![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/572\/2022\/04\/HeadDesk-scaled.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nI will be resolving\u00a0all<\/em>\u00a0of the alleged \u201ccontradictions\u201d from the web page entitled\u00a0\u201c194 CONTRADICTIONS, New Testament.\u201d<\/a>\u00a0It\u2019s perpetually striking to observe how many of these are\u00a0obviously<\/em>\u00a0not logical contradictions, and how very\u00a0easy<\/em>\u00a0they are to refute (many being patently and evidently absurd). A\u00a0few<\/em>\u00a0here and there do seem to be genuinely perplexing (at first glance) and require at least\u00a0some<\/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 See further installments:<\/p>\n Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#1-25)<\/a>\u00a0[4-5-22]<\/p>\n Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#26-50)<\/a>\u00a0[4-6-22]<\/p>\n Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#51-75)<\/a>\u00a0[4-7-22]<\/p>\n Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#76-100)<\/a>\u00a0[4-8-22]<\/p>\n Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#101-125)<\/a>\u00a0[4-8-22]<\/p>\n Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#126-150)<\/a> [4-9-22]<\/p>\n Refutation of 194 Biblical \u201cContradictions\u201d (#151-175)<\/a> [4-11-22]<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n 176) Paul teaches not to steal. Eph.4:28.<\/span> Commentaries on the second passage:<\/p>\n The intensity of St. Paul\u2019s feelings, smarting under base calumny and ingratitude, reveals itself by the passionate expression which he here uses. . . . It is meant rather ironically than literally. (Pulpit Commentary<\/a><\/em>)<\/p>\n Paul thus strongly expresses the fact that he had accepted from other churches more than their share, that he might not draw on the Corinthians. (Vincent\u2019s Word Studies<\/a><\/em>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n In other words, he was being sarcastic and non-literal. Of course, Paul wouldn\u2019t rob anyone. Again, our skeptic is eager to disgustingly besmirch Paul and anyone else in the all-important effort to attack the Bible. He has failed miserably in his task.<\/p>\n 177) Paul was assured that he would not be hurt. Acts 18:9,10.<\/span> The Acts passage is about how Paul wouldn\u2019t be harmed in Corinth only. God told him: \u201cno man shall attack you to harm you; for I have many people in this city\u201d (18:9). Is our skeptic unable to properly understand English sentences? This is a ridiculously clueless supposed \u201ccontradiction\u201d: beyond and below the usual rock-bottom quality of this collection.<\/p>\n 178) Paul states that the law is necessary. Rom.3:31.<\/span> I dealt with these general questions of the law in #41 and #151-154. No need to repeat myself.<\/p>\n 179) Jesus said to go and baptize. Mt.28:19.<\/span> Division of labor. Paul\u2019s specialty was evangelism and dealing with hard-nosed unbelievers. He could assign others to baptize new converts. It\u2019s not difficult to do. No biggie and no contradiction.<\/p>\n 180) Paul said he was not sent to baptize but to preach. 1 Cor.1:17.<\/span> Patience, patience; almost done! This is the flip side of #179. As Paul indicated in 1 Corinthians 1:16, he baptized one household, as an exception to his rule, and couldn\u2019t remember baptizing anyone else.<\/p>\n 181) Jesus said that he did not come to abolish the law. Mt.5:17-19.<\/span> More questions about the law. See #41 and #151-154.<\/p>\n 182) Jesus said that God did not condemn the world. Jn. 3:17.<\/span> Jesus did not talk in John 3:17. It was John or whoever wrote the Gospel bearing his name. Nor did he make this blanket statement. Rather, He said something more specific: \u201cFor God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.\u201d It was specifically about why He sent Jesus.<\/p>\n Paul sort of says this in Romans 5:18, but the leading thought is that the fall of man and our rebellion was our fault, not God\u2019s, just as a convicted murderer\u2019s wicked act is his fault, not that of the judge who sentences him.<\/p>\n In light of all this, no contradiction can be drawn from the above passages.<\/p>\n 183) Those present at Paul\u2019s conversion stood. Acts 9:7.<\/span> Why couldn\u2019t it be both<\/em> things in sequence?: they initially fell to the ground, and then got up and stood there speechless. Perfectly possible . . . See also my reply to #184 below.<\/p>\n 184) Those present at Paul\u2019s conversion heard a voice but saw nothing. Acts 9:7.<\/span> Acts 9:3-7<\/strong>\u00a0Now as he journeyed he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed about him. [4] And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, \u201cSaul, Saul, why do you persecute me?\u201d [5] And he said, \u201cWho are you, Lord?\u201d And he said, \u201cI am Jesus, whom you are persecuting; [6] but rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.\u201d [7]\u00a0The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.<\/p>\n Acts 22:6-9<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cAs I made my journey and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me.\u00a0[7] And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, \u2018Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?\u2019 [8] And I answered, \u2018Who are you, Lord?\u2019 And he said to me, \u2018I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.\u2019 [9]\u00a0Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Acts 26:14<\/strong>\u00a0And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, `Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It hurts you to kick against the goads.\u2019<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The\u00a0Catholic Encyclopedia<\/em>\u00a0(\u201cActs of the Apostles\u201d<\/a>) disposed of this objection way back in 1907:<\/p>\n It is urged that the three accounts of the\u00a0conversion\u00a0of\u00a0St. Paul . . . do not agree. . . . There are many solutions of this difficulty. . . . Pape and others give to the\u00a0eistekeisan<\/em>\u00a0the sense of an emphatic\u00a0einai<\/em>, and thus it could be rendered: \u201cThe men that journeyed with him became speechless\u201d, thus agreeing with\u00a026:14. Moreover, the three accounts can be placed in agreement by supposing that the several accounts contemplate the event at different moments of its course. All saw a great light; all heard a sound from\u00a0Heaven. They fell on their faces in fear; and then, arising, stood still and speechless, while\u00a0Paul\u00a0conversed with\u00a0Jesus, whose articulate voice he alone heard. In\u00a0Acts 9:7, the marginal reading of the Revised Edition of Oxford should be accepted: \u201chearing the sound\u201d. The Greek is\u00a0akoyontes tes phones<\/em>. When the writer speaks of the articulate voice of\u00a0Christ, which\u00a0Paul\u00a0alone heard, he employs the phrase outer phrase,\u00a0ekousan phonen<\/em>. Thus the same term,\u00a0phone<\/em>, by a different grammatical construction, may signify the inarticulate sound of the voice which all heard and the articulate voice which\u00a0Paul alone heard.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n 185) Shortly after his conversion, Paul went to Damascus where he spent some time with the apostles. Acts 9:19.<\/span> 186) Shortly after his conversion, Paul went to Damascus and then to Jerusalem. Acts 9:18-26.<\/span> This is clearly another instance of compression, or telescoping. Luke employs it in Acts 9, which is his narrative of Paul\u2019s conversion and his meeting the apostles: just as he did in his Gospel, chapter 24, and Paul does not in Galatians 1. But in Acts 22:17,\u00a0Paul himself uses the same technique of compression<\/em>, during his trial.<\/p>\n He recounts his conversion, then (desiring to condense the story for whatever reason) skips right over the three years in Arabia at Acts 22:17 and starts talking about being in Jerusalem and the initial skepticism that he had converted, after persecuting Christians. Paul does it one place and not in another (which is perfectly fine). This is how ancient literature works. And no doubt there are analogous examples in our time as well. Steve Diseb explains the literary technique of compression:<\/p>\n Do this: Think about telling a story to a friend about something that happened to you that would take at least 5 minutes to tell. Now, imagine telling the same story if you only had 10 seconds. What details would you take out? How would you tell the story differently?<\/p>\n This idea helps us to understand what\u2019s called\u00a0telescoping<\/em>\u00a0(or\u00a0compression<\/em>) and why we see some variations in the same events written about by different Gospel writers. Simply, telescoping\/compressing means telling a shortened version of an\u00a0event with selective information.<\/p>\n Sometimes the Gospel writers (and other ancient writers) varied story length, shortening or lengthening the same episode like a telescope. Some of the writers give a fully extended version of the story, while other writers shortened their version, compressing it like a telescope. When compressing, the author may take \u201cshortcuts\u201d in telling the story by omitting information. (\u201cThe Joy & Angst of Four Gospels \u2013 Part 6 \u2013 Narrative Creativity: Telescoping & Compressing\u201d<\/a>, God From the Machine<\/em>, 3-17-15)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n 187) In Damascus, the governor attempts to seize Paul. 2 Cor.11:32.<\/span> Both<\/em> did, in cahoots<\/em>:<\/p>\n (1) . . . Damascus was under the immediate control, not of the Governor of Syria, but of a governor or an ethnarch;<\/span> (2) . . . the ethnarch was appointed, not by the Roman emperor, but by Aretas (the name was hereditary, and was the Greek form of the Arabic Haret<\/span>),<\/span> the King of the Nabath\u00e6an Arabs, who had his capital at Petra, who was the father of the first wife of Herod Antipas . . .; (3) . . . the ethnarch lent himself to the enmity of the Jews, and stationed troops at each gate of the city to prevent St. Paul\u2019s escape. (Ellicott\u2019s Commentary for English Readers<\/a><\/em>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n 188) The holy spirit forbids preaching in Asia. Acts 16:6.<\/span> Norman Geisler answers this:<\/p>\n Paul was only forbidden\u00a0immediately.\u00a0God had a more strategic route for the Gospel through Europe first (Acts 16:9).\u00a0Eventually,\u00a0however, the Gospel got to Asia and to every place through Paul\u2019s converts in Europe (cf.\u00a01 Thes. 1:7) and by Paul himself (Acts 19:10,\u00a022,\u00a026;\u00a020:4,\u00a016,\u00a018;\u00a01 Cor. 16:19). So, the prohibition was only temporary, not permanent. (\u201cActs 16:16 \u2014 Why Did the Holy Spirit Forbid Paul to Preach in Asia . . .?\u201d<\/a>, Defending Inerrancy<\/em>, 2014, from a 1992 book)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n 189) Paul said he would not be a servant of Christ if he tried to please men. Gal.1:10.<\/span> It denotes what takes place on\u00a0the apostle\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0side through his endeavour, namely, to be the servant of all, and to be all things to all men (1 Corinthians 9:19\u00a0ff.); not the result of his endeavour, as if he actually did please all (see on\u00a0Galatians 1:10); . . . (Meyer\u2019s NT Commentary<\/a><\/em>)<\/p>\n Paul\u2019s universal compliance is qualified by its\u00a0purpose<\/span>,\u00a0\u1f35\u03bd\u03b1 \u03c3\u03c9\u03b8\u1ff6\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd<\/span>, in the light of which the verbal contradiction with\u00a0Galatians 1:10,\u00a01 Thessalonians 2:4, is removed; there is nothing in his power that P. will not do for any man, to help his salvation (cf.<\/span>\u00a01 Corinthians 9:22\u00a0b<\/span>). (Expositor\u2019s Greek Testament<\/a><\/em>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n 190) Paul says that he was the chief of all sinners. 1 Tim.1:15.<\/span> Rehash of #155 in the previous installment. 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 my second installment<\/a>.<\/p>\n 191) Paul said that Jesus is the judge. 2 Tim.4:1.<\/span> Rehash of #166 from the previous installment.<\/p>\n 192) Paul said that Jesus was the Son of God. Rom.1:3,4.<\/span> Rehash of #171 from the previous installment. I guess that\u2019s why this list is near its end: if the writer can only repeat himself.,<\/p>\n 193) Do not boast. Lk.18:14.<\/span> So-called \u201csuper-apostles\u201d had found their way to Corinth. These parasitic charlatans had followed in the wake of the Lord\u2019s servant and were siphoning off glory from God and discrediting Paul in order to inflate the appearance of their self-importance.<\/p>\n If it had only been about his reputation, Paul wouldn\u2019t have wasted his ink. But these men were not only maligning Paul, they were distorting the gospel. They were maligning Paul\u00a0in order<\/em>\u00a0to distort the gospel. The situation demanded that Paul call these imposters out and contrast their doctrine, character and labors with his own. But it was tortuous for him: \u201cI am talking like a madman\u201d (2 Corinthians 11:23).<\/p>\n Reluctantly Paul cataloged revelations he had received, suffering he had endured for the gospel and the church, and how he had never financially benefitted from the Corinthians. (\u201cPaul: I Am Content with Weakness\u201d<\/a>, Jon Bloom, Desiring God<\/em>, 8-1-10)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n We recognize in the English language that boasting, like pride can have different meanings. We\u2019re \u201cproud\u201d of our children; we \u201cboast\u201d about our wife becoming a manager of a business, etc. That\u2019s how Greek is, too. Paul was being semi-sarcastic, but with a very serious point underneath, as always.<\/p>\n 194) Jesus commends the church at Ephesus for discerning the lying apostles. Rev. 2:1,2.<\/span> Paul was a genuine apostle. Many call themselves by that title, but are false apostles. That\u2019s all the refutation this ultra-silly \u201cobjection\u201d requires. 0 for 194 . . . E for effort, and an E- for content.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n It so happens that there is another complete answering of this same list, from the Unam Sanctam Catholicam<\/em> web page [part one<\/a> \/ part two<\/a> \/ part three<\/a>]. I found out about it early on but decided not to draw any of my answers from it. This means we have two comprehensive replies from orthodox Catholics. I totally agree with that series\u2019 conclusion as to what is required to refute these charges: \u201csome knowledge of Christian theology, an unbiased application of linguistics, and pure common sense.\u201d<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Practical Matters<\/em><\/strong>: Perhaps some of my 4,000+ free online articles (the most comprehensive \u201cone-stop\u201d Catholic apologetics site) or\u00a0fifty books<\/a>\u00a0have helped you (by God\u2019s grace) to decide to\u00a0become Catholic<\/a>\u00a0or to\u00a0return to the Church<\/a>,\u00a0or better understand some doctrines and\u00a0why<\/em>\u00a0we believe them<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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\u00a0monthly<\/em>\u00a0support. \u201cThe laborer is worthy of his wages\u201d (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV). 1 December 2021 was my 20th anniversary as a\u00a0full-time Catholic apologist<\/a>,\u00a0and February 2022 marked the 25th anniversary of my blog.<\/p>\n 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:\u00a0About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong \/ Donation Information<\/a>.\u00a0Thanks a million<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0from the bottom of my heart!<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Photo credit:<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0mohamed hassan<\/a>\u00a0(2-22-21)\u00a0[public domain \/\u00a0Pxhere.com<\/a>]<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n 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":" 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 […]<\/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-63820","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":"\n
\nPaul admits to stealing. 2 Cor.11:8.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nPaul was often physically abused. 2 Cor.11:23-27.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nPaul states that the law is not necessary. Rom.6:14.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nPaul said he was not sent to baptize. 1 Cor.1:17.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nPaul baptized. 1 Cor.1:16.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nPaul said otherwise. Eph.2:15.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nPaul said that God did condemn the world. Rom.5:18.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nThey fell to the ground. Acts 26:14.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nThose present at Paul\u2019s conversion saw a light but heard nothing. Acts 22:9.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nPaul went to Damascus three years later and saw only Peter and James. Gal.1:18,19.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nShortly after his conversion, Paul went to Arabia, then to Damascus, and then, 3 years later, to Jerusalem. Gal.1:17,18.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nIn Damascus, the Jews attempt to seize Paul. Acts 9:22,23.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nPaul preaches in Asia anyway. Acts 19:8-10.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nPaul said that he tried to please men. 1 Cor.10:33.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nHe who commits sin is of the devil. Children of God cannot sin. 1 Jn.3:8-10.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nPaul said that God is the judge. Heb.12:23.<\/span>
\nPaul said that the saints would judge. 1 Cor.6:2.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nPaul said that Jesus was just a man. Heb.7:24.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nDo not be proud. Rom.11:20; 1 Pet. 5:5.<\/span>
\nPaul proudly boasts. 2 Cor.11:16-18; Gal.2:9-11.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nPaul was the apostle to Ephesus. Eph.1:1.<\/span><\/p>\n