the archdiocese of Detroit, and was editor for most of the apologetics tracts published by the St. Paul Street Evangelization apostolate. Dave\u2019s apologetics and writing apostolate was the subject of a feature article in the May 2002 issue of \"Envoy Magazine.\" He served as the staff moderator at the Internet discussion forum for The Coming Home Network, from 2007-2010. Dave has been interviewed on many nationally syndicated Catholic radio shows, including \"Catholic Answers Live\" (twice), \"Faith and Family Live\" (Steve Wood), \"Kresta in the Afternoon,\" \"Son Rise Morning Show,\" \"Catholic Connection\" (Teresa Tomeo), and \"The Catholics Next Door.\" His large and popular website, \"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism,\" was online from March 1997 to March 2007, and received the 1998 Catholic Website of the Year award from \"Envoy Magazine.\" His blog of the same name (now transferred to Patheos), begun in February 2004, contains more than 1,500 papers, at least 500 debates or dialogues, and over 50 distinct \"index\" web pages. Unsolicited correspondence has indicated many hundreds of conversions (or returns) to the Catholic faith as a result, by God's grace, of these writings. Dave's conversion story was published in the bestselling book \"Surprised by Truth\" (edited by Patrick Madrid; San Diego: Basilica Press, 1994). Sophia Institute Press has published six of his books: \"A Biblical Defense of Catholicism\" (Foreword by Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J., 1996 \/ 2003), \"The Catholic Verses\" (2004), \"The One-Minute Apologist\" (2007), \"Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths\" (2009), \"The Quotable Newman\" (editor: 2012), and \"Proving the Catholic Faith is Biblical\" (2015). He is co-author (with Dr. Paul Thigpen) of the inserts for \"The New Catholic Answer Bible\" (Our Sunday Visitor: 2005), and editor for \"The Wisdom of Mr. Chesterton: The Very Best Quotes, Quips, and Cracks from the Pen of G. K. Chesterton\" (Saint Benedict Press \/ TAN Books: 2009). \"100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura\" was published by Catholic Answers in May 2012. His \"Quotable Wesley\" compilation was published by (Protestant \/ Wesleyan publisher) Beacon Hill Press in April 2014. Several of his 49 books are bestsellers in their field. Dave maintains a popular personal Facebook page, a Facebook author page, and has a Twitter account as well. He offers almost all of his books in e-book form on his own Biblical Catholicism site (http:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/), at a permanent deep discount: only $2.99 for ePub, mobi, and AZW, and $1.99 for PDF. His writing has been enthusiastically endorsed or recommended by many leading Catholic apologists, authors, and priests, including Dr. Scott Hahn, Fr. Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Marcus Grodi, Patrick Madrid, Steve Ray, Tim Staples, Devin Rose, Mike Aquilina, Al Kresta, Karl Keating, Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Brandon Vogt, Marcellino D'Ambrosio, and Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave has been happily married to his wife Judy since October 1984. They have three sons and a daughter, and reside in southeast Michigan (metro Detroit).","sameAs":["https:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dave.armstrong.798","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@LuxVeritatisApologetics"],"url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/author\/davearmstrong"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63802","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2331"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63802"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63802\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63682"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63802"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63802"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63802"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}